Forlorn fans of the shuttered Houston restaurant Fresco Italiano — some who quite literally wept when chef/owner Roberto Crescini announced he was closing up shop and heading back to Italy — take a moment to rejoice. Crescini is back.

He’s now partnering with the consummate pro Paco Calza, a longtime Houston restauranteur whom many will recognize from his days in the front of the house at Cafe Annie who is currently a partner at the lauded Spanish restaurant BCN. That partnership has Crescini back behind the range at the duo’s new restaurant called Davanti Ristorante Italiano in the River Oaks area.