Around Town

New Italian Restaurant in Clarendon Nears Opening

The Italian restaurant that’s coming to the former Alto Fumo space (2909 Wilson Blvd) in Clarendon is a few weeks away from opening.

Mazaro is the name of the new restaurant, which was first touted in window coverings declaring that “Italy is Coming!” The coverings are now off and interior work has largely wrapped up, according to Aziza Naji, a partner in the restaurant and 14-year veteran of the industry. She said her partner is a local commercial property owner with no prior restaurant experience.

Naji described Mazaro as a modern Italian restaurant that will offer classic Italian cuisine and Neapolitan pizza baked in specialized, wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. The restaurant will have both indoor and outdoor seating when it opens, we’re told.

Mazaro just applied for a Virginia ABC license to serve beer, wine and cocktails, and expects to open once the application is approved — perhaps later this month or in early October, according to Naji.

The restaurant does not yet have a working website, though one is currently under development.