The Coda Group, the folks behind the South End’s Salty Pig and SRV, are gearing up for the debut of their next concept – Gufo, a modern Italian restaurant, café and communal gathering space, will be open in East Cambridge on Friday, July 28th.

With plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, the new spot will start with nightly dinner service offering a menu of comforting and authentic fare from chef Andrew Hebert. Hebert, who’s been part of the Coda team for six years (most recently as Executive Chef at Salty Pig) was previously the Chef de Cuisine at Jody Adams’ Trade and Porto, and worked under James Beard Award winning chef, Mike Lata, in Charleston, South Carolina for a bit before that. He and his kitchen crew have created a menu of thoughtful yet diverse options including an array of mix-and-matchable bites (think: artichokes, olives, cheese and prosciutto) that can be customized into for-the-table boards, shared plates (like arancini, head-on shrimp and whole roasted fish), 12-14 inch pizzas and a slew of pastas made in-house. For dessert, there’ll be soft serve with an array of creative additions and tweaks, including the option of making it boozy.

And speaking of making things boozy… the beverage program is carefully designed to complement the menu. Craft cocktails and mocktails take their place alongside a selection of local beers. And the wine list, curated by Toni Maiorino, Coda Restaurant Group’s Director of Wine and People, highlights best-in-class Italian varietals and wine-producing regions alongside American producers working with Italian grapes.

The dining room at Gufo takes its cues from classic art deco principles, using bold color blocking in saturated orange and blue hues to create a bright, lively vibe. Blonde wood, bone tile and concrete accents add a touch of elegance and sophistication while fun and fanciful wallpaper adorned with artfully drawn owls (Gufo means “owl” in Italian) adds a playful element to the space. With a combination of circle booths, banquettes, and two- and four-tops, groups of all sizes will find the perfect configuration. Fans of al fresco dining will enjoy a rustic-chic, covered patio as well as an additional outdoor dining space with twinkle lights, ample sunny and shady spots (depending on your preference) and a bocce court.

You can book a table online here between 5:00 and 9:30pm any night of the week and be among the first to visit Gufo and check back for more info about lunch and cafe service which should be starting next month. You can also follow along on Insta and keep an eye on their website for a glimpse of the menu.