Co-owners Jason Gray and Derick Crumpacker see a fine line in how to offer an upscale dining experience: they want to strike a balance between casual elegance while avoiding the pretension that some may associate with higher-end restaurants.

And the pair, along with their CFO Terri Caskill, may have nailed that balance with Giasone’s Ristorante, the latest addition to Kokomo’s culinary scene, set to open at 2130 W. Sycamore St. in the coming weeks. Giasone’s Ristorante’s aim is to offer an authentic Italian experience with an adult-only atmosphere, said Gray, separating it from other venues in the City of Firsts.