The building that used to house Hogarth’s Bar and Bistro, which closed in January, at 5201 Center Street in New Town has a new tenant who plans to turn the space into an Italian restaurant.
Neal Clarke, who moved to Williamsburg from Arlington in 2010, is planning to open his new restaurant, Capriccio Ristorante, in March.
Clarke has spent the last 24 years working in senior living, but decided to make the transition to restaurant owner after years of supervising chefs and organizing menus for various retirement communities.
The enjoyment he felt from delivering a quality meal was enough for Clarke to consider a move into the restaurant business. But instead of working for someone else, he decided owning his own restaurant was “the logical next step.”
Capriccio Ristorante will feature various Italian dishes and New York-style pizza using fresh, not frozen, ingredients. The restaurant will also feature a full bar that will offer locals a place to drink and eat late into the night.
The restaurant will be open from 3 p.m. to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, with hours extended until 1:30 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. During the nights the restaurant is open later, Clarke said he will also have music playing until closing.
Clarke said diners should not expect a distracting atmosphere inside Capriccio Ristorante. Instead, Clarke said he wanted his customers to be able to have conversations without having their attention diverted by excessive TVs throughout the restaurant.
In all, Clarke said he is extremely optimistic about Capriccio Ristorante’s prospects of success within New Town, especially given the restaurant’s mid-range price point.
“I think it’s a great spot and I think it’s got great potential with the surrounding residences,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity. We want to put out a meal people will enjoy so much they will want to come back.”
