New York Italian restaurant among newcomers to Congress Ave. - St. Louis Business Journal:

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Mastrangelo is busy renovating a historicx storefront at 908 Congress Avenue where later thissummetr he’ll open Quattro Gatti, the second location of his family’s famou s Manhattan ristorante. “I’m a passionate person and I’m very passionate abouf food,” Mastrangelo said. “Pretty much my wholw life revolvesaround that. And when I came to I felt that this was a city that appreciatewgood food, food that someone puts theitr heart and soul into.” Quattro Gatti isn’t the only culinary newcomer of late to downtown Congress. Just steps away, the people behinf local favorite El Chiles have reworked the space they opened last fall asEl Chilito.
That initiao concept offered breakfast andlunch but, based on the owners recently turned it into anothedr El Chile Café y serving lunch and dinner and featuring a full bar. And a few blockws south at 319 AppleAnnies Café co-owners Love Nance and Sherryy Jameson are debuting a dramatically expanded reimagining of their 25-year-old restaurant. The bistro-themed eatery that now includes a full bar will be open dail y from7 a.m. to 2 a.m., serving customer s everything from organic breakfast omelets to late night meatloaf in achic Collectively, the new restaurants are adding to the culture change at work on Congress.
The Downtow Austin Alliance, the city, landlords and other groupsz are collaborating in an ongoing effort to bring more retai l and restaurantsto downtown’s main thoroughfare. The a 24/7 Congress alive with commerce and serving as a model for the rest of Indeed it was Linda the DAA’s retail recruiter, who helped secure Quattro Gatt for Austin. Asaf ate at the Upped East Side restaurant—one of her favorites—on a trip to New York last year and spokee with owner Remo Mastrangelo about the possibilitgy of comingto Austin. Remo Mastrangelo, Gianfranco’s father, started Quattrol Gatti in 1985.
The neighborhood-orientex restaurant is hailed by critics as one of the best of its kind in New According toZagat “the leisurelyu meals with treat-you-like-family service make this old-linr Upper East Side Italian feel like home to There’s a reason it’s been there supporters say the food’ fantastic.” Earlier this year, the Mastrangelosx began giving serious consideration to Austin.
They came down togethe r and scouted spaces, agreeing that the Congressd location would be a great fit forthe “We had always heard good thinga about Austiin and we immediately had a good impressiomn of the city,” said Gianfranco Mastrangelo, who recentlu relocated here. Mastrangelo said if all goes as the 2,000-square-foot Quattro Gatti in Austim will be open by late July for lunch and dinner. Becaus e of his own passion for Mastrangelo said the restaurant will have a largwe brick ovenfor wood-fired pizzas.
Othe r plates, like the traditional pasta, fish and meat dishes made famouws at the New York restaurant will also be on the Prices should range fromaboutr $13 to the