One of Sarasota’s most exciting new restaurant openings is set for this month

One of Sarasota’s most highly anticipated restaurant openings of 2024, especially for local pizza enthusiasts, is scheduled for later this month.

Restaurateur Alessandro di Ferdinando, owner of Napulé, the acclaimed Italian restaurant on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota that earned a coveted Golden Spoon award from Florida Trend magazine, announced plans in November to revive "the spirit and name" of 15 South Ristorante on St. Armands Circle.

The new restaurant, 15 South by Napulé, pays homage to the original 15 South, which di Ferdinando noted as "a beloved mainstay of Sarasota’s dining and nightlife for almost 20 years." I also loved visiting the Italian restaurant and upstairs nightclub, particularly for its pizza cooked in the wood-burning oven.

Now, fans of both Napulé and the original 15 South will have a chance to see the newly renovated 15 South by Napulé at its grand opening.

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15 South by Napulé on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota to host grand opening Saturday, April 27

15 South by Napulé, located at 15 South Boulevard of the Presidents, will host a grand opening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The celebration is open to the public, and guests will have the opportunity to tour the restaurant and enjoy a sampling of appetizers and pizzas. Attendees will also receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer.

“We want everyone who comes to 15 South by Napulé to have a good time!" said di Ferdinando in a statement. "We eat, we drink, and catch a great sunset from the balcony. Do you remember (the film) 'Eat Pray Love'? I want everyone to eat, dance, and love!”

15 South by Napulé officially opens Monday, April 29. The restaurant's hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

15 South by Napule's first-floor dining room and bar will offer a more traditional dining experience, "with the warm glow of the imported wood fired oven offering a visual centerpiece." The upstairs will feature another full bar and dance floor with a street-style menu of small, shareable dishes. “We will have live music very soon for dancing,” di Ferdinando said.

15 South by Napulé will feature an 'authentic, gold-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven'

Di Ferdinando will manage the front of the house, while the food operations will be overseen by two of his longtime friends and collaborators. Antonio Mancini, a former Napulé pizzaiolo, will man what Di Ferdinando described as an "authentic, gold-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven" located near the first-floor bar.

Chef Giancarlo Di Cosmo, who Di Ferdinando said worked alongside him at a Soho House concept in London, will helm the kitchen. Di Cosmo specializes in handmade pastas, including what the press release described as "his out-of-this-world cacio e pepe stuffed ravioli."

15 South by Napulé is at 15 South Boulevard of the Presidents on St. Armands Circle. For more information, visit 15south-bynapule.com.

Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota’s restaurant 15 South by Napule openings this month