LITTLETON — Il Forno’s Italian food and pizza is returning to the Littleton area.
Three years ago, the restaurant group’s franchise in neighboring Acton shut down, leaving patrons the option of driving to the Fitchburg or West Boylston locations. Owner Mike Mohamed said he knew all along that he wanted to return to the area, and simply had to wait for the right opportunity.
So when the former Gallery Cafe at 529 King St. was put up for sale, Mohamed sprung.
“This opportunity came along, and that was it,” he said. “Littleton is right next door from Acton. We do have the roots in the neighborhoods there.”
The Littleton location should be open for business by the end of the month, Mohamed said, offering mostly the same Italian fare as the other two restaurants. Catering will be available as well for various functions.
Mohamed purchased the building directly from its previous owner and is working to remodel the interior to fit Il Forno.
“Right now, we’re in the process to put the place together,” he said. “We’re working on some cosmetic stuff, some kitchen clean-up, getting the right staffing, all the necessary stuff that needs to get done.”
Il Forno has a wide-ranging Italian menu, with entree options such as chicken parmigiana and linguine with clam sauce complementing more lunch-appropriate wraps and sandwiches.
The restaurant also prepares pizza in a wood-burning brick oven. Several pies are listed on the menu, including some using pesto instead of red sauce and “Mike’s Favorite” made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and red onions.
Mohamed owns both other Il Forno restaurants. The West Boylston branch opened in 2010, and he founded the original Fitchburg location in 1991.
He learned the trade in New York City restaurants — where, in his words, pizza is “the food of life” — shortly after immigrating from Egypt. Mohamed had initially wanted to study chemistry, but once he spent enough time in the restaurant industry, he had a new plan.
“I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, always wanted to be a businessperson, versus a desk person,” he said. “I said, ‘This is what I want to be, this is what I want to do.'”
Mohamed has carved out a prominent place in Fitchburg over the past quarter-century. For 25 years, he has invited locals in need to Il Forno for a free hot meal during the holiday season.
“We open the place for everybody,” he said. “I like to be an active member in the community to do what I can to help and be part of it.”
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisLisinski.
