Tonno Opens in Gloucester June 17

Prezza chef Anthony Caturano is bringing the North End to the North Shore.

Tonno tartare

Tonno tartare. / Photo provided

If you find yourself craving a taste of Boston’s Little Italy during your Cape Ann vacation this summer, you’ll be just fine. Tonno, the second act from chef Anthony Caturano, opens Friday, June 17, with handmade pastas adapted from his Prezza menu, more than 100 bottles of wine, and harbor views.

Named for the Italian word for “tuna”—and Caturano’s Gloucester Harbor-moored boat—Tonno highlights coastal Italian seafood preparations, with primi like grilled shrimp and crispy polenta, and secondi like scallops a la plancha with cauliflower and bacon, cod oreganata, and spaghetti with clams and oregano. Every day, there will be a raw bar selection of oysters, cherrystones, and crudo. There is also a boneless half chicken, veal Milanese, antipasti like salumi and arancini, classic Italian desserts, and more.

Beyond the extensive, predominantly Italian wine list, Tonno will offer Italian cocktails, as well as mixed drinks barrel-aged in-house. There will also be a lineup of craft beers.

Caturano opened Prezza 16 years ago, and it’s also driven by pristine seafood, wood-fired meats, and fresh pasta. He’s been renovating the historic, downtown Gloucester restaurant, best remembered as the Blackburn Tavern, since last fall. Inside the 4,000-square foot space, the dining room overlooks the fishing activity in Harbor Cove. The bar area has high-tops and family-style seating, plus a new fireplace. Tonno seats 99 total, and it also has a space for private events.

The year-round restaurant will open at 4 p.m. daily, serving dinner until 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tonno, opening June 17, 2016, 2 Main St., Gloucester, tonnorestaurant.com.