Main Gate Square gained a new restaurant when Bacio Italiano opened on Friday, September 6 in the former Red’s Smokehouse & Tap Room. Bacio’s interior features a variety of modern art from local artists ranging from mounted paintings to marker-scribble-style doodles made of metal on the wall. The western windows and garage doors let in natural light with the pizza oven featured prominently in the center.

Bacio co-owner Andrew Avella was raised in Staten Island and attended the University of Arizona. While he was a student, he worked in various Tucson Italian restaurants. “I owe my recipes to my mom Joanne Avella, pizza experts Tony Gemignani and Francisco Pinello, and lots of practice,” Avella said.