Zia's Trattoria Revamping Centro Space, Opening Summer

Joe Calabrese, owner of Zia's Trattoria, is bringing their neighborhood, approachable, Tuscan and Napa-influenced Italian cuisine to North Ashland. The expanded-bungalow-style Centro space requires an almost complete revamp, which Calabrese calls "a shell." He's looking at four-month buildout to open in June or July.

When it's done, Calabrese hopes it will be ornate. He's exposing all sorts of original building furnishes like bow truss and brick ceilings and found windows to expose the original rustic intricacies.

The dining room will seat 140, plus 80 at the existing horseshoe bar, which will be a combination of hi-top booths and tables. Fully-retractable doors in front will welcome patrons in from the 18-car parking lot, which will feature complimentary valet in the evenings. A 60-seat patio will soak up warmth in the summer months, adjacent to an outdoor enclosed-brick fireplace. The exterior will be completely redone with stucco, while a large glass-enclosed wine room, which Calabrese hopes will house tastings along with the entire wine collection, will highlight the interior.

Food options will be "90 percent Zia's" with French twists. Look for classic Italian-American cuisine with a couple wrinkles, similar to the original Edison Park location. The opening date is dependent on the renovation, which is partly asked for by the neighborhood residents. They were unhappy with the noisy Centro, but should be content with the more family-friendly concept coming in the summer.
· Zia's Trattoria Hoping to Take Over Shuttered Centro [~ECHI~]
· Zia's Trattoria [Official Site]