Cascone’s Traditional Italian, Sempre Famiglia

By Jackson Bonar

“It’s a beacon of light for the Northland,” as one of their regulars says about the original Cascone’s sign in front. They’re celebrating 70 years, opening originally in 1954, and with four generations of family running the restaurant, it’s all about family, whether you work or dine with them.

“We have celebrations at Cascone’s, both good and sad,” says Jimmy Cascone, operating the business present day with his brother, Frank, and sister, Lu; all three can be found at the restaurant daily. Cascone’s has a very loyal clientele with some regulars dining with them more than once a week, others weekly while welcoming newcomers to the family. Guest recognition is very important in the culture with their staff; some of their more than 50 employees have been with them 40-plus years. While they do hire new servers when needed, the average tenure of a server is 12 years which says a lot about the work atmosphere. Jimmy preaches to his staff the “raise your hand” principle. If you are getting overwhelmed or bogged down, before it affects the guests’ dining experience, let someone else know and ask for help.

Chef Alan runs the kitchen at night. He started at the original Cascone’s location as a dishwasher, working his way up. Chef Mario, boasting over 20 years of service, runs the kitchen during the daytime. Their focus is on traditional Sicilian food, offering separate luncheon and dinner menus instead of the all-day menu most restaurants have gone to.

One of their signature dishes we had the opportunity to sample is the Italian Flag Lasagna. It’s their famous baked lasagna sitting in a bed of creamy fettuccini alfredo. One bite and you can tell the dish was made with love. Their Chicken Spedini “Our Way” is lightly breaded with modiga, then grilled with a lemon-garlic amogio sauce and served with a side of spaghetti. It’s just the right touch of lemon and garlic to set it off. And if you are looking for an unbeatable appetizer, try their house-made giant Meatballs with Mozzarella, meatballs in sugo sauce that’s prepared daily by cooking for hours with delicious neck bones, then baked with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, almost a meal in itself. Their Italian Nachos put a spin on traditional nachos as we know them, fresh pasta chips covered with a rich cheese sauce, Italian sausage, tomatoes, olives, green onions and banana peppers.

And save room for dessert! Our tasting choices were house-made Cannoli, Tiramisu and the pièce de résistance, a giant slice of Lemon Cake, a light lemon-flavored cake with a traditional lemon cream and lemon gel icing. It’s a true slice of heaven.

Along with a delightful dining experience, the décor seamlessly blends tradition with a modern flair. The ribbon work that adorns the restaurant started in 2010 celebrating the marriage of daughter Elaina. Now, it has become a customer favorite, with the ribbon décor being changed out five times a year. In 2020, when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, they created a red and gold giant Chief’s chandelier in the main dining room that was featured on KMBC TV9 news.

Cascone’s also features two private dining spaces for groups, one accommodating about 25 and the other 100. High school reunions, bridal or baby showers, rehearsal dinners, ladies or men’s groups, funeral dinners, whatever the occasion, their dedicated private dining staff will cater the event to your specific needs for plated meals or buffet style.

Cascone’s is located in the Northland at 3733 North Oak Trafficway; recently the street in front of the restaurant was named Honorary Cascone’s Way in celebration of the restaurant’s 70-year anniversary. Whether you’re a pasta enthusiast or craving the classic Italian flavors, Cascone’s is a must-visit destination for food lovers everywhere.

Cascone’s is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch or dinner and closed on Mondays. Call 816-454-7977 or visit cascones.com for menu previews, reservations and to order takeout and jarred sauces.