Naples Native Arrives, Via Dallas, Bearing Pizza

Olivella, chef Salvatore Olivella’s first restaurant in New Jersey, has opened at 7709 Bergenline Avenue in North Bergen.

A respected pizza maker who was born in Naples, Italy, the chef has made a splash with four restaurants in Dallas and has consulted on several projects in New York, including Marta and  L’asso.

At Olivella, the chef’s 50-seat restaurant centers around a wood-burning pizza oven. Featured pies include: the Margherita DOC; the spicy  Inferno, with housemade fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, ‘nduja (spicy spreadable pork sausage from Calabria), spicy soppressata (dry salami) and spicy honey; and the Don Maradona Snow White  with fresh ricotta, house-made  fior di latte  cheese, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil. “Gourmet di Olivella” choices include the Frank Sinatra  pizza, which is topped with burrata, bresaola, arugula and lemon dressing, and the  Tartufata del Cardinale, with house-made  fior di latte, prosciutto cotto, parmigiano, mushrooms, micro basil and truffle cream.

The regular menu includes Gnocchi Alla Romagnola, with porcini and fresh truffles; Pollo alla Valdostana, chicken breast sautéed with wild mushrooms, prosciutto and fontina sauce;  and  Costoletta di Vitello Milanese, thinly pounded veal that’s breaded and served on the bone, topped with salad and parmigiano.

The restaurant is currently BYO; a liquor license is in the works. Open daily for dinner, and lunch service is planned. 201-662-6110. www.olivellanj.com.

Also Recently Opened:

La Posada Restaurant y Taqueria, 334 Monroe Street in Passaic, is a Mexican restaurant open for lunch and dinner daily. It is owned by Jose Torres Rodriguez. BYO. 201-388-6333.

Opening soon:

Albarino Wine Bar & Tapas, 540 Broad Street in The Grove West, Shrewsbury. It will serve Iberian fare. Owned by the Terra Momo Restaurant Group, an enterprise run by the brothers Momo that includes well-known spots such as Eno Terra in Kingston and Mediterra in Princeton.

Mambo Empanadas, 313 Union Avenue in Rutherford. Latin American. BYO. Lunch and dinner daily, except Sundays. 201-933-3888. mamboempanadas.com.

Gourmanoff, 221 Route 4 West in Paramus. A sibling to the European/Russian market in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn. To be operated by chef Zack Hess. gourmanoff.com.

Hungry Peddler, which recently closed in its original location in Cresskill, is expected to reopen in April in the old Griffins location at 44 East Madison Avenue, also in Cresskill.

Section 201 Sports Bar is expected to open sometime in April at 704 River Road in New Milford. 201-262-5600.

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