Rosso Pizzeria and Wine Bar is officially expanding to Petaluma. The popular Santa Rosa eatery has just inked a deal to move into the downtown Theater District just off Petaluma Blvd South.
According to co-owner and GM Kevin Cronin, the second outpost of Rosso will seat about 50 inside and 20 outside. The format will be similar to the Santa Rosa restaurant — wood-fired pizzas, piadini, fresh cheeses, house made salumi and plenty of by-the-glass wines — but the Petaluma location will also include a freshly made pasta special each day.
“It’s a little smaller than Santa Rosa and it will look a little different, but Petaluma is a lot like Santa Rosa in that there are so many incredible farmers nearby,” said Cronin. He and chef/owner John Franchetti plan to take advantage of local produce, meats and dairy at the southern location.
Freshly made mozzarella has become a signature of the Rosso operation in Santa Rosa and at local farmer’s markets, but with the abundance of dairy in Petaluma, Cronin said, “we may start experimenting with some different types of cheeses.”
The Petaluma space, which has never been occupied, will be built out over the coming months. Look for an opening between June and August of 2011.