Restaurant quietly opens, offers food and a view

Lynn and Mick Tropiano opened Café Azzurri Tuesday, March 15 to a small crowd. The restaurant, attached to the Hillsdale Country Club on Lake Baw Beese is out of the way, quiet — not booming, which is exactly what the Tropianos wanted.
"We wanted to open slowly," Lynn said. "We didn't want our staff to become overwhelmed in order to provide the best service to our customers."
For customers seeking great seafood or pasta with a view, or perhaps a drink at the bar, Café Azzurri is the newest place in Hillsdale County.
The restaurant is owned and operated by Rick Tropiano, owner of Johnny T's Bistro, Lynn said. Lynn Tropiano, the new restaurant's general manager, said customers can look forward to great table salads, pastas, fish and a wine list crafted by John Savorino, who ran Savorino's Italian Restaurant in downtown Hillsdale before it became Johnny T's in 2009.
Café Azzurri, though attached to the Hillsdale Country Club, isn't affiliated with it, a point Lynn Tropiano stresses. Mick Tropiano, Lynn's husband and fellow general manager, said the club stood near Lake Baw Beese for about 100 years, running the restaurant on its own.
He said the club had a hard time managing the restaurant and approached Mick's brother, Rick Tropiano, asking if he would take over the restaurant. Rick asked Lynn and Mick if they were interested in managing.
They said yes.
"We had to bring it up to speed in order to handle what we were expecting," Lynn Tropiano said.
Over two months, the restaurant underwent a transformation. Windows were replaced, walls were repaired, tables and chairs were brought in. Mick Tropiano said they haven't done anything with the deck yet, but are planning on holding future parties on it. Mick said there will be live music two or three nights a week. The Tropianos also said they're considering a Sunday brunch later in the spring.
"If someone has specific needs we'll be able to accommodate them," Lynn Tropiano said.
Customers, too, are eager to test the new restaurant.
"It was really good, the best fish in the area," said Assistant Professor of Piology Angelica Pytel. "They didn't overcook the trout."
Café Auzzri is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.