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Monday, August 24, 2009
Michael Anticoli opens second La Piazza restaurant, but it’s no carbon copy
La Piazza restaurant owner Michael Anticoli knew he didn’t want to adopt a “cookie-cutter” approach to his second restaurant.
“We’re independent - it’s at the core of who we are,” Anticoli said. “There are a million places that make carbon copies of themselves, but I don’t see the value in that.”
So while La Piazza New Bremen may share a name with Anticoli’s flagship restaurant in Troy, it has its own identity, menu and personality, Anticoli said.
The new restaurant that we mentioned on these pages back in February opened in early July at 17 West Monroe St. in the Auglaize County village southeast of Grand Lake St. Mary’s. Anticoli makes the 70-mile round trip daily to La Piazza New Bremen so he can oversee both restaurants.
The new restaurant opened in a historic building built in the 1800s that once served as a hotel for travelers and salesmen navigating the newly created Miami and Erie Canal, Anticoli said. Most recently, it housed The Grille restaurant, but Anticoli said the interior has been redesigned, and restaurant customers like what they’ve seen.
“We were delayed a little bit. People were expecting us to open in May, and then in June, so once we did open, people were eager to get in and check it out,” he said. “I love old buildings, and I feel that the character of the place helps lead the way in creating a solid dining experience.“
And Anticoli should know a thing or two about the dining experience. He comes from what is likely the longest-established, continually operating restaurant family in the Miami Valley. His father Leo operates Caffe Anticoli in Harrison Twp., and the family celebrated 75 years in the restaurant business in 2006. Michael opened his Troy restaurant in 1992.
While the two La Piazza restaurants share some menu items - Italian standbys such as lasagna, ravioli and eggplant parmigiana - Anticoli and his New Bremen team created some new signature dishes for the new restaurant, including Tasso Chicken Saltimbocca, Zuppa di Pesce, Weinerschnitzel, and a locally supplied marinated pork chop, the restaurant owner said. The dessert list features signature items made by a New Bremen baker such as Amaretto Cheesecake and Italian Cream Cake, he said.
Anticoli said he’s pleased with how the first few weeks have gone in his New Bremen location. And he may not be done. When asked if he intends to open a third restaurant or more, Anticoli replied, “Who knows?
“If something shows itself, and the time is right … we’ll explore it.”
— For more information about La Piazza New Bremen, call (419) 629-3800 or go to www.lapiazzanewbremen.com.
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