Cucina Urbana Reinvents as All-Outdoor Pop-Up

Even though restaurants are now allowed to function at 25 percent capacity indoors, Cucina Urbana is choosing to take its entire operations outside. To solve its lack of patio space, the longtime Bankers Hill restaurant is teaming up with another local venue for a temporary pop-up in the Middletown neighborhood.

Camp Cucina launched this past weekend at Julep, the 12,000-square-foot Hancock Street event space run by catering and mixology company Snake Oil Cocktail Co. With big gatherings currently on hold, Cucina Urbana has taken over Julep’s two large patios, transforming them with lights and greenery and bringing over furnishings from its Laurel Street dining room.

The menu, by executive chef Tim Kolanko and team, featuring Cucina Urbana classics including the giant meatball, fried squash blossoms, and short rib pappardelle as well as signature pizzas cooked in a mobile wood fired oven. Snake Oil Cocktail Co. is handling the drinks, ranging from an Aperol Spritz and Rosemary Negroni to the Eye of the Tiger, a mix of vodka, dragon fruit, basil, black pepper, lime and agave nectar.

The pop-up is scheduled to be in residence for the next couple months, open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Reservations are available online or by calling 619-239-2222. Camp Cucina will also be offering takeout dinners for curbside pickup along with mixes and bottled cocktails from Snake Oil Cocktail Co.

Courtesy photos

Courtesy photo