Enzo, a new Northern Italy-inspired, chef-driven steakhouse and bar concept from Andrea Montobbio and Carmine Noce, is set to debut in summer 2022 in the Town at Trilith, according to a press release Monday. Adjacent to Trilith Studios and its sound stages best known for film productions such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avengers: Endgame,” Enzo will bring chef-driven seasonal flavors to the rapidly expanding development that is quickly becoming a home to film artists and other creatives.
“We’re extremely excited to have Enzo join our growing roster of chef-driven restaurants,” Trilith President Rob Parker said in the release. “This unrivaled Italian steakhouse is sure to attract restaurant-goers from far and wide.”
The pandemic inspired two friends — Montobbio, a native of Northern Italy who has worked as executive chef at Atlanta’s Fifth Group Restaurants, STK Atlanta, and New York’s Gansevoort Hotel, and Noce, who was born in Italy and is a longtime COO and CFO in New York City’s fashion industry — to create Enzo.
“For Carmine, chef de cuisine David Gibbs and me, this is about bringing the food we loved in Italy to diners in this exciting new creative community in Georgia,” Montobbio said. “We also want to preserve what we love most about the hospitality industry. Moving forward, you can’t just give people a job. It’s about giving them a passion and a creative purpose. That’s our goal for Enzo.”
“Food and beverage have always been my passion,” Noce, who will serve as Enzo’s president, said. “During the pandemic, I had a chance to re-evaluate my life. Andrea and I share the same passions and values. We decided it was finally time to be ourselves and pursue those passions, and that’s how the adventure of Enzo began.”
While steaks and other grilled meats, handmade pasta, and seasonal plant-based dishes will be on the menu, Montobbio says his chief focus is on bringing the flavors of his native Italy to diners in Fayetteville.
“In Italy, the beauty of the food is that it varies region to region, based on what the ground provides,” Montobbio said. “Every part of Italy has a different climate, and it’s exciting to create dishes based on the way the sun hits a certain place or what kind of mountain the water comes from. All of those factors play into the uniqueness of the cooking. That’s what we want to bring to diners at Enzo.”
The restaurant will be a testament to Montobbio and Noce’s lifetime love of architecture. From the “giostra” (carousel) bar and lounge, the 150-seat restaurant will extend through the main dining room, offering both indoor and outdoor seating on the expansive patio, and conclude with an exciting expo open kitchen and group dining table with front-row views of the action in chef Montobbio’s kitchen.
Those with Enzo private membership will experience a speakeasy vibe as they pass through the kitchen to arrive at the chef’s table and private dining room. The restaurant also will feature a space dedicated to supporting the work of local artists and will utilize a new immersive camera technology known as the matrix. Noce says that the idea is to showcase the action in the kitchen, the bar, and the live music stage, thanks to large multiple screens.
“We want to place guests into each of the restaurant’s spaces so they can experience everything,” Noce said.
While Enzo’s main dining room is designed to attract couples and families, the private room exclusivity of the bar area was inspired by New York City’s energetic and electric dining scene. “I wanted to create a space that guests could come to every night and never be bored,” Noce said. “A space where executives and other business people could meet up, have a drink, relax, have fun, and most importantly, be themselves.”
Enzo also will have a wall dedicated to the area’s rising visual artists, and the artwork, available for purchase, will be rotated monthly.
Rounding out Enzo’s culinary creative team is chef de cuisine David Gibbs. For Gibbs, who worked with Montobbio at Ecco Buckhead and STK Atlanta, Enzo is an opportunity to re-team with his mentor.
“Andrea drives everyone around him to be better,” Gibbs said. “His plating, his seasoning and his use of flavors are all about creating an optimal experience for his diners. It’s not just the food, it’s the ambiance and everything around it.”
For Montobbio, Noce, and Gibbs, Enzo’s 2022 debut is not just the launch of a restaurant but also a creative lifestyle brand that will include art, fashion, film, catering, and more.
