Acqua Al 2 Bids Arrivederci to the Gaslamp After 15 Years

Chef/owner Martin Gonzalez has announced that he has sold his 5th Avenue eatery, Acqua Al 2. The Tuscan-inspired restaurant is an offshoot of an original Aqua Al 2 in Florence; Gonzalez trained in its kitchen after attending culinary school in the Italian city and opened his version in 2000, serving many of the same signature dishes.

Last September, Gonzalez shuttered his other San Diego eatery, TOAST Enoteca & Cucina, after five years in the East Village. In a statement, he said, "The restaurant industry is ever-changing and we saw this as an opportunity to end a cycle that was filled with tremendous satisfaction. The time is right to start planning my new venture." The chef is working on concept for San Diego that will reflect his Mexican heritage.

There are still a few more days to grab a plate of pasta; Acqua Al 2 officially closes on Saturday, January 30. We're hearing that the new proprietors will turn the space into a bar.