by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
For the past 16 years, Casa Dora Italian Restaurant has been serving lunch and dinner to Downtown workers and visitors.
The restaurant on Forsyth Street near Ocean Street is one of the stops on this year’s “Eat Up Downtown!” dining showcase.
For two weeks in August, 17 venues are offering three-course dinners for $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
“Sooner or later, everybody who’s Downtown eats here,” said Casa Dora manager Freddie Ghobod.
The guest list includes local and international celebrities. With the restaurant’s proximity to the County Courthouse and the Florida Theatre, “you never know who you might see in here,” said Ghobod.
Autographed photos of performers who have appeared at the Florida Theatre form a gallery in the dining room.
There’s Tony Bennett, Amy Grant, Merle Haggard, Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, James Gandolfini and others.
“Sometimes they come to the restaurant and sometimes they call in their order and we deliver dinner to their dressing room,” said Ghobod.
Local notables who are regulars include elected officials, judges, attorneys and law enforcement officials.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m on trial. The judge, the jury and the executioner are all eating in the restaurant,” said Ghobod.
The extensive menu encompasses a full selection of Italian and Mediterranean specialties.
Chicken, veal and seafood are prepared and served with every description of pasta.
“It’s the homemade sauces that allow us to have such variety,” said Ghobod.
The menu also features sandwiches, salads, soups, vegetarian entrees and hand-tossed New York-style thin crust pizza. Casa Dora also offers domestic and imported beers and wine.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and for dinner from 4-10 p.m. Saturday.
It’s a regular stop during First Wednesday Art Walk and for dinner before a show at the Florida Theatre.
Ghobod said “Eat Up Downtown” is a way for people to come Downtown and enjoy a special dinner at a reasonable price.
It’s also a way for the restaurant to increase business, which is traditionally slower during the summer months.
“We know so many of our customers and we want to make eating here like coming home. People know they’ll get something good to eat and they’ll be treated like family,” said Ghobod.
“Eat Up Downtown” is Aug. 15-28. For a list of participating restaurants and menus, visit www.eatupdowntown.com.
356-2466
Eat Up Downtown 2011
Casa Dora Italian Restaurant
108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282
Choice of starter: Minestrone, crabmeat stuffed mushrooms, fried calamari with marinara or bruschetta.
Choice of salad: Caesar, chicken, Greek, roast pork or tossed.
Choice of entrée:
• Chicken or veal Marsala — sautéed in butter, mushrooms, shallots, onions and basil in a Marsala wine sauce.
• Chicken, veal or grouper Francaise — sautéed in butter and battered in eggs and lemon wine sauce over pasta.
• Chicken or veal parmigiana — a breaded cutlet and pan-fried marinara over pasta topped with mozzarella cheese.
• Chicken, veal or grouper piccata - sautéed in olive oil with artichokes, capers, basil and lemon white wine sauce over pasta.
• Hand-tossed New York-style pizza