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Community Corner

Clara's Pasta di Casa

In her first Wonders of Woodridge column, Suzanne Flynn takes you to one of the best pasta places in town.

Welcome to the Wonders of Woodridge! I'm Suzanne Flynn, and it's my job to introduce you to some of the best but less-hyped spots in Woodridge. I live in Naperville now, but I lived in Woodridge for five years. I still send my son to preschool in Woodridge and I frequent the parks and shops in town several days a week. 

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Clara's Pasta di Casa is the first spot I'd like to introduce you to.

First opened on
 March 13, 1987, this family-owned Italian restaurant brings fresh pasta and
 sauce to tables six days a week.

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Tucked in a small strip mall just north of Hobson on Route 53, Clara's may be easily missed as drivers speed by. But don't let the unimpressive entrance fool you. Once you're inside, it feels just right and is definitely worth the stop.

Owner Clara Melchiorre is the daughter of Celeste Lizio, otherwise known as Mama
Celeste, of frozen food fame. After the family sold the line of food in 1969, Clara and her husband Rudolph decided to open Clara's in Woodridge.

"When Clara's first opened, it was a carry-out only restaurant," said Paul Carver, general manager of Clara's. "Customers were so pleased with the food, they convinced Clara to put in a few tables to make it a sit-down restaurant. She did, and at that time, Clara herself would take the orders, cook the food and deliver the food to the customers."

Over the years, Clara's has expanded and taken over additional space adjacent to the original location.
The restaurant provides many great dishes — served in huge portions — at amazing prices.

Clara's offers traditional filled and baked pasta, pizza and several traditional Italian dishes served as house specialties. Of course, the restaurant is most famous for its homemade pasta and sauce. You can select your favorite noodle pasta and sauce and can even customize your dish by adding such items as grilled chicken, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed spinach and more.

"By far our most popular menu item is the lasagna, but my personal favorite is the Rudy Jr's Shrimp Special," Carver said.

The restaurant's walls are adorned with family photos, but the ambiance isn't the only great thing about Clara's. According to Carver, about 85 percent of the restaurant's patrons are repeat customers. The success of Clara's comes not only from the fresh pasta, but the friendliness of the staff.

"It's a great place to work," Carver said. "Clara treats her staff like family. I started as a dish washer, and 21 years later I'm still here! I wouldn't think of working anywhere else."

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