Tony Vallone’s Ciao Bello Shutters Abruptly

Ciao Bello, the neighborhood Italian restaurant from restaurateur Tony Vallone, has closed its doors.

The restaurant served its final plates of pasta on Wednesday night, and Vallone’s partner Scott Sulma provided a statement to Eater confirming the restaurant’s shutter. “For nine years, Ciao Bello has been a neighborhood staple providing high quality Italian food in a warm atmosphere,” Sulma said in a statement. “It is through our great team and loyal guests that we have had such a tremendous run. It saddens us to say, that run has come to its end.”

Known for its delicate, handmade pastas, crisp thin crust pizzas, and an unpretentious, family-friendly atmosphere, Ciao Bello earned a devoted crowd of regulars in its time. Diners raved about the pappardelle bolognese, and the seasonally-available osso buco was arguably the best take on the dish in Houston.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Vallone and Sulma. The news of Ciao Bello’s shutter comes just shy of two weeks after Ciao Bello’s sister restaurant Vallone’s closed its doors on equally short notice. “We gave it everything,” Sulma says. “[We] have decided to solely focus on Tony’s and its growth and evolution for years to come.”

• Vallone’s Will Serve Its Final Hand-Cut Steaks Tonight [EHOU]