Replacement Revealed for Recently Shuttered Osteria Mazzantini (Sort Of)

Once a property becomes available in today's hot real estate market, chances are it will be snatched up pretty quickly — if the price and location are right. That was the case when news of John Sheely's Osteria Mazzantini closing made the rounds earlier this week. Shortly after the online announcement, several sources revealed their interest in the space were short-lived upon finding the property was off the market. Which deep-pocket restaurateur acquired the expensive Galleria-area space located on the ground floor of the BBVA Compass Plaza? According to Paul Coonrod of Stream Partners, "[a] successful local restaurant group."

The managing director and partner of the real estate firm which manages BBVA Compass Plaza tells CultureMap the group doesn't want to be revealed just yet, but discloses the concept will be Asian Fusion with a sushi bent. The Azuma Group is successful with several well-performing restaurants to their credit (Soma Sushi, the Azuma restaurants), but they're currently constructing their upcoming izakaya concept in Midtown set to open this spring. It's unlikely — though not impossible — the group would turn their focus on a new project with a highly anticipated one underway. Whomever it is, the concept will be a nice balance to Caracol, Hugo Ortega's seafood focused Mexican restaurant next door. Diners will soon have their pick of upscale sushi and Asian-fusion eateries in the Galleria area other than Uptown Sushi and MF Sushi and that's a good thing.