Sneak Peek Pictures of New Bedford’s Newest Italian Restaurant
Candela Cucina isn't scheduled to open for a couple of months, but Fun 107 has secured an artist's rendition of what the newly renovated restaurant will look like at the former site of Carmine's at Candleworks.
As we first reported, the new restaurant will be called Candela Cucina, which is Italian for "Kitchen Candle." But you shouldn't picture a regular, run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant. "It’s not going to be an Italian-American restaurant; it’s going to be an Italian restaurant," said Stephen Silverstein, owner of ServedWell Hospitality. "It’s going to be more authentic. It’ll be beautiful, with green velvet. The General Manager is going to be wearing a suit. It’s going to be that kind of place."
Carmine’s chef, Joe Melo, will continue as Candela Cucina's head chef. In fact, all of Carmine’s staff were offered the chance to remain with the new restaurant.
Silverstein says he expects the restaurant to open in early December. There is still construction to be done, and the liquor license needs to be transferred.
READ MORE: See Sneak Peek of The National Club opening soon on Union Street
Silverstein now owns top-flight restaurants of nearly every genre in the city of New Bedford. Whether it's seafood, Mexican (coming soon), Italian (coming soon), or waterfront dining, he’s got you covered with a first-class operation.
After being a customer of Carmine's for years, Silverstein made a bid when it came up for sale. He admits he has always admired the location and wanted to buy it the last time it was up for sale, but the timing was off. "We were in the middle of trying to get Cisco up and running." Silverstein is extremely particular about where he chooses to build his restaurants. "It all starts with the real estate," says Silverstein. "It’s got to be 'iconic' real estate for it to interest us."
Surprisingly, Silverstein says he's done after opening the National Club on Union Street. "I think we're done in New Bedford. We’ve got plenty. I think we’ve got enough here. We really don’t have much ambition to open more restaurants. We don’t have a growth plan."
Candela Cucina Sneak Peek
Gallery Credit: Michael Rock
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