Naples restaurants we’ll miss that closed in 2024
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Chef Vincenzo Betulia is opening a new restaurant, Tulia Italian Steak, in Naples.The new steakhouse will take over the location of The French Brasserie on Fifth Ave. S.The menu will feature USDA Prime steaks, house-made pasta, and some favorites from The French.Tulia Italian Steak is expected to open in October after renovations are complete.
Chef Vincenzo Betulia has been cooking up his newest restaurant concept for years, and finally shared it in a surprise announcement on Sept. 2.
Betulia’s newest project brings another Tulia restaurant to Naples: an Italian steakhouse on Fifth Ave. S. But instead of building a new restaurant, he’s taking over The French Brasserie.
The French will close down this weekend and reopen next month as Tulia Italian Steak. The French’s last day is Sept. 7, when it will close for renovations.
Tulia Italian Steak may seem like a new concept for locals, but Betulia has been workshopping the concept for years. His intimate speakeasy in the back of The French, Rogue, was the blueprint. Once he saw the success of Rogue, Betulia began introducing steaks to The French’s menu.
What will Tulia Italian Steak look like?
Expect a mix of moody luxe steakhouse style and urban elegant Italian style inside Tulia Italian Steak. Betulia plans on incorporating barrel chairs, velvet wallpaper, Oriental rugs, and antiqued brick into the interior design.
Tulia Italian Steak will honor The French’s eight-year legacy by keeping the 18-seat bar that diners love. It’ll be located at the entrance of the new restaurant.
What’s on the menu?
Executive Chef Benoit Valota and Chef Betulia are working to bring their creative vision to life with an extensive menu offering classic pasta dishes, premier cuts of steak, and seasonal seafood.
The menu centers on USDA Prime, Australian, and Japanese Wagyu steaks, including New York Strip, Porterhouse, filet Mignon, and butcher cuts like bavette.
Pasta dishes will be made in house, with options like bucatini cacio e pepe, pennoni alla vodka, spaghetti carbonara, and tortellini of ricotta and Swiss chard with prosciutto di parma, English peas, parmigiano cream, and Umbrian black truffle.
“Let not one’s heart be bothered,” said Chef Betulia in a Sept. 2 press release. “Loyal diners of The French will find their favorite dishes on the menu, such as baked onion soup and steak frites.”
The elevated menu will also include caviar service, with caviar sourced from Tibet, Belgium, and Spain.
Expect the same attention to drinks
Tulia Italian Steak will maintain the 2025 Wine Spectator “Best of Excellence” that was awarded to The French Brasserie. The wine program will showcase French wines, Italian wineries, and California favorites.
Expect the same quality craft cocktails as Osteria Tulia and Bar Tulia, with an Italian twist. There will be new creations with house infusions and seasonal Italian ingredients, like the cappuccino negroni.
When is Tulia Italian Steak opening?
The French Brasserie closes for renovations on Sept. 7, and Tulia Italian Steak is expected to open in October. There isn’t a grand opening date set yet, but we’ll be sure to share it once it’s available.
Dining and Cooking