By Heather Collins
Convivio Italian Artisan Cuisine at 11529 Spring Mill Rd. will open Nov 14. The restaurant will feature cuisine rooted in Italian tradition with an innovative and creative twist.
Co-owner Andrea Melani said he and his business partner, Emilio Cento, have been working on the concept for Convivio for three years. Cento is also Convivio’s executive chef.
Melani is from Liguria, a region off the Northwest coast of Italy, near France. Melani’s family owned two restaurants in Italy. Melani moved to Indianapolis 17 years ago and has had extensive experience in the Italian restaurant business, including being the general manager of Bravo in Castleton for eight years.
The theme of the restaurant is innovating tradition. Convivio’s recipes consist of original and family recipes and traditional Italian fare.
“We are more open-minded to innovating some of the Italian cuisine,” Melani said. “We are traditional, but very open to creating new things.”
The menu will feature 10 to 12 different shapes of flavored pastas. Pasta flavors will include red bell pepper, spinach and beet.
The restaurant will have a live pasta shop, and all of the pasta is made fresh in-house. Atmosphere includes a rustic-modern mixed decor of an Italian-style granary, photographs of farming and artisanal workers on the walls, historical illustrations of the history of pasta making, contemporary Italian music and contemporary Italian novelties.
Convivio will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. For more, visit convivioindy.com.
