Osteria Aventino

2023 — 2024
Hospitality
1200 sqft

Architect: Athos Zaghi
Construction: Grossi Construction

Osteria Aventino is a beloved cornerstone of Windsor, Ontario's Italian community, situated in the same location where restaurateur Pina Maceroni opened her first restaurant. The design project sought to merge traditional charm with contemporary elements, centered on the theme of “social food,” comfort, and coziness. Key interventions included preserving the original wood-burning oven, redefining the kitchen boundary to open up the dining room, expanding the bar, and creating a custom banquette along the east wall.

To enhance functionality, the layout maximized open dining space while accommodating bar-top seating and a private dining area. Design details paid homage to the restaurant's heritage, with refinished original concrete floors, a deep green tiled fire oven, and matching deep green marble countertops. Vintage Italian lighting by Gae Aulenti, Tobia and Afra Scarpa, and Angelo Mangiarotti added warmth and sophistication, while a black-and-white striped awning and checkered baseboard trim subtly echoed the original checkered floors, preserving the restaurant's history in a fresh, modern way.