By: Sharon Aron Baron

Get ready for the fourth locale of a popular contemporary tapas concept opening soon in Coral Springs.

On Thursday, September 25, 2014, Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas opens at 5920 Coral Ridge Drive at the Sawgrass Center near Heron Bay. With locations already in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Weston, the restaurant has rebranded their name from D’Angelo Pizza, Wine Bar, Tapas to the new “Angelo Elia.”

“We’re excited to continue to expand our brand and restaurants to new locations,” said Owner and Chef Angelo Elia. “Coral Springs is a community with lots of young families and we’re eager to share our Italian family-style cuisine with them.”

Mirroring its sister restaurants, the 200-seat restaurant will showcase a sleek and sophisticated ambience that provides the perfect backdrop for a dinner date, business meeting, or a family meal. The 4,125-square-foot eatery boasts ebony wood finishing, glass shelving, white-stone countertops and modernist lighting alongside a wall of sleek flat-screen televisions showing Italian cooking shows. Guests can also enjoy al fresco dining on the covered patio.

More importantly is the menu at Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas which will feature the same classic Tuscan flavors that fans of Elia have come to know and love.

Chicken Milanese

Under the direction of corporate executive chef Rickie Piper, the menu will also include some welcome additions. Piper works in tandem with Elia on expansions and menu development at all of Elia’s family of restaurants. New to the mix is the selection of gourmet paninis on house-made whole wheat or ciabatta. Can’t miss options include the Fioretto – Parma prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and arugula; pulled Short Ribs with asiago cheese and red onion with kale slaw; and the Angelo Burger with fontina cheese, fried egg and black truffle arugula mayonnaise. For a lighter meal, guests can delight in the variety of Mediterranean-style salads drizzled with house-made dressings such as Chopped Chef Salad with romaine, ham, turkey, eggs, tomato, avocado, Swiss cheese topped with balsamic vinaigrette; Roasted Beets with Arugula, gorgonzola, candied walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette; and Chopped Antipasto with prosciutto, ham, salami, fresh mozzarella, ceci romaine, radicchio, roasted peppers and black olive lemon vinaigrette.

Angelo Pizza

Not straying too far from the dishes that made this concept a hit, Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas will offer signature tapas such as veal and pecorino cheese meatballs; sautéed clams and mussels; Arancini with veal osso buco and mozzarella, as well as a variety of crudo and carpacci dishes. Wood-oven pizzas are fan-favorites and a staple on the menu. Signature pies include the Porcina made with porcini mushrooms, mozzarella, tomato sauce, truffle oil and basil; Diavola – smoked mozzarella, tomato sauce and spicy salami; Smoked Salmon pie with brie cheese, chives and lemon oil; and the Angelo – a white pizza with buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto and arugula topped with shaved Reggiano. Hearty main plates include an array of house-made pasta options and composed plates including Seafood Lasagna with Maine lobster, scallops, shrimp and mushrooms; Gnocchi Capri with marinara, mozzarella and basil; Chicken Parmigiana with crispy chicken breast, marinara, mozzarella and linguine pomodoro; and Veal Milanese with crispy veal cutlet, mixed greens and pecorino lemon vinaigrette.

Guests can complement the Italian delights with an extensive selection of wines hand-picked by Elia and award-winning sommelier Koen Kersemans, available by the glass or bottle, including Elia’s own Jankara Vermentino from Sardinia.

Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas is located at 5920 Coral Ridge Drive in The Sawgrass Center in Coral Springs. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily; take-out available at all locations. Ample free parking available. Telephone: 954-344-1233. For further information, visit www.angeloeliapizza.com

Author Profile

Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.