Troubled chef-owner Mario Batali’s popular Singapore outpost will reopen as Nostra Cucina led by executive chef Peter Birks and his current team
We can’t say we were surprised when Marina Bay Sands announced that Osteria and Pizzeria Mozza, one of its most popular restaurants, is permanently closing its doors on July 27. The news came on the heels of the latest allegations of sexual harassment to surface in the wake of the #MeToo movement that swept Hollywood last year, this time involving celebrity chef and restaurateur Mario Batali who is one half of the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group partnership that co-owns the restaurant.
It's not the only concept under his empire to shutter. Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that three of his restaurants in Las Vegas, namely Carnevino Italian Steakhouse, B&B Ristorante and Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria, will also close down on July 27, following Las Vegas Sands Corporation’s decision to terminate their partnership.
It quickly became clear that many of his businesses were severing ties and moving on. In an email interview, a Marina Bay Sands spokesperson told T.Dining that “the move is in line with our continuous evolution of our F&B offerings over the years,” adding that on August 1, the current space will reopen as Nostra Cucina (which means 'our kitchen' in Italian).
The new restaurant, which will serve up a brand new menu of well-loved Italian pastas and pizzas, will be headed by Osteria and Pizzeria Mozza’s executive chef Peter Birks and executive pastry chef Ariana Flores. They will also be joined by the same team—from the floor staff to the front of house.
