New restaurant to showcase local artists, Italian cuisine

The Prospect Hill neighborhood west of the downtown square is one step closer to becoming Bloomington's Little Italy with the upcoming opening of the Ragazzi Arte Café.\nLocated at 212 S. Rogers St., Ragazzi is an Italian restaurant focused on authentic food and atmosphere. Designed after the Steps of Rome, the beloved trattoria and café in San Francisco's North Beach, Ragazzi will serve Calabrian cuisine in a romantic setting.\nEntrees will include pastas such as rigatoni with sausage, lasagna with meat sauce, ricotta cheese and spinach-filled ravioli, and fettuccine served alfredo-, primavera- or carbonara-style. Antipasti, panini sandwiches on grilled focaccia bread, tiramisu and coffee drinks will also be available, with a liquor license on the way.\nA grand opening celebration in February is one of many enterprising ideas owners Renato and Tamyra d'Ippolito have in mind for Bloomington. Both lovers of the arts, Ragazzi will be a showcase for local artists and musicians, they said. They have plans in the works for the "Ragazzi Carolers," to sing at Christmas and Thanksgiving, post-opera after-parties, group trips to Italy, a Ragazzi wine label, Italian literature and film events and a Little Italy festival next year.\n"Ragazzi will be something novel in Bloomington," co-owner Tamyra d'Ippolito said. "It'll have a lot of atmosphere and personality. We'll have jazz singers and Italian music playing, painters' work on the walls. The whole idea is great food surrounded by the arts."\nThe management and clientele at the popular Tutto Bene wine café, located across the street from Ragazzi, said they are excited with the addition to the neighborhood.\n"We're looking forward to the opening and hope that their addition will bring more people west of the square," said Marci Widen, owner of Tutto Bene.\nThe d'Ippolitos have been a part of the restaurant business for a long time. Experience with waiting tables, bartending and managing restaurants led them to create one of their own. \nThe Ragazzi Arte Café will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Weekend hours will be 9 a.m. to midnight in order to serve breakfast and cater to late-night customers.