Rocco Catanzarite is taking the Dayton area restaurant scene by storm. In April 2019 he launched Murphy’s Craftbar + Kitchen, and then in May 2020 he opened up a new Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Sidney called Tavolo – Modern Italian.
“The Italian word for table is ‘tavolo,’ and in Italy it is very common for families to gather around a table multiple times a week with a large group,” he says. “There, dining together is more of a social activity than just about having dinner.”
The feeling of gathering together with those you love the most was at the top of Catanzarite’s list when up with the restaurant concept and the atmosphere he wanted to create.
“As we were discussing the atmosphere and menus, we kept thinking back to what the ‘table’ means in Italy,” says Catanzarite. “How do we deliver the best possible customer experience to each guest? We execute it by delivering on an exceptional experience.”
All of the dishes at Tavolo – Modern Italian are made in-house, and the atmosphere is influenced by modern, relaxing decor.
Catanzarite’s own Italian heritage played a significant role in his decision to open an Italian restaurant. Part of a brand that’s already growing at a rapid rate, he wanted to bring a destination restaurant to his small hometown.
“We felt the area could use a restaurant concept like Tavolo,” he says. “The restaurant scene in Sidney is fairly small, and for fine dining restaurants it’s even smaller. Tavolo is Sidney’s first destination restaurant, and it’s a good feeling not having to drive many miles to have an experience like what we provide.”
The team at Tavolo – Modern Italian is composed of young professionals, balanced out by a few seasoned vets, including locally known Chef Keith Taylor, who brings years of experience in the food industry.
“He’s brought a lot of knowledge to this restaurant, unique menus, and new twists on traditional dishes,” says Catanzarite.
Most recently, Taylor brought a new brunch menu to Tavolo. Brunch is available every Saturday from 10am-1pm, and walk-ins and reservations are accepted. Tavolo – Modern Italian also offers weekly dinner specials with $5 flatbreads and wine on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a $30 filet mignon special.
To make a reservation, visit https://www.opentable.com. Dining hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10p and Saturday mornings from 10a-1p.
Tavolo – Modern Italian is located at 101 S. Ohio Avenue in Sidney.
You can learn more about Tavolo – Modern Italian on Facebook and Instagram.
