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Get Ready For Spaghetti: Dallas Italian Export Taverna Opens June 4

Alberto Lombardi's Italian restaurant lands at River Oaks

a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with a fork twirled inside the noodles
What's better than spaghetti and meatballs? Nothing.
Joy Zhang

After a long wait, Taverna, the much-anticipated Italian concept from Dallas chef and restaurateur Alberto Lombardi, will officially open its doors in River Oaks. For pasta enthusiasts, it's about damn time.

Next week, Taverna will officially open its doors in the River Oaks District. The concept will be housed in the same development as Toulouse, Lombardi’s take on a casual French bistro, at 4444 Westheimer. The two restaurants will be joined by Steak 48, The Porch, and more restaurant concepts throughout the end of the year.

Originally opened in Dallas, Taverna focuses on Norhern Italian fare like wood-fired pizzas, housemade pasta, and risotto. According to Lombardi, the Houston outpost is bigger than the Dallas original, which opened in its current location in 2013. “[River Oaks] is the best location in Houston,” Lombardi told PaperCity last year. “In River Oaks District, you have offices and apartments — so people can walk pretty much everywhere.”

Taverna’s official opening day is scheduled for June 4. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and will stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant’s brunch menu will be served on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m.

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