Piccolo Morini Revamps Soho: A Fresh, Younger Perspective on a Classic Favorite

Osteria Morini, a staple of New York’s dining landscape for over ten years, first opened its doors in 2010 in the hands of chef Michael White and quickly established itself as a popular destination in Soho. Thus, it was unexpected when its parent company, Altamarea Group, declared that June 1, 2024, would mark its closure. However, they also revealed plans for a new and revamped version of the restaurant, which has now emerged as Piccolo Morini.

Launched in June, Piccolo Morini is located just a short stroll from where the original restaurant stood. This new 92-seat venue has exchanged some of the old formalities for a lively, communal atmosphere that features handcrafted pastas, martinis, and dishes meant for sharing.

The transformation is evident in the décor as well. “We didn’t completely do away with the old to usher in the new,” mentions Alsun Keogh from Nusla Design, who spearheaded the redesign. “Instead, we integrated the new vision over the existing one.” Keogh was inspired by the image of an Italian grandmother’s living room, reinterpreted by her fashionable grandchild.

Keogh aimed to relax the environment, maintaining elements that resonate with the heritage of the original eatery. This included keeping the solid wood butcher-block tables, the colorfully restored trattoria chairs, vintage mirrors, and the classic Il Fanale Murano-shade lights, but using them in unconventional ways.

In the revamped setting, these familiar items are now set against a backdrop of oxblood red walls, a dark ceiling, forest green banquettes, linen café curtains, bare concrete, modern art, and a mix of unexpected patterns and textures.

Keogh views Piccolo as a metaphor for a younger generation taking over something beloved. “They’re not discarding their grandmother’s old furniture. Instead, they’re blending it with their own style, changing up the music, and making it a gathering place for friends,” she explains.

Reflecting a true grandmother’s living room that might feature a mix of inherited, practical, or eclectic items, Keogh sourced materials from previous Morini establishments, auctions, vintage shops, flea markets, garage sales, and even her personal collection.

An example of this eclectic mix can be seen in the dining room hutch, which displays an old Morini wine-cork bucket alongside antique books, family silverware, vintage Italian signage, a modern lamp, a Le Creuset pot, and a live plant. Similarly, an intentionally unstructured gallery wall combines frames, photographs, maps, needlepoint, and decorative plates in a casual, non-grid arrangement.

Color also plays a key role in differentiating generations. The color scheme includes deep oxblood burgundy, forest green, amber, burnt orange, coral, and hints of yellow, reminiscent of a classic Italian palette but with heightened intensity to give it a modern twist.

The most visible sign of the generational shift is literally a sign outside, combining the original large orange Morini letters with the word ‘Piccolo’ playfully scrawled in yellow neon above. “Piccolo is lighter and more whimsical, as if someone playfully added their own mark above the original,” Keogh remarks, summarizing the entire project with this symbolic juxtaposition of typefaces.

The interior space is split into two distinct vibes: a cozy, intimate dining area and a vibrant neighborhood bar, each designed to cater to different types of evenings but harmoniously coexisting. Keogh imagines the dining area as a place for a lengthy dinner with parents and a serious wine, whereas the bar area is darker, trendier, and slightly more rebellious.

This duality addresses the challenge Keogh faced with Piccolo: How to revive a familiar restaurant without merely replicating it? Located at 40 Kenmare Street, the answer lays in a blend of old and new, where familiar tables, chairs, mirrors, lights, and even the name are enveloped by fresh elements that grant Piccolo its own unique character.