Behind the scenes with an eccentric pizza master and his legendary little N.J. shop
The ancient brick oven looms like an incinerator, occupying most of the claustrophobic kitchen. Pizza worshippers have told tales of this monolithic wall of clay and steel. For more than 60 years, it’s baked many of the most deliciously distinctive Sicilian, pan and tomato pies prepared in New Jersey — and if your pizza is the best here, it’s the b...
Lucco Reviewed: Generously Portioned Pasta, Pizza and More
Everything about Lucco screams, “Big!” Its vaulted wooden ceiling rises high above the 130 seats. Emblazoned in large letters over the open kitchen is “Mangia, bevi, vivi.” (eat, drink, live). Perched atop a scaffold of spirits at the bar, a vintage red bicycle with Lucco-logoed delivery basket serves as a focal point. Lucco, which opened in 2018,...
Family-Run Deli in The Heights, Andrea Salumeria, Serves Up Hand-Picked Ingredients with a Hug
Where I grew up in the suburbs of Central Jersey, a sandwich meant American cheese, iceberg lettuce, and chicken roll on Wonder bread — so needless to say, moving to Hudson County, with its array of Italian delis serving fresh ingredients, was eye-opening. I’d never imagined tomatoes could be sweet and sundried, meat could mean capicola or soppress...
The Vendemmia Italian Wine Festival returns to Wilmington
The Vendemmia Italian Wine Festival is returning to Wilmington on Sunday, October 13. The festival, which began in 2003, is returning to Wilmington after a four-year hiatus in the suburbs. When the festival re-located to Bellevue State Park outside of Wilmington, the city was under the administration of Mayor Dennis P. Williams. “At the time, the p...
Pupatella Pizza Coming to Mosaic District
A Neapolitan pizza place plans to open a new location in the Mosaic District. Pupatella, a local Italian pizza chain, put up signage announcing their new location at 140 Penny Lane, adjacent to Penny Lane Park. The restaurant chain was founded in 2007 by Enzo Algarme, whose craving for authentic and homemade pizza inspired him to open his own pizze...
First Look: Revamped Italian Restaurant Modena Puts All Its Antipasti On Wheels
A lot can happen in a week. Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, the decade-old Italian darling by Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s Ashok Bajaj, shuttered for a complete makeover at the end of August. A crew of 20 worked just a handful of days (and nights) to transform the 140-seat restaurant and outdoor patio into Modena, a completely revised “Italian-influen...
La Pizzeria Metro opens in Wilmington’s Miller Road Station
Mayor Mike Purzycki joined property owners Ralph and Rose Pepe for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and official opening of La Pizzeria Metro in Wilmington. The restaurant was built within Miller Road Station, a 11,000-square-foot Spanish colonial-style building that was originally constructed in 1916, located at 3101 Miller Road. Wilmington Brew Works...
Mare Monte, Italian BYOB, prepares to open in Haddonfield
Three partners in a new restaurant here have a lot in common. The men, all natives of Albania, are longtime friends who’ve worked their way up in the dining business. They’ve spent much of the past decade planning their own place and looking for its site. And until recently, they’d never been to Haddonfield. But that’s where their search ended — in...
Pastosa Ravioli Celebrates Five Years in Cranford
Saturday, Sep. 14, 2019 at 8:30 AM. 200 South Avenue East, Cranford, NJ, 07016. Pastosa Ravioli, the third generation, family-owned and operated Italian specialty food company widely recognized as the source of New York’s finest ravioli, fresh pasta and Italian specialties celebrates its five-year anniversary in the Cranford community. Located...
Il Nido Reviewed: A Nest of Italian Virtues
A place with a #nochickenparm hashtag promises a break from typical Italian-American fare, and that is what Il Nido resoundingly delivers. The restaurant opened in March in Marlboro, home to more than a dozen Italian-American eateries. Distinguishing itself, Il Nido draws inspiration from the regional cooking of modern Italy. Tucked into a strip ma...
Lina's ristorante in Bloomingdale New Jersey delivers the best of Italian family dining
The intersecting highways, meshing suburban, rural and city living are a cornerstone of New Jersey life. As are sandy beaches, major professional sports teams, and the closest of proximities to the world’s largest and most influential locale, New York City. What comes with all this? Great restaurants, of course. And New Jersey has many of them. Do...
Villa Italian Kitchen Celebrates National Pepperoni Pizza Day With Meaty BOGO Deal
With Americans consuming over 250 pounds of pepperoni each year through pizza toppings alone, Villa Italian Kitchen, one of America’s favorite quick-service pizza brands knows there’s nothing like a hot slice topped with spicy pepperoni. In celebration of one of its guests’ favorite slices, Villa Italian Kitchen will be offering an exciting deal on...