Photos courtesy of Courtney Dabney
The opening date is set for Fort Worth chef Tim Love’s new restaurant in the former Thurber Mingus building along White Settlement Road.
Gemelle, an Italian joint, will open at 4400 White Settlement Road on May 29.
Love announced plans for the restaurant on his twin daughters’ 16th birthday in March (“Gemelle” is the Italian word for “twins”). In two short months, the space and grounds have been completely transformed, going from "slow decay" to a sunny Italian respite. The 10,000 square feet of raised kitchen gardens are already brimming with oregano, basil and tomatoes.
A wooden stage features a pink and orange neon sign stating "LOVE," with two-top bistro tables scattered on the lawn — complete with two full-sized, lit bocce courts. The outdoor space to the right is bound by the Trinity River levy and flanked by a row of shady cabanas for lounging and viewing. An upper patio overlooks the lush scene with added al fresco seating.
Inside, a U-shaped bar now sits prominently to the right, lined with rows of liquor and the Aperol bottles that will be used in a signature frozen Aperol spritz. The interior sports a color scheme of bold green and pale pink.
Gemelle's namesake twins have become the symbol throughout the restaurant and gardens, their shadow-silhouettes facing in opposite directions, with ponytails intertwined.
The seasonal menu at Gemelle will feature Detroit-style pizza (a fluffy, deep-dish variety with crusty edges), fresh pastas (like Bavette cacio e pepe), salads and sandwiches — all made with hand-picked ingredients from the restaurant's garden.
In anticipation of Gemelle's opening, Love recently appeared on NBC's “TODAY Show” on Wednesday, cooking up his grilled strip steak with cannellini beans, as well as his signature pesto sauce, which adds spinach to the traditional basil and replaces pine nuts with roasted pistachios.
