Polly Campbell

pcampbell@enquirer.com

UPDATE: Owner Alfio Gulisano says Che! will be open and serving empanadas and pizza on Friday, Jan. 15. The basement room won't be ready, and it's gotten a bit cold for the empanada window. Those will come later when the weather warms.

This story originally appeared on April 29, 2015

In Argentina, Italian and Latin food go together seamlessly, reflecting the tastes of two of the biggest immigrant groups in the country. That fusion has been replicated at Alfio's Buon Cibo in Hyde Park Square, where Argentina native Alfio Gulisano and partner Scott Lambert serve both wild mushroom ravioli and ribeye with chimichurri.

In a new restaurant, he'll be offering that combination of cuisine again, in a more casual form. His new restaurant, Che!, will serve pizza and empanadas, the savory turnovers native to Spain and popular all over Latin America. The name means Hey!

Che! will be located in Over-the-Rhine at 1342 Walnut St. For this venture, Gulisano is partnering with fellow Argentinian Juan Imeroni, who also owns O'Malley's and The Blind Pig Downtown and Gypsies in Covington. They hope to open in July.

The pizza/empanada restaurant is a staple in Argentina, and the combination makes for a quick and casual meal. With a large bar, an outdoor area, lots of Argentine wines by the glass, craft beers and late-night hours, Gulisano hopes Che! will be an easy place to stop in for a snack, drink or meal. He pictures people having a glass of wine and a snack while waiting for a table at a different restaurant in the area.

There will even be a window to the street where customers can get empanadas and pizza into the early hours of the morning.

Another Argentine tradition is grilling meats outdoors on a grill called a parrilla. With a large outdoor garden behind the restaurant, Gulisano and Imeroni plan to set up a parrilla and offer a list of grilled items that will change daily.

There will be seating for about 65 inside, 60-70 outside, plus a cozy basement with room for 30.