Italian-Themed Restaurant Coming To Old Fourth Ward

When the Connerty brothers and a third partner were scouting locations for their Italian restaurant, they wanted foodie neighborhood — but not snobby.

It explains their choice of the Old Fourth Ward for Ammazza, an Italian restaurant they plan to open in mid- to late July.

"That area is kind of foodie but not snooty-foodie," Jason Connerty, 41, told East Atlanta Patch. "It still has a laid-back atmosphere and that's what we want. We want to do something that's really, really good but not fancy."

Connerty and his younger brother, Hugh, along with Knox Ridley III, are owners in the venture.

Ammazza — an Italian slang expression for something that's great or fantastic, akin to the American phrase "that's killer" — will open in the Geyer & Taylor building at 591 Edgewood Ave., next to the .

The restaurant will feature 16-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas and other favorites from and inspired by the Naples, Italy region, including:

• Fried spaghetti
• Cannolis
• Pomodoro Caprese salad
• Fritta con canella

The menu ranges from $17 to $25 for its specialty pizzas, to $11 to $14 for its non-pizza dinners.

The ingredients — with the exception of those that can only be found in Italy — will be sourced locally, Jason Connerty said.

"It's not like you only find good tomatoes in Italy or good cheese just in Italy," said Connerty, a 21-year veteran of the restaurant industry, who has worked as a chef in Hawaii and held several managerial posts in the Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill chains.

"A lot of times its even better because you're dealing with fresh product."

That philosophy will extend to its draft beer selection, which will include a blend of imports, microbrews and small craft beers, he said.

"We're looking for people who are passionate about local product."

The 5,000-square-foot Geyer & Taylor building, formerly a warehouse, is being redesigned by William Jay George, an architect and principal in the Norcross-based firm G6 Design.

The eatery's interior will be what Jason Connerty describes as "urban rustic," featuring a bar and tables made of 110-year-old reclaimed pine from a cotton mill in Cartersville. An overhead skylight will allow natural lighting and hardwood beams run across the ceilings.

"That building is around 90 years old," he said. "It's four-sided brick, hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings — we're trying to not mess that up and play off that history."