Massimo Italian Bar & Grill will open later this month in University Place
Out with nautical, in with Italian. Goodbye mauve and blue, hello to a Tuscan palette.
Massimo Italian Bar & Grill will be the new tenant in the building that formerly housed Captain Nemo’s at 4020 Bridgeport Way in University Place. Massimo and Cindy Terracciano will open Massimo University Place, a family friendly Italian restaurant, around June 20. They’ve been remodeling the building since April 1.
For those who recall the 80s decor of Captain Nemo’s, wipe that memory because the restaurant has been stripped and rebuilt. “Everything’s going to be the color of Italy,” said Cindy Terracciano by phone. She described a Tuscan palette: warm tones in gold, sage and burgundy. Gone is the carpet, it’s been replaced with polished concrete floors. A newly rebuilt fireplace will warm up the front entry. You can follow the progress of the remodel here.
The 7,000 square foot restaurant will seat 240, which is about 100 more diners than can fit in the Massimo restaurant located in Purdy, which Cindy and Massimo Terracciano opened in December 2008 after moving from their previous restaurant Terracciano's in Gig Harbor at 3119 Judson (that restaurant now is Il Lucano).
The story of Cindy and Massimo started more than 20 years ago, in Naples. They met in Italy, and married in 1987. Cindy was a military kid, but wanted to move back to Tacoma where her family is from. They made a stop in Germany from 1997-1999 to help run family restaurants, then landed in Tacoma in 1999. Massimo found work at Pomodoro, and other local restaurants before opening Gig Harbor’s Terracciano’s.
Cindy and Massimo’s son Salvatore and his wife Lindsey, who live in University Place, will help run the new restaurant. The menu and prices will duplicate those at the Purdy restaurant. Find the lunch and dinner menus below. More menus can be found at the restaurant's website.
Massimo Italian Bar & Grill Where: 4020 Bridgeport Way, University PlaceInfo: 253-503-1902 or http://www.massimosup.comOpening: Late June
Massimo Italian Bar & Grill Where: 13802 Purdy Dr. NW, Gig HarborInfo: 253-514-6237 or http://massimobarandgrill.com
A LOOK AT THE DINNER MENU:
A LOOK AT THE LUNCH MENU:
This story was originally published June 1, 2011 at 6:36 AM with the headline "Massimo Italian Bar & Grill will open later this month in University Place ."