Pizza and Pasta to Take Over Cow Hollow’s La Cucina Space

One less Union Street storefront will soon sit vacant: the former location of Cow Hollow favorite La Cucina will soon become Contrada, a rustic Italian restaurant.

The restaurant, which originally was going to be called Naples on Union, has shifted focus slightly to the foods of Siena and Palio, meaning fresh pastas, cured meats, and wood-fired vegetables and pizzas, alongside Italian and small-production local wines, beers (and liquor, when the license comes through). The chef has not yet been named.

According to the ABC license, the new spot is from the hospitality company that owns Nick’s Cove, including investment banker Michael Dovey and restaurateur Mick Suverkrubbe (Cosmopolitan, Circa).

The 100-seat space has sat empty for the better part of two years, since La Cucina shuttered. Union Street has been plagued with closures and empty storefronts in recent months, but some good news has come via restaurateur Adriano Paganini and now this project.

Contrada, at 2136 Union St., is set to debut in October, starting with dinner only, with brunch to follow. Stay tuned for more details.

• Contrada [Official Site]