Review By: Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Second Marcella's to open near Polaris; other cities may be next
Marcella Libertini, an Italian chef for whom Marcella's is named, relaxes with restaurateur Cameron Mitchell at Marcella's in the Short North. Mitchell is seeking new sites for the family-style concept in Chicago, Miami, New York and Charlotte, N.C. Marcella Libertini flew to Columbus from her home in Tuscany to visit the Short North dining spot that restaurateur Cameron Mitchell named after her. Soon, there will be two Marcella's, with the possibility of more to come.
Mitchell announced yesterday that he'll close the Martini Italian Bistro, 1319 Polaris Parkway, on Oct. 29 and reopen it as a Marcella's Ristorante on Dec. 5.
The transformation from an intimate, white-tablecloth restaurant to a boisterous, family-style concept will cost about $400,000, Mitchell said.
"But we were going to have to remodel at this time anyway, and so we decided to try Marcella's in a suburban setting."
Mitchell already is actively seeking sites for Marcella's in Chicago, Miami, New York and Charlotte, N.C.
"This isn't about Martini's," Mitchell said. Although there soon will be only two left of that concept, the restaurant on N. High Street has had its best year yet.
Instead, he said, his goal is to give more people a chance to enjoy the pizza and pasta that Libertini, his "favorite Italian cook," has made for him when he and his family have visited Tuscany. Libertini is a house manager and chef for villas in the Val d'Orcia region.
"I always had a dream to come to America," Libertini said yesterday from Marcella's, 615 N. High St.
Libertini flew first to New York -- it was her first time on a plane -- and stayed a few nights before coming to Columbus. Through her friend and interpreter, John Bird, she said, "Columbus is so much nicer a place than New York, with its busyness and bustling. This is so much more like home."
She said she was pleased to have a restaurant named after her and noted how large Marcella's is, even though it's among Mitchell's smallest restaurants at about 5,000 square feet.
Mitchell, chief executive of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, said that Mitchell's Ocean Club is doing "fantastic," and will be adding restaurants soon in Detroit and Scottsdale, Ariz., for sure and perhaps in Miami and Orlando, Fla.
Mitchell's Fish Market restaurants will be opening soon in Jacksonville, Fla., and Stamford, Conn. Mitchell said that he still is looking to sell the chain.