You’ve probably heard the name. Dante Boccuzzi. In Northeast Ohio, it carries a weight that most chefs would kill for. People talk about him like a myth—the guy who cooked for Giorgio Armani in Milan, the guy who snagged a Michelin star in New York City, and the guy who brought a very specific, rock-n-roll brand of fine dining to the "Rubber City."
But if you’re looking for Dante Boccuzzi Akron Ohio today, the story is a little different than it was a decade ago. It's more than just a restaurant. It's about how a kid from Parma went global and then decided that a gritty, revitalized corner of Akron was the perfect place to park his knives.
The Michelin Star Elephant in the Room
Let’s clear this up first. People get weirdly pedantic about the Michelin thing. "Did he get the star, or did the restaurant get the star?" Honestly? It’s a bit of both. Boccuzzi was the executive chef at Aureole in New York when it earned its Michelin star in 2006. That’s not a small feat. You don't just "stumble" into that kind of recognition.
He brought that same obsessiveness back to Ohio. When he opened D.B.A. (Dante Boccuzzi Akron) in 2012, the city didn't really know what hit it. We’re talking about a space in the Northside District where the menus were tucked into old vinyl record covers. It was cool. It was pretentious in all the right ways and none of the wrong ones.
Why the Northside District?
He didn't pick a safe spot. He picked 21 Furnace Street. At the time, that part of Akron was still figuring itself out. It was right on the edge of downtown, tucked into the Northside Lofts. It felt industrial. It felt like "old Akron" meeting "new money."
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He saw something there.
The DBA Experience: More Than Just Food
If you walked into D.B.A. during its peak, the vibe was unmistakable. It wasn't your grandma’s "special occasion" steakhouse. It was loud. It was dark.
- The Sound: Boccuzzi is a musician. He plays guitar. He records albums. He literally built a music venue (Coda) under his Tremont spot. In Akron, that musical DNA was everywhere.
- The Plate: You’d see things like "Green Spaghetti." It sounds like something from a Dr. Seuss book, but it’s actually this incredible dish with braised spinach, fire-poached garlic shrimp, and a toasted cheese crumble.
- The Drinks: He eventually opened the Northside Speakeasy right nearby in the Courtyard Marriott. If you want a real cocktail in Akron—the kind where they actually know how to use bitters—that’s the spot.
The Menu Staples
The food at his Akron locations always leaned toward "Modern American." That’s a fancy way of saying he takes Italian roots, mixes in some Asian techniques he learned at Nobu, and uses Ohio ingredients.
The Hong Kong Mussels were a prime example. One day they’d be braised with soy and chili; the next, they might have a French or Creole twist. He doesn't stay still. It’s restless cooking.
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The 2024-2026 Shift: Is He Still in Akron?
Here is where things get tricky for the casual Googler. As of early 2026, the landscape has shifted. D.B.A. (Dante Boccuzzi Akron) actually closed its doors as a full-time, nightly restaurant in 2024.
Wait. Don't panic.
He didn't abandon the city. The space at 21 Furnace St transitioned. It’s now primarily an exclusive event venue. Basically, you can still get the Dante experience, but you usually have to be invited to a wedding or a high-end corporate gig to eat in that specific room.
However, his presence in the Northside remains. The Northside Speakeasy is still the go-to for a dark, moody drink. He’s also been focusing heavily on his newer ventures like Masu in Brecksville and his coffee company, Nirvana.
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What Most People Miss About His Impact
People focus on the fancy plates. They miss the "why."
Boccuzzi coming to Akron wasn't just about selling $40 entrees. It was a signal. When a chef with that resume puts his name on a building in the Rubber City, other people start looking at the city differently. You started seeing more craft cocktail bars. You saw more "chef-driven" concepts popping up in places like Cuyahoga Falls and Highland Square.
He proved that Akron had the palate for it.
Common Misconceptions
- "It’s too expensive." Look, it wasn't cheap. But compared to what you’d pay for a Michelin-level meal in NYC or even Chicago? It was a steal.
- "He’s never there." This is the classic complaint about "celebrity" chefs. While he has a massive empire (Ginko, Goma, Dante Tremont, etc.), he’s known for being a bit of a workaholic. You’d catch him in the kitchen more often than you’d think, especially during the early years of the Akron expansion.
Actionable Next Steps for Foodies
If you’re trying to track down the Boccuzzi vibe in the Akron area today, here is how you do it:
- Visit the Northside Speakeasy: It’s located inside the Courtyard by Marriott Akron Downtown. It’s still one of the best "hidden" spots in the city for a high-end drink.
- Check the Event Calendar: Since D.B.A. is now an event space, keep an eye out for ticketed "pop-up" dinners. He occasionally does these for the public.
- Head North to Brecksville: If you want his latest work, Masu (which opened in late 2025) is the current crown jewel. It’s a Japanese concept at Valor Acres, and it’s where his focus is right now.
- Tremont is the Mothership: If you want the full-blown, sit-down "Dante" experience with the tasting menus, you’ve gotta make the 35-minute drive up I-77 to Tremont. Ginko (underneath) is still arguably the best sushi in the state.
Dante Boccuzzi didn't just open a restaurant in Akron; he changed the city's culinary ceiling. Even if the signs on the door change, that influence isn't going anywhere.