Follow your nose to new restaurant

Veronica Duran

COSTA MESA -- A new restaurant called That’s Aroma will replace Sfuzzi,

an Italian bistro that went bankrupt and closed six months ago at

Triangle Square.

That’s Aroma, which will feature Greek dishes as well as Italian fare, is

scheduled to open Aug. 25.

“It’s called fusion or mixing two cultures,” said Lonnie McKinney, chef

for the new eatery. “An example of this would be buffalo mozzarella

wrapped with prosciutto and romaine, served with hazelnut vinegar.”

The company will open a coffeehouse at the same time on the lower level.

The restaurant will cost between $500,000 to $750,000 to open, said

Richard Bickler, chief operating officer.

The main ingredient in the food will be garlic, Bickler said, hence the

idea for the name of restaurant.

“We want our guests to smell the aroma,” Bickler said. “We want it to

linger through the center. One of our slogans is: Follow Your Nose to

That’s Aroma.”

Bickler added that owners tried their best to open a business that fits

with existing businesses in the area.

“We look for a center that draws tourists, the local community and

business guests who are entertaining other guests,” Bickler said.

Sfuzzi faced a high turnover among tenants and heavy competition from

bigger entertainment centers.

Before developers came up with That’s Aroma, other prospective

restaurants for the site were considered. Among those were a

microbrewery, a jazz club /restaurant and a Red Robin, said Tom Estes,

property manager of Triangle Square.