Wine & Sicilian Powerhouse Marcello's Lands In Metairie

Italian eatery and wine shop Marcello's has just opened its anticipated new Metairie location in the former Coyote Blues space (4860 Vets), Ian McNulty reports this week. This is the second local expansion for the Marcello's empire, run by Gene Todaro Jr. and Gene Todaro Sr., with a bustling, critically-acclaimed location in the Warehouse District that opened in 2014.  The Todaros have also brought on Kevin Moody of Coyote Blues as a partner.

The new location features a large bar area and two dining rooms (one for private events only), patio dining and some 500 bottles of wine to choose from with Marcello's signature "price mark-up closer to a corkage fee than the restaurant standard." The menu and hours remain much the same with grilled long-stem artichokes, Marsala pork cheek, and more Sicilian wonders. Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 to 10 p.m. Sat, 5 to 10 p.m.

More Marcello's expansions may be coming in the future. The duo also run Vieux Carre Wine & Spirits, Elio's Wine Warehouse, and a newly opened private events space called Carondelet, along with a Marcello's restaurant and a wine market in Lafayette.