The Pearl's Shiraz Grill Transitioning into Italian Piattino

The prominent Pearl District space once home to the Everett Street Bistro and, more recently, Shiraz Grill, will soon welcome a new concept. Shiraz owner Kooroush Shearan confirms that he'll soon transition the space into an Italian small-plates restaurant dubbed Piattino.

"As you know, the city's fully of Italian food, but what we're going to do is hopefully a quite new concept," Shearan says. "I want to bring some sort of tapas style to Italian food, similar to what Toro Bravo does: affordable, with a variety of tastes and dishes." According to Shearan, chef Ron Vance (an alum of Portland kitchens ranging from Burnside Brewing Co. to Scarlet Begonias) is working on the menu, which will feature wood-fired dishes and a handful of pizzas. (Shearan, who once owned two separate pizza chainlets in London, emphasizes that "we are not going to be a pizza parlor.")

The Shiraz space will receive a revamp, as Shearan brings in reclaimed wood, walnut dining chairs, and barstools made from iron and reclaimed wine barrels. According to the Oregonian, the Piattino concept is set to open in "about two weeks."

Shiraz's Pearl location will permanently close next Wednesday, July 3. Shiraz's Tigard location will remain open. More as it becomes available.
· Piattino [Official site]