The newest addition to Midtown Raleigh isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an invitation to slow down.

Chef Michael Bongiorno, the name behind Bongiorno & Son, the beloved Italian deli that’s been anchoring Lafayette Village since 2020, officially opened the doors to Pranzo on Friday, August 14th. And if his deli taught North Raleigh how to shop Italian, Pranzo is here to teach us how to live Italian.

Walk in and the space does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it makes you want to stay a while. The atmosphere is intimate without feeling closed in, warm without trying too hard, and the kind of room where a quick lunch turns into an hour you didn’t plan for. It’s set on the ground floor of 1000 Social, the 12-story flagship office tower at The Exchange Raleigh, which means Pranzo isn’t just a restaurant, it’s positioned to become the daily rhythm for everyone who works, lives, and gathers in that building.

The menu backs it up. A thoughtful selection of ingredient-driven dishes, paired with a curated wine list that skips the obvious labels in favor of small vineyards, organic producers, and women-owned wineries — bottles you genuinely won’t find anywhere else in the Triangle. It’s the kind of wine list that rewards a second visit just to keep exploring it.

What sets Pranzo apart isn’t just the food, it’s the philosophy behind it. The restaurant leans into aperitivo, the Italian tradition of pre-dinner light bites and drinks meant to slow you down and open up conversation before the main event. It’s a concept that hasn’t fully caught on in Raleigh dining yet, and Pranzo is positioned to be the spot that introduces it.

“Pranzo is about embracing the rhythm of Italian life — gathering over exceptional ingredients, discovering unexpected wines, and taking time to unwind,” says Chef Bongiorno. “Whether dropping in for lunch, meeting colleagues for an aperitivo after work, or joining us for dinner, we want our guests to feel connected through great food and genuine hospitality.”

That connection piece matters. Pranzo isn’t chasing a trend, it’s building a gathering space, one that flows naturally from a business lunch into an after-work unwind into a full dinner, all without missing a beat.

This opening is also a milestone for Bongiorno personally. Pranzo follows the success of his RDU Airport outpost and continues to grow his footprint across the Triangle, proof that a concept rooted in authenticity and quality can scale without losing what made it special in the first place.

When asked what dish best captures what he wants people to feel when they eat at Pranzo, Chef Bongiorno points to the short ribs. It’s a labor of love. The kitchen makes the demi-glace broth in-house and pairs it with wine, a process that takes real time and care. “We put a lot of effort into our food,” he says. The salmon is a close second, one of his own favorite combinations on the menu.

The Exchange Raleigh’s ownership team sees it the same way. “We could not be more excited to see Chef Bongiorno open the doors to Pranzo at 1000 Social,” says Connor Saieed, who manages retail leasing at Dewitt Carolinas alongside his brother, Tommy Saieed. “Dewitt is a family business, so Chef Bongiorno’s deep respect for tradition, combined with his vision for exceptional, community-focused culinary experiences, makes him a perfect fit for The Exchange. Pranzo is going to be an incredible gathering space for our office tenants, residents, and the broader Raleigh community.”

Pranzo isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, it’s trying to be one thing exceptionally well: a place where good food and unhurried time go hand in hand. For a city that’s growing as fast as Raleigh is, that kind of intentional slowness might be exactly what’s missing.

Pranzo is located on the ground floor of 1000 Social at The Exchange Raleigh, open for lunch, aperitivo, and dinner.