HUNTSVILLE — A culinary legend on Washington’s Du Pont Circle is bringing its famed dishes to Huntsville’s MidCity District.
Floriana, the family-owned Italian restaurant beloved in Washington, D.C., will open in MidCity District next year, officials said in a news release.
Floriana, which also has a restaurant in Wilmington, N.C., brings decades of tradition, fresh handmade pastas and a warm, community-focused spirit to Huntsville’s emerging culinary scene.
“Floriana has always been about more than just great food — our goal is to make every guest feel at home,” said owner Jamie Branda. “We’re excited to bring our family’s tradition of quality, hospitality and Italian-inspired celebration to Huntsville through the vibrant and growing community at MidCity District.”
Founded in 1979 by Floriana Nestore, the restaurant is celebrated for scratch-made gnocchi, ravioli, tortelloni and its famous lasagna.
Branda and Dino Tapper, Nestore’s son, now lead the restaurant’s next chapter.
Floriana’s approach centers on authentic northern Italian recipes, hand-shaped pastas and a signature sense of hospitality that has made the Dupont Circle flagship a staple for D.C. locals and visitors alike, the news release said.
The Huntsville menu will showcase Floriana’s best-loved dishes alongside inventive new offerings including a raw bar, featured burgers and wood-fired oven pizzas. A thoughtfully curated wine cellar and craft cocktail program, refined over decades, will complement and complete diners’ experience at Floriana’s newest location.
“Floriana’s arrival at MidCity is a testament to the district’s growing reputation as a destination for exceptional dining experiences,” said Max Grelier, co-founder of RCP Companies, the developer of MidCity District. “We are excited to welcome such a respected and loved restaurant with a longstanding legacy and look forward to the positive impact Floriana will have on our community.”
The restaurant will occupy an 8,000-square-foot, two-story corner space at the NOLA Building on the corner of Mid City Drive and Stax Street — the primary retail crossroads of MidCity District.
Designed by local architecture firm Matheny Goldman, the space draws inspiration from New Orleans’ Warehouse District with its brick façade and expansive wraparound balcony on the second floor.
The striking location will serve as a visual anchor and a welcoming gateway into the heart of MidCity’s dining and entertainment core.
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