‘All regions of Italy’ at new restaurant
What used to be Valentino The Bistro is about to take on a new identity as La Nostra Famiglia Trattoria. The restaurant is near the intersection of Bitters and Blanco roads.
Arturo Sanchez hopes to open this week, starting with dinner hours from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
The Sanchez family has been in the restaurant business since the 1990s. The Italian menu is still being developed, but executive chef Kim Van Winkle, who worked at Battalion, said to expect a hearty lineup of pizzas, sandwiches, salads, seafood, meatballs and pasta dishes.
“Customers should expect to see a balanced menu that will represent all regions of Italy,” Van Winkle said. “The aim for our food is to be simple, but with robust flavors that I will put a little twist into.”
La Nostra will start with dinner service only.
Van Winkle said the menu at La Nostra will rotate with seasonally available ingredients. She will be joined in the kitchen by Adrian Orozco, Sanchez’s son-in-law, who owns three bakeries and three restaurants in Mexico City.
The cozy property, which has room for about 50 patrons inside and another 15 outdoors, will also feature a full bar once licenses from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have been secured. Until then, customers can expect a glass or two of complimentary wine with their meals.
La Nostra Famiglia Trattoria, 14357 Blanco Road, 210-4088022. Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Facebook: @La-Nostra-Famiglia-Trattoria