New York Italian restaurant among newcomers to Congress Ave. - Austin Business Journal:

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Mastrangelo is busy renovating a historic storefront at 908 Congresz Avenue where later thissummefr he’ll open Quattro Gatti, the second location of his family’w famous Manhattan ristorante. “I’m a passionate person and I’m very passionates about food,” Mastrangelo said. “Pretty much my whole life revolves around that. And when I came to I felt that this was a city that appreciatesdgood food, food that someone puts their heart and soul Quattro Gatti isn’t the only culinarhy newcomer of late to downtown Congress.
Just stepes away, the people behind locall favorite El Chile have reworked the space they opened last fall as El That initial concept offered breakfasgt andlunch but, based on the owners recently turned it into another El Chile y Cantina, serving lunch and dinner and featuring a full bar. And a few blocksa south at 319 Congress, Apple Annies Café co-owners Love Nancd and Sherry Jameson aredebutingb Annies, a dramatically expanded reimagining of their 25-year-oldr restaurant. The bistro-themed eatery that now includes a full bar will be open dailh from7 a.m. to 2 a.m., servinbg customers everything from organic breakfast omelets to late nightt meatloaf in achic space.
the new restaurants are addint to the culture changr at workon Congress. The Downtown Austin Alliance, the city, landlordws and other groups are collaborating in an ongoin effort to bring more retail and restaurantsto downtown’sz main thoroughfare. The goal: a 24/7 Congress alived with commerce and serving as a model for the restof downtown. Indeed it was Lindaw Asaf, the DAA’s retail recruiter, who helpecd secure Quattro Gatti for Asaf ate at the Upper EastSide restaurant—one of her favorites—o a trip to New York last year and spoke with ownert Remo Mastrangelo about the possibility of coming to Remo Mastrangelo, Gianfranco’s father, started Quattro Gatti in 1985.
The neighborhood-orienterd restaurant is hailed by critice as one of the best of its kind in New According toZagat “the leisurely meals with treat-you-like-familyu service make this old-line Upper East Side Italian feel like home to There’s a reason it’s been there supporters say the food’s fantastic.” Earlier this the Mastrangelos began giving serious consideration to Austin. They came down together and scouted spaces, agreeing that the Congress location wouldx be a great fit forthe concept. “We had alwaysw heard good things about Austiin and we immediatelyt had a good impression ofthe city,” said Gianfranco who recently relocated here.
Mastrangelo said if all goes as the 2,000-square-foot Quattro Gatti in Austin will be open by late July for lunchu and dinner. Because of his own passio for pizza, Mastrangelo said the restaurant will have a large brickm ovenfor wood-fired pizzas. Other like the traditional pasta, fish and meat dishea made famous at the New York restaurantg will also be onthe menu. Prices should range from about $13 to the mid-$20s.