New Italian Restaurant Coming to Portsmouth?

Portsmouth residents who live in the West End will soon have a new Italian restaurant that will be located in a very familiar place.

Aaron Jones, owner of Mojo's BBQ Grill and Tavern, said Tavola will open in September next door to where The Exchange was located until he decided to close it a month ago. Jones posted this news on Mojo's Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon.

When Tavola opens, Jones said dining patrons will be greeted with a classic Italian-American experience and a menu that will feature familiar dishes like chicken parmesan, lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs ,as well as signature Italian dishes and pizza.

The former Exchange is being transformed into a new Italian restaurant that will feature large black and white photos of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin of the Rat Pack to go with the current bar, Jones said.

“Hopefully, we will have that ‘wow’ factor,” Jones said. “We want to have something Portsmouth doesn’t have.”

He is also hoping there will be more crossover business between Mojo’s BBQ and the new restaurant, which didn’t happen with the former Exchange lounge.

He envisions Tavola's hours will be mostly for dinner. He said the new restaurant will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and until 10 p.m. on weekends.

“I think we will probably appeal to a lot of the neighborhood people,” Jones said.