Vespaio Ristorante

About Vespaio Ristorante

Vespaio opened its doors in 1998, long before South Congress was the bustling shopping promenade it is today. Close friend and designer Aubrey Carter recreated the space with a gorgeous curved bar, open kitchen, original tin-tiled ceilings, wood fired oven and walls of wine bottles. During early demolition, a walled-in working beehive was revealed, and thus the name was discovered: Vespaio. “Wasps' nest" in Italian, our name also means “buzzing".

What other restaurants buy, Vespaio makes. Their kitchen is driven wholly by handmade and locally-sourced ingredients. Their chefs do all of their own butchering and use every part of the animal. They make stocks, charcuterie, fresh pasta, breads, desserts and cheese in house. Their wines are specifically chosen to compliment their food. Essentially French and Italian, the wines on their list are primarily from boutique, family owned and small production producers.