Urban Italia began serving dinner on Jan. 9, 2026, transforming the former WFAA Channel 8 studio at 3030 Nowitzki Way into a new go-to Italian spot directly in front of the American Airlines Center. After a two-year conversion, operators Prob Arora and Sanjay Joshi are positioning the restaurant to catch crowds before and after concerts and games while offering a straightforward, ingredient-forward menu.
Executive chef Carla Pellegrino, known to local viewers from Top Chef: Seattle, leads a kitchen emphasizing fresh produce, good olive oil and salt over heavy butter. That approach shows up across dishes: classic, hearty plates like spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Parmigiana sit alongside lighter seafood offerings — shrimp, calamari and lobster — and a California-style salad that nods to the region’s produce-driven palate.
The space was rebuilt for both bustle and sightlines. The dining room seats roughly 100 downstairs, with about 80 more on a wraparound outdoor patio. An indoor-outdoor bar offers views toward the AAC, making the restaurant an obvious stop for fans seeking a quick meal or a place to linger after events. The plaza location already pulses with foot traffic on event nights, and the owners expect that convenience will shape much of their business early on.
Practical value for diners is straightforward: Urban Italia provides multiple format options for groups. If you want a traditional pasta dinner, expect familiar, comforting recipes executed with a lighter oil-based hand. If you prefer seafood or a fresher, salad-led meal, the menu gives that balance without abandoning the classics. The large patio and bar mean parties can split between indoor and outdoor seating while still sharing the same menu.
Lunch service will arrive after the initial dinner rollout, offering another window for neighborhood workers, shoppers and fans on game-day afternoons. The two-year conversion produced a room and layout built to handle peak pre- and post-event traffic while keeping a neighborhood scale for quieter evenings.
The opening matters because it fills a prime, high-visibility corner of Victory Park with a kitchen that leans into simple technique and good ingredients rather than heavy sauces. For Pasta readers, it’s a reminder that high-traffic locations can also support ingredient-driven pasta cooking that respects texture and seasoning.
Our two cents? Arrive with time before events to enjoy the patio and order something al dente; watch for lunch service to start if you want a daytime option. Urban Italia promises familiar plates done with restraint — and that’s worth tasting when the lights go down at the AAC.
Dining and Cooking