Just when it looked as if Prospero, formerly The Coda Restaurant, might never open, the unmistakable green neon sign flickered on. I must have passed by fifty times in the meantime… looking in through the windows… searching for signs of life. Seeing that this restaurant is situated directly behind Kleinhans Music Hall, with no other businesses in sight, it was noticeably dark to anyone living in the neighborhood. When I first wrote about Prospero back in May, I had no idea that it would take so long to open its doors – those darn liquor licenses!
From all appearances, the wait was worth it. I stopped in last evening (early) to take a look around, sip a glass of wine, and sample a coupe of appetizers. Prospero’s bar is one of the quaintest in the city – it only seats around half a dozen (if that), but then again the restaurant seats a limited number of people as well. I am happy to see a few bar stools in there considering it was formerly a ‘standing room only’ operation. As you can see by the pictures, Prospero is a fine dining establishment. The place looks great, just as it did way back, when it was a fine French bistro. The intimate booths are perfect for close conversation while the dining room floor is more of a social supper club kind of arrangement. There’s even a tucked away two-top that could possibly be the most romantic cubbyhole anywhere.
I’m already planning on heading back to take advantage of the unique ‘create your own pasta’ menu. One of the apps that I sampled – the artichokes Calabria – was very tasty… so tasty in fact that I’m going to request that it be served on top of a plate of penne with some pesto cream sauce. That’s the beautiful thing about creating your own pasta dish – you can mix and match until you find the right combo that satisfies your cravings. Other items on the menu include braciole, ravioli pomodoro, a lotta lasagna, eggplant parmesan, linguini with clam sauce, a couple of chicken and steak dishes, brushetta bread, and a Caesar salad. Entree prices range between $15 and $19.
The owners of Prospero, Rick Yaeger (right) and Peter Provenzo (middle), want to inform their loyal customers of the recently closed Provenzo’s (in Niagara Falls) that the team is back in business in Buffalo. Chef Frank Provenzo (left) is busy whipping up the ‘old favorites’ in back, while Rick and Peter are running the floor. They suggest that customers call ahead to reserve a table, though the word has only just started to get around that the doors are finally open. Stop in for a drink at the bar, peruse the menu, chat it up with the hosts and get ready to enjoy a relaxed evening with friends and family. I’m anxious to see how the neighborhood reacts to this new Italian eatery.
Prospero
350 Pennsylvania Street
Buffalo NY 14203
716-931-5450