Date: Fri 31-Oct-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-Italian-Pavilion

Full Text:

A Smooth Transition For A Newtown Restaurant [Italian Pavilion]

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Although the sign reading "Italian Pavilion" was erected in front of the

former Robert Neal's on South Main Street three weeks ago, the business

actually changed hands six months ago.

"We decided to change the name to sound more like the Italian food we serve

here and to tell people that we are new owners," said Daret "Danny" Selmani, a

member of the large Selmani family that now is operating the restaurant.

The Selmanis, who live in Southbury, bought the business from LuLu Auger, who

had started it as Basil's in 1991. They also bought the building from the

owner of The Hitching Post, which was the original restaurant on the property

at 91 South Main Street.

Danny Selmani, 25, and his brothers, Yusan "Sonny," 32; Ylber "Billy," 28, and

Beqir "Benny," 22, and their father, Atam, and mother, Sadait, are from the

Yugoslavian state of Macedonia, where they still have a large family farm, now

operated by their uncle.

"My father came first to the United States, then the brothers came one at a

time," Danny said. "I came in 1989 when I was 16 years old and went into

business with my cousin operating San Remo (pizzeria) in Woodbury."

Eventually the brothers decided to combine their knowledge of the restaurant

business into a family operation and looked for a good location. They settled

on Newtown and Danny Selmani spent two weeks closely observing LuLu's

operation so the transition was made easily.

"We didn't shut down for even a day," Danny Selmani said. "And we kept the

chef, Geraldo DeSouza who had been with LuLu for many years."

The first thing the Selmani family did was to greatly expand the menu to

include many seafood, veal, chicken and pasta dishes. The gourmet pizzas which

LuLu was known for also are still on the menu.

"We kept the most popular items and added a lot more," Danny said. "We added

lots of seafood because that's what people told us they wanted."

There are more than a dozen seafood entrees, eight veal dishes, a dozen

chicken entrees, and more than two dozen pastas on the regular menu. Daily

specials also are offered at both lunch and dinner.

Dinner entrees include a choice of soup or salad and a side of pasta and are

mostly in the $11-$14 range. Pastas, which include soup or salad, are $7-$10.

Choices range from traditional favorites like lasagna and veal parmigiana to

dishes like Combinazione Picasso, made with sauteed shrimp, clams and broccoli

and served over linguine in a white garlic sauce, and Veal Paesano, prepared

with artichokes and mushrooms in a light butter sauce. On Monday through

Wednesday there is a special chicken and pasta dinner for two which includes

soup, salad, entree, dessert and coffee for $20.

On a recent weekday, the dinner specials included three different size

portions of Shrimp Scampi, priced at $6.50, $11.50 and $15.50; Sole Francais

at $11.95, Mom's Fettuchini Alfredo, $12.50, and barbecued ribs at $7.95 and

$14.95.

Luncheon entrees, $6 to $7 with soup or salad, change daily. There are also

salads, calzones, burgers and sandwiches, hot and cold grinders, omelets, and

a dozen appetizers. A children's menu offers a selection of pasta at $4-$5.

"People seem to like it - we've had no complaints," Danny Selmani said. "We

try to make them feel comfortable, like they're in their own home, and give

them good service."

The restaurant offers free delivery with orders of $15 or more. If you order

four pizzas to go, you get a fifth one free.

The Selmanis have plans to renovate the upstairs apartment someday to use it

for large groups and parties. They are currently scheduling bridal showers and

other small groups at lunch on Saturdays and Sundays in the dining room.

The restaurant is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, and until 11 pm on Fridays

and Saturdays. Danny Selmani said it is not unusual for the brothers to work

80 hours a week.

"If you work hard, you will have success," he explained. "If you don't work,

you won't."

For reservations or take-out, call 270-9293.