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Scopa Italian Roots, a Los Angeles Italian-American restaurant, plans an Austin location on the ground floor of The Republic tower at 401 W. Fourth St., and a state filing registered Oct. 26 puts construction at Jan. 11 through Oct. 31, 2027. According to ATX Things' read of that Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation record, the space is 8,292 square feet, including a 633-square-foot patio, with an estimated cost of $1.5 million. That is a construction schedule. Nobody has announced an opening date.
AI-generated concept illustration of a downtown tower at dusk. It is not the building and not the restaurant.
The Austin Business Journal reported the move on Oct. 26; its headline calls it a downtown Austin debut and its summary says The Republic "will soon be welcoming a sizable restaurant co-owned by a celebrity chef." The article is behind a paywall and we read only the headline and summary. Everything below comes from the state filing, the restaurant's own site and a 2025 interview with its chef, all read Oct. 27.
What does the state filing actually say?
The filing is TABS2027004385, a state accessibility registration for a construction project. We read it on the TDLR site and checked it against our own copy of the state records.
| Field | What the record says |
|---|---|
| Project name | Scopa |
| Facility | Republic Tower, 401 W. 4th St., Suite 100 |
| Registered | Oct. 26, 2026 |
| Work | "First-generation tenant finish-out for an Italian restaurant on the ground floor" |
| Size | 7,659 sq ft conditioned + 633 sq ft patio = 8,292 sq ft |
| Estimated cost | $1,500,000, privately funded |
| Scheduled start / completion | Jan. 11, 2027 / Oct. 31, 2027 |
| Owner on the filing | DW CAL 308 Guadalupe, LLC |
| Design firm | Designtrait Architects, Austin |
| Tenant | "Not Assigned" |
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, project TABS2027004385, read Oct. 27, 2026.
The Oct. 31, 2027 date is when the construction work is expected to finish. It is not an opening date, and the filing names no restaurant operator. The "Scopa Italian Roots" connection comes from the Austin Business Journal's report and the project name, not from the filing's tenant field.
Who is Scopa Italian Roots?
Scopa is a restaurant at 2905 Washington Blvd. in Venice, California, built by chef Antonia Lofaso, according to its own website. In a July 2025 interview with Resy, Lofaso said it opened in 2014, seats almost 200, and keeps a menu of about 52 items. She also said the restaurant is built on "American Italian" food rather than regional Italian cooking: chicken parm, rigatoni alla vodka, rice balls.
Her description of the room is specific: leather banquettes, a cement floor, exposed brick, old beveled-wood tables. Asked how a restaurant lasts a decade, she answered with a line about money: "If you're not making money in the restaurant industry, you just have a very expensive hobby."
The Venice restaurant's site lists a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. We have not eaten there, and we have no information on whether the Austin menu, team or price level will match Los Angeles.
"You can put Scopa anywhere. Everyone wants chicken parm, everyone wants fried calamari. — Antonia Lofaso, chef, to Resy (July 30, 2025)
What does the Los Angeles menu cost?
This is Scopa's Venice dinner menu as posted Oct. 27, which is labeled "subject to change." It is a signal about the style, not a preview of Austin prices.
| Dish | Venice price |
|---|---|
| Ricotta crostini | $18 |
| Fried calamari (squid ink) | $20 |
| Rice ball | $22 |
| Eggplant parmesan | $22 |
| Rigatoni, vodka sauce | $25 |
| Maccheroni, meat sauce | $27 |
| Lasagne | $30 |
| Pappardelle, braised pork | $34 |
| T-bone, 24 oz | $90 |
Source: scopaitalianroots.com dinner menu, read Oct. 27, 2026. Prices are Los Angeles prices.
AI-generated illustration of the style of food on Scopa's Venice menu, not a photo of either restaurant.
Where is The Republic, and what else is on that corner?
The Republic is the 48-story tower at 401 W. Fourth St., finished in October 2025, according to The Real Deal. It reported in August that the building was 73% leased after law firm Jackson Walker and Virtu Financial signed leases, and that Sugarwolf Bakery already sits on the ground floor, with a new restaurant due to move in.
We could not check drive times or parking for this block today, and nothing about an entrance, reservation system or hours has been announced.
Don't confuse it with Sapori Italian Roots
A search for "Italian Roots" in Austin also turns up Sapori Italian Roots, an existing Austin restaurant with a similar name. We found nothing linking the two; Sapori's site credits Benedetto Hospitality Group and describes a fresh-pasta concept. If you are searching the name, you want Scopa, not Sapori.
Want to know when this moves? Search TABS2027004385 on the TDLR site; the record's status line is where review and inspection steps show up. The record currently reads "Project Registered."
What's nearby to eat right now?
Our Coming Soon page lists pending TABC liquor-license applications by ZIP, refreshed weekly. For Austin restaurants you can book today, see our Michelin stars guide. For other recent state filings for restaurants, see Phoebe's Diner's fifth location and the Nishi liquor-license filings.
Frequently asked questions
When will Scopa open in Austin? No opening date has been announced. The state filing lists construction as scheduled from Jan. 11 to Oct. 31, 2027, so an opening before late 2027 would be a surprise.
Where will it be? The ground floor of The Republic, 401 W. Fourth St., Suite 100, per the state filing and the Austin Business Journal.
How big is it? The filing lists 8,292 square feet in total, which includes a 633-square-foot patio.
Who owns it? The filing names the building's owner entity, DW CAL 308 Guadalupe, LLC, and leaves the tenant blank. The Austin Business Journal describes the restaurant as co-owned by a celebrity chef. Scopa's website credits chef Antonia Lofaso.
Is the Austin menu the same as Los Angeles? Unknown. The Venice menu above is the only one published.
We will update this piece when the restaurant, the city or the state publishes something new. Follow @austintexasthings to see it first. This desk publishes twice a day, morning and afternoon.
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