Scottsdale's dining scene is set for a shake-up as Chef Bernie Kantak steps in to fill the void left by Piccolo Virtù's recent closure. According to Phoenix New Times, the shuttered spot will soon be home to Beginner's Luck, an all-day eatery slated to open in February. Chef and restaurateur Gio Osso, who previously ran Piccolo Virtù, decided to sell after receiving an offer he couldn't refuse, leaving fans of the Italian restaurant with a bittersweet taste.
At the helm of Beginner's Luck is Kantak, well-known in the Phoenix culinary world as a James Beard Award semifinalist and the brain behind The Gladly and Citizen Public House. Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, The Gladly stands alongside Citizen Public House as a testament to Kantak's vision for food that makes a statement, without ever trying to rewrite the classics too dramatically. Kantak promises with Beginner's Luck, as reported by Phoenix New Times, “We are reimagining a diner with an ingredient-forward approach and a refined twist, but don’t expect too many retakes on the classics.”
The news of Piccolo Virtù's closure, after just over a year of operation, has left its patrons with a mix of feelings. As Phoenix New Times quotes Osso, “I have really mixed emotions on it." The Italian eatery, crowned the Best New Restaurant by the publication, was praised for its unparalleled burrata, kinds of pasta, and pizzas. Not to mention the whole sucking pig that became a dinner spectacle. Yet, the concept of Piccolo Virtù stays with Osso, who subsequently hints, “Hopefully someday it will make a comeback.”
Overtaken by a savvy business move, Osso's focus is now redirected to his other establishments, Pizzeria Virtù and Virtù Honest Craft. "It gives me more time to concentrate on Virtù Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtù, which (are) going strong," Osso told Phoenix New Times. Kantak's Beginner's Luck is poising itself to be more than just a dining venue. It aims to deliver vibrant flavors complemented by coffee, handmade cocktails, and everyday wines within a stylish and eclectic setting that proclaims casual comfort through and through.
