For 15 years, Casa Dora Italian Restaurant at 108 E. Forsyth St. has been serving pizza and pasta with some of the fastest service Downtown.
The restaurant is owned by Freddie Ghobod and chef Sam Hassan, who over the years developed the recipes used for the entrees and sauces.
“Our motto is ‘homemade is better,’” said Ghobod.
He said part of the restaurant’s success is the way the food is served. Guests place their order from the cafeteria-style food line and move along to salad and beverage stations.
“By the time you get to the cash register, your order is ready,” Ghobod said.
Each day, several traditional baked pasta selections are offered for lunch, along with pizza. One entrée also is featured.
Monday, it’s chicken Alfredo; Tuesday, chicken cannelloni; Wednesday, roast pork salad; Thursday, chicken breast stuffed with crab meat and served with Alfredo sauce; and Friday, stuffed baked grouper.
Ghobod said after lunch settles down, the kitchen staff starts preparing for dinner.
The dinner menu features eggplant parmigiana, shrimp scampi, grilled salmon and veal served Francesca, Marsala, parmigiana and piccata style. Imported and domestic beers and wines are available, as is a children’s menu.
Since the restaurant is three doors west of The Florida Theatre, many customers come in for dinner then attend a show, Ghobod said.
The dining room is decorated with a collection of photographs autographed by many of the celebrities who have performed on stage at the theater.
“Everybody plays at The Florida Theatre and everybody loves Italian,” said Ghobod.
Casa Dora is open for lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, dinner 4-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
@drmaxdowntown
356-2466