In Alençon, the O’Panuozzo restaurant is already drawing curious diners and fans of hearty food alike. Opened in mid-October at the upper end of Grande rue, this new spot specializes in panuozzos, sandwiches made with pizza dough and filled with homemade ingredients. At 24, its manager, Adil Elibrahimi, is seeing a business venture he has dreamed of since childhood come to life.
Since opening, O’Panuozzo has been busy. Customers come to discover an Italian specialty that has gained visibility on social media in recent months. At this restaurant in central Alençon, the concept is simple and filling: pizza dough folded in half and filled like a sandwich.
The restaurant has taken over the former premises of Barbé caterers, at the top of Grande rue. After several weeks of preparation, its doors opened on Friday, October 16, 2026. The start quickly exceeded the young manager’s expectations, and he is pleased to see customers coming in from the very first days.
An Italian specialty that went viral
The panuozzo is somewhere between a pizza and a sandwich. Its dough, similar to pizza dough, is baked and then folded around the filling. This makes for an easy-to-eat meal while retaining the flavors and texture of a dish made with pizza dough.
The specialty is widely shared on social media platforms, where recipe and tasting videos have helped make it known. Adil Elibrahimi chose to launch his business just as interest in panuozzos was beginning to grow. The trend gave him the idea for the concept, but his project is also driven by the desire to build a lasting presence in Alençon.
Everything prepared on site
At O’Panuozzo, the focus is on homemade food. The dough is prepared on site, as are the caramelized onions and peppers. The cured meats selected for the recipes are also chosen for their quality. These ingredients make for generous fillings, designed to complement the dough without masking its flavors.
For the manager, the quality of the ingredients is essential to a project he sees as a long-term venture. It is not just about capitalizing on a passing craze: the goal is to persuade customers to come back and to make the restaurant known beyond the initial novelty. Homemade preparation is therefore part of this new spot’s identity.
Steady customer numbers since opening have already given the restaurant a busy pace. Customers can sit down and try the product, getting to know a specialty that is still uncommon in the city. Word of mouth is adding to the visibility it has gained on social media.
A project dreamed up in childhood
Although the choice of panuozzos is recent, Adil Elibrahimi’s desire to run a business goes back much further. He says he has dreamed of having his own business since he was a child. His family, already familiar with the world of business, encouraged this ambition and helped him better understand what running an independent business entails.
His uncle runs Pizza Crousty, also in Alençon. He also helped him with the administrative procedures involved in setting up the restaurant. This family support helped the young entrepreneur through the first steps as he moved from working as a delivery driver to running a business.
A restaurant fitted out with help from his sisters
The premises were found in August. The space then had to be organized and prepared ahead of the October opening. Adil Elibrahimi took care of the decor himself, with support from his sisters. His personal involvement gives the place the feel of a project built step by step by its owner.
Opening the restaurant is the young manager’s first experience running a business. The restaurant is expected to employ four people soon. The growing team will support the business, which has been attracting customers from its very first days.
A new spot with roots in Alençon
Adil Elibrahimi chose to launch his project in the city where he grew up. He wants to stay there and build the next chapter of his career there. By opening O’Panuozzo in the heart of Alençon, he is combining a popular Italian specialty with a lasting attachment to his city.
The restaurant welcomes customers Monday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., then from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. At the top of Grande rue, panuozzos are now served at both lunch and dinner, drawing customers with the curiosity sparked by this recipe and the buzz of the first services.
