After almost 11 years of Southern-styled hospitality, Soco Thornton Park closed its doors in May of this year. The space at 629 E. Central Boulevard [GMap] will reopen this November as Osteria Ester (Instagram), a new Italian-American concept from the Good Salt Restaurant Group, helmed by restaurateurs Jason and Sue Chin together with chef-partner Michael Cooper.
The new eatery draws on Cooper’s New Jersey roots and his grandmother Ester’s tradition of gathering family around hearty, familiar food, and “osterias,” which are a type of casual Italian eatery. The menu is set to feature classics like spaghetti alla vongole, pappardelle bolognese, chicken parm meatballs, and yes, mozzarella sticks, alongside a serious bread program, focaccia, and a stone-hearth oven sending out breads that aim to make the venue smell like a home the moment you walk in. Cooper has said he’s less interested in reinventing Italian regional cuisine and much more interested in perfecting the dishes he grew up eating.
Sue Chin, who designs all the group’s interiors, plans to accent the space in warm woods, rustic textures, amber lighting, vintage-inspired prints, and playful nods to Italian culture.
On the beverage side, Good Salt’s wine director Lorena Castro will explore a wine list rooted in authentic Italian varietals, while the cocktail program leans into Italian classics: spritzes, cicchetti, and aperitifs.
An opening is tentatively scheduled for mid-November.
