{"id":2107006,"date":"2025-10-22T00:08:34","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T00:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2107006"},"modified":"2025-10-22T00:08:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T00:08:34","slug":"massi-co-opens-in-westport-a-new-italian-restaurant-with-heart-heritage-and-great-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/massi-co-opens-in-westport-a-new-italian-restaurant-with-heart-heritage-and-great-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Massi Co. Opens in Westport: A New Italian Restaurant with Heart, Heritage, and Great Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

above:<\/strong> It is proven that both music and pizza can trigger the release of serotonin, often called the \u201chappiness hormone,\u201d and contribute to feelings of well-being.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photography by Andrea Carson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a quiet kind of magic in Westport\u2019s restaurant scene, a sense that great food is not just about the plate, but about the people, the place and the stories behind them.<\/p>\n

This fall, one of Westport\u2019s most cherished hospitality teams turns the page on a new chapter and promising warmth, flavor, and soul.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\tEVO-groni, Stregoneria, The Donna Marie, and the Ritorno di Mela.
\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\tRigatoni All\u2019amatriciana with fresh grated parm Polpette di Manzo
\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Massi Co., the highly anticipated new Italian-American concept from the creators of The Whelk and Don Memo, opens this September in the heart of downtown. Taking over the current Don Memo space, Massi Co. marks a return to roots as well as a bold step forward for founder Massimo Tullio, a longtime Westport resident whose name has become synonymous with inspired, community-driven dining.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always tried to create places that feel like home,\u201d says Tullio. \u201cWith Massi Co., it\u2019s even more personal: This is the kind of spot I\u2019ve wanted in town for years. Italian food the way I grew up with it: simple, soulful and made to share.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Massi Co., guests will find hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizzas from a brick oven, housemade pastas kissed with seasonal ingredients, and an atmosphere that\u2019s casual and elevated, designed for lingering over cocktails and conversation. Behind the pass is Executive Chef Zach Hinman, the culinary mind behind the menus at The Whelk and Don Memo. Known for his reverence for local farms and peak-season produce, Hinman is reimagining Italian classics with a distinctly modern, Westport sensibility.<\/p>\n

What truly sets Massi Co. apart is its unmistakable sense of soul. The restaurant will hum with a curated vinyl music collection \u2014 think old-school grooves, timeless Italian tunes, and unexpected gems spinning nightly in a space that encourages gathering, laughter and long meals shared with friends.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>
The Donna Marie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The concept is being shepherded with polish and precision by hospitality veteran Ingrid Paronich, who brings experience from legendary Manhattan institutions like Le Bernardin and Gramercy Tavern. As Head of Operations for both Massi Co. and The Whelk, Paronich is focused on nurturing not only exceptional guest experiences but also a team culture rooted in mentorship and respect.<\/p>\n

Local backing is also playing a big role. Mark Shapiro, President of WME and a fellow Westport resident, has joined as lead investor. His involvement signals a vote of confidence in both the concept and the community it\u2019s designed to serve.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>
Sourdough Margarita Pizza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\tConfit Artichokes
\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\"\"<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\tPolpette di Manzo
\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As we say good by to beloved Mexican-inspired spot Don Memo, the team plans to bring it back in a future space when the time is right. Their next chapter blends local pride, community connection, and culinary anticipation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet,\u201d Tullio reflects. \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly proud of what Don Memo became. But Massi Co. is something closer to home \u2014 a place rooted in family, heritage and a love of sharing meals the way they were meant to be shared.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Westport readies itself for the changing seasons, the opening of Massi Co. feels perfectly timed \u2014 a warm, familiar space that promises to nourish both body and spirit.<\/p>\n

This September, Italian dining comes home.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>
From left to right: Executive Chef Zach Hinman, Owner Massimo Tullio, General Manager Ingrid Paronich, and Manager Nico Rainey Ray.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source mofflylifestylemedia.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

above: It is proven that both music and pizza can trigger the release of serotonin, often called the \u201chappiness hormone,\u201d and contribute to feelings of well-being. Photography by Andrea Carson \u00a0 There\u2019s a quiet kind of magic in Westport\u2019s restaurant scene, a sense that great food is not just about the plate, but about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2107007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2107006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Massi-Co-Opens-in-Westport-A-New-Italian-Restaurant-with.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2107006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2107006"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2107006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2107008,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2107006\/revisions\/2107008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2107007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2107006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2107006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2107006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}