NonnaLisa’s offering homemade Italian food | News

PLATTSBURGH — With the guidance of loved ones behind her, Lisa McDonald followed her dreams and opened the doors to her very personal Italian restaurant, NonnaLisa’s, at the conclusion of March.

Her sisters Jeanine Sawyer, Rachael Sawyer and Greta Sawyer have been working at the restaurant because the opening, and whilst McDonald is the head prepare dinner and owner, her sisters assist prepare food and help operate the cafe.

MOTHER’S INSPIRATION

McDonald, a previous nurse, stated their mom was the inspiration driving NonnaLisa’s.

“Each of us experienced our possess experienced backgrounds, then my mom recently died, so we sort of obtained back again with each other and weren’t confident what to do with ourselves, so we decided to open up this,” she explained.

Former IRONS Locale

NonnaLisa’s, found at 20 Plattsburgh Plaza, now occupies the house where Irons restaurant utilized to be.

McDonald reported a number of area eating places experienced began below before they moved on to bigger areas.

“My mom, essentially, via the years, had taken me to this actual spot a few situations and preferred me to open an Italian restaurant,” she reported.

“It’s odd that it had come to be open up when it did…and all the things just fell so properly into place.”

Potential Programs

Since buying the place, McDonald has set her individual fashion into the cafe by painting the partitions and adding an Italian aptitude to everything.

If company proceeds to do well, she will preserve earning renovations.

“We’re hoping to expand into the other side…and apply for our liquor license, so we can have some wine,” she said.

“We’re heading to broaden the dine-in, make it additional intimate, make it a lot more Italian, that is the approach. A extremely smaller, intimate Italian wine and liquor (bar)…that’s the plan at the moment.”

ITALIAN Choices

NonnaLisa’s recent menu has the regular Italian pasta dishes like baked ziti, lasagna, hen parmesan, fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs, but salads, sandwiches, Italian coffees and even selfmade sweets like Italian ice, and cannolis with cannoli dip are supplied as well.

“There’s a couple sandwiches below that no one has read of that are just to die for,” McDonald explained, pointing to the potato & cheese sandwich, consisting of deep fried potatoes and American cheese melted on Italian Bread, in distinct.

“Our cannoli dip: it’s pure cheese, real cheese.”

MOTHER’S RECIPES

Shoppers are also encouraged to inquire about the weekly specials, which have showcased eggplant parmesan and fried pizza most a short while ago.

McDonald stated each dish at NonnaLisa’s is an old recipe she learned from her mom expanding up, and all of the food stuff is well prepared with refreshing, domestically-purchased substances.

“We grate our individual cheese, we grind our personal meats, we filet our possess meats, with just a few simple ingredients,” she claimed.

“This is outdated-faculty cooking. We’ve been cooking this way for 50 years…that’s what is seriously offering it.

“A neighborhood few came in from Rome and claimed this is the same foods which is about there. It felt like they have been again in Italy.”

Consider OUT AND DINE IN

Buyers have the option to dine in, acquire out or get their food for shipping and delivery by DoorDash and UberEats.

NonnaLisa’s is open Wednesday through Saturday with various hours.

At this time, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, hrs run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Fridays, hrs operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturdays, hrs operate from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

McDonald reported the hours, as effectively as the menu are subject matter to adjust in the foreseeable future as they keep on to determine points out.

HOW IT IS AT Residence

1 detail she understands for certain however, is that her “job” does not come to feel like a task.

“This is particularly how it is at residence: the specific same natural environment, the identical design and style, it is just staying household. Due to the fact we’re spouse and children-owned and family-operated, loved ones is listed here all the time,” McDonald mentioned.

“It does not truly feel like get the job done, since we would be performing this at household. I would be cooking at house.

“I just built a greater pot.”