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A new restaurant will make its debut in Salem this week, opening in the space where another popular restaurant operated for more than 15 years. Trattoria Orsini took over the Grapevine space at 26 Congress St. and will bring a lineup of Italian specialties to the neighborhood when it opens on Wednesday.
Grapevine was sold last year to new owner William Gateman (also behind Pasha Entertainment and restaurants like Trattoria Newbury and Abby Lane) and his partners, who brought on chef Vittorio Ambrogi, the previous chef at Grapevine.
Ambrogi has created a modern Italian menu featuring dishes that range from chopped salads, kale caesar, and caponata to grilled octopus and sauteed scallops. Entrees include items like pork tenderloin, pan-roasted cod, breaded and fried veal chop, and chicken breast.
There will also be a large selection of Italian wines; a cocktail list that includes classics like the martini, negroni, and aperol spritz; plus a selection of beers, including some from the newly opened Notch Brewing Co. nearby.
The North Shore restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, which is a seasonal garden-like patio right on the water. The interior underwent some renovations, according to Ambrogi, and it has a more lounge-style feel with black wood floors and modern art on the walls. Trattoria Orsini will have friends and family in for a preview before the official public opening on Wednesday, July 18, Ambrogi said.
