The Boston Licensing Board on Wednesday approved plans by Stefano and Tsedenia Kiros to open an Italian restaurant called Via Cannuccia at 1739 Dorchester Ave. - the former home of an Italian bakery.

The couple plan "a casual Italian restaurant," their attorney, Andrew Upton told the board. Stefano Kiros was born in Rome and went to culinary school in Italy, before going on a culinary journey that brought him to France, Greece, the Maldives, England and finally Boston, where he spent time as executive chef at Petit Robert Bistro and as a baker at Eataly in the Prudential Center.

Stefano will handle the cooking while Tsedenia will run the front of the house, Upton said, adding the couple lives in Dorchester.

The Kiroses applied for a beer and wine license. Board members agreed they qualified for one, but whether they get one depends on whether the city has any available. The number of alcohol licenses in Boston is limited by the state legislature.

Their new restaurant is in the space formerly occupied by the Zia Gianna Italian bakery.