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Community Corner

Bites Nearby: Campola's Italian Eatery

Campola's is a local favorite that thrives on word of mouth

From a seat in its eight-table dining room, someone entering the parlor sounds like an extended relative walking into your home.

feels like a home, too. In fact the small structure belonged to an insurance agency before the restaurant arrived in May 2009, and a trophy shop before then. Its entire front room is the kitchen. It stands hidden in plain sight, just a skip from Route 2, at 7224 Center Street in Mentor.

But what Campola's lacks in space, it makes up in taste – and customizability. Nearly anything Italian can become a requested special with a week's notice, said co-owners Rick and Nikki Campola of Grand River.

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"There were a lot of reasons we opened," said Nikki, who has been in the restaurant business all her life. "We couldn't get a good pizza, for starters.

"What we do here is all about the ingredients: fresh, not frozen or canned, real cheese. Our accountant yells at us for the food costs, but these ingredients are what make us better."

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Keeping the operation small – she maintains her day job as an X-ray tech – the eatery is open for dine-in and take-out Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. But its menu is worth waiting for. 

Available at www.campolaspizza.com, it features six appetizers from $4.79 to $12.99, seven specialty pizzas, five salads, eight oven-toasted subs and sandwiches, and six specialty dishes at expected prices.

Specialties range from traditional pasta and meatballs ($9.99) to blackened salmon ($15.99), and include Spaghetti Aglio Olio with chicken or shrimp. Baked ziti will be added soon.

I vouch for the penne florentine, with mild Italian sausage, spinach and toasted pine nuts in a homemade garlic butter sauce ($13.99). The house Italian dressing is also a treat; it features 16 different dry spices and three types of olive oil.

Having eaten here, it's no surprise that advertising comes mostly from word of mouth and repeat customers, for both the food and the insider atmosphere.

"This place, it's so much like being with my family," said waitress Melissa Siferd of Painesville. "This is my kitchen, this is my dining room – welcome to my home."

Finally with liquor license and looking to build its first bar outside this summer, Campola's newest effort is recommending wine pairings, $3.75 to $5.50 a glass. And where staff are still learning, Siferd said it's not uncommon to see customers talking between tables and recommending favorite items.

"I'm assuming you left room for our cannoli?" Siferd prompted a social group Wednesday night. The cassata cake would have also been worth leaving some space, she added.

"No, but we'll be back – that was very good."

Campola's seats up to 25 people and accepts reservations, including times before 4 p.m. when possible. Coupons are printable online. For take-out or more information, call 440-290-8676.

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