Riardo is a small town in Italy. It is in the province of Caserta in the region Campania, located about 40 miles north of Naples and about 110 miles southeast of Rome. Campania holds many delightful attractions for visitors, as the region is a showcase of history, art, music, and mouthwatering cuisine.

It was here that Paolo (Paul) Napolitano learned the art of cooking from his grandmother. Wheat, corn, potatoes and wine were plentiful, and they were the basis for many family recipes. However, it wasn't long before the young chef began developing his own style. His talent and his ambition led him to America.

In 1966, Paolo opened his own pizza shop in Flushing Queens. Running a business in the Big Apple was quite a learning experience. He learned to throw pizza dough high in the air, but it was not a place to raise a family. Just ask him to tell you about the time he shot a would-be robber in the backside as the unlucky offender tried to run away!

Finally settling down in Upstate New York, Paolo operated Maria's Place in Frankfort from 1972 until 1990. He then moved to Herkimer and continued to delight his customers at Villa Italia.

Today, with the help of his lovely wife Lilianne, Paolo serves his Italian lunch specialties Monday through Saturday at the Shoppes At The Finish Line. Mondays and Thursdays are "Spaghetti Days", and Paolo stays open until 8:00 p.m. with his famous spaghetti, salad and meatball for just $3.95.

Visit Paolo's Finish Line Cafe today for a truly unique dining experience. His sauce is to die for, and if you're lucky, you can get Lilianne to sing a beautiful Italian love song! Ciao!