Jane and Francesco Secchi close Il Grano in Plano, open second branch of Ferrari’s in Grapevine

by Teresa Gubbins

Il Grano, the Plano restaurant by Jane and Francesco Secchi (owners of Ferrari's Italian Villa in Addison), has closed. Initially a combination bakery-restaurant, it had a cool, unique model with cafeteria-type stations serving different menu components such as soup, salad, pizza, and so on. The restaurant was doing well, and the Secchis had tried to renew the lease at the property at Parker and the Tollway; but they were outbid by On the Border, which will open in November. (Because a branch in Addison and another at Preston and 121 is not enough.)

However, the Secchis have opened a second branch of Ferrari's called Ferrari’s Italian Villa/Flight Grapevine. It's half Italian restaurant (which chef James Michael King says has a "mostly Sardinian influence"), and half wine/martini bar, with a full menu of cocktails and wines by the glass (very popular in Grapevine), a wood-burning oven for pizzas, two outdoor dining areas, and five party rooms. Mario Cutolo, who previously worked for Ruggieri’s, Mercury Grill, and Silver Fox, is on hand to manage.