Chapel Hill chef to open new Roman-style pizza joint in 2019

Colorful Roman-style pizzas. Photo c/o of Stacey Sprenz Photography.

Chef Teddy Diggs

Chef Teddy Diggs, who recently departed Il Palio restaurant in Chapel Hill, has announced the creation of his new Roman-style pizzeria concept, Coronato. Slated for early 2019, the restaurant will draw inspiration from the Eternal City's bustling neighborhood pizzerie as well as offering up snacks, antipasti, craft beer, prosecco on tap and an assortment of Italian wines by the glass.

Diggs, is currently in search for a permanent location and until then, is planning to host pizza pop-ups for the general public. 

The first pop-up is scheduled for July 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., when Diggs teams up with Deric McGuffey (former pastry chef at Il Palio) and current partner with Cedar Grove's Botanist and Barrel. The pop-up will be featured at Botanist and Barrel, where one can expect innovative Roman pizzas along with blueberry tarts. Follow Coronato on social media for ticket information.

The vibe of Coronato will be casual with a lively vibe of Rome's side street eateries, showcasing a minimalistic urban design. Street art will be a huge part of the restaurant, which can be seen even in the the branding, which includes the Coronato's logo, an ode to legendary rapper Biggie Smalls.

"Coronato literally translates to 'crowned' in Italian and I want my restaurant to be 'King,'" says Diggs. "A king has a great responsibility to represent his family and to lead and influence others in the community. There is not an ego attached to the name, rather a tremendous responsibility."