Photograph courtesy Fabio Viviani
Tell us about Zingaro.
Zingaro will be a traditional Italian restaurant. Next door will be Viaggio. The two places together take you on a journey through the food and drinks of Italy and beyond. Go to Zingaro for a phenomenal, affordable Italian meal and go to Viaggio to experience craft cocktails, handpicked wine, and a smaller bar menu.
Describe your menu.
Think of it this way: You get kidnapped by five people—two grandmothers, a butcher, a fishmonger, and a wine and cocktail expert. The only way out of it is to try all the best dishes, cocktails, and wine that they have had throughout their lives. The menu is a compilation of all the greatest hits of my career as well as some of the most beloved Italian dishes.
Is there a signature dish?
So many. We’ll have a one-pound meatball, a 38-ounce porterhouse (like a Florentine steak, cooked over charcoal). We’ll shave the parmesan in front of you and make the pasta in front of you all day on an open pasta counter.
Why Cincinnati?
Fabio Viviani Hospitality Group is a national hospitality development group, and we were called to give our thoughts [on the development]. They liked what we offered so we teamed up as a joint venture with Medpace. They love the Cincinnati community, and they are committed to making it a true lifestyle center.
What do you like most about Cincinnati?
It’s an up-and-coming city from a food perspective. If you go to L.A., Chicago, New York, you’re a dime a dozen with a lot more costs and a lot more headaches. A secondary market is more relaxed, so we can focus on what we do best.
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