Former Vatican chef trades crosses for crosswalks with first NYC restaurant

From serving popes at the Vatican to celebrities in SoHo, acclaimed chef Salvo Lo Castro has led a remarkable culinary journey — and now, New Yorkers are getting a taste.

Lo Castro, who spent a decade as a private chef at the Vatican preparing meals for Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, recently opened his new restaurant Casasalvo in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The sleek eatery on Spring Street is the first of his ventures where the public can experience the dishes that once graced the tables of world leaders and movie stars.

“The restaurant is my home,” Lo Castro told The Post. “And the people who dine with me aren’t clients — they’re guests.”

Cooking for the Church, the World — and Now NYC

Before arriving in New York, Lo Castro built a name for himself across Italy and beyond. Born in the Sicilian town of Linguaglossa on the slopes of Mount Etna, he started cooking at age 12 in a local restaurant. Mentored by his grandfathers — one a rotisserie owner, the other known as the “King of Hazelnuts” — a culinary career felt like destiny.

He later trained in chef school and rose through the ranks in luxury hotels and resorts, including San Domenico Palace in Taormina, featured in HBO’s The White Lotus.

But his most prestigious posting came in Rome — inside the Vatican kitchens, where he prepared holiday feasts and traditional dishes for the highest levels of the Catholic Church. His famed fettuccine Casasalvo and his mother’s Sicilian meatballs — both on the menu at Casasalvo — were among the popes’ favorites.

While John Paul II was “very charismatic,” Lo Castro said his deepest connection was with Benedict XVI, calling the former pope “an incredible man” whose voice “was God in the world.”

No Pressure — Even with Presidents and Stars

Lo Castro has cooked for a jaw-dropping list of guests: Muammar Gaddafi, the Saudi royal family, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, and during a 2008 political summit, Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi.

Despite the high-profile pressure, Lo Castro says the secret is staying calm and focused. “If I’m nervous, I cook badly,” he said. “I only speak with the fish, the lamb, the beef — no phone, just the food.”

Next up? A private dinner for Rolex, with guests like Leonardo DiCaprio and Roger Federer expected.

“But for me, it doesn’t matter who I’m cooking for,” he added. “Every man is a king, and every woman is a queen.”

Bringing Italy to the Big Apple

Since 2022, Lo Castro has opened three espresso bars across Manhattan. His latest venture, Casasalvo, goes further — offering traditional Sicilian and Italian dishes in a fine-dining setting.

The menu reflects his meticulous nature: he sources beef from Tuscany and Montana, lamb from Colorado, fish from the Mediterranean, and insists on fresh, high-quality ingredients in every dish.

“I prepare the pasta myself,” he said. “If I don’t have good flour and good eggs, it won’t be good. It’s that simple.”

Guests can expect everything from homemade focaccia with roasted tomatoes, to Dover sole deboned tableside, to apple pie, a tribute to his new American home. Even the olive oil is served with oregano snipped fresh at the table.

And yes — the meatballs are just like his mother’s.

“When I go home, I eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” he said. “Now I’m proud to share them with New York.”

No Slowing Down

Lo Castro’s days start at 5 a.m. with Vespa rides to his espresso bars and stretch into long nights at Casasalvo. His Upper West Side café alone serves 1,500 customers a day — pouring over 150,000 espressos and 225,000 cappuccinos last year.

Despite his packed schedule, he remains passionate and grounded.