A customer-favorite Italian restaurant in town, Castello of Niantic is a family affair owned by Dino Martone and his sons, Stanley and Nicholas. Together, they’ve got it covered. Stanley oversees all finance and growth opportunities while Nick manages the kitchen and operations. Dino is the face of the establishment and oversees all front of house and vendor operations.
Stanley and Nick are first generation Italian Americans from Naples, Italy. Dino came to the United States at the age of 21. He served in the Italian army and moved here after getting married to provide his children a better opportunity. Having grown up in a traditional Italian home, the family knows the importance of fresh ingredients, authentic cuisine and, above all else, family. Stanley graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2014 with a degree in Accounting. He also has a master’s degree in Business Administration. Nick, a senior at Central Connecticut State University, is finishing up his undergraduate degree in Human Resource management and plans to start law school in the fall.
Though the boys were raised in Meriden, CT, the family spent their summers in Niantic growing up. They have fond memories of days at the beach and nights eating ice cream. Their dream was to one day bring the taste of Naples to Niantic. They jumped at the opportunity when it presented itself in 2015. After a complete renovation of the existing space, Castello of Niantic opened its doors in May of 2016.
The Martone family has a passion for exceptional customer service and a flair for culinary arts. They have created an intimate, upscale – yet comfortable – dining experience for their guests.
Castello makes everything to order as their business model is focused around authentic, Italian cuisine. They offer dinner seven days a week and lunch Thursday through Saturday.
As you enter the restaurant, the aroma of fresh ingredients and real Italian food draws you in immediately. And there is always a friendly face to greet you. On their menu, you’ll find a wide selection of traditional and unique offerings. Their pizza is also a hit. They offer traditional and specialty pizzas using only the freshest ingredients. Stop in for their lunch special which features two slices of pizza and a soda for $5.00, in addition to other menu items.
Castello of Niantic offers something for everyone – whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two, taking your family out for a hearty, reasonably priced meal or meeting up with friends for pizza and beer. The cozy enclosed outdoor patio has lush landscaping and a fun nod to our beach community with crushed seashells in the flower beds. The bar was added in 2018 and provides a new level of comfort and ambiance. The friendly neighborhood bar encourages conversation among friends who gather from near and far.
Stanley is quick to point out that the tight-knit Niantic community has been there for them every step of the way, first as a new business in town and more recently through the pandemic. They love their customers and do their best to provide top-notch service. They want everyone to feel as though they are part of the family.
Castello of Niantic has a strong online presence and prides themselves on their social media efforts and email marketing campaigns. Their goal is to provide a behind-the-scenes look into who they are as people and how they prepare their dishes. This allows them to reach a wider audience and provide a more personalized experience. Stanley says, “Our online outreach allows us to better understand our customers and helps us to better serve our community.”
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Castello of Niantic has taken the health of their guests, staff and their families incredibly seriously. They strive to be an open book regarding the precautions they’re taking and the procedures they’ve put in place. It is their hope to ensure their guests feel completely confident in them during these challenging times. They want to provide the same carefree, joyous atmosphere you love through the strict observance of safety practices and procedures.
The restaurant’s future plans include expansion. At the top of the list is to explore solutions for additional parking and improving take-out/curbside procedures. Castello is also looking to expand their already established “Gourmet Meals-to-Go” and packaging food for shipping.
Castello of Niantic also offers extensive catering services – from weddings to office lunches, graduations to family reunions, there is nothing they can’t do. Their team will work with you to ensure enough food for all your guests and help to build a menu to meet the needs of your event. Consider their simple and easy-to-order, individually packaged, boxed lunches – perfect for an office luncheon. Of course, hot prepared trays of your favorites, including penne alla vodka, chicken francese, jumbo stuffed shrimp and much more can be ordered online or over the phone with as little as 3 hours’ notice.
Castello is looking forward to warmer temperatures so they can welcome you back to enjoy outdoor dining again. For now, indoor dining is available, and online ordering is easy to navigate for take-out. Curbside pick-up is also available.
Castello of Niantic thanks their loyal customers from the bottom of their hearts. Stanley says, “Our customers have continued to support us in so many ways throughout the pandemic, and this truly has allowed us to remain open during this trying time.”
Niantic & East Lyme Restaurant Week, March 4-13, 2022
For this year’s Restaurant Week, Castello of Niantic has two specials – one for dine-in and one for take out!
Dine-in:Purchase any entree, receive a free glass of wine.
Take Out: Purchase any large pizza and receive the second pizza half off.
Click here to learn more about our 10th annual Restaurant Week.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay on top of their news and special offerings. Visit their website at castelloofniantic.com to see their full menu and order online.
Castello of Niantic
11 East Pattagansett Road, Niantic
castelloofniantic.com
Hours:
Monday-Tuesday: 5PM – 9PM
Wednesday: 4PM – 9PM
Thursday-Sunday: 12PM – 9PM
About Our Main Street Blogger:
Joanne lives in, and loves, our community. She was looking for an opportunity to help share all that our local businesses do to make East Lyme such a special place to call home, and she is excited to contribute to our blog. Joanne brings to the role her experience from New London Main Street where she contributed content to their website, newsletters and email communications for many years.