Eat like a Cap: Alex Ovechkin's go-to game day meal from Mama Lucia

WASHINGTON - A Montgomery County Italian restaurant long-beloved by the community is getting even more acclaim, thanks to a star customer -- Alex Ovechkin.

Ovie has been singing praises for Mama Lucia and their Chicken Parmigiana. He has eaten their Chicken Parm -- with pasta, Italian bread and four sauces before every home game since his rookie year on the team.

"It was a long time ago," Mama Lucia Bethesda Manager David Kottler.

"Ovi tried the chicken parm. He was in the Bethesda one day. He said I love this. Can I eat this every morning? And we said yes. Of course," said Kottler.

Ovi gets his chicken parm on mornings of game days, delivered to Kettler Arena in Arlington. A chef comes to the Bethesda restaurant to prepare the meal for the Capitals captain and it's out the door by 9:30 a.m.

While other Caps players ordered delivery from Mama Lucia's in the past, now only Ovi has a standing order with the restaurant.

Kottler started as manager of the Bethesda location five years ago, but now manages several of the company's restaurants.

The local restaurant chain has locations in Silver Spring, Rockville, and College Park.