Via Triozzi was opened a couple of months ago on lower Greenville by Chef Leigh Hutchinson. It’s named for a street in the small town near Florence where she lived and got inspired by the food and culture. It helped that her grandmother added some Sicilian into her heritage and memories of all-day Sunday dinners at her house. It’s a fairly large place with an upstairs that I understand will someday house a rooftop bar. The beautiful high ceiling is opposite a terrazzo-like floor and surrounded by distressed brick walls and paintings. You can’t help but notice the pasta-making room that first greets you when you enter. Fresh pasta drys in there, but the semi-open kitchen is in the back of the room. A full bar takes up another portion of the room and bench seating lines the long walls. It’s quite stylish and attractive and even with music in the background the noise level was good but I could see where it could get out of hand. It’s pretty new so still finding its stride, but already quite popular. I hope there will be seasonal specials added to the menu. Continue reading
Cry Wolf opened 3 days ago at 4422 Gaston Avenue, a space that formerly held a Subway and you’d never know it. Chef/owner Ross Demers and his team have done a miraculous makeover to present a cozy, fun spot to have a delicious meal. Chef Demers previously owned On the Lamb but also held positions at Flora Street Café and Beverley’s Bistro. Alongside Demers in the open kitchen is another Fauna (part of Flora Street) alum, Liam Byres and also from there is sommelier Tim. The less than 30 seat stylish place offers a small seasonal menu of gradually-increasing-in-size options – to mix and match as the diner prefers. The plan is to change options as ingredients become available. The interior has a long concrete counter facing the kitchen and bar where diners can eat and interact with staff. There are also standard tables on the other side of the room. Music is in the background and the lights are lowered but you can still see. Get here before it gets so popular that you can’t. This is a new favorite restaurant and highly recommended. 
Sachet is a large place opened a couple months ago by the owners of Gemma (Frankie visited in June and July of 2016), where the food is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. About a third of the space is for the bar and the seating around it. An open kitchen fills one end of the restaurant and a large clear cube containing wines is a focal point in the dining room.. With lots of hard surfaces the noise level is significant but tables are placed a nice distance apart to give you some ability to talk once the place fills. The menu starts with “meze” plates which are priced in groups of 3 or 5. They are small plates meant to be shared by the table. Pastas are in serving sizes like appetizers but can be turned into a main plate for an upcharge. Service is efficient and friendly and tables are turned throughout the evening. 
