Joe Scarpone to Queen Village
The chef from Sovalo is opening an Italian BYOB.
Joe Scarpone to Queen Village
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Three years ago, Joe Scarpone reluctantly closed Sovalo, arguably the swankiest restaurant in Northern Liberties. Sovalo may have been a three-beller, but the neighborhood just wasn't filling the seats.
Scarpone next headed to Manayunk to set up Agiato; he left shortly after its opening after a falling out with the developers.
Now Scarpone is back downtown. He signed a lease for the triangle-shape spot at Passyunk Avenue and Catharine Street, across from Cochon, that last housed Trattoria Alla Costiera.
Ulivo, a form of the Italian word for olive, will be neighborhood-friendly, a collection of mainly pasta, pizza, salads and panini with top entree prices in the low $20s. "It will be Sovaloesque. I'm not shooting to be a destination restaurant," he told me, "but I hope it happens."
Target is Nov. 1.
