Osteria Mia, the Phoenix-based Italian concept from restaurateur Mario Rana, is set to take up residence in SimonCRE’s forthcoming Surprise City Center development when phase one is completed late next year, as first reported Wednesday, Jun 21, by the Phoenix Business Journal. What’s more, of the initial four food and beverage options that signed on to the lifestyle hub, Osteria Mia is the only one born and bred in the city.
“My wife and I live in Surprise – we live right down the road from [Surprise City Center] – and we’ve always wanted to open a restaurant in our hometown,” Rana tells What Now Phoenix. “And as soon as [SimonCRE] told us about this, we signed the lease right away cause it’s a great area, [and] it’s pretty cool what they’re doing with the whole downtown vibe.”
Whereas Osteria Mia’s flagship location, which opened in 2020, is well known for its wood-fired pizzas, Rana says that the offerings at his Surprise outpost will be slightly different, swapping out those pies for a selection of classic Italian dishes such as Chicken Marsala, Veal Saltimbocca, and Pork Milanese, while retaining the brand’s signature hand-made pasta, extensive wine list, and craft cocktail selection, culminating in a menu that Rana describes as “a bit more higher-end.”
Meanwhile, with a larger space to capitalize on, Rana says that the new location will house a Gelateria – complete with its own entrance – where folks can stop by for a gelato or Italian ice made fresh, in-house, which will of course, also be available for dessert in the restaurant.
