Mario Batali Looking To Expand Tarry Lodge In New Haven

Mario Batali is reportedly looking to open a Tarry Lodge restaurant in New Haven, Conn., possibly by the end of the summer, according to the New Haven Register. Currently, the property in question is approved for a 54-seat restaurant, and Batali is looking for approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals to open a 74-seat restaurant, with five extra parking spaces.

Although owned by the St. Thomas More Corp., Yale University has a long-term lease on the property.

"We are indeed working with the Tarry Lodge team," Lauren Zucker, director of New Haven affairs at Yale told CT Now. "We are delighted with the level of interest we are seeing from terrific chefs who want to tap into New Haven's strong 'foodie' environment."

The anticipated restaurant will be Batali's third Tarry Lodge, and the second in Connecticut after opening a Westport location in 2011. The restaurant's other owners will be Joe Bastianich, Andy Nusser, and Nancy Selzer, according to New Haven Register. 

Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.