Photo courtesy of Stephen Karlisch
Scilla Coastal Italian will open its doors to the public on July 17 in a Preston Center office tower, spearheaded by Duro Hospitality, the group behind the acclaimed Mister Charles, Sister, Café Duro and The Charles.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Karlisch
“From the beginning, this project was driven by its location,” said Duro Hospitality Founding Partner Chas Martin in the press release. “The surrounding neighborhood, residential density and business community created an opportunity for something we felt was missing – a place where guests can enjoy a business lunch, meet for an afternoon aperitivo or settle in for dinner several times a week. We wanted to create a restaurant that feels like an escape while remaining deeply connected to the rhythm of everyday life.”
Sees Design‘s Corbin and Ross See wanted to create a multifaceted space, catering to unique dining experiences based on the mood of each guest.
“We liked the idea that both dining rooms could feel connected while carrying completely different atmospheres. One side is more theatrical and energetic, while the other is softer and more intimate. That tension became an important part of the experience,” Corbin said in the press release. “From the exterior, there’s little indication of what’s waiting inside. We wanted entering Scilla to feel unexpected and transportive – as though you’ve discovered something hidden.”
Scilla’s name stems from that of a Costa Viola village near the Strait of Messina in Calabria, Italy; its seaside aesthetics inspired the restaurant in many ways.
“The village sits at the edge of waters steeped in mythology, most famously tied to Scylla, the sea nymph of Greek legend who was transformed into a powerful sea creature and said to guard one side of the strait opposite Charybdis,” the press release said. “For the Duro Hospitality team, that mythological tension – beauty and danger, romance and drama, land and sea – became part of the restaurant’s creative foundation, inspiring a concept that feels alluring, layered and transportive. The name also carries a personal connection for the Duro team, as ‘Scilla’ was a nickname used by Chas’ father for his mother, Priscilla.”
A Scilla chef prepares an Ossetra Caviar Pizza. (Chase Hall)
According to their website, Scilla blends Italian cuisine with an array of Mediterranean influences, immersing guests in a world of cultural fusion.
“The menu at Scilla celebrates coastal Italian cooking, a seafood-focus balancing refined preparations, with the warmth and ease of Mediterranean dining,” the press release reads.
Their dinner menu features a variety of locally-inspired dishes across the Mediterranean, including Gnocco Fritto, Hamachi Crudo, Sweet Corn Cappelletti, Paella Di Mare, Branzino and Za’atar Lamb Kabobs.
Along with their meals, Scilla also prides themselves in their drink menu, including a wine list that rotates daily. This unpredictability speaks to Scilla’s modern, progressive approach to both the culinary and thematic aspects Italian dining.
“Throughout the restaurant, upholstered walls, hand-painted murals and artisanal finishes create an atmosphere that evolves throughout the day, from sunlit lunches to candlelit dinners. The result is a dining destination that feels collected, cinematic and deeply atmospheric,” Scilla said in the press release. “Scilla marks a new chapter for Duro Hospitality: a concept designed to carry guests from lunch into dinner and late-evening drinks.”
Lunch options will become available shortly after opening for dinner.
Scilla Coastal Italian. 8111 Douglas Ave Ste 150. 972.920.9472
