After five years in business, La Strada has closed on East Fourth Street. Saturday night was the restaurant’s last night of service. Tarantino says that he prefers to focus all of his attentions on his other restaurant, La Dolce Vita, which has operated for 25 years in Little Italy.

“I should have done this a while ago,” he says. “I’m a Little Italy guy and I need to stay focused on Little Italy. It’s not an easy gig down here with expensive parking and the long, slow winters.”

Tarantino says he entertained purchase offers from a number of suitors, but Michael Symon made the most sense.

“This street needs another Symon restaurant,” he adds. “This is a good move for me, for Symon, the Marons, and all the other people on this street. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Doug Petkovic, partner at Michael Symon Restaurants, confirmed the purchase.

“We love East Fourth Street and as soon as we heard that Terry’s place was available, we went after it,” he says. “The street is very vibrant and successful, and the Marons have done a fabulous job of creating an entertainment district, and we feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Symon and his team have not yet made a decision on a concept for this location, but intend to do so very quickly.

“Once we settle on the concept, we will go ASAP and I’d be shocked if we weren't open in 45 days,” Petkovic adds.



With reporting by Jason Beudert