Top Florida Chef Sells His Well-Known Restaurant Brand

Hey, food lovers! If you’ve been a fan of Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas, there’s some big news shaking up the South Florida dining scene. Chef Angelo Elia, a well-known name in Fort Lauderdale’s culinary world, has sold his popular casual restaurant brand. After 14 years, the hospitality firm Angelo Elia Group is shifting its focus entirely to fine dining, but don’t worry—there’s more in store for the future!

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A Little History on Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas

Founded back in 2010, Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas has been a go-to spot for delicious pizza, pasta, tapas, and wine, with four South Florida locations:

• 4215 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
• Indian Trace Shopping Center, 1370 Weston Road, Weston
• Shoppes at Addison Place, 16950 Jog Road, Delray Beach
• Sawgrass Center, 5920 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs

The concept, founded by Angelo and his wife, Denise Elia, brought together casual dining with authentic Italian flavors, making it a favorite for locals. However, the couple has decided it’s time to move on from the pizza and tapas game to concentrate on their upscale ventures.

What’s Next for Angelo Elia?

Don’t worry, Chef Elia isn’t going anywhere! His group still owns two other beloved brands: Casa D’Angelo Ristorante and Angelo Elia The Bakery Bar. Casa D’Angelo, which opened its first location in Fort Lauderdale in 1998, is known for its fine Italian dining and has expanded to Boca Raton and Aventura. Meanwhile, Angelo Elia The Bakery Bar has been serving up baked goods and Italian dishes in Oakland Park since 2016, and even pivoted to an Italian market model during the pandemic.

In a statement, the Angelo Elia Group shared that Angelo and Denise “remain fully dedicated to the restaurants” and are grateful for the community’s support over the years. The couple is excited to bring new concepts, locations, and ventures to life in the near future, so stay tuned for what’s coming next!

For those who’ve dined at Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas, it’s the end of an era, but also the start of something new. Chef Elia’s fine dining restaurants and bakery offer a true taste of Italy, inspired by his family’s roots in Salerno, Italy. So, while the pizza and tapas brand may be moving on to new ownership, fans can still indulge in the chef’s authentic Italian cooking at his other spots.

What do you think? Are you sad to see Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas go, or excited about what’s next for Angelo Elia’s fine dining ventures? Let’s keep the conversation going!