The new Centro Pizza Bar and Italian Kitchen will take over the restaurant space formerly occupied by L’Inizio.
Feb. 8, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
A pizzeria and Italian food eatery will be opening on Vernon Boulevard in the coming weeks at the former site of L’Inizio, the pizzeria which was revealed to have been sold to new operators last month.
The new establishment, Centro Pizza Bar and Italian Kitchen, will likely open at 47-23 Vernon Blvd. by the end of February or early in March as co-owner Steve LoGiudice works to fix the restaurant up and obtain permits from the city.
The eatery’s vibe will echo traditional, casual New York City pizzerias, but with a modern look.
“It’s not a fancy sit down, but it’s not your typical pizza joint either,” LoGiudice said.
LoGuidice, whose father co-owns the new restaurant, says his goal is to create a welcoming space that has “a little something for everyone”, whether you want a quick slice to go, or a sit-down meal for lunch or dinner.
Menu items include customizable pizza pies, appetizers, soups, sandwiches, and pastas. Italian eatery staples like chicken parmigiana heroes, calzones, ravioli, and a variety of pastas will also be available. Large pies are expected to cost around $18, and a plate of chicken parm with pasta will be around $13.50.
The roughly 40-seat-restaurant will also serve beer and wine upon receiving its license.
LoGuidice, who grew up working in Gaby’s Pizza, the famed Queens Village pizzeria his father founded, says opening a restaurant in Long Island City was a project years in the making. “We’ve seen Long Island City develop into an amazing area,” he said. “It’s a great area, great vibe.”
The restaurant is expected to open until 11 p.m. on weekdays, and close at midnight on weekends.
Centro Pizza Bar and Italian Kitchen joins several pizzerias and Italian restaurants on Vernon Boulevard, including Manducatis Rustica, Bella Via, and Slice.
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27 Comments
FYI – I Heard through the grapevine that the Owners of
L’inizio Pizzeria is Secretly working on a new location in LIC.
Fingers Crossed! Let’s Hope it’s True – They had the BEST PIZZA in LIC.
Thank you, owner of L’inizio.
Nice try Tom. No one who ate there is buying that.
Depended on the night. Inconsistent dough and crust, ranging from amazing to chewtoy.
Seeing as how this is turning into a Bellwether thread, please note the spelling of the name, as in “a bellwether of change”. And how about not knocking it (or Centro) until they’re open? This is why we can’t have nice things.
Where’s the fun in that?
As long as the staff/ delivery guys are better than L’Inizio, should be an upgrade.
Good luck topping Levante….that place is the best now in the area!
Not really a competitor unless you’re ordering delivery – it’s all the way out near Court Square
Levante has got some meatballs charging those prices. I’ll go to Manetta’s for a pizza di bufala for $13.
I would be curious to see how they stack up against Roberta’s or Paulie Gee’s who are established and don’t charge this much for their pizzas.
do they have a liquor license yet?
Agreed. Although I hear luzzo’s is moving in two blocks away. My previous favorite before I had Levante. Should be a delicious competition.
We need a killer breakfast and sandwich shop in LIC…
LIC Corner Cafe has very good sandwiches and breakfast options. LIC Market has a solid breakfast.
You would have loved M Wells in the original diner location. One of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had.
“New Italian restaurant opens” – evergreen LIC news item.
so basically the same stuff. got it.
anyone know what’s up with the bellwhether next door?
bellwhether sounds gougy.
I think they have been having issues with finding staff and a chef at bellweather. Not much of a hype at all so who really knows. Prob gonna serve some over priced roasted chicken. Yawn…
Certainly truffle fries to go with that roasted chicken… yawn again.
Bellweather was supposed to be a chef Tom Cotton’s restaurant. He bailed before the lease was signed. The other partners went ahead and they have tried to work with several chefs. I don’t know if they finally nailed that part down or not? The original concept was to be New American. again I’m not sure if they are sticking to that or if a new chef could or would change that. That’s all I know on the subject. Lets just hope its Delicious whatever it ends up being
who is tom cotton?
Wasn’t Alobar ‘New American’ and they just closed and now Sweet Chick is opening in its’ place?
“New Overpriced Bad Tasting American”.
yep but they closed down due to tax eversion.
Damn, I was hoping for a real estate office.
Why?
Good luck w/ the new restaurant. L’Inizio had delicious food but they could not figure out how to expedite orders which was always frustrating. Their potato pizza was a favorite.