Old Restaurant Made New Again—and Again

If you’re looking for a mini Tuscan vacation, then Giuseppe Cinque’s new restaurant, Giuseppe’s Trattoria at 172 Main Street, is the place for you. With its warm tones, Italian music, and authentic cuisine, a visit to Giuseppe’s feels like a trip to Italy. But business hasn’t always been so sunny.

From 2006 until this fall, that location was home to Cinque's Marina d’Amalfi restaurant, which he said was very successful for years. It held a Zagat rating of "excellent" and earned accolades from Stamford Plus and Norwalk Plus, among others.

But like the rest of the country, Marina d’Amalfi suffered from the effects of the recession, Cinque said. When business began to take a downward turn, he decided to try something different.

Cinque also owns Viva Cantina in Bridgeport, which he describes as "a Mexican grill and bar with music and entertainment." That restaurant was doing really well, he said, so he thought it would be a good idea to open a similar place in Norwalk.

He knew after only four months that converting the trattoria into a Mexican restaurant was not the right solution. He quickly realized that, “The clientele was disappointed.”

In the meantime, another dream didn’t work out. Cinque had hoped to purchase the Chinese restaurant next door and combine the two spaces, which would allow for a bar and extra seating.  As is, the restaurant seats 40.

Although Cinque was able to acquire the storefront next door, zoning regulations prevented him from turning into the bar of his dreams. “It killed my heart,” he said.

He said business is improving after the changes, although the lunchtime business is slow. He's hopeful it will improve.

What can restaurant-goers expect from the new trattoria? Giuseppe’s provides a new menu “based on freshness,” Cinque said. Everything from the pasta to the pizza is made from scratch.

Cinque, who himself is from Italy, insists on authenticity. He hopes customers will find “nice portions, freshness, a certain knowledge.”

Menu options include entrees such as linguine bolognese and cavetelli with broccoli rabe and sausage. Takeout options include pizza as well as calzones, wraps and entrees.

Cinque said he wants to improve the resturant's wine list and add a piano bar.