The former 40 North restaurant on the North Side will be called Alfabeto when it reopens later this month.
The plan is to open by late August as a Northern Italian cuisine restaurant, according to executive chef Maurizio Esposito. An Australian native, Esposito came to Pittsburgh in December and was the chef at the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group’s Fish nor Fowl in Garfield.
“I love Pittsburgh because in Pittsburgh, you get everything you need a little bit more,” Esposito said.
Alfabeto, like 40 North, will be housed inside the Alphabet City venue of City of Asylum, an organization that provides sanctuary to endangered literary writers and offers free literary, arts and humanities programs.
The restaurant is closed temporarily. The floors are being redone and the seating is being updated, Esposito said.
Esposito trained in Australia and has worked in England, Italy and France. He has more than three decades working in the culinary field.
The new menu will include hand-crafted pasta dishes.
He said he plans to work with as many local purveyors as possible to bring the freshest dishes to guests.
Esposito said the partnership with City of Asylum is solid because he and City of Asylum understand the world of hospitality and their values align, as the organization brings people into the country and gives them a good experience.
Esposito is married to City of Asylum executive director Caro Llewellyn.
“City of Asylum makes people feel safe and we want people to feel welcome dining here,” Esposito said. “This is the perfect location. I look forward to the opportunity. I am honored to be in this beautiful kitchen with amazing food.”
Esposito was the inaugural winner of the Age Good Food Guide Sustainability Award. He served as executive chef at Cecconi’s in Melbourne, Australia.
His international experience also includes serving as chef de partie (a line cook) at Pied à Terre in London, The Plaza in Paris and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence.
He said the restaurant plans to be open Wednesdays through Sundays for dinner and add lunch hours in the future.
The owner of 40 North LLC, Woody Ostrow, is out of the country and unavailable for comment, said Kathy Bzdziak, CFO of 40 North LLC, which manages the restaurant.
She said in a statement that they are committed to being here for the long term.
“We are deeply committed to our partnership with City of Asylum and look forward to welcoming you to our restaurant and supporting City of Asylum’s mission for many years to come,” Bzdziak said. “We love the unique blend of ingredients that make up Alphabet City and building a community together. As ever, we are so thankful for your support and look forward to serving you soon.”
