Chef Toni Pais closes Café Zao in Pittsburgh's Cultural District 8/9

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Toni Pais has decided to close his downtown dining establishment, Café Zao, located at 649 Penn Avenue in Theater Square, a project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The restaurant doors will close officially on Monday, August 9, 2010.

J. Kevin McMahon, CEO and President of the Cultural Trust, says "Toni has been a pioneer in the Cultural District. By opening Café Zao, he spearheaded the growth of more than a dozen restaurants in and immediately around the Cultural District. Café Zao set the standard for fine dining experiences in the Cultural District, and we are grateful to him for his bold vision and mettle that brought a lot of energy and momentum to the ongoing economic development of Pittsburgh."

"I am excited to pursue other culinary projects and to focus my attention on Café Zinho," says Chef Pais. "Balancing between the two restaurants took a lot of energy, and I'm looking for a more long-term sustainable approach to my work that affords me the time to be as creative and innovative as possible. "

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