Fasanos planning to welcome you into the family when new restaurant opens at Ellicott and Swan

When you sit down for a meal at Pasquales, Mama Fasano wants it to be just like you're coming over to her house for dinner.

Every dish with be based on family recipes and the ambiance and decor will be designed to give diners an old-time, family Italian restaurant feel.

The Fasano family purchased the red brick, two-story building at the corner of Swan and Ellicott streets at the city's tax lien auction a couple of months ago with the specific intention to open a restaurant.

They've had to completely gut the place and entirely remodel it -- including putting in a new kitchen. The restaurant won't open until late fall, but they're ready to talk about their plans.

Joan Fasano has been in the restaurant and catering business for 40 years and at Pasquales the whole family is joining in.

"Many Batavians and Genesee County residents have been familiar with the Fasano name in conjunction with great food over the years," Maggie Fasano said. "Joan and her husband Jim catered many, many weddings, anniversaries, graduations and other events."

The menu will include homemade ravioli, chicken cacciatore, tripe, pasta fazool, along with other old-country recipes, and once every two weeks, a polish dish.

People go crazy over the polish dishes," Rachel Fasano said. "You can’t get them anywhere."

The kitchen is being designed and set up by Karl Klein, who recently closed his restaurant in Le Roy.

The Fasanos and Ganson have been close friends for 30 years.

Every once in awhile he'll work as a guest chef, making special dishes for the day.

Though the building was most recently a bar, the Fasanos are not setting up a tavern. It's an eatery. There will be beer and wine to go with dinner, but the bar won't be a place to come and sit and just drink.

Meals will be affordable.

"We want people to be able come and enjoy dinner and not empty their pockets, so to speak," Dave Fasno said. "Our menu will be based on good Italian food, what Mom likes to call peasant food."

Family photos and old photos of Italian immigrants will hang on the walls.

"We want people, when they walk in, to feel like the restaurant's been here forever," Joan said.

Photo: Rachel, Joan, Maggie in the front and David and Jimmy John behind the bar.