High-End Steak Restaurant by Well Known Restauranteur Opening in Woburn

Nick Varano, a well-known entrepreneur and restaurant owner, will be opening the doors to his newest installment in Woburn next week. 

Varano, the CEO and owner of The Varano Group, will open the doors to his newest dining establishment, Strega Prime, on August 4. The high-end steak joint will be located at the landmark TradeCenter 128 office park, directly fronting I-95, where Beacon Grille used to be. 

Varano operates several local establishments, including Strega, Strega Waterfront, and Nico Ristorante. 

"I've been driving past this space for so many years," Varano told Woburn Patch in an interview when asked how he chose his new location. "It has great visibility. I always knew if it became available I'd be interested and once I met Mr. Cummings of Cummings Property it was a no-brainer. I think we fit in well with the location and that we're a great fit for the city." 

The expansive 352-seat space (312-seats indoors/ 40-seats outdoors) features Strega’s signature sleek design and décor with brilliant light fixtures and deep woods throughout the interior, according to a release. 

Unlike the other Strega locations, Strega Prime in Woburn will be an Italian steakhouse, not simply an Italian restaurant. Varano said the restaurant will feature a couple of the signature Italian dishes his restaurants in Boston have become known for but will also have items more in-line with a high-end steak joint. Items include Japanese Wagu Steak, a Porterhouse Steak for two, a tri-level seafood tower, butter poached lobster, hand chopped Steak Tartar and seared sea scollops among a variety of other options. There will also be less-expensive lunch options that fit well in an Italian steakhouse. 

The restaurant will also have over 1,300 varieties of wine, including 45 varieties available by the glass, and a wide variety of draft and bottled beer along with a choice of cocktails. 

"We're bringing a little bit of Strega to the area," Varano said. "But we're making little changes to make it different. This will be a high-end Italian steakhouse and I wanted to put our own touches here."

Varano said that extensive renovations are underway and that customers familiar with Beacon Grille will be surprised to see the new look. He explained the design as an old-school "traditional Hollywood steakhouse." it will feature rich woods, steel fixtures and deep round booths in chrome with black wood trim. There will also be Western elements including "luxurious statuesque chrome cow head fixtures, leather cow hide wall fixtures in the main dining room, and matching cow hide barstools." In-line with the Western theme, they installed an expansive, translucent fireplace that looks into the restaurant’s kitchen, giving the wall a rustic camp fire effect.

There will also be 11 flat-screen televisions in the lounge that Varano said will play classic movies customers can enjoy while dining. 

Varano said the restaurant, including the food, service and atmosphere, is designed to make customers feel special and give them a memorable night out. 

"We just really try to make ever single customer feel special and like a celebrity," he said. "We go out of our way to make people feel special from the moment they drive up to the valet to the time they leave. We try to make it a complete experience, a real night out."

Varano said he is looking forward to the August 4 grand opening and is appreciative to the City of Woburn for the welcome he has received thus far. 

"Everyone we have met in Woburn has welcomed us with open arms and I’m really grateful," he said. "It’s really been an amazing experience."