Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Midici Will Expand to Lynnwood and Vancouver

Midici, a quickly growing chain specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza, is entering Washington with locations in Lynnwood and Vancouver, Washington. The fast-casual company — or “fast-fine,” in its own words — launched in Los Angeles in 2015 with the intention of opening 50 stores by the end of 2017 and 1,000 venues within 20 years, and there are outposts open already or coming soon from Texas to Massachusetts.

In just 90 seconds, the restaurant’s 900-degree wood-fired ovens crank out 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas with light, thin crusts, commonly eaten with a fork and knife. Varieties range from classic Margherita to truffle- and prosciutto-topped specialties; the menu is rounded out by burrata plates served with balsamic reduction and roasted bread, a few appetizers, salads, and desserts like a Nutella calzone with fresh berries.

More so than its food, though, Midici touts its friendly, upscale vibe. Franchising materials boast that the company has created an entirely new segment “that marries the best of fast-casual with highly polished and experiential fine dining” and explain that “Our guests love our pizza, but it isn’t the pizza they are really after — it’s the time with friends and the authentic social experience.”

The Vancouver site will occupy about 4,100 square feet on the ground floor of Block 6 West, a six-story residential tower scheduled to be completed in April 2018 as part of The Waterfront development, according to a spokesperson for the project.

The Lynnwood expansion will test if patrons of the Alderwood Mall (3000 184th St SW) are ready for a more engaging fast-casual dining experience, which The Atlantic suggests could be an antidote to the “retail meltdown of 2017.” No word yet on the estimated arrival of the Lynnwood store, but Eater has reached out for more details.

Update, 2 p.m.: A spokesperson for Midici said she expects the Lynnwood location to open this summer.