Opening at the former home of Italian restaurant Buon Appetito on Chatham Street, the yet-to-be-named eatery has submitted plans to serve late-night food and drinks.
Buon Appetito closed earlier this year and was taken over by businessman Paul Ciprian Chiritescu-Tanasa.
The 34-year-old from Salisbury Road in Reading, runs Traditional Romaesc, a shop on Oxford Road, and he is now set to open his own restaurant.
Explaining the changes, Mr Chiritescu-Tanasa said: “It’s not going to be an Italian restaurant anymore. There will be traditional Romanian food and food. It will be a mix of European cuisine, burgers, English breakfast, pizza, pasta.
“We will have a wide-ranging menu featuring pork, lamb ribs and steak, and traditional Romanian dishes.”
Plans for the cuisine and the alcohol offering have not been fully confirmed as Mr Chiritescu-Tanasa is waiting for licensing approval from Reading Borough Council.
He also hasn’t settled on a restaurant name. It is currently listed as ‘Traditional Romanesc 2’ on Companies House, with the premises appearing as ‘Chatham Street Restaurant’ on the council’s online list of licensing applications.
Ahead of opening the restaurant, Mr Chiritescu-Tanasa has applied to serve alcohol and play music from 10am to midnight each day, and serve food and drink until midnight. He also wants to hold live music performances from 7pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mr Chiritescu-Tanasa said: “It won’t be every weekend. We want a mix of local bands and Romanian bands.”
He added that his team, currently made up of a chef and a barman, are hoping to make renovations to the kitchen and customer area.
You can comment on the licensing application by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk. The deadline for representations is Friday, September 1.
Comments on licensing applications are not anonymous.
Boun Apetitio occupied the premises from 2015 to Spring 2023. Prior to its closure, the building was occupied by The Mirage Polish restaurant, Egipteca Pizza, grill and Steakhouse and the Chi oriental brasserie.
