Denton County Magazine • Nov

Corinth’s Pinnell Square has a new restaurant that offers Italian-Argentinian cuisine. It’s run by a father and son team and features pizza, pasta, steak and more.

Nestled in the center of Corinth’s Pinnell Square, across from the North Central Texas College campus, is Bella Maca, a delightful restaurant with the unusual fusion of Italian and Argentinian cuisine. Owned and operated by father and son team Walter Bandt IV and Walter Bandt V, the restaurant has a menu offering an eclectic selection of items based on family history and worldly ventures. It opened in April.

“Argentinian dining is based on a cultural blending of influences brought to the country by Italian and Spanish immigrants after World War II,” the younger Bandt said. The specialties vary by region, but beef, pork and poultry are staples that pair with Italian pastas and gnocchis.

Bandt V, Bella Maca’s chef, has lived and traveled all over the globe. He’s cooked for celebrities like Paul McCartney and Madonna and worked as a chef aboard Queen Elizabeth’s ship. His cultured background has inspired the focus for this venture.

“I always wanted to be a fusion chef with respect to making traditional foods,” Bandt said. “I’ve been fortunate to bring back what I’ve learned and studied in different countries and incorporate them into my cooking.”

Bandt’s ambitions are reflected in the diverse menu. The empanadas and freshly delivered steamed mussels are two frequently ordered appetizers. For the main course, he recommends the Wild Mushroom Risotto, featuring eight types of mushrooms, and the Poor Man’s Steak, a ribeye seasoned with fresh cracked black pepper and sea salt and topped with a fried egg, French fries and chef’s pickled salad. Also popular is the Steak Chimichurri, a marinated steak served alongside fire-roasted red bell peppers, red onions and arugula. A wood-fired grill cooks pizzas with perfect crusts, and another option is a buildyour- own pasta plate.

Bella Maca houses an extensive collection of wines, whiskeys and local beers. On the third Wednesday of each month, the restaurant hosts paired wine dinners, each with its own theme, such as Peruvian, Italian and French.

A Sunday brunch features live jazz music, and in the future Bandt hopes to host tango dancers.

“There’s definitely a crowd here in the Corinth area looking for a different style of cuisine,” Bandt said. “We’re happy to be part of this community.”

Bella Maca 1400 N. Corinth St. in Corinth Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. BellaMaca.com