Italian Red Sauce in Sunrise Will Open August 1: Sneak Peek With Photos

By Tricia Woolfenden Sun., Jul. 22 2012 at 5:49 AM

All photos, Tricia Woolfenden

The restaurant is adorned with a lot of hand-painted décor, including stylized portraits on the brick walls.

Ready for some more Italian in South Florida? Sunrise will soon see the addition of Italian Red Sauce to its somewhat limited roster of family-owned restaurants. The 200-seat space is set for a soft opening on August 1, with a grand-opening event tentatively planned for September, when season begins to gear up. After the jump, find a few more images of the work-in-progress and details about the new Broward County restaurant.

One of the walls has been painted as a replica of Castel Gandolfo in southwest Italy.

Chef Aldo Vespero -- a Naples, Italy, native formerly of Aldo Restaurant and Bar in Hollywood -- will lead the kitchen. Specialities will include seafood, housemade pasta, mozzarella made in-house, and Sunday gravy with fist-sized meatballs. Everything will be served family style, and entrées start at $13.99. They'll begin with dinner hours only and look at expanding into lunch after the initial opening phase has passed. The restaurant has a full liquor license, and the wine list will include more than 100 bottles.

The main dining room includes faux "shops" to give the impression of dining outdoors in an Italian village, owners say. The overhaul of the space started in February.

The TV screen in the upper-left corner is one of a handful that will broadcast a live feed of the restaurant's on-premises bakery, where desserts, cakes, and pastries will be made daily.

Old family portraits -- of restaurant owners, managers, and staff -- adorn the entryway near the host's stand.

This second dining room can be closed off for private parties. They've also got a "VIP room" available by reservation.

Chef Aldo Vespero has been committed to the wall.

Italian Red Sauce is located at 3828 N. University Drive, Sunrise. Call 954-533-8347. Initial opening hours are planned for 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday, 5 to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

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Tags:

Aldo Vespero, Italian Red Sauce

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melbeco

Look Like a Nice Place to go in Sunrise,were is nothing Else.

I will be there to eat ,Try and support Italian Red Sauce who make Sunrise have a wonderful place!...For Sure.

Good Luck.

John.

chefgoodman.cepc

Just ate at Italian Red Sauce, nothing common about it, great food, NOT Bocca De Beppo " Thank G-D!! Authentic, large portions,Good Luck to them , they deserve our support.

Chef G @

raffaellarae

Congrats to My family I'm in St Petersburg Florida Now but I feel my Dad and Uncles that have passed are smiling down on this wonderful place , and we will come and eat on our next visit to Ft Lauderdale , God bless ..

Cousin Rae

Semprini

Looks like they took decorating tips from Buca di Beppo (the wall of photographs,) and East Side Mario's (everything else.) The ESM located in Hollywood was dependable for a good meal, but the service was utterly appalling. I wish the folks at Italian Red Sauce luck, eager to try it!