Sapori, an Italian-American fusion restaurant in New Town closed last week, but its owner plans to re-open the restaurant with a new name, menu and management.
The restaurant opened in July 2013 in a large building at the intersection of Center and Courthouse streets in New Town. Co-owner Dario Amato said Wednesday the restaurant’s brand had not caught on as he hoped and that some people have mistaken the Sapori name for a Japanese restaurant. The new restaurant will be called Pasta E Pesto.
Sapori, which also has a location in Chesterfield County outside Richmond, focused on combining Sicilian, Italian and American dishes. Pasta E Pesto will specialize in Italian dishes, including pizza. A new opening date has not yet been set, but Amato hopes to be back in business by the end of November.
“The new management is going to work really hard to connect with the folks in New Town and Williamsburg in general,” Amato said.
He said Pasta E Pesto will have a membership program with monthly dinners and wine tastings. Comment cards will also be available at each table.
“We’ll definitely be able to find out exactly what they like and what they would like for us to do better,” he said.
Sapori was the first tenant in the building, located at 4903 Courthouse Street. Since closing, the sign has been taken down and paper has been hung in the windows as work is performed on its interior.
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