River Oaks District is getting a new star and it's not of the retail kind. Taverna, the Italian restaurant known for its hand-made pasta and indulgent risotto dishes, is welcoming Francesco Schintu as its new executive chef, according to the Lombardi Family Concepts. The Dallas-based restaurant company whose restaurant brands also include Toulouse Café and Bar (also a signature restaurant at River Oaks District) said that Schintu's love of Italian fare and culinary traditions make him a perfect choice to lead Taverna.
Schintu, from Bosa, a fishing village in the Sardinia region of Italy, comes to Houston from Las Vegas where he most recently was executive chef at the Venetian's Zeffirino Ristorante and Mercato Della Pescheria, and at the Wynn's Allegro restaurant. "There's a lot of energy and excitement that comes with change and I look forward to transmitting it into the menu and specials," Schintu said.
