By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jan 11, 2017 at 4:15 PM

According to information gleaned this afternoon, the former Mimma’s Cafe at 1307 E. Brady St. is slated to reopen sometime this spring as a restaurant called Dorsia.

When Jeno and Lorenzo Cataldo purchased the property last fall, there was much speculation about what was coming to the space, which had been long-time staple on Brady Street.

But during a conversation this afternoon, Jeno Cataldo confirmed that the new restaurant will continue to pay tribute for the Italian cuisine for which Mimma’s was well known.

Cataldo says the restaurant is likely to be called Dorsia. It's a name he admits is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the movie "American Psycho," in which protagonist Patrick Bateman was plagued by his inability to get reservation at the fictional restaurant of the same name.

"I get a kick out of quirky," says Cataldo. "But I also see it as a tribute. In the '90s, Mimma’s was a hard place to get into. You had to wait four hours for a dish of pasta. It was a popular place. So it makes sense."

In that spirit, Cataldo says the plan is for Dorsia to offer affordable Italian dishes (under $20), as well as a fine Italian wine selection. Cataldo has hired a chef (as yet unnamed) with extensive experience in Italian cuisine to design the new menu for the restaurant.

"We want it to be a neighborhood place where people can visit once a week," he says.

Currently, demolition has begun on the restaurant, which will undergo cosmetic work as well as a modernization of the interior, including relocating the bar.

"We’re giving it a facelift," says Cataldo, "and we’re envisioning what a place like Mimma’s would be if it opened in 2017. I’m very proud and excited about this."

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.