Tony DeStefano, owner of the popular south Austin food trailer Il Saporis, will soon open Sapori Italian Roots, a fully-fledged brick and mortar establishment at 800 Brazos Street in downtown Austin.
“My dad is a chef, born and raised in Calabria — the part of the boot that’s ready to kick Sicily,” Mr. DeStefano tells What Now Austin.
“Then he moved to New York and met my mom in a Dallas restaurant — so we grew up in and around the restaurant industry. My father works with me. All my professional training comes from him.“
Mr. DeStefano emphasizes that while real Italian tradition is alive in their kitchen, the concept will be a highly accessible and quickly-moving eatery, steeped in American renditions of Italian classics.
“We do like to keep things approachable and casual, so we hope to keep the feel of the trailer in the brick and mortar. The restaurant will be quick service, a perfect fit for the fast-paced downtown lifestyle.”
Some examples of dishes that DeStefano and co have cooked up include fettuccine alfredo, chicken parm bites, pulled pork and brisket ravioli.
“At the new location, we’ll be adding burrata, salads, desserts, and other options that the refigeration space in the trailer doesn’t make available for us. We’ll be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Until DeStefano’s establishment opens this summer, readers may visit the original food truck at 603 West Live Oak Street.
