The brothers behind Adoro in\u00a0Queen Village\u00a0plans to open another Italian BYOB restaurant at the former\u00a0Two Robbers tasting room in South Philly.<\/p>\n
Florin and Marco Matranxhi are moving into 738 S. 11th St. in Bella Vista with\u00a0Ravello, which is\u00a0named after a town on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The\u00a0fine-dining menu\u00a0will highlight dishes from that region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MORE:\u00a0Philly law firm threatens to sue to prevent Eagles tailgating changes<\/a><\/p>\n “It’s really good, really beautiful,” Marco said of the\u00a0Amalfi Coast. “We’re really excited to bring … a little Ravello to Philly.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The brothers haven’t yet set an opening date, but they’d like to get things up and running as soon as possible\u00a0\u2014 maybe even within a month or two.\u00a0The menu will still be classic Italian with a focus on seafood; there won’t be any dishes from Adoro. They plan to add anywhere from 80 to 100 seats, much larger than their first location.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marco Passante, who is from Ravello, will be the executive chef.\u00a0He formerly ran the kitchen at Thymari, a Mediterranean spot in Swedesboro, New Jersey.\u00a0<\/p>\n An Instagram post<\/a> announcing the news said Passante will bring “generations of knowledge, authentic Italian techniques, and a shared passion for exceptional food” to the restaurant.\u00a0He will be the main force behind the kitchen, the brothers said, as Florin, also a chef, plans to primarily run Adoro, which is named after their grandfather. But the two places are within walking distance so\u00a0Florin is expecting to\u00a0be around a lot at the new venture.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0Matranxhis opened Adoro at 769 E. Passyunk Ave. in September 2024 following Florin’s stints at La Viola in Rittenhouse Square and La Verona in Kennett Square. Florin was\u00a0born in\u00a0Albania and grew up working at his father’s restaurant before spending four years working in Naples and learning Italian cooking.\u00a0<\/p>\n During\u00a0the Lodge by Two Robbers’ tenure<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0728 S. 11th St., the space was a cocktail bar and restaurant. The canned vodka company ended regular service at the spot on Aug. 9, but it said at the time that it would keep the space for private events and pop-ups with access to a full kitchen and bar. Two Robbers said it closed the restaurant because it planned to focus on its Fishtown tasting room and growing its wholesale business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Previously, the space was home to longtime South Philly brunch spot Hawthornes<\/a>, which opened in 2009. Owners Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico, who also own Grace & Proper, said they decided to close the restaurant to focus on their upcoming projects, which included reopening Wine Dive and Sonny’s Cocktail Joint<\/a>.<\/p>\n Five years ago, Marco said he and his brother used to walk by the restaurant while it was still Hawthornes and think about what a great spot it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n “If you work hard with a passion, dreams come true, believe me,” Florin said. “I believe in myself.”<\/p>\n