Riccardo Simeone and Silvia McDowell stand in front of the future location of their new restaurant, Trattoria Cioppino.
A new Italian restaurant will soon be opening its doors in Green Lake.
Trattoria Cioppino is scheduled to open at 7900 East Green Lake Dr N half-way through May 2011.
Authentic Italian food, prepared under the direction of head chef and co-owner Riccardo Simeone, will be served.
Simeone previously worked out of Zeffirino Ristorante in Las Vegas and Belltown’s Barolo Ristorante. He grew up in the small central Italian town of Gaeta and now lives in Greenwood.
“I will be preparing authentic regional food, like what you could find in Italy,” he promises.
Trattoria Cippino will offer vegetarian and gluten-free options, including Simeone’s own homemade gluten-free ravioli. “I want to make the food healthy,” Simeone says. He plans to focus on local ingredients, and he is devoted to creating “slow food.”
A menu highlight will be cioppino, which Simeone will fill with fresh fish, scallops, clams, and prawns. In the fall or winter, he plans to share free tastes of the soup in the courtyard in front of the restaurant.
Tiella, a stuffed pizza, will also be offered, as well as manicotti, crespelle, and sandwiches made with focaccia bread.
The dessert menu will feature rum baba, creme brulee, tiramisu, and cheesecake, all made from scratch.
A kids’ menu will be offered.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and will offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Last call will be 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Wine will be served, and Simeone hopes to offer some wine tasting events.
The restaurant will occupy a prime north Green Lake location, across the street from the Green Lake wading pool.
This address has seen many great Green Lake restaurants through the years. The current building, Lakeside Plaza, houses BluWater Bistro, Dr. Camille Sata, Illustrated Salon Spa, Ben & Jerry’s, SkinLogic Skin Center, Zeeks Pizza, AlataRock Energy, Physiotherapy Associates, and Lakeside Dental Center.
The location that Trattoria Cioppino will soon open in was previously occupied by World Wrapps, which closed in February. The interior is currently undergoing major renovations. Ultimately, the spot will feature a brick wall, distressed wood tables and chairs, and warm colors. Local art will be displayed on the walls.
The storefront next door to the Trattoria Cioppina has been vacant since May 2009, when Souped Up Cafe went out of business. The 1,800+ square-foot retail space is currently for lease.
Trattoria Cioppino is hiring. Simeone and his business partner Silvia McDowell are looking for a manager, waiters, bus boys, dishwashers, and a back-up cook. Interested applicants should email their resumes to silviamcdowell10 [at] gmail.com.
Welcome to Green Lake, Riccardo and Silvia!
Update, July 20 2011 –Details about Trattoria Cioppino’s new menu are available here.
We are so excited for this restaurant to open! Its going to be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood.
Ever since Rialto left a few years back, I’ve been hoping we’d get another neighborhood Italian restaurant. I’m excited for this place to open!
Oh, this is very good news. Looking forward to trying the cioppino.
I could not have asked for a better replacement for Worst Wraps. Just what we need, a neighborhood Italian joint. We wish you success and longevity.
Great article on the new restaurant coming to the Lakeside Plaza. Also, wanted to mention that my company HORIZON Real Estate is also in that building. Judith Ryan
Thanks Judith! Please feel free to add property details and/or a listing link to the comments here.
Amy
that is excellent! I’m sure I will be a regular at your new restaurant, best of luck!