Lobster papardelle, linguini puta di mare, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and steak dishes like bistecca alla Fiorentina.

All the dishes authentic, meticulously created from recipes belonging to Ernesto Nardone’s mother and his late grandmother.

But two years after the Nardone family opened Don Giovanni’s Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar at 18 Auburn Way South, it has sold the business.

Family members announced the sale in their business’ e-mail newsletter Monday morning.

“We have enjoyed serving you for the last two years. We have made the difficult decision to sell our business,” the family wrote.“We have enjoyed making some of our finest family recipes and sharing memories with all of you. We hope you feel comfortable enough to reach out with any questions or just requests to touch base.”

No information was offered as to why, though customers with whom the Auburn Reporter has spoken have consistently cited high prices.

No information was offered about the buyer, but Nardone has told his employees he expects to close up by Sept. 30.

The site that had been occupied by Ristorante Auguri and prior to that Flapper Alley underwent extensive remodeling before its spring 2013 opening to give it the feel of old Tuscan villas, with arches and travertine flooring with tuscany tile.

The Auburn Reporter was unable to reach the family, but Ernesto Nardone explained in 2013 why his family chose to open its second restaurant, in Auburn.

“Auburn was our choice because, number one, we have friend of ours named Al Rossi here, a good family friend of ours, and he told us, ‘Hey, you guys, you wannna open up another one?’ Cause we already have a restaurant in Issaquah called Montalcino, which my brother runs. Al suggested we open a restaurant here because people weren’t too happy with Auguri’s, and Auguri gave us an option to buy, and we bought it from him,” Ernesto said.