New Wilmington Hotspot Piccolina Toscana Opening in Trolley Square
Restaurateur Chef Dan Butler just can’t leave well enough alone. He’s re-invented his upscale Italian restaurant, Toscana, several times since the launch of his original Trolley Square endeavor, Griglia Toscana, which opened in 1991. Since then, Griglia Toscana has transformed into Tavola Toscana, and again into Toscana Kitchen+Bar. Next up: Piccolina Toscana, scheduled for opening this weekend.
As Toscana approaches its 20th birthday, it is undergoing perhaps its biggest transformation to date.
“It’s been a long time since our last renovation and I’m really looking forward to being able to treat our customers to a new experience,” Chef Butler explains. “I’m really excited about the fresh look and focus of the new restaurant.”
Virtually every surface of Toscana has been changed and updated; from the floors to the chairs and walls, everything is new. Highlights of the new design include an open display kitchen for the pastry chef where diners will be able to see desserts and gelati being prepared and artfully plated.
Butler began the renovation process with some ideas in mind, and once the initial blueprints were drawn, he shared them with some of his faithful customers.
“I began the process by pulling together a handful of people once a week; I cooked them dinner, and utilized them as informal focus groups. And though I’ve never asked anyone’s opinion before, I assured the participants that for one instance only, I’d have thick skin when they gave honest input,” Butler jokes. “But the exercise was terrifically valuable. Some of the most significant features of the final design came about as a result of interaction with my customers and these focus groups.”
Upon entering the new space, returning guests might become disoriented from all the changes. The floor is an Italian porcelain tile with an iridescent quality. The base colors are muted whites and grays with pops of exciting color coming from seating and linens. Rounded booths add to the hip décor and create areas for individual parties. The custom made high-top community table made of welded steel and rescued barn timbers is perched in front of the elevated pastry kitchen. A backlit, sheer black curtain defines the private area where the backdrop is a whitewashed brick and stone wall adorned with vibrant original artwork by Vicki Vinton. And a huge, rustic wooden hutch dominates another wall.
But the biggest changes for the new restaurant are not cosmetic.
“It’s more about a new attitude,” explains Chef Butler. “We want to cook for people the way they want to eat today. We’ll feature small plates—everything will be available in smaller, less pricey portions of truly flavorful food. We’ll be open later into the evening so that people can stop in after parties, after work or after dinner in other restaurants for dessert. A high premium is placed on hospitality. Our servers will be nothing if not friendly. Times change and I think Piccolina Toscana will be very much a restaurant for these times.”
Toscana closed for renovation on October 3rd. Time lapse photography of the construction is on display as a video on www.piccolinatoscana.com.
Interviews with Butler are available. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Dan Butler at 302.218.3486 or email DanButler@BigChefGuy.com
Piccolina Toscana is located at 1412 N. DuPont Street, Wilmington, DE 19806.
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