Say hello to Cello.
Downtown Howell’s newest eatery, Cello Italian Ristorante, is now open at 209 E. Grand River, serving fresh pasta, seafood, traditional favorites and house specialties in what owner Adam Merkel calls an affordable, fun modern Italian restaurant.
Merkel also owns Diamonds Steak & Seafood and The Silver Pig in downtown Howell, but “of the three, this is the one I’m the most over-the-moon happy about and proud of,” he said.
Merkel said he’s been cooking and eating Italian food for as long as he can remember and owes that passion and inspiration to his great-great-grandma Rosie, whose photograph hangs in the restaurant.
“I have to make sure I don’t let her down,” he said. “That side of the family is 100 percent Italian, so I had to get it right.”
Cello’s menu is designed to be “shareable,” so patrons can divvy up different dishes. While developing the concept for Cello, Merkel explained, he traveled to “some of the best Italian restaurants around” and found his favorites to be those where diners could try multiple menu items without breaking the bank.
In addition to traditional choices such as ravioli and chicken Parmesan – along with Rosie’s baked ziti, of course – Cello also features specialties such as lamb Bolognese, bucatini carbonara and pork tenderloin, along with appetizers, salads, cocktails and desserts (crispy chocolate ravioli, anyone?)
No matter what the staff is dishing up, Merkel said, he relies on daily deliveries to keep the kitchen stocked with fresh ingredients.
“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes to make sure we’re serving authentic Italian cuisine,” he said. “The food is delivered to the table immediately as it is prepared. Nothing ever sits under a heat lamp.”
As its name indicates, the restaurant highlights a house-made, traditional limoncello, as well as a creamy limoncello, which Merkel calls “outstanding.” Later this spring, he’ll also incorporate seasonal varieties into the mix.
Cello’s wine list, Merkel added, is completely composed of Italian wines.
“We’ve got lots of great undiscovered wines, and most can be enjoyed in three pour sizes, so again, you can navigate and explore new wines without breaking the bank,” he said. “The idea is to have a great experience.”
The restaurant – in the former location of Diamonds Steak & Seafood – also features a windowed pasta-making room. The building has undergone a complete interior remodel with butcher-block style tables handcrafted from reclaimed wood and an Italian marble bar.
Now that Cello is open, Merkel said, he plans to focus on operations at all three restaurants.
“We’re going to hone every detail to make everything better and better,” he said, noting menus will be updated regularly.
“Our goal has always been to make Howell a destination and a fun place to go for food and drinks,” he said.
Howell area Chamber of Commerce President Pat Convery said she was looking forward to her first visit to Cello, perhaps this weekend.
“We are thrilled with the investment Adam Merkel has made in downtown Howell and his passion for downtown Howell,” Convery said. “Diamonds has been a tradition in the downtown for a long time, so moving it into a larger space was wonderful — and opened up the perfect space for Cello Italian Ristorante.”
Contact reporter Laura Colvin at 517-552-2848 or lcolvin@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.