By GINNY COOPER / Staff Writer

Montevallo—Montevallo City Council members eagerly awarded an ABC license to Joe’s Italian Crossroads Cafe, which is tentatively set to open March 17.

“We’re excited to have this restaurant and we’re happy to approve this motion,” Montevallo Mayor Hollie Cost said.

Joe’s Italian Crossroads Cafe will be a “satellite restaurant” to the bigger Alabaster location, said owner Sonia Bertoleone.

Though the café will be able to seat 24 people, the restaurant will focus heavily on take-out, and customers will order at the counter. The restaurant also plans to add limited patio seating.

The Montevallo location will serve a limited menu featuring highlights of the full menu served at the Alabaster location, but will feature a different item everyday that is not on the limited menu.

The menu also includes complete family meals, which feed four to six people or more, for prices ranging from $24.95 to $36.95.

“It’s fresh, good food that is reasonably price. That’s what people are looking for,” Bertoleone said.

Bertoleone said that the family is excited to open a restaurant in town, which is very close to their house.

“We all live in Montevallo, and I could literally walk to this location from my house,” Bertoleone said. “We are so blessed to have community support.”

Under the recently approved license, the restaurant will be able to serve liquor as well as beer and wine, something the Alabaster location does not currently offer. However, the restaurant does not have the capacities for a full bar.

“We are not looking to be a full bar,” Bertoleone stressed. “It’s just something to compliment your meal.”

The restaurant hopes to obtain a margarita machine, and make Italian style margaritas, which include amoretto.

“Alabama is hot in the summer, so it’ll be great,” Bertoleone said.