Dante Boccuzzi Akron, the Northside outpost of the noted chef, will have its last day of service Dec. 31.
The high-end steakhouse known as dba will be replaced by an upscale, chef-driven Italian restaurant called Luciano’s, Joel Testa, who developed the property, said in a voicemail. It will be run by Testa Hospitality Group.
Testa said Luciano’s will have a completely different build-out and decor than dba, with the new restaurant focusing on the patio and a “Mediterranean appeal to the whole place.”
“We’re developing the concept right now,” he said.
Hannah Yaconis, dba’s maanger, said she hasn’t seen new menus yet, but expects Luciano’s to be “higher scale” than dba, which has a $375, 21-course meal among its offerings.
Typical entrees at dba run from $36 to $56.
“I think Akron just needs a little bit of a change, it needs some new things coming,” Yaconis said.
Testa said in an email Luciano’s is expected to open in February.
Yaconis said the employees at the restaurant will stay on board. She also said it was time for a change to the 12-year-old dba, even though “people love it here.”
The Northside Speakeasy will stay open.
“I think they just wanted something new and fresh,” Yaconis said of dba.
Testa Hospitality Group also runs restaurants including Oak and Olive, The Watson Speakeasy and Butcher & Sprout, all in Cuyahoga Falls.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to include additional information on the new restaurant.