Coronavirus News
Neighborhood Italian restaurant in Dallas' Lakewood closes after 11 years

Dallas' Lakewood neighborhood loses an Italian treasure: Penne Pomodororestaurant, which has been in the very heart of Lakewood for 11 years, has closed.
A spokesperson for Lombardi Family Concepts, the restaurant's owner, confirmed that the restaurant closed on July 15.
In a statement, founder Alberto Lombardi expressed sadness and gratitude.
"Our customers are family to us," he said. "We are saddened to close our doors, but thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the neighborhood for more than a decade."
The coronavirus pretty much rang the death knell. The restaurant closed after nearly four months of working to continue serving customers during the pandemic by offering their full menu through pick-up, delivery, and dine-in options.
Penne Pomodoro is a casual Italian eatery that first premiered in Snider Plaza in 2002; Lombardi opened it with his daughters Anna and Laura. Its smaller, cozier approach was one that Lombardi would adopt for subsequent concepts such as Taverna and Toulouse.
They opened a second Penne Pomodoro at Preston Road and Forest Lane in 2003; and then the Lakewood location in 2009, going into the space previously occupied by Kitchen 1924.
Both the Snider Plaza and Preston-Forest locations will remain open and will continue to offer pick-up and delivery options in addition to socially distanced service in the dining rooms.
Other Lombardi concepts include Bistro 31 and Lounge 31 in Highland Park Village; and Kai, the Asian restaurant in Plano's Legacy West.