Downtown Orinda is getting a new Italian small-plates spot with a full bar in the former Starbucks space near the Orinda Theatre, with a target opening the week after Labor Day.

Sorso Bar & Bites, a 1,100-square-foot Italian tapas concept, is the project of Daniele Carsano, a veteran restaurateur and Orinda resident who has been involved in several Bay Area Italian ventures including Bettola in San Francisco. Carsano told Diablo Magazine he is aiming to open the week of Sept. 8, following the holiday weekend.

The menu will center on Italian small plates built around seasonal produce and fresh seafood, according to Diablo Magazine. A standout offering: a seafood tower inspired by "plateau royal" presentations found along the Italian and French Mediterranean coasts. The bar program will include cocktails and a focused wine list.

Interior work appears nearly complete. The restaurant's Instagram account, @barsorso, posted construction progress on Sunday, Aug. 16, with the caption:

@barsorso: "Counting down the days till we open our doors and welcome in the amazing community we're creating."

Carsano brings deep roots in Bay Area Italian dining. He was a partner at Bettola, a casual Italian restaurant and shop at 343 Clement St. in San Francisco that opened in 2024 alongside Gianluca Legrottaglie of Montesacro Pinseria and 54 Mint Cucina Romana, according to Eater SF.

The opening comes as Lamorinda's Italian dining options shift. La Finestra, Moraga's Italian fine dining restaurant, closed in June after nearly 10 years, with owner and chef Jeff Assadi citing high operating costs. Sorso will offer a more casual, bar-forward alternative in a compact space.

No hours of operation, reservation details or grand opening date have been announced. The exact street address has not been publicly listed beyond "near the Orinda Theatre" in the downtown village area.