June 25, 2014
Bottega Americano — an Italian-inspired restaurant and specialty food marketplace — is set to open at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego’s East Village this August. This restaurant-meets-market concept inspired by top tier food halls, restaurants and markets around the world, will invite guests to explore new ways to dine: from dining in-house at communal tables surrounded by vibrant food bars to purchasing freshly prepared foods and specialty items to go.
Bottega Americano is the first venture from four notable partners in San Diego’s flourishing dining scene. Owners include Giuseppe Ciuffa, founder and CEO of Giuseppe Fine Restaurants & Fine Catering; avid foodie, investor and East Village resident Chad Ruyle; restaurateur Greg Van de Velde, who most recently managed the iconic Bertrand at Mister A’s restaurant; and noted chef David Warner formerly of San Diego’s beachfront hotspot JRDN. Together, these four San Diegans will bring to life a new genre of dining inspired by old-world European style.
“Bottega Americano will offer something for every dining style: enjoying a leisurely meal out, grabbing a quick bite to go at lunch or entertaining friends at home with delicious freshly prepared bites,” said Greg Van de Velde, general manager of Bottega Americano. “Our location in the up and coming East Village neighborhood is ideal for those who live and spend time downtown. We’ve all put our passion for great food into this project and I think the public is really going to embrace the concept.”
Bottega Americano is a destination reminiscent of a modern day Italian piazza; expertly curated food bars showcase an approachable menu that is prepared in direct view of guests. Within Bottega’s expansive space, patrons may enjoy full-service dining, sitting street-side for an alfresco meal, socializing over drinks at the bar, ordering freshly prepared food to go from the gourmet marketplace and shopping in the retail area.
Chefs prepare cuisine both familiar and progressive at interactive food bars inspired by the dining experiences of Italy. Choices will include handcrafted pizza and pasta, seafood, oysters, meats, cheeses, spreads, salads, sweets and pastries. The fresh flavors and high-quality ingredients inspired by Chef Ciuffa’s Italian heritage will meet the innovation of Chef Warner’s passion for California cuisine, making Bottega Americano the unique merging of two distinct palates.
The bustle of an Italian market meets urban living for shoppers seeking specialty ingredients. Guests can peruse bright displays of cured meats, cheeses and dry ingredients in Bottega Americano’s retail area as the aromas of pizza and pastries waft from the kitchen.
Designed by the renowned Thomas Schoos of Schoos Design, Bottega Americano’s 8,000 square foot interior pays tribute to 1950s Italian glamour with a blend of crisp, modern graphics and old-world charm. Distinctive black and white tile flooring will depict silhouettes of cutlery and produce on the vine, stacks of firewood for use in the stone fire pizza oven will flank the dining room, and nostalgic images of Italian culture will grace the walls. Communal tables promise a social experience for all diners.
Positioned inside Thomas Jefferson School of Law, directly across the street from the city’s new Central Library, Bottega Americano is also primed to bring rooftop events and indoor catering to San Diego’s East Village. The restaurant will enjoy proximity to the nearby Park Avenue trolley station and those arriving by car will be able to valet park for a nominal fee.
Bottega Americano will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bottega Americano is located at 1195 Island Avenue, San Diego, California 92101, and the telephone phone number is 619-295-7800. Visit Bottega Americano online at bottegaamericano.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.