New Wooster Street Eatery, Gioia, 'Joy' In Italian, Opening In Spring

NEW HAVEN, CT —Gioia, a new concept from long-time New Haven restaurateurs Tim Cabral and Avi Szapiro and partners Anthony and Gerard Bianco of A&G Contracting, will be opening at 150 Wooster St. starting this spring, albeit in phases.

The space will include a restaurant, market, gelataria and rooftop bar offering Italian food and beverages in a "casual and fun setting," the owners said.

“We are thrilled to be opening our new venture in such an historic part of New Haven and are appreciative of the warm welcome the neighborhood has given us,” Cabral was quoted as saying. “Our goal is to create a welcoming space that the community can enjoy, whether it’s couples out for date night at the rooftop, a group of friends celebrating a birthday in the restaurant or families grabbing a gelato from the convenient window at the corner of Brown Street. Gioia means ‘joy’ in Italian, and each of these new spaces aims to provide just that, Joy!”

Created to complement the food menu, the beverage program will feature a full wine list, beers and cocktails that also incorporate the flavors of the season and a nod to Italy.

The market concept will add to the flavor of Little Italy with Italian provisions, house made pasta and sauces to cook at home, prepared grab-and-go items, artisanal serving ware and other everyday items as a convenience for those living in the neighborhood. With its own dedicated entrance, the market will also be available in the evening for special events, offering a private dining area with a communal table.

“We are developing a menu that focuses on delicious and fun interpretations on some of the Italian classics; our wood fired grill and rotisserie will be a prominent feature in the kitchen, heavily influencing our menu with some live fire cooking,” Szapiro was quoted as saying. “Homemade pastas and pizzas will also be featured on the menu, allowing guests to share several dishes making the dining experience a fun time. Vegetarian and vegan offerings, and of course, house made gelato, will also be available.”

Opening in phase two, the three-season rooftop will have its own, dedicated seasonal food and beverage menus inviting guests to experience a unique space in the neighborhood for a meal or to grab drinks. The gelataria with a street-side window will also open in phase two later this year.

Housed in the "iconic" Tony & Lucille’s, the eatery is being "respectfully and lovingly transformed into Gioia working with local artists and professionals," the owners said. Those include Atelier Cho Thompson who does architectural, interior and branding design, Jesse LaRock’s Restoration Woodworks, who does millwork, Cambium Carbon, a wood rescue company reducing CO2 emissions, Bold Wood interiors provides furniture and muralist Jaime La Jones.

Gioia will be open six days a week, including happy hour, weekend brunch and takeout options. A dedicated parking lot will offer easy parking, along with street parking in the neighborhood.

Its website and Instagram page are now live, and will be featuring additional information and opening dates, as available, in the coming weeks.

The focal point of the casual and fun setting includes a restaurant serving a seasonally inspired menu of delicious interpretations of Italian classics. Using a wood fired grill and rotisserie, the menu also features homemade pastas and pizzas, house made gelato and vegetarian/vegan offerings, coupled with a robust beverage program with a nod to Italy. Further contributing to the DNA of “Little Italy” with Italian provisions, grab-and-go meals, artisanal serving ware, the market will conveniently serve those living in the neighborhood and beyond. Opening in phase two, the gelataria window will invite local residents and diners to enjoy housemade gelato, and the rooftop will create a unique three-season destination with its own food and beverage menu.