Thank You and Farewell

To my Porta Via family and friends,

Nothing has brought me greater joy over the last 15 years than to have built personal relationships with so many wonderful people in the Belle Meade community. We could not be more proud of what we have accomplished together at Porta Via, but as is often said, "all things must pass." Of course, nothing this meaningful passes without both joy and sadness.

Many of our loyal customers remember when we started this journey in 1989 at a small plaza in Bellevue. Little did we know at that time that we would become one of Nashville's longest standing restaurants, weathering so many challenges and changes in the industry. And never we will forget the late Chef Giovanni Giosa, who spearheaded our authentic Italian menu and led us to become Tennessee's only VPN-certified Neapolitan pizzeria.

I will always treasure my time as your Porta Via General Manager, but recent health concerns and associated time off have led me to reconsider the course of my daily routine. Today, with a heavy heart but a focus on the future, I have decided to pass the reins of our restaurant space to Chef Rosario DeLuca, who will be developing a new concept at 21 White Bridge Rd.

I am certainly sad to be saying goodbye to Porta Via and our valued guests but also excited to be moving on to the next phase of life, which I expect to be the best. From the bottom of my heart, I wish all our loyal guests, friends, and the entire Porta Via family the very best. We sincerely hope that you will support Chef Rosario and his team at his developing new concept.

Wishing the very best to everyone!

Sincerely,

Mehrdad Alviri