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Valery Pascolo,
College Street Bar,
Toronto, Ontario
By Gary Lipovetsky, President of MenuPalace.com
 Being part of something so great for so long can’t help but elicit a feeling of pride and accomplishment. After twenty long years in the food and restaurant business, Valery Pascolo and her husband Paul Pascolo, are still holding on strong and plan to leave an everlasting mark on the streets of Little Italy. With Valery’s business background and Paul’s vast knowledge and experience in the industry, this couple brought together the two things they know best, and transformed them into a College Street staple.
MP: How did you get started in the restaurant business?
VP: We wanted to have a business that we could work at together. We knew that each of us was bringing different skill sets that would work harmoniously. Having a common goal has kept us focused and the rewards have been great.
MP: What is College Street Bar best known for?
VP: College Street Bar celebrates twenty years in business this year. Over the years we’ve become well-known for our live music, and for the fresh seafood we serve. We have a very approachable, comfortable atmosphere that has brought many couples together, too. I often meet people that had their first date at our Bar and our now celebrating their wedding anniversaries with us.
MP: What is the most popular dish on your menu?
VP: I would probably say the grilled calamari and the antipasti platter because it’s great for sharing.
MP: What is the most crowd-pleasing drink at the bar?
VP: The Pope, it’s one of our martinis. Sort of named after my husband, Paul.
MP: What challenges have you faced in operating and maintaining a successful business?
VP: The restaurant/bar business is a gruelling, consuming business that takes a great deal of your time. One has to have a true passion for it in order to feel like the work is not real drudgery. We have benefited from having family involved, so that has helped with some of the responsibility. But, at the end of the day, it takes a great deal of love, dedication and commitment to keep the business successful.
MP: Tell me a bit about your chef.
VP: His name is Suriya, and he has been in the restaurant business for many years and is inspired by Italian cuisine.
MP: What inspired the bar’s décor?
VP: Mainly the feeling of an old, rustic Italian bar where a patron can feel comfortable sitting down at the oversized bar and having a few cocktails.
MP: What do you love most about being in the hospitality industry?
VP: It would have to be the people. We are both wired to be in the service industry and get much satisfaction over the repeat business and knowing our customers by their first names. Our inspiration comes from pleasing people and ensuring that patrons have a great time during their visit.
MP: What’s the best thing about being located in Little Italy?
VP: Well, we are both first generation Canadians and both our families immigrated from Italy. Some of our family settled in this area when they first arrived here in the 50’s. It seems appropriate that we should be doing business in Little Italy being that we are both Italian and speak the language.
MP: College Street has a great nightlife scene. How does College Street Bar contribute to that?
VP: Well, after twenty years we are certainly a mainstay in an ever-changing strip. We have seen many changes to the area over the years and it has been challenging to rise to the change. But, we try to keep fresh and hip and our D.J.’s and musicians certainly help contribute to that end.
MP: What does the future have in store for College Street Bar?
VP: We certainly hope to stay in business for at least another twenty more years!! The College street area has been vital in recent years and it would be great to keep the charm of the neighbourhood while still seeing an increase in traffic and welcoming new business.
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