Introduction to Casasalvo
Casasalvo is now open on Spring Street. It was only last year that chef Salvo Lo Castro, a Sicilian who spent nearly three decades cooking for some of the most powerful people in Italy, opened his first espresso bar, Casasalvo, in New York. With Rome-sourced roasts so deep they activate the internal corners of your mouth with a tobacco-y zing, the café took off. And by 2025, the chef—who will joyfully tell you himself how successful his foray into American hospitality has been—launched three more around Manhattan (one he plans on closing, and another is under renovations). On Sunday, July 20, Lo Castro debuted a new Casasalvo: his first-ever full restaurant as chef-owner.
The Ambiance of Casasalvo
The property is prime Soho real estate, right on the corner of Spring Street and Sullivan, and possesses all the tell-tale signs of an Italian venue in New York: a carmine red Campari umbrella, a green and white striped awning emblazoned with “Casasalvo New York City,” above tables dressed in white linen with modern armchairs and Aperol-branded pillows. The dark, rich interior features Italian walnut-paneled walls and deep green and auburn leather chairs. The large white marble tile, an onyx bar with a gold illuminated backsplash, a petite balcony beside open French doors and potted citrus and olive trees balance out the moody ambiance with softer touches.
Interior and Exterior Design
The space is splashy but still subdued, likely drawing inspiration from the upscale establishments for which Lo Castro once cooked. (The chef spent his formative years cooking at seaside luxury hotels, including the San Domenico Palace and Mazzarò Sea Palace, before becoming the private chef for the Vatican and the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.) Despite online reservations saying “fully booked” a few hours before my 7:30 p.m. indoor reservation, the dining room is empty when I arrive, and feels too stuffy for a gorgeous 70-something degree gem of a New York night.
Dining Experience
I request to dine al fresco instead. Only one table is available, which sends the two hosts into a bit of an awkward scramble, but we make it through. One later apologized for going back and forth with her co-host and shared that her Italian is stronger than her English—a fact I find more refreshing than problematic when going out for Italian food, even, and perhaps especially, in Soho.
Service and Menu
The servers and hosts are doting, but this slightly chaotic energy is a thread throughout the meal. The menu, written in Italian with no descriptions, has a typo that accidentally turns the broccoli rabe into a profanity. Staff members check in so frequently that conversations are interrupted a fair amount, though the main server, Marco, is detail-oriented and conscientious. Despite a dedicated Aperol Spritz Bar on the balcony, the drink isn’t as effervescent as I like when the 3-2-1 ratio (three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part sparkling water) is properly assembled, but they’re happy to add a bit more bubbly.
Highlights of the Menu
Lo Castro is charismatic, animated and nearly pops the buttons off his crisp white chef’s coat with his warm energy. He visits guests tableside, depending on how many entrées are being fired or whether he feels like leaving the kitchen, to debone the Dover sole. The fish (an $80 entrée ideal for two people) is fresh and beautifully tender. The skin is crisp and coated in salt. Lo Castro, who grew up on his grandfather’s hazelnut farm and grandmother’s rotisserie on the Ionian Sea, removes it with grace and precision as he chats about his exciting career here in New York and asks about my guest’s and my backgrounds.
Other Menu Options
Other entreés range from Sicilian jumbo shrimp and whole branzino to veal parmesan, a $100 lamb chop and Ossobuco. Appetizers include some classics like grilled octopus, burrata with prosciutto, Sicilian meatballs, calamari and a Mediterranean salad, which is stacked with large chunks of ricotta salata, sweet baby tomatoes and a fresh pureed pesto and zippy olive oil.
Conclusion
While Lo Castro’s unexpected riffs on menu items may not make Casasalvo the kind of restaurant you return to time and again for a replicated dish, it stands as an authentic neighborhood Italian spot—at least one with residents who can afford $38 calamari and a $170 porterhouse for two. Lo Castro’s confident, creative nature and expansive knowledge of Mediterranean and Italian food shine throughout his twists and turns. As he dips in and out of the kitchen, greeting guests and sharing his journey, it sets a certain rhythm—one that only a true Sicilian can drum up cooking in their own kitchen.
FAQs
Q: What is the location of Casasalvo?
A: Casasalvo is located on Spring Street in Soho, New York.
Q: What type of cuisine does Casasalvo serve?
A: Casasalvo serves southern Italian-Mediterranean cuisine.
Q: Who is the chef and owner of Casasalvo?
A: The chef and owner of Casasalvo is Salvo Lo Castro, a Sicilian who spent nearly three decades cooking for some of the most powerful people in Italy.
Q: What is the price range of the menu items at Casasalvo?
A: The price range of the menu items at Casasalvo varies, with appetizers starting at around $20 and entrees ranging from $50 to over $100.
Q: Does Casasalvo offer outdoor seating?
A: Yes, Casasalvo offers outdoor seating on a petite balcony beside open French doors.
