Ciccio Restaurant Group is taking above the former Burger21 area in St. Petersburg, with designs to debut a new quick-informal Italian thought.
Tampa-based mostly CRG reported Monday that it has partnered with Jason Brunetti, a previous companion in Forbici Contemporary Italian in Hyde Park Village, to generate Jay & Luigi’s. Brunetti is also the proprietor of Brunetti Pizza, which has areas in New York City and the Hamptons.
Jay & Luigi’s is named following Brunetti and Luis Flores, CRG’s longtime government chef. Flores and CRG co-founder James Lanza have been early investors in Forbici with their previous business lover Jeff Gigante, a CRG co-founder who has considering the fact that completely divested from the organization.
Gigante is now a partner in Up coming Degree Models, which he shaped with Tampa actual estate government Andrew Wright. Forbici is owned by Gigante and Joe Guggino, who is also a partner in Subsequent Degree Models, and a several first buyers. Brunetti, Lanza and Flores are no for a longer period included in Forbici.
The Roman-fashion pizza that Forbici is regarded for will have a starring function at Jay & Luigi’s alongside the “CRG spin” on a the natural way fermented, New York-design and style pie. Jay & Luigi’s will share some important CRG menu staples: cauliflower rice bowls, plant-based alternatives and refreshing salads. (CRG is also the mum or dad organization of Fresh Kitchen area, Taco Dirty, Eco-friendly Lemon, Sweet Soul, Cali, Better Byrd and On The Fly, a multi-concept rapid-informal foodstuff hall.) It will also aspect handmade pasta and “distinctive plays on conventional Italian modest plates.”
“What we are making with Jay Brunetti and crew is influenced by the authentic Ciccio & Tony’s, which opened 30 yrs ago in New York Metropolis and advanced into CRG of Tampa,” stated CRG founder James Lanza. “There’s some good Italian in the Tampa Bay region in the substantial-conclusion and chain-pushed market. We would like to convey a cafe notion to this marketplace that we really feel is extremely underserved — a interesting, healthy trattoria style of Italian that our guests can eat numerous moments a 7 days both with us or in the comforts of their personal house.”
Brunetti provides to the partnership various previous Forbici workers, such as govt chef Jason Salduitt and former director of functions Norma Elizalde.
“This partnership is based on a passion not only for incredible Italian foodstuff but for delivering superb company and enjoyable new activities for the Tampa Bay residents who encourage us,” Brunetti reported in a statement. “Listening to our prospects and giving them what they want is what drives us all to be better, and that’s what we are striving to achieve, starting with Jay & Luigi’s.”