Jennie GeislerErie Times-News
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Nick Scott Sr., owner of Scott Enterprises, knows an opportunity when he sees one.
And the public outcry at the 2020 closing of Serafini's Italian Restaurant after the COVID pandemic, to him and his organization, was a big flashing light.
The west side of town had lost a beloved, iconic, locally owned, affordable family-friendly Italian restaurant without even a word from its owners.
"That was one of the factors that influenced our decision," said Nick Scott Sr., head of Scott Enterprises.
Meanwhile, the company was looking to move another restaurant into the empty IHOP location at 2933 W. 12th St., just half a mile from Serafini's. At first they were going to put in a second Quaker Steak & Lube, sister to the Summit Township location. Then Scott changed his mind. Or maybe Serafini's owners changed theirs. Scott decided to go the Italian route at the location last fall, and he didn't want another chain. He wanted a unique, locally curated place with a chef-driven menu.
That plan hatched last fall and, the Scott's started pouring what would add up to be a $1.5 million conversion of the erstwhile IHOP location into the new Roma's Italian Kitchen, which opened Wednesday.
"(The closing of) Serafini's left a void in the marketplace," said Scott, the developer, who also owns all the region's Applebee's, a Quaker Steak & Lube, Peek'n Peak Resort, and more, including Oliver's Rooftop and Oliver's Beer Garden.
"We have a great team for opening unique and upscale restaurants now," Scott said.
Developing a taste for Italian
Scott Enterprises, which owns more than 20 restaurants, acquired the taste for opening a unique place with Oliver's Rooftop, which was their first nonfranchise foray into the restaurant world. The mostly glass and touches of class at Oliver's made them hungry for more like it, and they started visiting Italian restaurants.
"We visited lots of restaurants and picked out the good things about each one and tried to combine all those good ideas with our own," Scott said.
He said that he hopes the restaurant's proximity to Presque Isle will bring in families, and a 40-seat outdoor dining area will keep them coming back.
The chef, Scott Croyle, was let loose to create Roma's menu. He has worked most of his culinary career in the Pittsburgh area, but the Scotts brought him into the company to help start Oliver's. This time, at Roma's, he got to design the kitchen. He said he jumped at the chance to build Roma's from the ground up and he's excited about what they've done with the place.
"I think it's a gorgeous dining room, and (Scott) gave me the opportunity to build the best kitchen I've ever worked in," Croyle said. He said he has worked with some Italian menus.
"My grandfather is from Italy," he said, adding that his favorite things on Roma's menu include: Chicken Romano (egg and cheese battered with fresh basil and lemon butter cream sauce, $23), Chef Scott's Sausage Pasta (broccoli rabe, sweet sausage, crushed red pepper, garlic and olive oil tossed with orecchiette pasta, $24) and the Pork Chop Scaloppini (grilled chops with sweet peppers, mushrooms, onions and marsala wine sauce, $35)
He said they do stock gluten-free pasta and can convert most of his menu items to gluten-free upon request.
"This is not a corporate chain, and we can work with any dietary restrictions," Croyle said.
Incidentally, the Sausage Pasta wasn't intended for the menu. Croyle just mixed it up at home for his family and one day repeated it for the staff and everyone raved about it, so there it is under Pasta Classics, next to Erie's Best Lasagna ($23) and Spaghetti and Meatballs ($19).
Artsy dining decor
There's a lot to look at around Roma's, including art in the Chihuly style in pictures and the glass-blown chandeliers.
Scott said while they had fun designing a fine-dining décor, he doesn't want people to feel overly formal about dining at Roma's. They offer a kids menu and they're welcome to get up and have their picture taken with Chester the Jester, a sculpture which Scott purchased in New Orleans. It's lucky, he said, to have your picture taken with Chester, and selfies are encouraged.
"I think (customers will) enjoy having an authentic, affordable, light, contemporary atmosphere that's fun," Scott said.
Fast facts
Roma's Italian Kitchen, 2933 W. 12th St., is open for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m,. Mondays through Thursdays and 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A lunch menu is slated to go into effect soon. Make reservations at romaserie.com, or using the Open Table smartphone app, or opentable.com/r/romas-italian-kitchen-erie.
Roma's also intends to support a robust takeout business after a bit, having built a dedicated entrance, room and cashier's station for those picking up their food.
For more information, call 814-651-0900, or visit facebook.com/romasitalianerie.
Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com or at 814-870-1885.
