Italian Eatery to Join Franklin Street

Joseph DiBartolo, owner of I Love NY Pizza in Chapel Hill and Anna Maria's Pizzeria in Carrboro, is set to open Valentino's in the coming months.

The restaurant will be located in the space formerly occupied by Copytron at the intersection of Columbia Street and Franklin Street.

DiBartolo said Valentino's will be open probably from 11 a.m. for lunch until 11 p.m.

"On Friday and Saturday, we might have a couple of extra hours," he said.

Robert Humphreys of the Downtown Commission said he thinks it will be a while before residents will be enjoying the cuisine of Valentino's.

"I suspect it will be quite a few months," he said. "I don't know when they'll start construction."

DiBartolo said he hopes to be open for business by April.

Valentino's will be serving traditional Italian food, said Charles Galatioto, an uncle of DiBartolo.

"Northern, Southern and a little of bit of New York style," Galatioto said. "We have a couple of chefs coming down from New York."

The price range for a meal at Valentino's has yet to be determined, Galatioto said.

"We're waiting for one of the chefs coming down from New York to do the menu," he said.

But Vine Camaj, possibly the manager at Valentino's, said prices will be reasonable for a high-class restaurant.

"Prices are going to be very good. Probably $12 to $15 a meal," Camaj said. "The food is going to be the best."

Valentino's is not a chain, but part of a family of restaurants, Humphreys said.

Galatioto described Valentino's as "good food, good service and good prices." His role at Valentino's has yet to be solidified, but he said he thinks he will serve as a maitre d'.

In addition to I Love NY Pizza and Anna Maria's Pizzeria, DiBartolo's family owns a number of restaurants in New York City and in Rome.

"Valentino's is in New York and in Rome," DiBartolo said. "They are all family owned."

Although residents will have to wait to enjoy Valentino's, DiBartolo said it will be worth it.

"(It will be) the best Italian restaurant Chapel Hill has."

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