The road to Ocho-geddon has been paved for quite some time. At first, its food wasn’t impressive. Next, the owners recruited veteran chef Joel Harloff to change the menu. That still didn’t work. Nancy reported in early June that Ocho closed for renovation and remodeling. She also said, “‘If I was a betting man, and I’m neither, I might wager DiStefano has pulled out of the partnership and the menu, which contains some of his creations, is in for an overhaul. Then again, the first time I saw Madonna perform at Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985 I turned to my friend and said, “This gal is going nowhere.'”
Turns out she’s right. Ocho is gone for good. Remodeling, in the dining world, is code for a restaurant concept change. Mi Piaci Restaurant Italiano, which already has a location in Addison, is opening its second location, Mi Piaci Cucina Italiana, inside the Ocho space. (The owners of Mi Piaci and Ocho are the same.) Staff training is already taking place inside the Addison spot and chef Joel Harloff has already made the switch from Latin cuisine to Italian. He’ll still be going to work at the same Park Cities location every day.
UPDATE: From owner Brian Black: “The owners of Mi Piaci and Ocho ARE not the same. Ocho had a lot of investors and I was one of them. Mi Piaci has been around for 23 years so I know we have been doing something right and are excited to bring the exact level of service and Innovative Italian cuisine to Park Cities. This article really misses the mark even in the “prediction” at the top. Lets get facts straight guys.”–N.N.
