Franco Russo, who was executive chef at Saracen for seven years, will preside over the kitchen at Matto, a new casual Italian trattoria to open in the North Main Street, East Hampton, space that once held the Taste of Italy pizzeria.

Mr. Russo and Lidia Buonanno, who is new to the business, will be partners in the restaurant, which will serve thin-crust pizzas as well as a variety of pasta dishes and other Italian specialties.

Ms. Buonanno said she sought to create the kind of unpretentious, reasonably priced, “very European” style eatery that she has looked for out here, for a laid-back night ou...