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Kathy Tran

If Stanley Tucci ever makes his way to the Metroplex, he’ll soon discover it’s full of delicious Mediterranean flavors. The latest inspired concept is Fiatto, a casual American-Italian restaurant located in the West Village in Dallas. 

“It’s a pretty active neighborhood, so people saw us moving in… we talked to some of our neighbors and they were excited for us to be there,” executive chef Kylil Henson says. “We kept getting people coming in every day asking when we were opening. So there was a lot of hype and buzz around the neighborhood as far as us finally opening.” 

Having opened in March, Fiatto is quickly becoming a neighborhood hotspot due to its atmosphere, drinks and food — the latter of which is partly inspired by Kylil’s Philadelphia upbringing. 

“We wanted to bring a little of the East Coast to Texas,” Kylil says. 

Inspired by the coastal seascape, Fiatto takes your breath away the minute you step inside the dining room. A brightly lit interior is accentuated by teal and rust colors to create a down-to-earth vibe, and plants and wood accents throughout lend even more toward the restaurant's all-natural aesthetic. 

After taking a seat at one of the cozy tables or rustic booths, guests can kick off their evening experience with some cocktails. Among its eight options, the punny Resting Spritz Face features strawberry aperol, rose prosecco and aranciata, while the sweet and floral notes of the Queen Bee are made with gin, herbal tea, honey and lemon. Meanwhile, the McKinney Ave, aptly named for the street where the restaurant is located, combines fig-infused bourbon with hickory-smoked walnut bitters for a smooth and serene finish. Don’t forget to try its fine wine selections, which include everything from Sicilian Regaleali Rossato to Nicolas Feuillatte Rose Champagne. 

Following its elegant drinks, the concept’s food menu features dozens of delicious dishes ready to be enjoyed. 

Guests should start off with one of Fiatto’s heavenly appetizers. The tuna tartare comes with orange, castelvetrano olive, calabrian chili and saffron aioli, while the calamari fritti is accompanied by crispy lemon and cherry pepper aioli. The prosciutto crostino features whipped ricotta, summer melon, grilled sourdough and truffle honey. And you’ll fall in love with the focaccia bread with pepperoni sauce or fontina fonduta, which melts in your mouth with exquisite flavor. 

One of the signature plates include the Salumi and Formaggi, which is a chef-curated charcuterie board featuring three meats, two cheeses, sourdough giardiniera, seasonal fruits, nuts and truffle honey. Meanwhile, the classic chicken parmesan comes with San Marzano tomato, mozzarella, spaghetti and basil for a crispy and sensational bite. 

Continuing its love affair with the coast, Fiatto’s seafood is not to be forgotten. Kylil’s favorite dish is the trout saltimboca, which is a prosciutto-wrapped trout with cippolini onion, mushrooms and marsala sauce, while the Atlantic king salmon comes with romano beans, snap peas, fennel puree, cerignola olives and pepper sugo. The restaurant’s menu also features shrimp scampi made with shell pasta, white wine, garlic, chili and broccolini. 

Traditional Italian-fare fans also have a bevy of pasta dishes to dig into. The spaghetti features pomodoro, parmesan, basil and meatballs, and the spicy rigatoni vodka — one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes — wows guests with pancetta breadcrumbs, tomato and cream. 

“It’s a place where you can come 2-3 times a week, have a bowl of pasta, have some cocktails, relax and enjoy yourself,” Kylil says. 

Fiatto doesn’t limit itself to just lunch and dinner either — it also serves brunch with a menu full of breakfast favorites. Those looking to start their day with something sweet can take a bite out of the lemon ricotta pancakes with cannoli cream, luxardo cherries and Silician pistachios, while the Ferrero Rocher waffle harkens back to the candy of the same name with Nutella, hazelnuts, maple syrup, whipped cream and gold flakes. 

There’s no skimping on the eggs at the restaurant either. Guests can choose from several delicious egg options for brunch, including the classic omelet with spinach, smoked mozzarella, pine nuts and tomato pesto, as well as the soft scrambled egg with black truffle cream, mushrooms, gremolata, arugula and shallots. 

So pop in for a happy hour, make a weekend brunch reservation or schedule a date night — Fiatto is open, inviting and ready to serve you. 

“[We have] a lot of repeat guests,” Kylil says. “I think that’s the most telling sign, when people come back two and three times.”