Giant Stuffed Olives, Nutella Pizza at Osteria Marzano

Alexandria will get a new Italian restaurant sometime next week, when Osteria Marzano plans its soft opening. The restaurant, located at 6361 Walker Lane (in the Metro Park VI office complex), is from chef and co-owner Carmine Marzano, a native of Italy who has worked at such restaurants as Galileo and Ristorante Luigino. He's running the place with his daughter, Elena Pouchelon.

On the menu are a number of pizzas, with toppings such as pancetta and egg or prosciutto and arugula, as well as antipasti, pastas and some main courses such as osso bucco. Italian small plates, called assaggini, include a giant sausage-stuffed olive with sauce and fried baby shrimp. Plus, there's Nutella pizza on the dessert menu.

The restaurant is about 6,000 square feet in size and will be open for lunch and dinner. There are two private dining rooms, a 40-seat bar and an outdoor patio.
· All Previous Coverage of Osteria Marzano [-EDC-]