The Blind Pig Shutters, Bella Notte Debuts

Causing much confusion by not alerting diners his Panorama Towers restaurant The Blind Pig had shuttered, chef and owner Thomas Dantonio has quickly moved onto his latest concept, Bella Notte, now open six miles to the west in Spring Valley.

Yet to formalize its opening hours while the staff “fine tune our menu and service” and ahead of a formal debut later this month, the casual “N.Y.C. Italian Bistro” takes over the corner space at the Durango Plaza, replacing the former El Mescal Family Mexican Restaurant at the intersection of Durango Drive and Peace Way.

Featuring a roomy interior, large rectangular bar, and an outdoor patio, Bella Notte has already scheduled live entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and made space available for couples to take to the dance floor.

On the menu, $14.99 clams or mussels, $9.99 bruschetta, and a $10.99 caprese salad among a long list of appetizers, plus pizzas prepared Chicago deep dish, or New York-style, calzones, stromboli, burgers and hot sandwiches.

Entrees include porterhouse pork chops, grilled salmon, pasta dishes and “house specialties” including the $19.99 “sausage & peppers feast,” a $28.99 veal aubergine and the $26.99 steak pizzaiola.

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