Il Casale Belmont Reopens Today After January Fire

Chef Dante de Magistris of Il Casale Cucina Italiana + Bar in Lexington. Photo provided

Il Casale Cucina Italiana + Bar was has been shuttered for two months to the day after being hit by a fire, but the Belmont restaurant reopens tonight.

“Thank you to everyone that has reached out to us to show your concern and support. We have missed seeing the faces and touching the tables of each and every one of our beloved guests,” write co-owners Damian, Dante, and Filippo de Magistris on social media.

The brothers report that all 50 of their employees have stayed on board. In addition to the outstanding sfizi, house-made pastas, hearty proteins, and family-style fare chef Dante de Magistris and his line have offered for the past seven years, there are some new dishes on the menu, including roasted swordfish chop al livornese, and roasted skate wing oreganata with brown butter and celery spears.

The one-alarm blaze on January 7 was contained in the restaurant’s ductwork, the Belmont Citizen-Herald reported. At the time, firefighters anticipated it would take just a few days for the Il Casale to get back up and running. The de Magistris brothers said despite minimal damage, “it has been no small feat for us to re-open.” But they haven’t taken on a substantial renovation; “subtle updates to the aesthetics have been made, but nothing that the guest would notice,” a representative of the restaurant says.

“The most important thing is that all were safe and we are grateful to the Belmont Fire Department,” the de Magistris brothers said. “Your support over the past seven years has been essential and we appreciate your support in getting us back on track for many more.”

il Casale, 50 Leonard St., Belmont; 617-209-4942 or ilcasalebelmont.com.