"Julian Barsotti, the chef that brought Italian staples Nonna, Carbone’s and Sprezza to Dallas, has officially debuted his new restaurant Fachini. The city’s newest Italian restaurant opened its doors at 33A Highland Park Village earlier this week, bringing iconic Italian cuisine and retro vibes to the glitzy shopping center that is home to designer boutiques, upscale restaurants, and a whole lot of rich people. Situated next to the theatre, Fachini occupies an expensive little plot of real estate that overlooks all the shops and Mercedes that fill the surrounding area. As they enter Fachini, diners will walk up a flight of stairs to the restaurant’s main entryway, softly lit and covered in dark blue wallpaper. Bright tiling and casual patterns give the space a vintage Italian vibe, with plenty of natural light. “It’s totally Italian-American,” Barsotti says. “It’s Italian, it’s retro — we just wanted to capture something old and swank.” The restaurant is split into two main lobes, one more suited for dining, the other for drinking. The bar area is cozy, with only a few seats nestled up against the wood bar, and a scattering of tables situated next to the windows. Fachini’s main dining area is spacious, moodily lit, and keeps the frills to a minimum. White tablecloths are paired with patio-style chairs and caramel leather booths, with hints of orange, blue, and exposed brick. The cuisine at Fachini is equally decadent. Each of the restaurant’s pastas are made by hand, including a 100-layer lasagna. The dish actually has slightly more than 100 layers — we counted. Paired together with an extensive wine list from Italy, its a place that will certainly establish itself as a date night destination. For now, Fachini is only open for dinner, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekends." - Daniel Rockey
