Fine Italian Dining in Marquette? Fuhgeddaboutit!
Marquette is about as far from Italy as you can get, but don’t tell that to the folks who run Casa Calabria. Marquette’s original Italian restaurant is also, arguably, its finest, with a sprawling menu and an unrivaled atmosphere that wouldn’t seem out of place on the set of The Godfather. Intrigued? Here’s a closer look at Casa Calabria.
The Casa Calabria Setup
If you haven’t been to too many Italian restaurants in your day, Casa Calabria will probably confirm a lot of the preconceived notions you had about the genre. And that’s a good thing. The lights always seem to be a little lower here than in other Marquette restaurants, but “the Casa” feels less like a dimly illuminated dive bar and more like the ornate dining hall of some grandiose Italian villa. The earthy-colored walls and tasteful decorations lend authenticity and class to the multi-roomed dining area, inviting visitors to raise a glass and allow themselves to be whisked away to another part of the world.
But there’s another part of Casa Calabria that’s 100 percent Marquette: A lively bar area with four TVs and a full menu of beer, wine and spirits. If you’re looking to enjoy game day with a side of Italian flair, it’s hard to beat the Casa Calabria Lounge.
Select Menu Items
Whether you come for dinner, lunch or game day, Casa Calabria doesn’t disappoint. You can find the full menu here, but some of the most popular items include:
- The Casa Snack: Antipasto salad, two meatballs or sausage and garlic bread
- Mozzarella Caprese: Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Calzones (basically giant pizza pockets with different fillings)
- Dinner salads with steak, chicken and other meats
- Char-grilled steaks (7 to 16 ounces, depending on the cut)
- Oven-baked pasta (lasagna, baked ziti and more)
- Italian classic dinners like chicken parm
- Stuffed pastas (ravioli, tortellini and more)
And let’s not even get started on the incredible wine menu — one of the best in Marquette!
Parties and Events
Hosting a graduation, rehearsal dinner or other party soon? Consider inviting your friends and family to Casa Calabria. Yep, turns out Marquette’s most popular Italian restaurant is also one of the best party venues in town for small to large gatherings (more than 100 people). When it comes to organizing events, Casa Calabria’s staff is second to none, so don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or check out their interactive floorplans to get a better sense of what’s possible in their expansive dining area.
A Long, Proud Restaurant Tradition
So now that you have a better sense of what Casa Calabria does, are you curious about where it came from? So were we. Turns out Casa Calabria has been around for about three decades, but it’s far from the first rodeo for its owners. Between them, the three families that control Casa Calabria’s parent company manage more than 20 restaurants in the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. Each restaurant is independently branded to avoid evoking the “chain” atmosphere common to other popular Italian restaurants. In fact, Marquette County has two other restaurants owned by the Casa Calabria folks: Villa Capri in Marquette Township and Mama Mia’s in Ishpeming aspire to similar quality and atmosphere, though “the Casa” is definitely the flagship.
When and Where
Casa Calabria is located at 1106 North Third Street in Marquette’s Village neighborhood. (It’s within walking distance of Northern Michigan University, Marquette General Hospital and the Superior Dome — talk about a great location!) The restaurant is open 7 days a week, but call (906) 228-5012 for hours, as open times may fluctuate depending on NMU’s schedule and other factors. Reservations are accepted for parties of 6 or more; smaller parties are walk-in only.
