Pizza Rustica To Open In The Middle East

Pizza Rustica, the Miami Beach-based Italian restaurant, has signed an agreement with Kuwait International Franchise to expand its pizza empire to Bahrain and Kuwait in the Middle East. The new locations are set to open in November 2012 and January 2013, respectively, with additional restaurants opening in other Middle Eastern countries within the coming year.

The restaurant, which serves pizzas, salads, and panini, has 23 locations, 18 of which are in Florida, Arkansas, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. Four opened in Paris, in 2008, with the most recent international expansion opening last year in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Known for its Roman-style pizza a taglia, pizza by the slice, the menu for the Middle East will be adapted to include local foods and specialties. Based on the company's experience in France, where truffle butter sauce and the French merguez sausage are featured on the menu, the Middle Eastern outpost of Pizza Rustica is certain to have regional flavors, according to Mellissa Mokha, director of support and development at Pizza Rustica.

Nikki Maniscalco is a Junior Writer at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @NikkiMarie2116