In October, Eddie and Christina Pozzuoli tried taking a break from conquering west Broward’s dining scene to unwind in the rolling hills of California wine country. Emphasis on “tried”: The chronic workaholics rarely sat still, finding among breezy vineyards, private chateaus and open-flame grills the formula for their next restaurant.
When it opens this summer, Ember & Vine, the power couple’s new sit-down in Coral Springs, will feature coffee and pastries by day and Mediterranean-ish entrees cooked over an open hearth by night — the same hearty pairings they encountered in Napa Valley.
Ember & Vine / Courtesy
The 4,125-square-foot Ember & Vine will offer 16 self-serve wine dispensers and Mediterranean-leaning entrees. (Ember & Vine / Courtesy)
To pull it off, the Pozzuolis tell the South Florida Sun Sentinel that Ember will repurpose the existing bar-adjacent hearth left behind by Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas, which closed in early December. That 4,125-square-foot space, for which they signed a lease in mid-December, will in coming months be transformed into an airy, white-walled dining room with hanging vines, basket lights and half-moon banquettes gussied up in marble and sandalwood tones.
For now, the rough-draft menu under executive chef Jeff Tunks calls for wood-roasted oysters, diver scallops and garlic prawns to grilled wagyu picanha, Roman-style pinsa flatbreads and lamb chops, each complimented with bold wine pairings.
It all translates to a vibe that Eddie Pozzuoli calls “elevated but not showoff-y,” evoking Napa tasting rooms and farm-to-table dining minus the California prices.
“When we went to Napa, we were like, ‘How cool would it be to transport this feeling home, but without making it feel pretentious?’ ” Pozzuoli recalls. “So we wanted quick late breakfasts for parents after dropping off their kids at school, or a light lunch, and then as sunset comes, it turns into a candlelit, romantic nighttime vibe with wine. That’s what Napa tasted like to us.”
Since the pandemic, the Pozzuolis have shaken up Coral Springs and Parkland with neighborhood hubs that radiate cozy comforts. Eddie Pozzuoli went from cutting his teeth at his father’s highly regarded Tavolino Della Notte in Coral Springs to pairing up with restaurateur Burt Rapoport (Deck 84, Burt & Max’s), in 2020, for an ambitious revival of Prezzo Boca Raton.
From there, the husband-and-wife couple went solo under their P Hospitality Group banner, first by snapping up Corvina Seafood Grill in 2021, then by morphing the old Tavolino into Eddie & Vinny’s, a neighborhood bistro with olive-oil carts, hand-rolled pasta and daily catches. In August, with partner Paul Greenberg (ex-American Social), they brought nightlife to sleepy Parkland with sporty pub Dear Olivia, drawing packed dining rooms and more local buzz.
Ember & Vine / Courtesy
A rendering of the new Ember & Vine, a Napa Valley-inspired restaurant opening this summer in Coral Springs. It will feature coffee and pastries by day and Mediterranean-ish entrees cooked over an open hearth by night. (Ember & Vine / Courtesy)
That hot streak left the Pozzuolis, who juggle two children, Eddie and Vinny, with little time for respite. So the pair took a romp through wine country for Christina’s birthday, clinking glasses at Progeny Winery in Napa Valley and Restoration Hardware in Yountville.
Even while relaxing, they brainstormed: What neighborhood hot spot did west Broward locals deserve next? And their solution: Bring Napa Valley to the ‘burbs, Christina Pozzuoli says.
“We want to make Coral Springs the envy of Boca and Fort Lauderdale,” she says. “There’s a dense population out here, and the demographic is the same as we are in life: parents with young kids craving a little dining variety.”
Ember & Vine / Courtesy
A rendering of the new Ember & Vine, a Napa Valley-inspired restaurant opening this summer in Coral Springs. It will feature coffee and pastries by day and Mediterranean-ish entrees cooked over an open hearth by night. (Ember & Vine / Courtesy)
Along with seasonal vegetables and light seafood bites including tuna poke and hamachi and passionfruit crudo, Ember & Vine will also offer 16 self-serve wine dispensers where diners can fill their glasses with 3- and 9-ounce pours.
“We’re putting together a thoughtful wine list now,” Eddie Pozzuoli says, adding that it “won’t be 100 percent Napa Valley.” “We’ll have rare Italian and French wines. It’ll be a perfect fit for the neighborhood.”
Ember & Vine, at 5920 Coral Ridge Drive, in Coral Springs, expects to open this summer. Go to EmberandVineFl.com.
Dining and Cooking