South Carolina-based French Master Chef Nico Romo has released the menu for his upcoming third restaurant concept, Laura. Chef Romo says the Summerville restaurant is “a celebration of his Italian heritage and the rustic, home-cooked dishes prepared by his grandmother, Laura, that brought generations of family together at the dinner table.” Laura joins Nico Hospitality Group's existing portfolio of restaurants – NICO in Mt. Pleasant and Bistronomy in downtown Charleston.
At Laura, Chef Romo will share the flavors and dishes passed through generations of his mother's family – and prepared for him by his grandmother, who was born in the small, hillside town of Arpino in Central Italy, and was influenced by the styles of cooking in both Northern and Southern Italy. At the core of Laura's culinary program is his late grandmother's “Mother Sauce,” which is made over two days using only five ingredients – olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and salt.
Laura's menu includes traditional dishes found throughout Italy using ingredients made in-house whenever possible. In fact, the space features a dedicated room to make pastas, breads, and pizza dough from scratch using the methods and recipes utilized by Romo's grandmother. You can see the full menu here.
The cocktail program at Laura features a selection of bubbles, rose, white wines, red wines, and cocktails.
Laura's 6,000 square foot space will include an open air kitchen, a large pizza oven, white table linens topped with crystal-inspired glasses and a unique china, and Chef Romo’s family photos – including an oversized portrait of Laura in her kitchen positioned by the restaurant's front doors to greet guests. The restaurant's covered patio features a full bar and additional dining tables.
Laura will open on Wednesday, June 1st for dinner nightly from 4 pm to 10 pm. Weekend lunch and brunch services will be added in the weeks following opening. Bookings for the private dining area will also be available in the coming weeks. Reservations are recommended, but not required. For more information, visit LauraSummerville.com, or follow along on Facebook and Instagram at @LauraSummerville101.
