The management team behind Italy Bottega’s market and deli is opening a full restaurant in Grand Central this spring. Cala Italian Kitchen, located at 1949 1^st Avenue South, will bring Sicilian-style dining and drinking to the neighborhood. The building is next door to popular plant nursery Wild Roots.

Ownership anticipates an April or May opening for the new venture showcasing southern Italian vibes and the freshly prepared dishes that have made them so popular. Cala will specialize in homemade pasta dishes, fresh catch daily seafood, grilled meats, an extensive wine collection, and craft cocktails. The restaurant also has plans to eventually institute Italian brunch, as well.

Owners Flavio Fiscella and Francesco Sorrentino have been managing (but not owning) Italy Bottega for the last two years, which they transformed from a deli shop into a restaurant with popular Italian dishes available to eat on site or take home. They say that they received so much positive feedback, they decided to strike out on their own and open a full restaurant.

The team will continue to run Italy Bottega until the end of March, when it will return management to the owners. We expect to see many of their original creations from Italy Bottega make the transition to Cala, and we’re certainly excited to see what new things the team does with an expanded space and menu.

The Italian kitchen and bar will be joining a booming neighborhood, and while St. Pete as a whole is awash in great Italian cuisine, Cala will be one of only a few Italian spots found in the growing Grand Central and Warehouse Arts Districts.

Stay tuned to I Love the Burg for updates on the grand opening and more of what to expect from kitchen and bar, and follow Cala Italian Kitchen on Instagram for more updates.