Lisa Nakamura's hunt for a brick-and-mortar home for her gnocchi popup ends at 12th and Pine. The chef—formerly of Allium on Orcas, and before that the Herbfarm and the French Laundry—will open a permanent incarnation of Gnocchi Bar at 1542 12th Ave...currently known as the D'Ambrosio Gelato shop.

Nakamura spent the past year looking for a place to open her gnocchi restaurant. After viewing a bunch of spaces that didn't feel right, she emailed the D'Ambrosio owners, asking if she might serve her gnocchi in their 12th Avenue shop in the Packard Building. "I didn't know them, I just really liked their gelato," she says. Hey, the combination of gelato and pasta popup worked pretty well for Mike Easton in Il Corvo's early days.

But the D'Ambrosios did her one better, suggesting Nakamura take over the location and continue selling their wares as a franchisee. Which is how the chef found herself in possession of a working gelateria in a prime Capitol Hill location that she will convert into a gnocchi restaurant in the coming weeks.

Right now D'Ambrosio is open for its usual business, just under Nakamura's watch. Hell, come in and she might actually scoop your order. (How handy she honed this particular skill set running her own ice cream shop, Lily, back in the Orcas days.)

Meanwhile, the chef is busy hiring, training, getting a stove installed, and procuring more tables and chairs. She's hoping Gnocchi Bar will open before the end of March.

Whenever it does debut, Gnocchi Bar will have an a la carte lineup of soups, salads, and of course ridiculously fluffy gnocchi similar to what Nakamura served at her popups. Meals change with the seasons, but popup favorites like polenta and meatballs, stuffed gnocchi, and gnocchi with cauliflower and bacon should make frequent appearances, she says. Customers can also take packaged gnocchi home to cook themselves. The gelato will remain, along with D'Ambrosio sorbets, cannoli, and coffee.

Nakamura's planning dinner first, with lunch and brunch expansions as staff and sanity allow. Follow her progress on Gnocchi Bar's Facebook page.