Italian cuisine comes to Sagamore Square

by Laura Bednar

Sagamore Square on W. Aurora Road started the New Year by welcoming Italian restaurant The Tuscan Vine to the shopping center on Jan. 2.

The menu includes common Italian dishes such as pizza, pastas and eggplant parmesan. Other categories like seafood and dinners with a choice of meat (steak, pork, chicken and veal) round out the menu. Within the restaurant is a bar offering wine, beer, liquor and cocktails.

Tuscan Vine owner John Dimitriou said he wanted the menu to include plates people recognize.

“I don’t want to make something people are not familiar with,” he said.

Dimitriou has worked in the restaurant industry for 20 years. He owned and operated successful restaurants as far away as China, and currently owns a few restaurants in New Jersey. He originally hails from Greece.

While Greek food is his specialty, he said he wanted to open an Italian restaurant because Italian food is one of his favorites to eat. He said all dishes are made on the spot in the kitchen and the bread is homemade.

This is Dimitriou’s first restaurant in Ohio. He chose the location because he knew the owner of the shopping center and saw an opportunity to take over one of the vacant storefronts. Dimitriou said, “It has gone well since the opening, we’ve had quite a few reservations.”

The entire interior was remodeled with new tables, chairs and decor. Some of the details like the fabric coverings on the booths and wooden display shelves along the wall were handcrafted.

“I want the atmosphere to be more casual and relaxing,” said Dimitriou. “People can have a nice lunch or dinner and after 10 p.m., come in for drinks and appetizers.”

The Tuscan Vine is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., with the bar closing at 2 a.m.

In the future, Dimitriou plans to have events such as live music at the restaurant. ∞

The Tuscan Vine serves Italian cuisine in its Sagamore Square
location. Photos by Laura Bednar.
The bar in Tuscan Vine is open until 2 a.m.