Restaurateur Constanzo Di Meglio, a partner in the thriving Little Venice Group, knows a thing or two about a gourmet meal and a nice bottle of wine, but he?s on a learning curve now with the group diving into the new, quick-paced world of take-away dining.

?This is a new concept for us and a new concept for Bermuda,? he said, of L?Oriental Express, a new take-out venture scheduled to open in about six weeks? time in the Maxwell Roberts building, an office block under construction on the corner of Church Street and Par-la-Ville Road.

The top restaurant group is adding the Express venture to its already established empire of a dozen dining spots including its flagship Little Venice Restaurant, the adjacent Little Venice Wine Bar (one of the Island?s latest evening hot spots), Fourways Inn and Cottages, L?Oriental, The Harbourfront, La Trattoria, La Coquille & Beebe?s Lounge, Lido Restaurant, Mickey?s Beach Bistro, the Deep Nightclub and the Boulevard Cafe (in the departure lounge of the Bermuda Airport).

Mr. Di Meglio said the idea behind L?Oriental Express is to offer office workers ? there are at least eight office buildings in the Par-la-Ville Road area ? a wide choice, and quickly.

Also, the hours are longer than those of many other take-out establishments ? from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

And he promises prices will be reasonable.

?Some people only have an hour for lunch, they want to get in and out, not stand in a line waiting for a sandwich like some other places.? Mr. Di Meglio is keeping most details of the new take-out under wraps until closer to its end of September opening date.

L?Oriental Express will have counter seating along a bank of five floor-to-ceiling windows, while tables will be set up outside along an awning-covered sidewalk.

?You will be able to go in and get coffees, and breakfast, but primarily it will be a Chinese take-out,? Mr. Di Meglio said. The L?Oriental window sign also advertises panini sandwiches ? a popular grilled Italian sandwich ? and Italian ice cream, or gelati.

Sushi samplers may also be available, he said.

The concept behind the Little Venice wine bar ? which opened last year adjacent to the Little Venice restaurant on Bermudiana Road ? was originally what the group?s partners had in mind for the Par-la-Ville Road space. Then the space next to Little Venice came vacant, and plans shifted, Mr. Di Meglio said.

The wine bar, from the time it opened in February, has proved a hit with workers from the run of office buildings along Bermudiana Road. Mr. Di Meglio hopes the same proves true for the new take-out venture.

?The idea is to pick up something and go. And something that is absolutely good.?