Great, authentic Italian food is hard to come by in central Ohio. I’m not talking about Olive Garden, which you can find anywhere, but somewhere with homemade pasta, slow cooked sauces, and the freshest ingredients. If this is the kind of Italian food that sounds good to you, go to Claudiana, a small-hole in the wall that is serving up the best real and delicious Italian dishes around.
Claudiana is located in Polaris at 8475 Sancus Blvd. Not many people know it is there because it is tucked back in a strip mall. But don’t let the location fool you, when you walk in, it feels like you have just stepped into a small, cozy restaurant located in the heart of Italy.
Cladiana was opened in 2011 by Ardi and Natasha, who moved to the United States in 2002. They opened this restaurant to share authentic Italian recipes that have been passed down in their family for many generations. They worked very hard to fulfill their American dream and provide a better life for their children.
Ardi and Natasha wanted to create an intimate restaurant where you could come and feel like family. They really focused on having friendly service and the overall dining experience. Their motto is “Come as a stranger, and leave as a friend.”
The restaurant is not huge, but it does have a separate room for parties. They also provide catering and hold special events for holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day.
Claudiana has a very large menu and everything is fresh and homemade, so there is sure to be something for everyone. You can enjoy classics like spaghetti and meatballs or more unique dishes like chicken caprese pasta or seafood risotto. There are endless pasta options, many different pizzas, tons of entrees, and an extensive appetizer menu, too; but the star of the show are their homemade desserts.
When you first sit down at your table, you are greeted by your extremely welcoming waiter or waitress and are brought a basket of warm, freshly baked bread with butter, which is the perfect start to your comforting meal.
After you have time to peruse the menu and order, you won’t have to wait too long for your food to arrive but when it does, it will be piping hot.
When I go to Claudiana, I always have to start with the harvest salad which is topped with juicy strawberries, sweet apples, tangy goat cheese, and crunchy candied walnuts, and is drizzled with a housemade sweet parsley vinaigrette. This salad is delicious, but may be for the more adventurous eaters so if this isn’t for you, they have more classic options like a caesar or wedge salad.
One of my favorite pastas to get here is the Fettuccine Alla Romana. This dish features perfectly cooked, handmade fettuccine noodles, smoked ham, fresh peas, and mushrooms all tossed in their rich and creamy alfredo sauce. This meal is the perfect indulgence and all you could want in a delicious pasta. The sweet pop from the peas, umami from the mushrooms, and savory ham are the perfect additions to cut through the velvety sauce.
When you come to Claudiana, you have to make sure to save room for dessert. At Claudiana, they are serving up amazing sweets that are made in house. Again, they have many different options but my two favorites are the tiramisu and the cannoli. The tiramisu has the perfect amount of coffee flavor. It’s not too overpowering but it adds a nice subtle bitterness that compliments the light and fluffy cream and soft ladyfingers wonderfully. The cannoli has a crispy shell and is filled with a sweet ricotta filling and chocolate chips. For a dollar upcharge, you can get it chocolate dipped, which is what we did, and that is definitely the way to go.
The first time my mom and I went to Claudiana, we ordered the tiramisu to share and the cannoli to take home for my dad, but we ended up eating them both because they were so good!
Claudiana also has a kids menu so this is the perfect place to take your whole family for a special occasion or just a simple night out. The restaurant is very nice on the inside, but it’s not too fancy so don’t worry about a dress code or super expensive prices.
Like I said earlier, the restaurant has limited seating so on busy nights, it is best to call and make a reservation or do it online at their website (click here).
Overall, I would rate Claudiana a 9.5/10. The whole dining experience is great; the service is amazing and the food is fresh and delicious. It would be even better if Claudiana could expand to a bigger location so more people could try their authentic cooking, but for now, the small yet inviting restaurant creates the perfect atmosphere for a special meal.
Claudiana has become a favorite of my family’s and it is sure to become one of yours too. Definitely check out this restaurant if you want to get the best Italian cuisine in town. Next time, you are craving some Italian food, skip the big chains and come support this amazing local business instead.
