The meatballs are coming the meatballs are coming: The Sicilian Butcher, the modern Italian restaurant from celebrity chef and concept king Joey Maggiore, has a date for its big Texas debut.

The restaurant known for its innovative yet traditional Italian cuisine will open in Fort Worth at Alliance Town Center, at 3200 Tracewood Way #110, in the same super-buzzy center as H-E-B, on July 20.

According to a release, they'll host a ribbon-cutting that day at 3:30 pm ahead of the opening at 4 pm, before getting ready to dish out their craft meatballs, five-foot-long charcuterie platters, from-scratch pasta, and Italian desserts.

Like their other three locations, all in Arizona, The Sicilian Butcher in Fort Worth will also house a sister concept called The Sicilian Baker, which features a build-your-own cannoli bar, pastries, gelato, espresso and other Sicilian sweets.

“My father, Tomaso, a Sicilian-born chef, inspired my dream of creating a restaurant that embodied his passion for Italian cuisine,” says chef Joey in a statement. “The Sicilian Butcher is a testament to that dream, offering delectable experiences and flavors that wow our guests."

Other enticing menu items include

• char-grilled artichokes
• Neapolitan-style pizza
• piadina — sandwiches, including chicken parm and eggplant parm, served on a thin, rustic Italian bread

They have all kinds of meatballs — Sicilian, sausage, eggplant — which you can order solo or in a variety, served on a meatball "wheel." Cute! Salads include a Caesar, chopped, and a "Sicilian wedge" with iceberg, pickled fennel, tomato, crispy prosciutto, with creamy dolce gorgonzola and smoked bacon dressing. Clever!

Pastas include pappardelle, tagliatelle, spaghetti, rigatoni, and gnocchi. Plus a gluten-free pasta, what's that about.

The bar serves craft cocktails that include four versions of the Negroni, the classic Italian drink, plus sangria, craft beers, and AF drinks.

Chef Joey co-founded the brand with his wife, Cristina Maggiore, and their business partner, Flora Tersigni — now part of Savory Fund, a private equity firm investing in emerging restaurant concepts, who acquired Hash Kitchen in 2021 and The Sicilian Butcher in 2022, with plans to expand both concepts nationwide. _The Savory Fund is currently invested in 11 brands: Swig, R&R BBQ, Pincho, Via 313 Pizzeria, Houston TX Hot Chicken, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food, 86 Repairs, Saigon Hustle, Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, and South Block.)

Maggiore and his team opened Hash Kitchen next door to The Sicilian Butcher in May, and it's not an exaggeration to say that the welcome they've received has been incredible.

The release also says they're opening locations in North Dallas and San Antonio, but no details yet on this sizzling hot news.

They'll be open Sunday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm, and Friday-Saturday from 11 am-10:30 pm.