Louisville's Cipollini Brings House-Made Pastas and Modern Italian to the Highlands

A new restaurant called Cipollini is set to open March 27 at 1606 Bardstown Rd in Louisville's Highlands, bringing house-made pastas, squid ink risotto, and a Southern-inflected take on modern Italian cooking to one of the city's most active dining corridors.

The project comes from chef Dallas McGarity, executive chef and owner of The Fat Lamb, alongside partners Tarek Hamada and A.J. Miller. McGarity, a South Carolina native, has earned a James Beard Award nomination and built a reputation in Louisville for what the restaurant's own materials describe as "a refined approach to comfort food." At Cipollini, he turns that sensibility toward Italy, with the restaurant framing his approach as "elevating classic Italian flavors through a distinctly Southern lens."

The name itself signals the kitchen's philosophy. Cipollini is the Italian word for "little onion," and the restaurant uses that etymology to articulate a concept built on "simple layers, honest cooking, and elevated hospitality." The menu will center on house-made pastas and seasonal ingredients, with early previews on the restaurant's website pointing toward dishes like roasted duck breast and squid ink risotto with roasted tomatoes, rounded out by a craft cocktail program.

The dining room is described in the restaurant's own language as "warm" and "contemporary," with an atmosphere the team calls "elegant yet welcoming — Italian at its core, with a distinctly Kentucky point of view." According to a news release cited by the Courier-Journal, Cipollini has stated goals of "redefining upscale dining in Louisville's historic Highlands neighborhood."

A full menu has not yet been published. Reservations can be requested by contacting the restaurant at info@cipollinilouisville.com.