The team behind Vele, Curate and Soleil Café is now preparing to bring a new concept to Springfield with Matto: Pies + Pints.
“The word ‘matto’ is Italian for insane, crazy,” said Nickey Sperry, who along with her husband, Dan Sperry, and executive chef Justin Richardson make up the parent company, Three Gen Hospitality Group. “We often joke that we have to be insane to open another place, but here we are.”
Matto is slated to open at 2936 S. Sixth St., the location that previously housed Rosati’s Pizza. The Chicago-style deep dish pizza chain closed its Springfield location in March.
Sperry said, “We’ve always had an interest in pizza; we sell flatbreads at Curate. But this will be a very different style of restaurant coming from us, a very eclectic, fun atmosphere. This will not be the typical pizza place you would think about.”
She said Matto will offer 14-inch specialty pizzas, along with build-your-own options. In addition to pizza, there will be a couple of pastas on the menu, along with salads and appetizers.
“Great pizza, great wings and great beer – those are our three main focal points,” Sperry said. “We’ll have 10 different taps with a rotating list of regional craft beers.”
Sperry said operating hours are still be finalized, but Matto will definitely be open on Sunday. “We have 16 TVs, so it will be the perfect place to watch a sporting event,” she said. A January opening is planned.
