Deborah Dawes said that anytime she and her husband, Roger, have walked in the West End lately, they couldn’t resist stopping in front of the building at 64 Main St., where workers were often working feverishly inside and out. “We’d keep looking in through the glass to see what was happening,” she said Tuesday morning. “We’d wave, and sometimes we’d see the workers wave back. We can’t wait for it to open.”

Tuesday, the Dawses peered inside and were welcomed by Azorean restaurant chef Manny Lapa, who has been overseeing the work and planning for owner Deo Braga’s newest restaurant, Italiano, at the site. Braga and Lapa said Tuesday the new restaurant will be opening within the next two weeks. Given a tour by Lapa, the Dawses liked what they saw.