Valenti's to Replace Caffe Fortunato

East Cobb has lost one Italian restaurant and gained another, all in the same space.

The spot formerly occupied by Caffe Fortunato at Paper Mill Village will reopen as Valenti's Family Dining on Monday, according to a message posted on the retail center's Facebook page.

As the name indicates, Valenti's will specialize in family-style meals served on large platters, according to a Paper Mill Village publicist, who said that the new restaurant is locally-owned.

She did not know when Caffe Fortunato closed, but said "it's been very recent." The restaurant space is located near Paper Mill Grill in the heart of a commercial center at Johnson Ferry Road and Paper Mill Road.

In late 2010, Smyrna pizzeria owner Michael Fortunato opened Caffe Fortunato, drawing generally positive reviews from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Creative Loafing.

In October, Caffe Fortunato was featured on the Serious Eats food blog, with its egg and truffle pizza having earned critical acclaim.

But a Dec. 17 post on the Atlanta Restaurant Blog said that despite the media attention, Caffe Fortunato "seems rather unknown."

The news of Valenti's opening comes as Paper Mill Village observes its "Foodie Week" promotion for its restaurants and food shops.