“Elevated” is the buzz word as Tutta Bella, the Northwest’s first VPN-certified Neapolitan pizzeria, opens a new location on Thursday, November 14, on the ground floor of the 457-unit REN building in Seattle’s Denny Triangle.
The 4,190-square-foot restaurant is the first of Tutta Bella’s “new generation” of restaurants, the company said. It will include “elevated interiors and an evolved menu that balances the brand’s traditional Neapolitan roots with a more pronounced Pacific Northwest influence,” a press release states.
The refined menu features new center-of-the-plate entrées, fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails, as the company looks to move from a traditional pizzeria concept to a more culinarily diverse restaurant.
“Although Tutta Bella has been much more than a pizzeria for a long time, the new opening will make that very clear from a positioning standpoint, with the elevated menu, contemporary interior design and a polished level of service,” said Joe Fugere, Tutta Bella’s founder and CEO. “What will not change is our commitment to hospitality, premium ingredients and a welcoming environment.”
The enhancements are part of the company’s efforts to stay on top of today’s restaurant guest’s needs, Fugere said. The restaurant will also serve as the company’s R&D Kitchen, which is introducing several new offerings in time for the opening, including a gluten-free crust alternative, office lunch boxes and modern takes on several regional Italian classics.
“We believe in offering a restaurant experience that is centered around our guests, and the menu reflects that,” Fugere said. “It’s casual enough for everyday dining, but also elevated enough for a business dinner or special occasion. We’ve also secured enough square footage in the new space to better accommodate our growing takeout and delivery business, which includes a recently launched catering program, to better serve our expanding corporate clientele in the area.”
To bring Fugere’s latest vision to life, Tutta Bella joined forces with its long-term Seattle-based architect and design partner, Graham Baba. The result, the company said, is a bright and vibrant design that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, modern finishes, an open kitchen and warm wood accents.
The construction of the space, which also includes a private dining room, chef counter and flexible seating throughout the restaurant, was completed by Seattle-based Axiom Builders.
Corresponding with the opening on Virginia Street is the move from Tutta Bella’s long-standing South Lake Union location on Westlake Avenue, which offered its last day of service on Monday, November 3.
“It’s a bittersweet day to say goodbye to the restaurant that has meant so much to us for 17 years, but we’re excited to move into this new space,” Fugere said. “I’m so proud of the team for all the work they’ve put in to bring this contemporary offering to life, and I can’t wait for our guests to experience it with us.”
