A locally owned, casual Italian dining restaurant called La Trattoria is coming to the Ferry Pass area of Pensacola in late May or early June, according to the new eatery's co-owner. Julio Xec, a half-Italian, Guatemalan-born chef with 12 years of industry experience, and his business partner leased the building on 2256 E. Olive Road from property owner and former Casa Ole owner Fernando Chavez in early 2018.

Xec will also be the head chef of the restaurant, which he said has undergone a complete interior renovation since late January and will open in late May or early-to-mid June depending on how soon the owners can hire and sufficiently train their staff. They're also in the process of buying new kitchen equipment.