Trattoria ZaZa: Difference between revisions
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[[ | [[File:Trattoria ZaZa logo.png|right]] | ||
'''Trattoria | '''Trattoria ZaZa''' (formerly '''Za Za Trattoria''' and '''Trattoria Centrale''') is a casual Italian restaurant located at 207-A [[20th Street North]] in the [[Frank Nelson Building]] in downtown [[Birmingham]]. | ||
The restuarant was first opened in the space formerly occupied by [[Roma Italian Bistro]] in June [[2009]] by [[Brian Somershield]] and [[Geoff Lockert]], childhood friends from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. | |||
The restaurant opened with the name "Za Za", using Cleveland-area slang for "pizza". They changed the name in January [[2010]] to avoid a future legal fight with Montgomery's "Sa Za" which | Somershield came to [[Birmingham]] in [[2004]] after graduating from culinary school. He had dined at [[Highlands Bar and Grill]] during a vacation on the [[Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail]] and knew that he wanted to work for chef [[Frank Stitt]]. He spent two years at Highlands and then became head sous chef at [[Chez Fonfon]] in [[2006]]. Lockert also spent some time as a server at Fonfon before continuing his training at Michael Symon's Lola restaurant in Cleveland. | ||
The restaurant opened with the name "Za Za", using Cleveland-area slang for "pizza". They changed the name in January [[2010]] to avoid a future legal fight with Montgomery's "Sa Za" which had tentative plans to franchise statewide. | |||
[[Image:Za Za.jpg|left|275px|thumb|Za Za Trattoria in August 2009]] | [[Image:Za Za.jpg|left|275px|thumb|Za Za Trattoria in August 2009]] | ||
Trattoria Centrale | [[Image:Trattoria Centrale logo.png|right|125px]] | ||
Under their ownership, Trattoria Centrale featured a selection of fresh pizzas (served by the slice), pasta dishes and salads each day, as well as a daily hot special. The line-up varied seasonally featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfast options included omelets and frittati as well as fresh fruit, hash browns and baked goods. Later a dinner service was added on Fridays. Coffee drinks, made with [[Higher Ground]] coffees and [[Wright's Dairy]] milk, were prepared on a 3 foot-tall copper-clad Italian espresso machine. | |||
Lockert and Somershield sold the business to long-time employees [[Erica Schmidt]] and [[Bryan Stanfield]], effective [[October 12]], [[2015]]. In February [[2019]] the restaurant closed for remodeling and expansion, concurrent with [[Orchestra Partners]]' redevelopment of the Frank Nelson Building as "[[The Frank]]". The layout was reconfigured and 500 square feet was added. | |||
The restaurant reopened as Trattoria ZaZa in August 2019. The breakfast and lunch service on Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays, and the weekend brunch menu remained relatively unchanged, but a nightly dinner service was added with an expanded menu featuring nightly specials. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Carlton, Bob (June 26, 2009) "Two childhood friends open Za Za Trattoria in downtown Birmingham." | * Carlton, Bob (June 26, 2009) "Two childhood friends open Za Za Trattoria in downtown Birmingham." {{BN}} | ||
* Carlton, Bob (January 31, 2010) "Za Za Trattoria is now Trattoria Centrale." | * Carlton, Bob (January 31, 2010) "Za Za Trattoria is now Trattoria Centrale." {{BN}} | ||
* Lippeatt, Lauren (February 22, 2010) "[http://www.pavomag.com/story/risky-small-business-part-ii-zaza-or-trattoria-centrale Risky Small Business - Part II - ZaZa... or... Trattoria Centrale]." ''Pavo'' | * Lippeatt, Lauren (February 22, 2010) "[http://www.pavomag.com/story/risky-small-business-part-ii-zaza-or-trattoria-centrale Risky Small Business - Part II - ZaZa... or... Trattoria Centrale]." ''Pavo'' | ||
* Horn, Jason (March 28, 2011) "[http://b-metro.com/ten-spots-2/1429/ Ten spots: To get a good cup of joe]." ''B-Metro'' | |||
* Carlton, Bob (October 12, 2015) "Downtown Birmingham restaurant Trattoria Centrale sold." {{BN}} | |||
* Rebman, Stephanie (February 8, 2019) "Popular downtown Bham restaurant closes for renovations." {{BBJ}} | |||
* Rebman, Stephanie (August 7, 2019) "Popular downtown restaurant reopens with new name, menu." {{BBJ}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [ | * [https://www.zazabham.com Trattoria ZaZa] website | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT: | {{DEFAULTSORT:ZaZa, Trattoria}} | ||
[[Category:Italian restaurants]] | [[Category:Italian restaurants]] | ||
[[Category:20th Street North]] | [[Category:20th Street North]] | ||
[[Category:2009 establishments]] | [[Category:2009 establishments]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:40, 7 August 2019
Trattoria ZaZa (formerly Za Za Trattoria and Trattoria Centrale) is a casual Italian restaurant located at 207-A 20th Street North in the Frank Nelson Building in downtown Birmingham.
The restuarant was first opened in the space formerly occupied by Roma Italian Bistro in June 2009 by Brian Somershield and Geoff Lockert, childhood friends from Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Somershield came to Birmingham in 2004 after graduating from culinary school. He had dined at Highlands Bar and Grill during a vacation on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and knew that he wanted to work for chef Frank Stitt. He spent two years at Highlands and then became head sous chef at Chez Fonfon in 2006. Lockert also spent some time as a server at Fonfon before continuing his training at Michael Symon's Lola restaurant in Cleveland.
The restaurant opened with the name "Za Za", using Cleveland-area slang for "pizza". They changed the name in January 2010 to avoid a future legal fight with Montgomery's "Sa Za" which had tentative plans to franchise statewide.
Under their ownership, Trattoria Centrale featured a selection of fresh pizzas (served by the slice), pasta dishes and salads each day, as well as a daily hot special. The line-up varied seasonally featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Breakfast options included omelets and frittati as well as fresh fruit, hash browns and baked goods. Later a dinner service was added on Fridays. Coffee drinks, made with Higher Ground coffees and Wright's Dairy milk, were prepared on a 3 foot-tall copper-clad Italian espresso machine.
Lockert and Somershield sold the business to long-time employees Erica Schmidt and Bryan Stanfield, effective October 12, 2015. In February 2019 the restaurant closed for remodeling and expansion, concurrent with Orchestra Partners' redevelopment of the Frank Nelson Building as "The Frank". The layout was reconfigured and 500 square feet was added.
The restaurant reopened as Trattoria ZaZa in August 2019. The breakfast and lunch service on Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays, and the weekend brunch menu remained relatively unchanged, but a nightly dinner service was added with an expanded menu featuring nightly specials.
References
- Carlton, Bob (June 26, 2009) "Two childhood friends open Za Za Trattoria in downtown Birmingham." The Birmingham News
- Carlton, Bob (January 31, 2010) "Za Za Trattoria is now Trattoria Centrale." The Birmingham News
- Lippeatt, Lauren (February 22, 2010) "Risky Small Business - Part II - ZaZa... or... Trattoria Centrale." Pavo
- Horn, Jason (March 28, 2011) "Ten spots: To get a good cup of joe." B-Metro
- Carlton, Bob (October 12, 2015) "Downtown Birmingham restaurant Trattoria Centrale sold." The Birmingham News
- Rebman, Stephanie (February 8, 2019) "Popular downtown Bham restaurant closes for renovations." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (August 7, 2019) "Popular downtown restaurant reopens with new name, menu." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Trattoria ZaZa website