The oven at Mia's Italian Kitchen is custom-designed and the only one of its kind by Marra Forni.
It’s a little more than a week from opening, and Mia’s Italian Kitchen—the latest concept from Alexandria Restaurant Partners—is getting its finishing touches.
Alexandria Restaurant Partners Executive Chef Graham Duncan at Mia's Italian Kitchen.
Although the building once housed Carluccio’s, the concept for this Italian restaurant at the intersection of King and Union streets is completely different, said Executive Chef Graham Duncan. The historic building was completely gutted to create Mia’s, and now features exposed brick, rustic-effect tiles and ceiling murals painted in a classical style. "Everything new in the space is designed to look like it has been there for years," Duncan said. The goal of the interior design was to make the space feel warm and welcoming with a ‘homey’ feel, even with its high ceilings and spacious layout.
The two levels of the restaurant each provide a slightly different ambiance. The second level features an open kitchen, a range of seating options and a sofa lounge. The main level is designed more for quick lunches, carryout and by-the-slice pizza, and features a curvilinear bar where guests can enjoy unique cocktails and Italian wines.
Custom equipment upstairs and downstairs at Mia's Italian Kitchen speak to the attention to detail Alexandria Restaurant Partners put into its latest concept.
Mia’s sizable pizzas are square, and that required a uniquely designed custom oven. Marra Forni, the same company that built the ovens in use at ARP’s restaurants Lena’s Wood Fired Pizza and Palette 22, created this is one-of-a-kind design specifically for Mia’s with a rectangular base and hand-formed bricks. Duncan envisions tourists and local office workers taking their slices across the street to Alexandria’s waterfront parks.
In addition to delicious pizzas, Mia’s extensive menu will include house-made pasta, hearty entrees, Italian sandwiches, and decadent desserts.
The pastas will be made from scratch with Semolina, 00 Durham wheat and just a handful of fresh ingredients.
Weekend brunch will be a family affair, featuring a variety of family-style dishes, including starters to share, pasta, brunch specialties and pizza.
Mia's will offer beautiful private event space for groups up to 200 guests with options for sit down meals or cocktail style receptions. Mia’s Italian Kitchen will be open soon at 100 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. For more information, go to www.miasitalian.com.
Alexandria Restaurant Partners operates several award-winning restaurants in the region. Learn more and sign up for email deals at www.alexandriarestaurantpartners.com. To book an event, email Amber Shelley, events manager, at amber@alexrestpart.com.
