New Signage Suggests Strega Empire to Grow With Rina’s Pizzeria

Back in October, it looked like the newest incarnation of restaurateur Nick Varano’s Strega empire would likely open within the month. Now it’s January, and a sign installed over the weekend shows that what is Rina’s Pizzeria & Cafe is coming soon — for real this time, maybe.

Announced in spring 2013 and originally called Strega Pizzeria & Cafe, the spot is located on Hanover Street next door to the flagship North End location of the Strega brand. Varano’s lawyer updated the Boston Licensing Board in October that a kitchen vent installation held up the grand opening of the new pizzeria.

Eater has reached out to the Varano Group for more information about Rina’s — and to find out what the holdup has been in the past couple months. Stay tuned for updates.

In addition to Strega in the North End, The Varano Group also runs a Waterfront Strega location, Strega Prime Italian Steakhouse in Woburn, two Italian coffeehouses called Caffe Strega, and another North End eatery called Nico.

—Jacqueline Cain