One Florentine Restaurant Replaces Another in Newton Centre

A new Florentine restaurant has opened in Newton Centre in a space until very recently occupied by another restaurant offering Florentine fare. Cupola quickly replaced Bottega Fiorentina this week at 1231 Centre St., as Boston Restaurant Talk noted, and is serving regional Italian food.

Cupola owner Carlos Trujillo told Eater that his restaurant specializes in Italian food based in Florentine and Tuscan traditions and that the vibe is “upscale, fast-food Italian meets contemporary.” At the moment, Cupola’s menu offers favorites like lasagna bolognese, panini, and antipasti, but it will soon offer pizza as well.

“The pizzas will be 10 inches, and we’ll offer four different varieties,” said Trujillo. “A Neapolitan with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil; a Firenze [the Italian name for Florence] with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella; our take on a Genoa with pesto; and a make-your-own with the option to choose from our 18 sauces and either parmesan, mozzarella, or fresh mozzarella.”

Provided

For Cupola’s pasta dishes, diners can choose from a list of 18 different pasta sauces. And as for the contemporary takes, Trujillo said that Cupola plans to add a signature burger to the menu.

“It will be an Italian version of a hamburger,” he said. “A beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles, but instead of ketchup and mustard, we’ll use our own homemade white sauce. Our diners will also have their choice of cheese, and instead of a hamburger bun, it will be served on rustic Italian bread. And instead of potatoes, our French fries will be made with deep-fried fettuccine.”

Following in the footsteps of a popular pasta deal at Bottega Fiorentina, Cupola also offers a daily pasta special: $4.99 for any pasta (aside from specialty pastas like gnocchi) with a rotating selection of the restaurant’s 18 sauces.

At the moment, Cupola does not have a liquor license, but Trujillo said that it’s in the works. Cupola is open in Newton Centre from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Update, 9:30 p.m.: An earlier version of this post stated that Cupola’s $4.99 daily pasta deal is available with any of the restaurant’s 18 sauces. The deal is available with a rotating selection of those sauces.

• Update: Bottega Fiorentina in Newton Centre Has Closed; Cupola Replaces It [BRT]
• Bottega Fiorentina Bids Farewell to Newton [EBOS]