Mora Italian, a much-anticipated osteria-inspired eatery from celebrity chef Scott Conant, opens to the public at 5 p.m. today on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Montebello in Phoenix.
Conant, perhaps best-known as a judge on the Food Network show ‘‘Chopped,’’ already operates Italian restaurants in New York, Miami, and Las Vegas.
For Mora, Conant is teaming up with Valley restaurateur Stefano Fabbri, owner of Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana.
Highlights of the menu are an extensive bread cart, made-from-scratch pastas (such as cavatelli, pictured above) and wood-fired pizzas.
In Italy, osterie traditionally have been known for inexpensive meals. At Mora, however, pizzas are $13-$18, pasta dishes approach $25, and meat and seafood entrees close in on $30.
To start, Mora only is open 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In the coming weeks, lunch and weekend brunch will be added.
