Zanti Cucina Italiana

Three vivacious brothers steeped in the world of hospitality came to us with a desire to open a new Italian restaurant that puts the emphasis not only on the ingredients, but the company you share around the table.

We created a modular brand identity that aims to honor and amplify a dining experience defined by their insistence on quality, atmosphere, and togetherness.
Designed while on staff at Principle.
Chefs preparing pizzas for customers at Zanti Cucina Italiana.
A series of custom logotypes designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
A variable wordmark and monogram was inspired by the rich visual vernacular of street signage found in historic cities throughout Italy.
A series of custom monograms designed for "Zanti Cucina Italiana".
Business cards designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
An aerial view of the business cards designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
A waiter holding a tray with a wine glass while wearing an apron with the Zanti logo embroidered onto it.
With a sizable offering of delightful Italian dishes and drinks, we crafted a comprehensive menu system to shape a joyful guest experience. Next to an illustrative kid’s menu, foil-stamped coasters, and alternating menu inserts, the food and drink menus are housed within a hardwood menu backer and a custom-dyed, linen-wrapped book.
The printed menu system designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana, including the main menu, drink menu, kids menu, check presenter, and coasters.
An open dinner menu, closed drink menu, two glasses of wine, and a pizza sitting atop a table at Zanti Cucina Italiana.
An aerial view of the printed menu system designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana, including the main menu, drink menu, kids menu, check presenter, and coasters.
A woman holding the Zanti Cucina Italiana drink menu.
A whiskey drink sitting atop a copper foil-stamped coaster designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
A custom waterproof linen drink menu designed with the text "VINO E ALTRO" foil stamped into it.
Building upon the brand identity and menu system, environmental applications were created to outfit their first restaurant in The Woodlands, including a facade sign, exterior signage, restroom signage, hand-painted window graphics, and a hand-laid mosaic tile wall.
A view of the exterior of Zanti Cucina Italiana in The Woodlands, Texas.
Backlit exterior canopy signage designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
Exterior signage along the back side of the Zanti restaurant.
Custom, internally-lit restroom signage designed for Zanti Cucina Italiana.
Custom mosaic tile of the Zanti seal next to a copper pizza oven.
A chef tossing pizza dough into the air inside of the Zanti restaurant.
Since the launch of their brand in 2019, Zanti has grown their customer base and successfully scaled their business with the opening of their second restaurant in the River Oaks area of Houston in 2022. Most recently, they've were nominated as a finalist for Houston Chronicle’s Best of The Best 2023.
© 2015–2025, Drake Preston.
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