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Tag: Cleveland Italian Restaurants

  • First Look: Flour Restaurant at Valor Acres, Opening Nov. 25 in Brecksville – Cleveland Scene

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    After nearly 15 years in Moreland Hills (34205 Chagrin Blvd., 216-464-3700), chef-owner Matt Mytro is one day from opening a second location of Flour. This one is located 20 miles to the southeast in Brecksville, specifically at Valor Acres, the mixed-use development currently taking shape on Route 21.

    “I’ve always wanted to do a second location,” Mytro says. “We’ve been looking for a long time but never found the right opportunity.”

    While approximately 30 seats larger – including a much larger patio – the new restaurant retains the look and feel of the original restaurant. Guests enter into the bar and lounge area, which features a large horseshoe bar.

    “We wanted the bar to be a main focus when you walk in,” Mytro explains.

    Beyond the bar, the open kitchen is also immediately visible, including the massive wood-burning pizza oven. One of the largest of its kind in the state, the Italian oven can cook 28 pies at a time. Unlike the “chef’s counter” in Moreland Hills, which is tucked away on the far side of the kitchen, Mytro wanted to move that action closer to the front door. Now called the “pizza bar,” the counter is a family-friendly place to watch the culinary action.

    Second bites at the apple often result in improved logistics, and that’s definitely the case here, adds Mytro.

    “In terms of the openness of it, the kitchen is very similar to the other kitchen, but from a flow standpoint I think it’s going to be way better,” he states.

    When Flour opens tomorrow, November 25, it will do so with essentially the same menu as the original in Moreland Hills. That will change down the road.

    “To start, the menu will be the same [as Moreland Hills], but eventually we will modify the food menu and the wine list to the clientele once we get an idea of what they want. Maybe we’ll have a few items that you can only get here.

    Flour will be dinner-only to start, with lunch service coming online after the new year.

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    Douglas Trattner

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  • Sorella Takes Over Dining Room at One Bratenahl Place – Cleveland Scene

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    There’s a new restaurant at One Bratenahl Place, the posh twin-condo compound near the shores of Lake Erie. For the past decade or so, the public dining room at the private property had been home to Bistro at Bratenahl Place, which closed in mid-June. Now, it is the home of Sorella, which will make its official debut this coming weekend after a soft opening in September.

    Since taking over earlier this summer, owners David and Alexa Dragich renovated the already attractive interior. Among the improvements are a new bar and lounge area, buffed-up 60-seat dining room, and a private event space called “The Speakeasy.”

    Billed as an elevated Italian-American restaurant, Sorella’s menu offers Roman-style pastas such as bucatini carbonara, cacio e pepe, and gnocchi with charred tomatoes. Those classics are joined by entrees like chicken parmesan, chicken marsala, bone-in pork chops and grilled steaks. To start, there are appetizers like Tuscan soup, fried calamari, meatballs and steamed mussels. In the salad department diners will find a Caesar, caprese, wedge and beet-and-goat cheese medley.

    A separate bar menu features comfort food items like chicken clubs, smash burgers, chicken wings, pizzas and steak frites.

    “The name Sorella – Italian for ‘sister’ – perfectly represents both our family and the spirit of Italian culture,” says co-owner Alexa Dragich. “It’s about connection, tradition, and the bond between family. The fact that both of [partner] Ray’s daughters are now running their own restaurants — sisters in life and in business — made the name feel meant to be.”

    Sorella officially opens its doors Friday, October 17.

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    Douglas Trattner

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  • Stino da Napoli to Close in December – Cleveland Scene

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    Chef-owner Agostino Iacullo is retiring and with that the doors of his Rocky River Italian institution will be closing as well.

    But fans have plenty of time left to make a stop by Stino Da Napoli, as the restaurant won’t be calling it a day until Dec. 20.

    “We are deeply grateful to all of our loyal patrons, friends, and supporters who have become like family to us over the years. Serving the community has been one of the greatest joys of our lives, and we are honored to have shared our passion for Neapolitan cuisine with you,” management said in a social media post.

    “Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives — whether it was for a special celebration, a casual dinner, or simply a shared love of good food. The memories made within these walls will stay with us forever.”

    Iacullo opened Stino in 1991 about a decade after moving to America. It quickly found a devoted following by delivering simple, well-executed Italian fare in the west side suburb. By the time Scene reviewed it in 2005 — gushing that the “kitchen turns out spot-on preparations of simple standards, and does it so well, so intelligently, that it makes a jaded diner want to weep for joy” — it had already been open for more than a decade and was still one of the tougher reservations to snag at the time. Things haven’t changed much in the ensuing 20 years, which makes the news all the more sad for fans of Iacullo’s understated, classic approach.

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    Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.

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    Vince Grzegorek

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