Stefano Quaresima, chef-owner of the popular Via Cannuccia in Dorchester, is set to open a new establishment, Bottega Cannuccia, a bakery, coffee shop, and wine bar located in Fields Corner. The 30-seat venue is expected to open as early as December in the former Homestead Cafe space, a roughly 1,000-square-foot storefront within the historic Lenane building.
Quaresima’s new venture will offer a dynamic menu that shifts from morning through evening. During the day, Bottega Cannuccia will serve Italian coffee, pastries, and sandwiches made with house-baked bread. The pastry selection will include traditional offerings such as butter croissants, sfogliatella, zeppola—a rich Italian cream puff served warm—and a variety of cookies and muffins. Italian espresso and tea from Paris-based Mariage Frères will also be available.
In the evenings, the space will transform into a wine bar featuring small plates and aperitivo-style dishes. The menu plans include cheese and charcuterie boards, crostinis, soups, and items such as bruschetta topped with smoked trout and sweet potato with saffron aioli, as well as crocchetta di pasta alla carbonara. The wine list will focus on Italian varietals like Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Vermentino from Sardegna, and Nero d’Avola from Sicily. A limited cocktail menu will be offered alongside Italian and American beers, ciders, and a selection of Italian amari, cordials, and digestifs.
The new location emerged through an atypical and community-oriented selection process led by landlord and developer Travis Lee. After the previous tenant closed in June, Lee invited local neighbors and community members to provide input on the best use for the vacant storefront. Among five interested parties, Lee narrowed the options to Quaresima and a mother-daughter team proposing Café Bleu. Community feedback ultimately influenced Lee’s decision to award the space to Quaresima, whom he views as a committed local business owner with a proven track record.
Lee, a Dorchester resident, has adopted a model that emphasizes neighborhood engagement in his commercial property leasing, citing both community benefit and good business sense. He has supported several local businesses through this approach, including Fresh Food Generation and Just Bookish.
Quaresima’s Via Cannuccia opened over Easter weekend in 2023 and quickly gained a devoted following, particularly among Boston’s restaurant professionals. The establishment is known for its authentic Roman cuisine, eschewing Americanized versions of Italian dishes. Quaresima, who grew up near Rome in Anzio, has a culinary background that includes experience in Italy and France before relocating to the United States in 2013 to work at Petit Robert Bistro in Boston’s South End.
Unlike many larger Italian restaurant projects that have recently launched in Boston, Bottega Cannuccia will be a small, independently funded operation supported by Quaresima and his wife, Tsedenia Kiros. Quaresima has expressed a desire to preserve a sense of charm and intimacy in his establishments, citing the challenges faced by independent operators in a competitive and often costly commercial real estate market.
With its blend of Italian tradition, neighborhood focus, and community-driven development, Bottega Cannuccia aims to become a new local gathering spot, combining the familiarity of Italian bakery culture with the conviviality of an evening wine bar.