Chioco Design, Austin-based architecture firm formed by principal Jamie Chioco, transformed a former food storage warehouse into a new pizza place in the city. Bambino is a nearly nearly 3,000-square-feet counter-service pizzeria from restauranteur chef duo Adam Orman and Fiore Tedesco. Colorful, stained-glass windows and doors make for a retro introduction to both the restaurant and its design concept: a reference to the chefs’ nostalgia for pizza parlors of yore—but with a sophisticated twist.

Lighting does the bulk of the ‘80s remembrance with ambient pendants and more stained glass fixtures. To complement it, the architects kept the existing terra-cotta walls and concrete ceiling but added neutral-toned tiled flooring and beige seating. The architects created a bright, welcoming dining room by restructuring the existing masonry and concrete tee building with green-coated steel frame, which they inserted to support the large glass walls on the street-facing side. Multiple layers of screening help create an intimate dining experience for both day and night.

The dining room looks onto the curved bar and counter. Here, an abundance of texture and tiles liven up the neutral colors, from the curved bar’s glossy tiles to the terrazzo-like backsplash and the rattan panels above it. 

Put together, the interior is both tasteful and unfussy, a quintessential neighborhood spot.