An Italian chain is expanding in the Midwest, this time in the Buckeye state.
The Cooper’s Hawk team is opening a new Piccolo Buco location in the Shops On Lane Avenue plaza in Upper Arlington. The company co-owns the Italy-based chain, and this will be the first Piccolo Buco concept in the state. As it is early in the development process, no opening date has been announced.
Most of the restaurants from this chain are based in the Chicago area, Schaumburg, Naperville and Oakbrook, with two others in Florida: Tampa and Estero. The restaurant’s history goes back to 1916 when the first location opened in Rome. In 2019, Cooper’s Hawk founder Tim McEnery went to the original spot in Italy and became inspired to bring it to the states.
“He met Piccolo Buco Rome owner Luca Issa, asked to collaborate and brought it home for the rest of us. Because the pizza is just that good,” says the description on their website.
The menu at a Piccolo Buco features antipasti and soup, salads, pizzas, pastas and mains like salmon and chicken parm. Those in the mood for dessert have options such as Mama Luca’s Tiramisu, chocolate hazelnut cake and pound cake. Of course, wines and other happy hour drinks are offered
The specific location at the shopping plaza has not been confirmed. It joins other restaurants like SOW Plated, The Original Pancake House and Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern. The area is just north of Grandview Heights.
As construction progresses, a more firm opening date will be announced by Cooper’s Hawk in the coming months.
