Renowned Italian restaurateur Mario Iaccarino is opening his first U.S. restaurant project, Casa Don Alfonso at the The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, this fall, bringing a relaxed and approachable Mediterranean ambiance the Iaccarino family is known for.
Guests will enjoy a combined restaurant and bar experience with counter seating surrounding the open kitchen, in addition to traditional table-side service.
A family with four generations in the hospitality industry, the Iaccarinos opened Don Alfonso 1890 in southern Italy, creating what is today an internationally lauded boutique hotel and restaurant with iterations all over the world, including Toronto and Macao, China.
“It was an easy choice to bring this project to the states with The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis,” Iaccarino said. “We share the same philosophy and incredible attention to detail, so it was a natural fit from the very beginning.”
Don Alfonso 1890’s culinarian and chef, Ernesto Iacarrino’s, Mediterranean menu illustrates recipes passed down in the Iacarrino family for generations, while also honoring the culinary traditions of Italy’s Campania region.
Overseeing the Casa Don Alfonso kitchen is chef de cuisine, Sergio Chierego. Honing his skills at celebrated restaurants all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Saudi Arabia, Chierego joins the Casa Don Alfonso team for his first stateside appointment. Originally from Cagliari, Italy, Chierego most recently served as the chef de cuisine of Azzurro at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, where he drew upon seasonal ingredients to create modern Sardinian dishes.
Spearheading all restaurant operations will be general manager Alen Tanovic. Tanovic’s breadth of experience working in luxury hospitality has cultivated leadership and dedication for the guest experience, ensuring the highest level of service to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Casa Don Alfonso will open for breakfast, lunch and dinner service, this fall, within The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, 100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105. Grand opening announcements and hours of operations will be announced soon.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis enlisted Atlanta-based architecture and interior design firm The Johnson Studio to bring the restaurant to life.
