Meet the Chefs
Douglas Zitz | Pasta Max Café
Douglas Zitz, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, opened Pasta Max Café in 1994. Originally based in Stockbridge, the restaurant moved to McDonough Square 18 years ago. They serve classic Italian dishes like lasagna and chicken parmesan, alongside unique creations such as black pepper pappardelle with grilled chicken and a mushroom-leek cream sauce. All pastas are made from scratch, and seafood options like grouper, halibut, and salmon are always fresh (never frozen).
The restaurant’s warm atmosphere is enhanced by its brick walls and high ceilings, and Zitz’s wife and sons, who also work at the cafe, ensure every guest feels at home. With a career in the restaurant industry starting at age 16, Zitz gained valuable experience working at Mark’s Place and Cafe Chauveron in Florida. His Northern Italian-inspired dishes are influenced by the cookbooks he reads and the cooking shows he enjoys watching—some of his favorite hobbies.
From Pasta Max Café
