Carl Alasko has learned a few things in his time as a restaurateur. Once, for example, he dropped prices by 30 percent for 30 days and tallied the best month of the year.
That was at Alasko’s former spot. To introduce people to his new downtown Monterey location, he plans something perhaps more radical. From Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Thursday, Oct. 15, customers who buy a drink of any kind—beer, wine, soda, coffee—will receive a focaccia pizza for free. And the deal is good from noon-9pm.
“That’s kind of ridiculous, isn’t it?” Alasko says, adding that “Pazzo means crazy in Italian.”
Pazzo Italian Café is a cheery, colorful counter-service space on Alvarado Street. Open just a month, Alasko admits business has been slower than expected, but for a good reason: he introduced the restaurant as Gelato Pazzo Café.
Alasko’s gelato became popular during his Il Vecchio days, which would generally be considered a plus. By emphasizing gelato in the restaurant’s name, however, customers missed the café part.
“They would say, ‘Oh, you have food?’”
Indeed, the newly restyled Pazzo Italian Café features pasta—three-cheese rigatoni, four-meat ragu, truffle orecchiette and a couple of other offerings—salads and plates. The rock cod basil pesto sits in a cream sauce that is light enough for lunch, fulfilling enough for dinner. Pork simmered slowly in red wine for the brasato falls like cashmere on the palate, but with a dense bravado.
It's a homey, comfortable dish.
But Alasko is eager to show off the focaccia. There are four choices, but all benefit from the same technique. Baked in olive oil, the flatbread develops a crackling veneer with a grassy bite that complements the malty savor of the dough.
“A crunchy crust makes all the difference in the world,” Alasko points out.
Pazzo serves wine and beer in addition to coffee drinks and Italian sodas. And, yes, there are 27 flavors of gelato.
What may stand out, however, are the prices. With the exception of a couple of red wines marked at $12 a glass, no item costs more than $10.50.
Alasko admits that a veteran restaurateur has to be a little pazzo—crazy—to get back in the business, he could not resist the concept. Counter service with disposable plates and utensils allow for friendlier pricing.
“The model is so intriguing,” he says. “A person can have a good meal for $20—with a glass of wine.”
Alasko is content to sacrifice presentation. The focus is on flavor.
Pazzo Italian Café is at 482 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 215-6247, gelatopazzocafe.com.