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Bucatini opened its doors Nov. 12 at Greenway Station in Middleton. - The Capital Times

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Bucatini -- a new Italian restaurant -- is trying to succeed in the space formerly occupied by Romano's Macaroni Grill at Greenway Station, buoyed up by a local owner, a focus on regional specialties and a casual atmosphere featuring a brick, wood-fired oven and an extensive pizza menu.

Macaroni Grill is part of a national chain and closed its Middleton outlet, 1611 Deming Way, in March. Bucatini opened its doors Nov. 12.

The large new dining space seats about 250 and is owned by restaurateur Enzo Amodeo, who is the owner of Tutto Pasta & Trattoria in Middleton and the former owner of other Tutto Pasta restaurants in the area as well as Spices and Frida.

Amodeo is a native of Palermo, Sicily. Some specialties at the new restaurant will reflect his own heritage, including a broccoli and cauliflower pasta with pine nuts and raisins and a wild fennel, sardine and bread crumb pasta.

Many of the dishes on the new Bucatini menu reflect the broad range of Italian food and the many specialties of the country's various regions.

"The concept behind the restaurant is a more casual, trattoria kind of atmosphere. I'm emphasizing regional specialties from places like Toscara, Piedmont, Calabria," he said.

Examples of the regional cuisine Bucatini is serving include black squid ink risotto from the Genoa area or an asiago gnocchi from Tuscany.

He added that the restaurant makes its own pizza dough and features over 20 thin crust varieties.

"Business, so far, has been good," he said.