Assaggi Osteria To Close In McLean After Christmas Eve

MCLEAN, VA — Assaggi Osteria, an Italian eatery in McLean, will close on Christmas. The restaurant's last day of business will be Friday, Dec. 24.

Owners Ken and Madge Gazzola made the announcement on McLean Patch. They cited unsuccessful lease extension negotiations with the landlord, Georges Tawil of McLean Square Associates, as a reason for the closing.

While the restaurant sector and Assaggi are regaining footing, a steady post-pandemic recovery requires realistic terms for a lease and a lessor/lessee partnership," the owners wrote.

Opened in 2009 at 6641 Old Dominion Drive by Chef Domenico Cornacchia, the restaurant got new ownership in 2017 — the Gazzolas and two other couples. The new owners introduced a new concept called Assaggi Pizzeria with Neapolitan pizzas in 2018 in the same location as Assaggi Osteria. The owners said a "talented team" was in place by 2019, led by Chef Francesco Pescatore and Manager Dusan Milo.

The closing announcement featured a message of gratitude for patrons.

"To our long-term regulars, thank you always for your steadfast patronage," the owners wrote. "To patrons, who found us while looking for a welcoming place closer to home during COVID, grazie mille. You are the silver lining reinforcing that upscale dining has a place in McLean. To have carried on for you and with you was to be our pleasure."

Assaggi Osteria's last day will feature a special Christmas Eve menu. For more information, visit www.assaggiosteria.com.