Some may call it a black hole. Others say it’s the Bermuda Triangle of neighborhood eateries. Restaurateur Josh Steiner, however, just calls it strange. Or, more accurately, the Italian “strano.”
Strano is a new Sicilian-concept restaurant slated to open at 948 S. Cooper (at Young) at the beginning of June. That corner has been home to a parade of restaurants over the years from Midtown to Dish to, most recently, Cortona.
Steiner’s family owns the popular
Russo’s New York Pizzeria in Germantown, though there is no business affiliation between the two restaurants. He has been in the kitchen since the age of 11, and grew up farming on his family’s land near Eads. Fresh vegetables and herbs will be a staple in his new kitchen.
The idea for Strano began more than two years ago and Steiner has considered areas such as Germantown, East Memphis, Overton Square and Collierville. The idea gelled with the eclectic Midtown neighborhood
Cooper-Young when Steiner graduated from
L’Ecole Culinaire. He then worked a year-long externship at
The Beauty Shop under entrepreneur chef Karen Carrier, and visited Sicily where he studied with home cooks.
“I kind of fell in love with it,” Steiner said of the location in Cooper-Young. “Everyone’s so friendly and I like the area and I’m here all the time, I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Steiner is a 50-percent owner of Strano and head chef, and is looking at a staff of close to 25 by opening day.
By Richard J. Alley
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