London-Born Carluccio's Italian Cafe and Market Lands Stateside

UK-born Italian cafe and marketplace Carluccio's is preparing to invade the U.S. Founded in 1999 by chef and cookbook author Antonio Carluccio, the multifaceted concept has more than 100 locations across the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai — and as of June 3, it'll land in Alexandria, Virginia.

The marketplace portion of a Carluccio's in London. [Photo: Carluccio's]

Like many of the other food halls that are booming across America right now, Carluccio's posits itself as an all-day eating and shopping destination: A cafe portion will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from a pancetta and egg sandwich and panettone French toast to antipasti, imported Italian pastas, and osso bucco; there's also a bar serving Italian craft beers and wines. The market side "features 80 imported products sourced direct from small artisan producers all over Italy," says a press release, plus prepared foods, wine, cheese, and fresh pastries.

Clocking in at 6,500 square feet over two floors, think of it as a (much) smaller Eataly. The Italian megamarket brought to the U.S. by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich also has plans to open in the D.C. area, though it likely won't land until 2017. Per the Washington Post, Carluccio's already has two more locations planned for the area: one in Montgomery County, Virginia, and the other in downtown D.C.