THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Carluccio's

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Carluccio's Restaurant Review:

Headed by London-based Italian chef Antonio Carluccio, this Pike & Rose destination features a restaurant and a casual Italian grocery store alongside. The aim is clearly to entice patrons, who after dining on the breakfast sandwich with layers of fried egg, mortadella sausage and melted cheese will head across the aisle to stock up on olive oils, pastas and other goodies. At breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers sturdy seafood, pasta, beef and chicken entrées. A tasty way to kick off a meal is with a heaping portion of crispy-fried calamari and an order of toasted bruschetta drizzled with EVOO. For pasta lovers, mains should include the wild boar tortellini, and for a non-pasta choice, we suggest the Parmesan chicken. Those who want an Italian sweet will snap up the tiramisu and pasticcio di cioccolato, or chocolate bread pudding with its layers of oozing warm chocolate; add to it a cup of espresso. Check out the extensive wine list, too. Also located at 100 King St., Alexandria, 703-566-5293.