The owners of the Granary’s Italian market are expanding their vision with a new trattoria, serving dinner from 4–9 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday right next door (1211 Granary Ave.).
Julia Tzortzatos and Francesco Di Vito’s first business, Mercato delle Bontà, opened in June 2024 and has become a staple for grab-and-go sandwiches, house-made focaccia and Italian espresso.
“With the deli, we wanted to bring a little bit of Italy and New York to Bellingham,” Tzortzatos said. “And now we’re really bringing a little bit of Europe with the trattoria to Bellingham.”
The trattoria menu includes an eclectic mix of small bites, stromboli and pasta, reflecting the owners’ Italian and Greek heritage. Dishes are divided into four categories: small bites (appetizers and charcuterie), “lite bites” (salads and caprese), fun bites (four types of stromboli) and big bites (pasta dishes).
“Like the deli, we wanted to keep it fun,” Tzortzatos said. “That’s why we categorized everything the way that we did … because we want to be more formal, but not as formal as a restaurant.”
Owners Francesco Di Vito and Julia Tzortzatos at the Trattoria at Mercato delle Bonta. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
From chicken parmigiana to “everything but the sausage” stromboli, all menu items are made fresh — and when something sells out, it’s gone for the day. Tzortzatos said this approach is typical at authentic Italian trattorias, or family-owned eateries specializing in homestyle food.
Each dish reflects the owners’ taste and family history. For example, Tzortzatos hand-makes spinach lasagna pasta with a specialized roller (traditionally used for filo dough) that her mother bought in Greece. The eggplant parmigiana is Di Vito’s mother’s recipe, and pastas like amatriciana and gnocchi alla Romana (made with semolina, not potato) also reflect the couple’s favorite Italian dishes.
On the Greek side of things, Tzortzatos noted the sun-dried tomato pesto, olive pate and tirokafteri (spicy feta) spreads are all family recipes. Upcoming rotating specials (to be announced on social media @mercato_delle_bonta_) will also reflect her Greek heritage.
“We do a really awesome pork chop with lemon potatoes in the oven,” Tzortzatos said. “That’s probably going to be one of the first specials that we do. And it’s just something that’s not Italian [and] you can’t find here, but it’s something really typical in the equivalent of a trattoria in Greece.”
Despite the Granary’s industrial atmosphere, Tzortzatos said reclaimed wood tables, local art and abundant light lend the trattoria a warm ambiance — “and honestly,” she added, “you can’t beat the sunset.”
Julia Tzortzatos and Francesco Di Vito added touches like reclaimed wood tables, local art and abundant light to lend the trattoria a warm ambiance. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
The trattoria will host events going forward, including Saturday jazz nights. Most of all, though, Tzortzatos and Di Vito are excited to do more of what they’re best at: serving high-quality, handmade food to an appreciative community.
“We are so thankful for the people of Bellingham for embracing us — and we think people are really, really, really happy with what they get here,” Tzortzatos said. “ … The fact that people go out of their way to get here, to get our product, means something to us.”
The trattoria at Mercato delle Bontà is open 4–9 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday at 1211 Granary Ave. Info: mercatobellingham.com.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.