Cardone's Restaurant & Bar

In a strip mall that has seen better days, there lies a jewel in Westerville! Driving past this restaurant several times, my husband and I, along with two friends decided to try this "new" Italian place so close to home. What a great decision! On a Monday night, it wasn't crowded, but the atmosphere was welcoming and warm. the service was attentive, but not overly so. We were late arriving and there was already bread and water on the table as our friends arrived before we did. The bread was warm and toasted on one side, not garlic, but the herbed olive oil on the table added just enough flavor to get your appetite going. We ordered the arancini - hand-rolled risotto balls stuffed with our house-made mozzarella, then fried, served with garlic aioli, for an appetizer (perfect for two,since there are two of them) was great starter. The Antipasto platter was also a great idea and offered several types of olives, including ripe green olives which are not brined nearly as much as normal olives, and have a real "olive" taste. It also included great Italian ham and capicola along with fresh mozzarella and chunks of parmesan.The house salad was perfect with just the amount of extras to make it interesting, but not enough to wonder where the lettuce went. The Cardone's salad me friend ordered looked delicious with fresh berries and gorgonzola sprinkled throughout. the lettuce was fresh and the dressing was amazing, not too tangy, but enough flavor to compliment the salad, not over power it.The entrees were just as good, if not better than anything we had all night. I had the Cheese Ravioli and it was the best I have had, ever! (And I am Italian!) the sauce was not overly seasoned,not too heavy. It was well balanced with equal amounts of basil, pesto and cream. The ravioli was cooked perfectly, with just a bit of bite. My husband had the stuffed shells and they were stuffed! Meat and cheese and the sauce was incredible. My friend ordered the Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola. The sauce was subtly sweet and perfectly seasoned, the gnocchi was perfectly cooked. None of us touched the salt and pepper shakers all night!To top off the night, I ordered my favorite, Tiramisu. I really liked this! I almost order this when dining at real Italian restaurant, and usually end up leaving some on my plate. I ate every bite of this one! It had just enough of a hint of chocolate to satisfy my chocolate addiction, but not so much as to overwhelm the flavor of the delicate filling and coffee flavors traditional to the dish. After dinner we moved out to the patio are and lounged on the couches at the back of the patio area and a few drinks. All in all, it was one of the best Italian meals I have had, ever.Please go and see for yourself. I would hate to see a really good restaurant go under because no one knew about it!

I wasn't expecting such quality food first time I visited. I was surprised to find a very warm and comfortable interior, food that is just short of world class, and a very engaging staff who made the experience a fun adventure. To cap it off, they charge far less than the value you receive. A great restaurant.

The curb appeal doesnt do it justice; wait til you walk through the door. Cardones restaurant is more than just another Italian restaurant; its a breath of fresh air in a market oversaturated with chain pseudo-Italian restaurants. The bistro style interior design provides a great setting for an intimate dining experience and is well-matched by the cuisine. I was expecting another marinara sauce, pasta & meatball selection but was surprised with the daring union made with the traditional Italian staples. The quality dishes well exceed the price at the end of the experience, which I decided to cap-off with the delectable tiramisu. The owners effort to capture his ancestors love for food & family has triumphed with the inception of Cardones restaurant. Take the time to enjoy!