North Italia, the modern Italian concept known for its handcrafted cuisine and cocktails, officially opens its doors today as the restaurant's debut in Alabama. This newest location brings a fresh dining experience to The Summit – Birmingham’s open-air, upscale lifestyle center featuring high-end retail, special events, dining, and more.
North Italia offers guests signature, seasonal Italian fare served in a bright, modern and airy atmosphere. The 5,378 square-foot space features an open exhibition kitchen that overlooks the dining room and bar, and seats up to 295 guests both indoors and on the outdoor patio. The restaurant’s upscale and inviting aesthetic makes North Italia the ideal spot for any dining occasion or celebration.
North Italia offers guests signature, seasonal Italian fare served in a bright, modern and airy atmosphere. The 5,378 square-foot space features an open exhibition kitchen that overlooks the dining room and bar, and seats up to 295 guests both indoors and on the outdoor patio. The restaurant’s upscale and inviting aesthetic makes North Italia the ideal spot for any dining occasion or celebration.
Executive chef Billy Sciacca, a 16-year veteran of the hospitality industry, will lead the kitchen at the new Birmingham location. Inspired by Sunday afternoons cooking with his mother and grandmother growing up, Sciacca brings his flair for flavor and love of homemade Italian cuisine to North Italia. Sciacca graduated from The Art Institute of Houston and has worked with the North Italia team for more than five years. Birmingham local Jaie O’Banner will serve as the general manager of the new North Italia location. O’Banner has both independent and corporate food and beverage experience, and a long-held passion for the hospitality industry.
North Italia Birmingham is now open with dine-in service for weekend brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour. Its menu showcases fresh and seasonal ingredients across a broad selection of antipasti, salads, handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and entrées inspired by the garden, farm and sea. For guests who would prefer to experience North Italia in the comfort of their own home, the Birmingham location also offers takeout and delivery via DoorDash.
Lunch
Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Offers something for any palate, from handmade pizzas and salads like the Prosciutto Pizza topped with mission fig, goat cheese and arugula; a Seasonal Vegetable Salad now featuring butternut squash, cauliflower, and a white balsamic vinaigrette drizzle; to small plates like the Burrata with date conserva, roasted pistachio and crispy pancetta all atop grilled bread.
Dinner
Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11p.m.
Serves main entrées like Grilled Branzino with Cipollini onion, fennel and broccolini, that can be paired with a specialty, handcrafted cocktail or a glass of wine from the extensive list. Diners can complete their meal with one of North’s homemade Italian desserts like the Salted Caramel Budino topped with crème fraiche and Maldon sea salt.
Brunch
Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Features options like the refreshing Aperol Spritz to complement any dish like the Short Rib Hash, served with sweet onion, roasted pepper and two fried eggs, and the Glazed Italian Donut French Toast with wild blueberry, honey lemon ricotta, hazelnut and mint.
Guests can also indulge in North Italia’s happy hour featuring signature specials like the Bottle & Board, Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. – bruschetta or Chef’s Board paired with a bottle of red or white wine. A selection of specially priced wines, beers and sangrias are also available by the glass or pitcher.
For diners who want to enjoy North Italia at home, the restaurant is offering two signature takeout bundles for an easy yet delicious dinner in for the whole family. The Family Meal Kit for $65 serves 4-5 and includes a large Caesar salad, parmesan garlic bread, tiramisu, choice of fresh pasta (tagliatelle, bucatini, rigatoni or strozzapreti) and choice of pasta sauce (Bolognese, marinara, garlic parmesan cream or basil pesto). The Lasagna Bolognese Family Pack for $65 serves 4-6 and includes a ready-to-bake signature lasagna with house-made Bolognese sauce and delicious sugo with fresh herbed ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and grana padano cheese and fresh herbs. The pack also includes a Caesar salad, parmesan garlic bread, a side of marinara, and tiramisu.
To make a reservation and find more details on the menu, visit https://www.northitalia.com/locations/birmingham-al/.
The health and wellbeing of staff members and guests is the top priority at North Italia. At the Birmingham restaurant and North Italia locations nationwide, COVID-19 sanitation practicesinclude:
- Seating in the dining room, patio and bar configured to meet social distancing guidelines
- Adherence to state-mandated capacity levels
- Tables will be disinfected in between seatings
- All staff will wear masks
- Staff temperatures will be taken before every shift
- Anti-bacterial stations are placed throughout the restaurant
- QR codes will be utilized for contact-free access to a digital menu
ABOUT NORTH ITALIA
North Italia was conceived by Fox Restaurant Concepts founder Sam Fox in 2002 and has expanded since then to 23 locations across the U.S. Fox, known for his passion for great food, design, lifestyle and hospitality, was recently recognized as one of the 50 most powerful people in food service by Nation’s Restaurant News. In 2019, Fox Restaurant Concepts was acquired by the Cheesecake Factory, Inc., a partnership in which Fox stills plays a role in innovation and development for North Italia and other Cheesecake Factory, Inc. brands. Using only the freshest ingredients, North Italia chefs create a variety of modern Italian dishes that always satisfy. All pastas are made from scratch daily and the chef’s choice daily pizza is a sure-to-please favorite. Savory entrées like Squid Ink Mafaldine and Red Wine Glazed Short Rib deliver flavors that go above and beyond the expected. Guests can also expect a selection of local craft beers, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and an extensive wine list. For more information, visit northitalia.com.
North Italia Birmingham
225 Summit Boulevard, Suite 1100, Birmingham, AL 35243
Lunch: Mon. – Fri. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dinner: Mon. – Thurs. 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Happy Hour: Mon. – Thurs. 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Brunch: Sat. – Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
@eatnorthitalia | facebook.com/NorthItalia
Photos by Caleb Chancey