A new Wine Country restaurant will mark the end of a dramatic legal battle that unfolded this year following the shocking closure of a popular Italian eatery.
French restaurant Bistro Lagniappe will open in Healdsburg in May in the space (330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg) left empty by Molti Amici, which closed suddenly last November, only 16 months after opening.
Shortly after it shuttered, the Chronicle revealed that Molti Amici, which earned a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide, was in significant financial distress, losing more than $600,000 in its first year. In February, Molti Amici investment partner Jason Cutrer sued founder and SingleThread alum Jonny Barr for more than $1.5 million in damages, alleging that fraud and embezzlement led to the restaurant’s demise…