SEVERNA PARK, Md. – Italian street fare is coming to Severna Park.

The team behind Severna Park’s award-winning Café Mezzanotte will bring its expertise with Italian cuisine and locally sourced ingredients to a second location – just three miles away.

Capiche Street Food Italiano will open a 2,400-square-foot space in the recently developed Magothy Gateway Center (147 Ritchie Hwy, Ste. E. Severna Park, Md. 21146).

A quick-service fast-casual dining restaurant, Capiche will serve four categories of food:

• Pizzas (quick fired in stone hearth ovens)
• Pastas (made with all fresh ingredients and house sauces)
• Salads (using certified organic mixed greens)
• Piadas (thin grilled Italian flatbread wraps)

All items are $8.50 regardless of protein and with no limit to the amount of toppings that you can add. Pizzas will cook in under two minutes, and the other dishes will be ready by the time the guest reaches the register.

“The food world is moving toward QSR: quicker, fresher, more custom food service operations,” said Kosmas "Tommie" Koukoulis(owner/operator of Café Mezzanotte and Uncle's Hawaiian Grindz in Fallston). “Italian street food is about simplicity, fun and flavor – perfect for quick service retail and there is nothing like this in the Severna Park area.”

“We are creating a niche –in a brand new shopping center in a great location that’s close to our existing customer base,” he added.

Koukoulis will partner in the new venture with David Bremer (general manager of Café Mezzanotte) and executive chef Zack Trabbold(executive chef of Café Mezzanotte and former executive chef at Adriatico Italian Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, De. and Tutto Frescoin North Wilmington, De.).

Their vision for Capiche is “to share Italian street food and culture with the world.”

“Italian street food is a very regional cuisine and a farmer driven food movement,” Koukoulis added. “Capiche will keep that tradition alive with its focus on locally sourced ingredients, such as its beef, pork, chicken, veal and some vegetables.”

“Our customers can enjoy farm fresh, flavorful Italian food without the wait,” he concluded.

Capiche Street Food Italiano will operate seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with seating for up to 60 guests, as well as carryout (online ordering only). An October opening is anticipated. For more information, visit www.capicheitaliano.com.