Just a few blocks west of SheWolf Pastificio & Bar in Detroit, chef-owner Anthony Lombardo is preparing to open a totally new restaurant. Medusa Cucina Siciliana will be Lombardo’s love letter to the cuisine of Sicily.
In fact, its name was directly inspired by the snake-haired gorgon depicted at the center of the Sicilian flag. Lombardo says he’s been “obsessed” with the island for a long time. His recent travels there solidified his desire to open a Sicilian restaurant.
“Sicily is this island in the middle of Mediterranean,” Lombardo says. “It’s technically Italy now, but before 1861, it was Spanish, Norman, Arab, Greek. Everyone left their culinary influence. It’s a unique place to eat and explore. It’s a very fertile island [with] beautiful wines, beautiful vegetables.”
Rendering by Patrick Thompson Design, courtesy of Anthony Lombardo
And not to mention plenty of bounty from the surrounding sea. Diners can expect a seafood-forward menu with mussels and the like, as well as pastas and couscous.
“The food’s simple: olive oil, capers, olives, tomatoes, anchovies,” Lombardo says. “We’re going to tell the story of Sicily through our menu, through our service and our hospitality, and hopefully teach everyone about the uniqueness of this very special place.”
The wine list will aim to represent “every region” of the Mediterranean, Lombardo tells Hour Detroit. The cocktail program will draw influence from Sicily’s beach culture, highlighting citrus-heavy and amaro-based drinks.
More Details About Medusa
A 24-seat bar will be at the center of the dining room. It will feature tile, with wood and marble accents. The architecture firm Lombardo is working with, Patrick Thompson Design, created the look for nearby upscale drinking destinations like The Monarch Club and The AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle.
Rendering by Patrick Thompson Design, courtesy of Anthony Lombardo
The Medusa team will feature many familiar faces from SheWolf. Executive chef Scott Overall, sommelier Javen Servo, and beverage director Brandon Page have all worked for Lombardo for years.
The restaurant is targeting a late-December, early-January opening date, Lombardo says. It will occupy 644 Selden, which recently housed multiple short-lived concepts from Mission Restaurant Group. They include Epiphany Nain Rouge Kitchen, which closed in June 2024, and the critically-acclaimed Vigilante Kitchen + Bar, which operated for just under 10 months before closing in April 2024. Before that, it was Smith & Co.
SheWolf, an Italian American eatery, has received much praise over the years — including a recent shout out by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon when he visited Detroit in September. It was recognized as Hour Detroit’s 2020 Restaurant of the Year, and Lombardo is a two-time Best Chefs in America semifinalist at the James Beards Awards.
Rendering by Patrick Thompson Design, courtesy of Anthony Lombardo
Dining and Cooking