Andiamo owner Joe Vicari said a new location for the restaurant chain, Andiamo Pasta & Chops, is set to open this July at The Mall at Partridge Creek. The space was occupied by Brio Italian Grille previously.
By: Nick Powers | C&G Newspapers | Published April 22, 2024
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Andiamo is coming back to Hall Road.
The Italian restaurant is set to open a new location at the former Brio Italian Grille at The Mall at Partridge Creek. Andiamo owner Joe Vicari said the mall reached out about the location.
“We think that there’s a market for sure for Andiamo, for a good Italian restaurant,” Vicari said. “We like that location.”
According to Vicari, the chain had a restaurant on Hall Road for 17 years. The location closed in 2020. Portillo’s bought the building and knocked it down to build its own structure.
“We wanted to get back in that market,” he said. “This opportunity came, and we liked it.”
While it’ll feature favorites the restaurant is known for, it’ll have a different focus. The new restaurant will be called Andiamo Pasta & Chops. Because Andiamo owns Joe Muer Seafood, Vicari said it’ll also specialize in those items.
“We’re going to expand our steaks and our chops,” Vicari said. “I live in that area, and it’s underserved for a good seafood/steakhouse.”
Vicari said items customers can expect are steaks; veal, pork and lamb chops; ribeye steaks; and bone-in filets. He said the restaurant will try to provide sides with the meals, unlike some steak restaurants.
“Just things you would see at a high-end steakhouse,” Vicari said. “But we’re going to keep the prices affordable.”
He said he hopes the location will be open sometime in July. The restaurant is estimated to have 175 seats for dining and 20 seats at the bar.
“We’re doing some extensive remodeling,” Vicari said. “The biggest thing we’re doing is moving the bar from where it was and putting it in the middle of the restaurant. We’re going to have seating on either side of the bar. The bar is going to be the focal point.”
Andiamo has seven locations in the metro Detroit area, including the new one. It also has a restaurant in Las Vegas.
Andiamo is not the only new restaurant moving into the mall. Grand Rapids based HopCat, owned by BayFly Ventures, is set to move into the former BurgerFin space this summer.
“After opening two locations in Metro Detroit last year, we’re thrilled to be joining the Macomb County community and increasing our brand presence in this thriving market,” Ned Lidvall, CEO of BarFly, is quoted as saying in a press release. “It was easy to see the opportunity at The Mall at Partridge Creek — a vibrant and walkable destination. We’re confident about our decision to invest in this location as the home of our 10th Michigan HopCat restaurant.”
The release states that the location can accommodate 250 guests and has features like a wrap-around bar, a dog-friendly outdoor patio and a private event space for up to 50 people.