La Tagliatella to Open Early Next Year

European-based Italian restaurant chain La Tagliatella will be opening its third U.S. location in Clarendon at some point early next year.

The company is opening two restaurants in Atlanta this month, and plans to open the Arlington location — in the former Restaurant 3 space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd — in “early 2013.” Interior and exterior work on the restaurant is currently underway.

“We’re thrilled to bring this popular Italian concept to Clarendon. This thriving neighborhood is the perfect location for our mid-Atlantic debut in the United States,” said Mike Muldoon, a La Tagliatella executive, in a press release. “Europeans have been enjoying the unique cuisine, warm hospitality and generosity of La Tagliatella for the past two decades; now Virginians will be able to enjoy them, too.”

The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. La Tagliatella’s phone number is 571-257-4600.

La Tagliatella has some 130 locations in Europe and Asia, in addition to its new U.S. locations. A description of the restaurant’s cuisine, from the press release, after the jump.

Photo via Facebook

Showcasing traditional Italian recipes made with the highest quality ingredients, La Tagliatella will offer guests a relaxed-yet-distinctive atmosphere. La Tagliatella’s signature menu features a variety of authentic dishes including more than 400 pasta and sauce combinations and several unique Napoletano-style pizzas, all created with the finest key ingredients imported from the northern region of Italy.

La Tagliatella draws inspiration from Italy’s rustic culinary traditions with a menu focused on fresh ingredients and eclectic flavors. The culinary experience begins with antipasti appetizers including traditional creations such as provoletta baked with sautéed zucchini and Sole di Puglia tomatoes; carpaccio di vitello with beef tenderloin and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano; and tominata, a unique cheese wrapped in speck and dressed with honey and Balsamic vinegar.

Main entrées infuse the genuine tastes of Italy with artisan homemade flavors. Guests can choose from several meat and vegetarian options including spiedino Napoletano with skewered pork tenderloin, Sole di Puglia tomatoes and Balsamic onions layered with fresh whole-leaf basil and served with a special Tagliatella sauce and fried gnocchi; lasagna verde with spinach, sweet tomato, zucchini, raisins and pine nuts; risotto Iberico served in a cream sauce with a blend of Iberian pork, seasonal vegetables and pine nuts; and one of La Tagliatella’s signatures which pairs coure di zucca butternut squash-filled pasta with noci e Gorgonzola sauce with walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese. The generous servings embody the essence of traditional Italian cuisine and are ideal for sharing among the table.

At center stage of the restaurant is a pizza kitchen where more than 20 unique Napoletano-style pizzas are handcrafted. Guests looking for a traditional Italian pizza can select from a wide array of distinctive offerings such as di pate pizza with foie gras, duck ham, Taleggio cheese and mushrooms topped with a wine-and-caramelized onion reduction, as well as Tagliatella pizza with pesto, onion, red peppers, mushrooms, Taleggio cheese, Tuscan bacon and sautéed spinach. For diners with more adventurous tastes, unique selections including the bold salume pizza with tomato, mozzarella and chorizo dressed with a fresh-cracked egg and oregano are sure to please. All of La Tagliatella’s pizzas are created with fresh dough handmade each day and baked to perfection, creating a thin, crispy and light pizza crust.

A welcome addition to Clarendon’s happy hour and late night scene, La Tagliatella offers a variety of Italian-inspired cocktails making it the perfect place to end the workday or enjoy the weekend. Specialty cocktail selections include “ambrato” with Old Overhold rye, Dolin Rouge, peach puree, peach bitters and lemon; “mulo Siciliano” with Ketel One vodka, blood orange juice, fresh lime and Barritts ginger beer; and the cabernet sauvignon blended “sangria Emilia” with blood orange syrup, pineapple juice, brandy and fresh blackberries. La Tagliatella will also offer 50 selections of wine by the bottle and glass as well as several bottled and draft beers.

Popular among European diners, the décor at La Tagliatella restaurants in Europe exemplifies a setting in Italy with heavily wooded walls, ceilings and floors to mimic a northern Italian home. For the U.S. debut of the concept, acclaimed Atlanta firm ai3 is assisting European designers of DecoRetro to create a special ambiance with a rich tapestry of textures, colors and patterns. This authentic style will mirror the Old World culture and traditions, transporting guests to a real and true experience of European dining.