Nuovo Centanni re-opens tomorrow

"Bar Month" at OnMilwaukee.com is back for another round! The whole month of February, we're serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs -- including guides, the latest trends, rapid bar reviews and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!

In November 2009, OnMilwaukee.com reported on the sale of Centanni Piano Bar by former owners, father and son Giovanni and Giuseppe Safina, to the SURG Restaurant Group, headed by Mike Polaski.

Polaski adds Centanni to a local portfolio of bars and restaurants that includes Mi-key's, Carnevor, Umami Moto and Charro restaurants in Milwaukee and Brookfield.

Polaski, along with co-owner Joe Hite, is prepping to officially re-open the bar on Wednesday, Feb. 24 under the updated name Nuovo Centanni. The grand re-opening bash begins at 6 p.m. and features live music, complementary appetizers and drink specials.

Hite was associated with the Third Ward venue long before he became a co-owner. As a musician, he's performed there on piano frequently over the years and plans to team up with fellow acts Kris Crow and Marc Ballini for a special show tomorrow evening.

As for the future of Centanni, Hite says he and Polaski have made subtle changes to the decor and have replaced the staff, but plan to retain the bar's long-standing reputation as a classy, candle-lit martini bar with good music.