The doors at Tuscan Kitchen on Lafayette Road opened for the first time at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and by 3:20, there were only a few spots left at the spacious bar. Tommy Mattie of Nottingham has been anxiously awaiting the new Italian restaurant. Mattie said he has been trying to get to the Salem location after seeing it featured on the Food Network, but couldn’t. When he had business to tend to on the Seacoast Wednesday, Mattie was thrilled.

“I love good Italian food,” Mattie said. He was enjoying a martini as he waited for his order of Ricotta Gnocchi Carbornara. Mattie was joined at the bar by a number of couples and two Realtors who said they wanted to see what the buzz was all about.