Big Mario's Will Open in Queen Anne This Fall

David Meinert and Jason Lajeunesse cannot stop, will not stop. Last week, the crew collectively behind Big Mario's, Lost Lake Cafe, The Comet Tavern, Grim's and the Woods, and the new Italian restaurant coming to the old Kingfish space, mentioned they were planning a second Big Mario's for lower Queen Anne. Now they and business partner Mike McConnell confirm that we can expect it early fall at 815 5th Ave. N (next to Caffé Vita).

It's been five years since the original Big Mario's set up on Capitol Hill, and according to Lajeunesse, the trio wants to spread the pizzeria to all their favorite Seattle neighborhoods. "We've been looking at Queen Anne for a long time," he says, "and our partner Mike had this unique space. It's an old building, and needs a ton of work but it truly feels like a Big Mario's."

The chain is named for the owners' Italian friend "Big" Mario Vellotti who immigrated to New York in 1964 and started a pizzeria there with his brother. Stay tuned for more details about the new Queen Anne space, any menu changes, and more.