'Cantina Di Liguria' In The Works At Former Rose Pistola

'Cantina Di Liguria' In The Works At Former Rose PistolaThe former Rose Pistola. | Photo: ianbenedict131/Instagram
Joe Bonadio
Published on March 28, 2017

After the surprise February closure of longtime North Beach restaurant Rose Pistola, word has come that its former space (532 Columbus Ave.) has been taken over by new owners. Bonnie Fisher and Boris Dramov, principals of Roma Design Group, are behind the new restaurant venture, which has been tentatively named "Cantina Di Liguria."

We spoke with Fisher about the project earlier this week, and though details are scarce, she gave us a few hints of what to expect. 

“Right now, we are trying to assess what things are like inside, and what it will take to improve the space,” she told us, adding that she expects the process to take several months. At this point, they are still formulating the concept, and the name is a working title only.

“We’re interested in building on the traditions of the neighborhood, but in a new way,” she explained. “That’s something that Reed [Hearon, Rose Pistola’s original chef] did very well. Ligurian food wasn’t very well-known 20 years ago, and he brought it to a wider audience and created something new."

“We’d like to do something that continues those traditions, while reflecting the evolution of the dining experience over the last 21 years,” Fisher elaborated.

The space is sure to be well-designed: Fisher has played a prominent role in the planning of the San Francisco waterfront for the last two decades, and Roma Design Group’s design for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C. was the winning submission in an international design competition. 

Fisher promises us more details soon, and we’ll keep you posted.