Speaking as an old-timer, I’ll always think of 1201 Payne St. as Baxter Station, but obviously times change. Ciao Ristorante has become an ironclad institution at the spot, not unlike its predecessor in its prime.
in October it was announced that Ciao Ristorante had new ownership but little would be changing. Louisville Business First’s Michael L. Jones has the floor.
A new team is running Ciao Ristorante in Irish Hill
Emil David, owner of Perso in Shelby Park, took over Ciao Ristorante in September after Bridgette Pizzonia, who founded it in 2016, decided to retire.
David said his goal is to keep the restaurant pretty much as Pizzonia left it, including keeping all 30 of her employees.
“I met Bridgette and we kind of had the same vision,” David explained. “I wanted to continue Bridgette’s legacy rather than changing the restaurant. I wanted the neighborhood, the regulars, and the people that always come here to feel the same. We just reformatted the menu and we added a lot of the chef’s favorite dishes.”
Executive Chef Paolo Pastorino remains aboard; both Pastorino and David grew up in Rome, Italy.
