Grano moves, Cuban moves in

Gino Troia’s Grano Pasta Bar is staying in Hampden but is moving around the corner to 3547 Chestnut Ave., where Dangerously Delicious Pies Savory House used to be. The transition should take place by mid-September.

"We turned away so many people," Gino said of the current tiny space at 36th Street and Hickory Avenue. "We’ll have the same name, same menu, and same prices."

He added that there will be some specialties on the menu like osso buco and fish dishes for patrons who want more protein in their diets.

But the old location won’t stay empty for long. A new Cuban restaurant, Havana Road, with a chef from Cuba (Marta Quintana, who now lives in Lutherville) will move in, offering authentic fare, like ropa viejo sandwiches, and Cuban coffee, Gino said.

I also got an e-mail from Marta’s business partner, Susan Yannetti, letting me know that, in addition to the take-out restaurant, she and the chef are also launching an artisanal foods company that will retail products through Whole Foods in the mid-Atlantic region.

Hampden dining just gets more and more interesting.