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Did You Hear … ?

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The Planning & Zoning Commission at its most recent meeting decided to forego approving two signs for new businesses that had been submitted to the town (see photos above). Commissioner Elizabeth DeLuca, head of P&Z’s sign committee, said that a sign for Spiga, the new Italian restaurant opening on Main Street, was meant to be “burnt orange” according to its application “but it appears to be a very bright orange color.”

“They put it up,” DeLuca said at the July 26 meeting. “It’s up. It’s there.”

Though P&Z did not specify just why, the group also forewent voting either way on a new sign for the New Canaan Psychic, to open at 179 Cherry St. Regarding Siga, Town Planner Steve Kleppin noted window signage and said that it is more attractive than banners inside downtown businesses that hang behind the glass.

Business

PHOTOS: Sneak Peek Inside ‘Spiga’; Aug. 1 Opening for Italian Restaurant on Main

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An owner of Spiga at 136 Main St. in New Canaan said the Italian restaurant is expected open Aug. 1 following a major interior renovation that will deliver a unique dining experience. Located in the former Barolo space downtown, Spiga will offer not only an extensive wine list and wood-burning pizza oven, but also a custom copper beer tower with eight craft beers at the 21-stool bar and a throwback, fresh-made foods area in front of an open kitchen, according to Dan Camporeale. Specifically, prosciutto, soppressata and other dry-aged meats will be featured in a glass case and hang from the ceiling there, beside a “gentleman that makes fresh pasta all day long—some pasta red because of beets, some green with basil, all different shapes and sizes,” Camporeale said.

Around Town

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New Canaan Fire Department and NCPD Animal Control officials at 10:51 a.m. Saturday responded to a report of a dog who’d wandered into a storm drain in the area of Country Club and Lambert Roads. They arrived to discover that a young Newfoundland had crawled back out, to reunite with its owner. ***

The Building Department on April 20 received an application from the 136 Main St. to do some $50,000 of interior renovations at the former Barolo space, slated to open this spring as Spiga Café, an Italian restaurant. Work in the 4,100-square-foot space includes installation of a new bar and equipment, pizza oven and lighting.

Business

Experienced Trio To Open ‘Spiga’ Italian Restaurant on Main Street

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An experienced trio that’s already launched successful and acclaimed restaurants in Fairfield, Greenwich and Stamford is planning to open a new Italian spot in the former Barolo space on Main Street. ‘Spiga’—that’s Italian for the stem on a stalk of wheat—will feature fresh-made pastas, an extensive wine bar and wood-burning pizza oven, and is slated to open mid-spring at 136 Main St., according to Dan Camporeale, a Bronx, N.Y. native. “We will offer a lot of things for everyone, something you can enjoy seven nights a week and not just on special occasions,” Camporeale told NewCanaanite.com. Camporeale said his partners include members of the Racanelli family, who also own Molto in Fairfield, Lugano in Greenwich and both Zaza (which earned a “Don’t Miss” rating from New Canaanite Patricia Brooks, food critic with the New York Times) and Dolce (excellent) in Stamford. (The Racanellis have owned nearly 20 restaurants over four decades in Westchester, Camporeale said.)

The ownership group holds a café license for Spiga, meaning there’s no separation between the bar and dining room and so patrons will need to be at least 21 to go or else accompanied by a parent or guardian.