Zambistro completes dining room addition
Medina restaurant will add rooftop dining later this year
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Michael Zambito, left, owner of Zambistro in Medina, shows his new dining room to Dawn Meland and Pat Woodworth, who were there for the Twig banquet.
MEDINA – Michael Zambito always knew what he wanted to do – be a chef.
“I wanted to be a chef and I wanted to do it here in Medina,” he said.
Zambito graduated from Medina High School in 2000, and in 2004 he entered the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 2005.
He had several local jobs, including the former Apple Grove Inn, until he and his mother Rita Zambito purchased the building at 408 North Main Street.
At age 23, he opened Zambistro, a restaurant in his hometown.
Business has grown and his eatery has become a popular spot in the area, due to his culinary expertise. It became evident he needed more space, Zambito said.
He has recently completed an addition, which saw a revamping of the front entrance, a new side entrance into a new dining room capable of seating at least 30, a new bathroom and doubling the catering kitchen.
He said the new dining room is a perfect venue for small parties, showers or rehearsal dinners.
He credits his success with their European take on table service and a menu of American comfort food, served in an intimate atmosphere.
“This is a place where you can bring your wife for your anniversary or come in for lunch wearing your shorts,” Zambito said.
The next stage in the expansion is to create a rooftop dining venue, with a birds-eye view of the canal. He would like to see it completed by summer.
The restaurant’s specialty is homemade pasta, with Zambito’s meatball recipe. He is also known for his signature desserts.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday.
