For more than five decades, Nick’s Spaghetti House on Commercial Drive was billionaire Jimmy Pattison’s go-to restaurant. When venerable restaurateur Nick Felicella decided to close his iconic spaghetti house, the team behind the famed Osteria Savio Volpe took it over and renamed the Italian-American style restaurant Pepino’s Spaghetti House.
“One of my partners, Craig Stanghetta, used to go there as a kid and he loved the restaurant,” says Mark Perrier, partner and food director, along with the third partner Paul Grunberg. “When we heard that Nick was retiring, we knew we wanted to take it over to continue Nick’s 62-year legacy.”
Honouring Nick’s legacy they did. Pepino’s moniker, which means spaghetti mouse, was chosen in homage of Nick’s prized racehorse.
Walking into Pepino’s Spaghetti House harkens back to a simpler time – it is mostly unchanged from when it opened in 1955.
“We did make some changes, like installing new leather banquettes and new carpet, although we were able to match the same pattern Nick had,” explains Mark. “However, the artwork, wood panelling and bar are all original.”
