Bonu’ Taverna to bring Italian hospitality to Central Avenue’s 600 block
/Bonu’ Taverna will be located at 601 Central Avenue, which is currently occupied by Cider Press Cafe
A new Italian tavern is coming to downtown St. Pete bringing avant-garde dishes with eclectic Italian hospitality. Bonu’ Taverna will be opening on the corner of Central Avenue and 6th Street in a space currently occupied by Cider Press Café, which will be moving to Kenwood by the end of the year.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a cuisine more comforting than Italian food. There’s no question Italians love to eat well and to many, it goes way beyond simple nourishment. In Italy, meals are a family affair and at Bonu’ Taverna, it will be no different.
Tagliere Misto, an Italian Charcuterie Board, will be a house specialty at Bonu’ Taverna in downtown St. Pete
“We cannot wait to invite St. Pete into our home, introduce them to our culture, our culinary experience, and our hospitality,” said Mia Maccarrone, who owns Bonu’ Taverna with her husband Mario Maccarrone.
Mario grew up in Catania, a vibrant city of Sicily located at the foot of Mt. Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. As a result, the food at Bonu’ Taverna will be heavily influenced by Sicilian cuisine.
The menu will be filled with shareable items like arancini, which are fried rice balls filled with pistachio and mozzarella, and puppo, which is grilled octopus carpaccio. Bonu Taverna’s version of bruschetta called crostoni will also be offered as well as tagliere misto, which is a board filled with meats and cheeses (i.e. the Italian version of charcuterie).
Large plates include items like zuppa di pesce, which is an assortment of seafood in a spicy tomato broth, and pasta fresca, fresh home-made pasta.
Polipo (octopus) will be one of the shareable items on the menu at Bonu’ Taverna
You’ll also find dishes that taste familiar but have been presented in a completely new way, such as Jarbonara, which is carbonara in a jar, and Cannolo Scomposto, a deconstructed cannoli.
However, the house specialty and highlight of the menu will be pinsa romana. Like pizza, pinsa is thinner and lighter in texture and served in an oval shape. Pinsa also has fewer calories, lower fat, and less sodium than pizza.
The price per plate will vary, of course, but nothing on the menu will break the bank. “Food is essential. We need to eat. And so, we’d like to make sure everyone can afford it,” said Mia. “No matter who walks in the door, we want them to be able to afford a meal.”
You can’t have a great Italian meal without a glass of wine. Wine is an integral part of Italy's culture and Bonu’ Taverna will offer a great wine program. Whether your meal pairs well with Nero D’Avola (Sicilian wine), Amarone, or Barolo, you’ll have a large selection of Italian wine to choose from. And don’t be surprised if a few exceptional American wines sneak onto the menu as well.
Pinsa Romana will be a house specialty at Bonu’ Taverna when they open on Central Avenue in early 2022.
The 150-seat restaurant will have an expansive patio perfect for al fresco dining that wraps around the corner of Central Avenue and 6th Street. The worn green awnings are being removed and lemon trees will be planted as well as other improvements to the landscaping.
The interior of Bonu’ Taverna will be predominantly white with hints of orange and gray. Orange represents energy and vitality while grey is neutral, balanced, and calming.
“At Bonu’ Taverna, we want you to come in and feel welcome,” said Mia. “Sometimes restaurants get caught up trying to impress customers with these million-dollar concepts and they fail to do the most important thing, which is being accessible, hospitable, and consistent.”
Jarbonara, Carbonara in a jar, is one of the many avant-garde dishes that’ll be available at Bonu’ Taverna in downtown St. Pete
Art will also be prominently showcased at Bonu’ Taverna. The walls will be adorned with creations from local artists. And when the doors open in early 2022, a percentage of total sales from the soft opening will be given to local artists.
A small putia, which is Sicilian for ‘little shop’, will front 6th Street. Not only will take-out be available, but you’ll be able to grab a bottle of wine, a piece of prosciutto, a hunk of cheese, and much more. The putia will also be used for catering, wine tastings, balsamic tastings, Prosecco nights, and other events.
This isn’t the Maccarrone’s first foray into the restaurant industry. Before moving to St. Pete, the couple lived in Atlanta, where they owned a series of restaurants. The success of their first, Ciao Bella, resulted in six more Atlanta locations. After selling Ciao Bella at the height of its success, Mia and Mario debuted Enoteca, Publik Draft House, and Baraonda, which is still open after 22 years in business.
Cannolo Scomposto, deconstructed Cannolo Siciliano, will be the perfect way to end a meal at Bonu’ Taverna
Being foreigners, Mia from Morocco and Mario from Italy, the duo would often drive down south to experience the international culture of Miami. In 2011, they decided to stop off in St. Pete and fell in love with the city.
“St. Pete is this little jewel of a city,” said Mia. “It’s quaint, eclectic, and funky. We absolutely adore the laidback lifestyle here and cannot wait to join the dining community.”
When the doors open in early 2022 at 601 Central Avenue, expect a unique Italian experience. In the meantime, follow Bonu’ Taverna on Instagram for menu teases and grand opening plans.
