Another Taste of Tulia
Opens on Fifth Avenue South
Chef Vincenzo Betulia is at it again after his successful launch of Rouge inspired him to create his most recent venture, Tulia Italian Steak.
Chef Vincenzo says, “Rouge is the original concept for this new restaurant, a pilot program that we are now bringing fully to life. The steak-forward menu and plush ambiance of Rouge (a small intimate speakeasy, which was located at the back of The French and specialized in high-end steaks) is now realized for Tulia Italian Steak.” The new restaurant occupies the same address as The French Brasserie Rustique at 365 Fifth Avenue South.
 Above: Chef Vincenzo Betulia
Tulia Italian Steak not only emerges with a new identity but a completely new look with a sweeping renovation of the previous French Brasserie Rustique. The intimate and elegant red interior of Tulia Italian Steak is designed by Naples-based Debra Lee Yelner of DLY Design.
“While our beloved French-goers will still find their favorites on the Tulia Italian Steak menu, including French onion soup and frites, our new menu includes American prime and global Wagyu beef, Tulia home-made pastas and a variety of other creative offerings,” notes Chef Vincenzo. Indeed, there are entrees for all appetites, including seasonal seafood and specialty dishes like grilled Sicilian swordfish, escarole and onion, covered with the Southern Italian herbal sauce Salmoriglio, Dutch veal chop parmigiana with tomato and creamy burrata, and heritage chicken with Marsala mushrooms, among others.
While Chef Vincenzo and Executive Chef Benoit Valota will oversee the kitchen, the front of the house will be managed by managing director and partner Marcello Palazzi, a seasoned hospitality professional and wine director whose loyal following spans Naples and beyond. Palazzi will also continue to oversee the award-winning beverage program and host his signature wine dinners. General manager Alain Rabault, known for his warmth and hospitality at The French Brasserie Rustique, will oversee the long-time team’s welcoming and impeccable service.
 Above: Marcello Palazzi, Partner and Managing Director
In case you’re wondering, the lively 18-seat bar, a favorite gathering spot at The French Brasserie Rustique during its eight-year tenure, will remain, as well as the highly popular cocktail the Notorious Frosé. Tulia Italian Steak will also maintain the 2025 Wine Spectator "Best of Award of Excellence" awarded to The French Brasserie Rustique.
About Chef Vincenzo Betulia
A Sicilian native, Vincenzo grew up in Milwaukee after his family moved there from Sicily when he was just two years old. At the young age of 14, he began his culinary career with an after-school job at Ristorante Bartolotta, founded by the well-known Bartolotta brothers, Joe and Chef Paul. Within a year Vincenzo secured a prized spot on the pizza line. He ultimately attained the chef position, became a Bartolotta protégé, and helped open two additional Bartolotta restaurants in Milwaukee.
While attending the Kendall Culinary School in Chicago, Chef Vincenzo further honed his skills at the acclaimed Spiaggia. The Michelin Guide called Spiaggia "one of Chicago’s most beloved Italian restaurants,” which retained a Michelin star for 12 consecutive years.
In Chicago, and later in Milwaukee, Chef Vincenzo worked with Michael White, a fellow Kendall alum and Bartolotta protégé, acclaimed for New York City restaurants including Marea, Ai Fiori and Osteria Morini.
On a vacation in Naples, Chef Vincenzo fell in love with the area and secured a chef's position at Campiello, where he worked his way up to head chef, a position he held for nine years, before opening his namesake restaurant, Osteria Tulia in 2013. Bar Tulia followed in 2014, The French Brasserie Rustique in 2017, Bar Tulia at Mercato in 2021, and Tulia Catering & Events in 2024.
Chef Vincenzo’s opening of The French Brasserie Rustique marked his long-held dream to showcase his French culinary skills at what he considered the perfect location. With the transition to Tulia Italian Steak, his Italian culinary arts empire further expands and focuses full-time on his love for his Sicilian cuisine heritage.
Chef Vincenzo was the first chef in Naples to host a Friends of James Beard Benefit dinner. Over the years, he has received numerous awards, including Best Chefs of America Award three years in a row. His restaurants have been honored as well, including USA Today’s 10 Best that recognized Osteria Tulia as the #1 Italian restaurant in Naples. The restaurant has also been recommended by Forbes Travel Guide, The Fifty Best, and Fodor’s, and received a Golden Spoon Award by Florida Trend magazine, which selects the top restaurants in the state of Florida.
Chef Vincenzo also gives back to our community focusing his philanthropic efforts on hunger, children’s issues, and public education.
With his new addition Tulia Italian Steak, Chef Vincenzo continues to create a culinary conglomerate in our wonderful Naples. He and his imagination are leading the way in elevating the reputation of our city and certainly that of our Fifth Avenue South family of businesses.
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