In The News

Fairfield restaurant owner opens new eatery in West Chester

October 12, 2012  |  Casa Bianca
Casa Bianca

JOURNAL NEWS

By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer
 

WEST CHESTER TWP. — After 23 years operating as the White House Inn, the West Chester Twp. restaurant and seven acres of land are reopening today under new ownership.

The new restaurant — called Casa Bianca — is paying tribute to the restaurant’s history though, as the name translate as “white house” in Italian, said General Manager Mike Lindner.

Casa Bianca, located at 4940 Muhlhauser Road, has its grand opening at 11:30 a.m. today. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The cuisine is Italian-American and includes traditional menu items such as chicken piccata, lasagna, pork chops, sandwiches and fish and chips, according to Executive Chef Jared Beckman, a 2005 Fairfield High School graduate.

Beckman said the menu will change with the seasons, such as the current offering of pumpkin ravioli in a brown butter and sage sauce. An in-house pastry chef will create desserts and there’s a full bar, Beckman said.

“Traditional favorites and farmhouse cooking,” Beckman said, a cook since age 14. “We’re working to try to complement the house and beautiful property.”

Lindner said patrons will also be able to create their own pasta dishes by selecting different grains, sauces and proteins such as scallops and meatballs. There’s also the option of creating your own stone-oven pizza.

Majority owner Joe Schwarz, who also owns Symmes Tavern on the Green in Fairfield, said this is his first venture into Italian cuisine. He purchased White House Inn for $300,000 during an auction in late August.

“There were about two dozen people and I was the only bidder,” Schwarz said, who bid on the property once before in 1989 and lost.

Schwarz and his team — including minority owners JoJo Schwarz and friend Mitch Rhodus — have been busy remodeling and cleaning the restaurant’s seven unique dining areas after White House Inn closed Sept. 30.

The restaurant seats about 250 people inside, with outdoor seating for an additional 300 under a wedding/party tent and gazebo. Casa Bianca accepts party bookings for weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers and birthdays.

Casa Bianca will also be open Thanksgiving Day.