With a love of cooking and helping others build restaurants, Ed Hashem has established a lovely little restaurant called Capri The food island just off of West G Street that contains both regular Italian foods and an eclectic mix of Mediterranean fare.

This is to be expected from an eatery that styles itself off an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the coast of Italy near Naples.

Hashem, who is from the Alexandria region of Egypt, has certainly brought a little of that beautiful island to Elizabethton.

This is indeed a new treasure for local patrons who are tired of big chain pizza boxes. After all, Hashem has been in the United States for 20 years, with 16 of those being involved in food industry. Capri The food island could have easily found a home in a bigger city.

What makes Capri not just your normal Italian eatery is the way Hashem and his carefully selected staff prepares and serves their food.

“Everything here is handmade, everything is fresh and there is no processed meat, everything is made here and served daily,” said Hashem.

Some of the regular items that can be found on Capri’s menu include the Godfather, which as the menu says is an “ode to the classic topped with fresh pesto, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, provolone and cheddar cheese, and finished with smoked ham.”

Some local patrons of Capri’s say they are able to get food there that they have had to drive for hours before. This is because of Hashem’s introduction of Italian and Mediterranean fusion treats that light up the eye as they are served.

One such item is also Hashem’s favorite. The Greek Beef Shawarma platter contains thin sliced Angus beef just like it comes off of a doner kebab, which is like a vertical Rotisserie, and served with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onion and Tahini sauce.

Hashem also said that every week they will be serving a different dish that would not be found on the menu. Customers can see what each week’s special dish is by going to the restaurant’s Facebook page. This week’s offering is Egyptian Koshri, which is a 19th century Egyptian dish made of rice, macaroni, and lentils that are topped with spicy tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onion.

Patrons at Capri may also enjoy a hookah session outside that has an herbal and fruit blend.

Elizabethton’s Capri The food island can be located at 1435 West G St. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursdays, and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.