From the Team behind Strada Italiano and Social Lounge,
Gemelli Restaurant opens September 12 in W. Asheville
The latest culinary venture from Chef Anthony Cerrato, Gemelli marks its grand opening to the public September 12, 2022, bringing an all-day Italian dining experience to West Asheville, at 70 Westgate Pkwy., next to EarthFare. In the European-inspired, newly renovated space, restaurant-goers can expect gourmet Italian food and scratch-made pastas and ravioli served in a cozy, inviting setting ideal for social gathering. Gemelli presents an Italian coffee shop vibe for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, and an evening wine bar dinner experience, with wine, cocktails on draft, and rotating local beers by the bottle. While guests can enjoy a sit-down, full-service menu all day, counter service with grab-and-go items and lounge seating areas can accommodate customers on the go. Gemelli will be offering catering as well.
Chef Cerrato is already a well-known restaurateur in Asheville and has been a generous community supporter for many years. A son of a big Italian family and graduate of AB-Tech’s celebrated culinary program, Cerrato learned the ropes in independent and corporate restaurants in Raleigh and Asheville, before striking out on his own in 2012, when he opened Strada Italiano and adjacent Social Lounge on Broadway Street downtown. Strada and Social Lounge just marked their 10-year anniversary in March.
What to Expect on the Culinary-driven Menu
Everything on the menu is unique to Gemelli. For breakfast, scratch-made sweet and savory Italian baked goods will be a first in Asheville. Items like Maritozzi (Roman sweet mascarpone-filled buns) and Bombolini (glazed Italian donuts) are among the authentically Italian baked goods. More substantial breakfast and brunch offerings include Benedict Hash (with steak, poached eggs, and paprika hollandaise) and Florentine Frittata.
Soup, salads, antipasti, and shareable dishes segue into lunch, where Sicilian-style thick-crust pizzas and pastas round out the menu through dinner. The 12-inch personal pies present specialty and build-your-own options, with an array of Italian toppings, fine cheeses, and fresh and cured meats to choose from. The pastas include a signature Gemelli pasta dish (with lamb sausage and grana padano cheese), as well as Cacio e Pepe and Spaghetti alla Nerano (with zucchini, garlic, and grana padano). All are made in-house and cooked to order. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available. In addition to craft cocktails and beers, there will be a self-serving Cruvinet dispenser for individual wine pours along with bottle service.
“Gemelli’s menu is entirely different from what we serve at Strada and Social Lounge,” says Chef Cerrato. “We aim to make this a gathering place where people can come any time of day, whether they’re wanting an Italian coffee and pastry or a full sit-down pasta dinner with a good Montepulciano or other Italian wine.”
Housed in the former Green Sage Cafe, the space received a complete makeover thanks to Hive Interior Design and Linsey Gray Creative. Gemelli branding is by Sound Mind Creative. Website creation is by Lokk Co. and Chu Art+Dzine. All are local design creatives.
More to Come: Gemelli Brand Food Products
Looking ahead, Cerrato has plans to release Gemelli branded and packaged pastas and sauces, which will be available at the restaurant. They will be sold in a small retail section near the counter along with other local produce and comestible goods.
What’s in a Name
Gemelli is a type of twisted pasta whose name is derived from the Italian word for twins. It’s also the Italian word for gemini, the astrological sign. For Cerrato, the name represents a triple entendre. Not only does the menu offer house-made gemelli, it’s also a nod to his two-year-old twin girls and also his beloved wife, who is a Gemini.
Gemelli
70 Westgate Pkwy.
Asheville, NC 28806
www.Gemelli.restaurant
Phone: 828-565-6111
info@gemelli.restaurant
Open daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
