AH’ PIZZ, DENVILLE
Authentic Napoletana pizza that is cooked in 90 seconds in a 1,000-degree, wood-burning oven and has a slightly charred thin crust is featured at Ah’ Pizz in Denville, which opened last October. On a recent visit, we opted for a cacciocavallo cheese (similar to provolone), Andouille sausage and broccoli rabe pizza from their special list (which didn’t show prices). The spicy sausage paired well and enhanced the broccoli rabe and the cheese was an interesting change from mozzarella and worked well. Other recommended dishes were: crispy, deep-fried, mozzarella-filled, battered bread served with marinara sauce; rigatoni alla vodka with prosciutto, and shallots in a light pink cream sauce; and a table favorite: a steaming hot calzone filled with ricotta, mozzarella and salami. An enormous portion of eggplant Parmigiano came with linguini in a tomato sauce, and while enjoyed, we have had better. Not as successful was a tough, overcooked but colorful chicken breast with sautéed spinach, roasted peppers and smashed potatoes with a balsamic glaze. Desserts were bypassed as Denville Dairy, which serves ice cream that you do want to have, is down the street at 34A Broadway in Denville. Try the Devil Dog ice cream, a new favorite of the Safersteins.
Ah Pizz has a sister restaurant at 7 N Willow Street, Montclair (973-783-9200) which serves the same menu. Both are BYO.
Cacciocavallo cheese, Andouille sausage and broccoli rabe pizza.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
Ah’ Pizz
4 West Main Street
Denville
973-699-8033
BYO.
FRICASSEE, MONTCLAIR
Chef Mark Papera owner of Fricassee, 6 Park St, Montclair, has announced that his restaurant is now open seven days a week, and is now offering the dinner menu at lunch, Monday through Friday. Papera said, “People can come in for lunch and create a light or substantial meal from the dinner menu.” Some items to choose from include: frisee salad; roasted beet salad; onion soup; mussels in a white wine, saffron or curry sauce; hanger steak; crispy-skin salmon; and cassoulet. Reservations: 973-744-2191; BYO. Fricassee has always been a favorite. Read about our last visit there.
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