Gio Rana of Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant has left the building.
Rana promises his new establishment will be a religious experience — but you’ll have to go to Italy to taste it.
He recently left crowded Toronto and bought a rundown convent in the small medieval village of Montepagano in Italy.
Plans are tentative as masons restore the 500-year-old building, but Rana knows when it’s finished it will be an international sensation. “My vision is to bring the world to this little town,” he says.
Rana says the menu may feature quail and scampi from the Adriatic Sea that patrons can view from the convent’s balcony.
But Rana insists the space will be more than a restaurant —the convent will also host art shows featuring international artists.He is considering launching the venture on New Year’s Eve, when Torontonians might make the trip to the 1,000-year-old town.
“You won’t go home hungry. You’ll go home with a smile. Or you might stay here!”
Don’t bother trying to find the location on MapQuest, Rana says.
“Find the town and you’ll find the place. Just ask for the Canadian guy.”
Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant is still open for business as usual at 1220 Queen St. E. with Rana’s business partner running things.
