Global cuisine made with local ingredients

OLD FORGE — On Tuesday, May 13, at 4 p.m., restaurateur Dominic Saadi will cut the ribbon for the grand opening of his new restaurant, bar and banquet room called Mondano.

Open since November, his dining establishment, located on 112 South Main Street, is known for contemporary global cuisine representing 10 to 12 countries. Its menu changes monthly. For the month of May, a 14-ounce pork chop can be ordered in a Greek, Italian or Vietnamese style. A chicken cutlet can be prepared according to the style of four different countries: Italy (marsala), France (francaise), Japan (katsu) and Lebanon (pomegranate lemon).

“There’s something for everyone here,” said Dominic. “For those who prefer simpler, more familiar foods, there’s a steak, lamb chops, crab cakes, and homemade pasta. And those hoping for something a bit more exotic will find a North African Tagine Bowl, Spanish Romesco, Puerto Rican Tostones, and Monkfish. If anything has struck us, it has been the immense popularity of our German dishes, like Jägershnitzel and Sauerbraten. I imagine there will always be at least one German dish on the menu for the foreseeable future.”

Always on the menu, there’s the Mediterranean Tasting and Lebanese Baked Kibbeh — both from recipes from Dominic’s Lebanese family, which has owned restaurants for three generations.

Mondano focuses on vegan and plant-based foods but its main emphasis is bringing farm-to-table freshness by sourcing its ingredients from local farmers in northeastern and central PA. The wine at the bar is made locally from Grovedale Winery in Wyalusing. It can be served by the glass, bottle, or case. The bar also has a wide selection of beers, classic cocktails including non-alcoholic cocktails.

On Tuesday nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., it offers Happy Hour complete with a complimentary appetizer plate, drink specials and live piano music. On the first Sunday of each month, Mondano hosts a Lebanese dinner from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a four-course meal of entirely Lebanese food. On the last Monday of each month, the restaurant holds a five-course plant-based international tasting, highlighting vegan food from around the world. And every week, Mondano hosts $29 Tuesday, offering three courses from the current month’s menu for just $29. Then there are the one-time events, like the Italian Opera Dinner coming up on Sunday, May 25, at 3 p.m. — a five-course Italian meal with members of the Mostly Opera ensemble performing Italian arias and street songs in between each course.

Mondano’s banquet hall, located at the lower level of the building, has its own catering kitchen, bar, coat check, and two entrances. It can host dinners and parties of up to 150 people and meetings up to 200. Catering is able to function independently of the restaurant.

Dominic is no stranger to the restaurant business. In 2009, he owned City Cafe, which was in downtown Scranton. In 2017, he moved to Clarks Summit, where he opened The New Cafe, which was later named The Cafe at Greystone Gardens. He enjoys serving his customers. He believes that a good dining experience is where you have the table for the evening to share food and conversation.

“The table is a host for conversation and getting together with friends and family,” he said. “The customers are not a commodity. The food is not a commodity. You’re here to enjoy a meal with family and friends.”

In cooperation with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Opening is designed to introduce participants to all three major components of the business: the restaurant, the bar, and the banquet hall. The event is open to the media, local dignitaries, and the public, with RSVPs requested by calling the restaurant at (570) 471-3230 or visiting the RSVP page on its website: http://www.MondanoRestaurant.com/rsvp. Complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

For those wishing to dine afterwards, regular table service will open immediately following the ribbon cutting.