Old Valentino's Site to Have 'Upscale Casual' Restaurant in November

There has been a lot of work going on behind boarded-up walls in front of what once was a piano bar.

And, if owners David Prusin and Todd Redmond are to be believed, what is about to be revealed in a few weeks is going to be something Morristown has never seen.

David Todd's City Tavern, at the site of the former Valentino's/Piano Bar at 150 South St., is coming. It's currently scheduled for a Nov. 1 opening, Redmond said on one recent afternoon as he, Prusin and co-chef Maurice Alameda–formerly of The Manor and Pleasantdale Chateau, both of West Orange–worked on assembling the back kitchen, as maintanence crew sawed and assembled the rest of the building.

"Dave's food is going to be outstanding," Redmond said of Prusin, who had previously been chef at The Manor before he and Redmond–formerly the general manager at Nero's Grille in Livingston for 20 years–purchased the property on July 29. "This is not going to be your local chicken fingers."

Dubbing the new restaurant an affordable "upscale casual" establishent, Redmond and Prusin rattled off some of the dishes planned for David Todd's as the trio continued to hammer and screw in the workzone. These included "Duck Confit Tacos," Boudin (sausage) with three different kinds of mustards, a serrano-dusted halibut, pork filet mignon and what Prusin called a "chocolate burger tasting," complete with three different kinds of chocolate hamburgers.

Also planned is a stocked bar with 50 kinds of beers and a complete wine list. All of this will be presented in a casual space with hardwood floors, 150 comfortable seats and high ceilings, a vision a little hard to picture when staring through the spaces betweeen wooden support beams.

Perhaps thinking on the quickly approaching opening, Redmond said his crew were "in high gear.

"We're all focused here," he said.

They certainly are, especially after having to wait two years for economic conditions and the Valentino's property owners to decide whether to leave the space on or off the market. "The timing was right, and we persued," Redmond said.

In less than one month, David Todd's City Tavern arrives in Morristown.

"This is something the town has never seen," Redmond said. "It's an upscale eatery in a comfortable atmosphere. We will have fun here."

David Todd's City Tavern's website, www.davidtoddscitytavern.com, is currently not live. People can get more information about the restaurant and its opening on Facebook at "David Todd's City Tavern."