The city of Scottsdale takes another punch to the restaurant-scene gut today -- and this one's a doozy: Davanti Enoteca has shuttered after just nine months.
See also: - CLOSED: Indulge Burgers & More in Scottsdale - CLOSED: Cask 63 in North Scottsdale
The fourth location of the Italian restaurant from Chicago-based Francesca's Restaurants Group, headed up by chef Peter DeRuvo (Sassi, Prado, Cuoco Pazzo), moved into the former Quilted Bear space at 6316 North Scottsdale Road last August.
Francesca's Restaurants Group also owns the Italian restaurant chain Mia Francesca, which closed the doors to its DC Ranch location last week after being open for only 15 months.
Davanti's concept, described as a "small-plates wine bar concept," featured a menu of sharable modern Italian fare as well as a sizeable wine list. Standout dishes included a focaccia di recco with local honeycomb, seared octopus, and many of DeRuvo's fresh-made pastas such as the stellar housemade orecchiette.
"Sad stuff," DeRuvo tells me about the closing. "We did good; great staff."