Josie & Tony’s Italian Deli and Supper Club Opening in Pasta Nostra Spot In South Norwalk

Have you been wondering what will be going into the old Pasta Nostra space in South Norwalk? Josie & Tony’s Italian Deli and Supper Club have just announced that they will be opening in this iconic spot this December as a private members club, fine dining restaurant, and gourmet Italian deli. This “supper club” concept is the first-of-its-kind for Fairfield County, and will cater primarily to its members with a limited number of reservations available to the public seven days in advance. Walk-in patrons will be accommodated at the 14-seat full-service bar. 

The deli, however, will be open to the public and will feature premium Italian sandwiches, prepared foods and other to-go items. It will also be the face of the Josie & Tony’s Pasta Club, a subscription-based service offering fresh pasta and sauce to cook at home. The deli is slated to open in early 2024. 

The kitchen will be helmed by Executive Chef Marcelo Flores, who worked under the tutelage of legendary Pasta Nostra chef-owner Joe Bruno for more than two decades. 

Former General Manager of Rowayton Seafood, Joshua Anthony Mesnik, will introduce this new and unique dining concept to Fairfield Country, inspired by the traditional supper club model which has seen a resurgence in cities like New York, Los Angeles and Miami. 

Mesnik began his career in the restaurant industry in Manhattan in 1999 at institutions including Cafe Luxembourg, Sushi Samba and Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. He later discovered a passion for wine and trained under Master Sommelier Virginia Philip at the Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. Since then he has served as Lead Sommelier at The Standard Highline, The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI, and the White Elephant on Nantucket. 

A membership at Josie & Tony’s offers patrons access to advance reservations, including guaranteed reservations within 24 hours, a 15-percent discount for the first 24 months of membership, a private concierge text service, preferential table placement, an option for house accounts, personalized table placards, complimentary menu additions, monthly wine education classes and exclusive member-only nights and private events. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to have their caricatures displayed in the restaurant, drawn by renowned artist Mark Hill, formerly of Pixar. 

“The opportunity to develop this venue predominantly as a membership club excites me to my core. It all starts with a clientele who value their dining experience so much that they choose to invest in it. The rest is left to me to cultivate a one-of-a-kind luxury experience that ultimately becomes their playground. The result is hospitality on steroids,” said Mesnik. 

The restaurant will focus on classic Italian dishes prepared with a modern sensibility and will boast a world-class wine program. As General Manager and Sommelier of Rowayton Seafood since 2020, Mesnik cultivated an acclaimed beverage program, which, under his leadership, achieved a 2-glass Wine Spectator award. 

Signature dishes will feature recipes that evoke memories of Mesnik’s childhood cooking alongside his grandfather, including slow-braised artichokes with olive oil, parmigiano reggiano and black pepper, and a roasted half-chicken with lemon, in a rich jus with “burnt” garlic. 

“Exciting dining experiences are like theatre. At Josie & Tony’s the performance will change nightly. Restaurants have become obsessed with satisfying any guest who may ever possibly walk in the door. They are afraid to express a point of view. Josie & Tony’s personality is front and center. I can’t wait for Connecticut diners to experience it!” said Mesnik. 

Of its limited fifty Founding Member allocation, more than forty have been reserved. Those interested in membership should email membership@josieandtonys.com to request an application.

Learn more at www.josieandtonys.com and follow us on Instagram @josieandtonys.