Italian Eats On the Way to Imperial Beach

After recently bringing an Italian eatery to the East County, its owners are prepping a new two-story oceanfront restaurant in Imperial Beach. Marco Provino and Karina Kravalis opened Giardino in Lemon Grove last fall where Provino, who hails from Sicily and cooked at the Gaslamp’s Osteria Panevino and Osetra, has expanded his menu of classic Italian dishes, from pizza to pasta, with new dishes that include stuffed Dover sole, slow-braised osso bucco, and fettucine with scallops.

For their next project, couple will be taking over the two-story space in Imperial Beach that formerly housed Barrels on Seacoast. Now called Verandina, the 2,800-square-foot, bi-level restaurant will have a large sidewalk patio and bar and an upstairs dining room with seaside views. Verandina’s menu will focus on modern Sicilian cuisine, ranging from bar bites to housemade pasta and fresh seafood including oysters and whole grilled lobsters.

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