A Southern Italian Source in Hoboken: Dolce & Salato

Dolce & Salato
Hoboken
1101 Grand Street
201-420-9182

Open: Breakfast and lunch daily

Price: $

Style: Cozy Italian café and pasticceria with marble floors, black-and-white décor, and plenty of light from big windows.

The Scoop: Inspired by the celebrated bakery Palazzone 1960, in Wayne, Maurizio Dolce, Michael Nirchio and Brian Mazzei opened in August to celebrate the flavors of Molfetta, in southern Italy, where Dolce was born, and Palermo, in Sicily, where Nirchio’s parents grew up.

The Menu: On three blackboards behind the counter, the menu is handwritten in Italian (with descriptions in English). Choose from an array of salads, paninis on house-baked bread, Illy espresso drinks, Gourmet Adagio tea and Italian pastries from Palazzone 1960. For lunch, try tortellini with marinara dipping sauce or eggplant caponata. The buon-santo panino (pictured) with grilled chicken, basil pesto, roasted red peppers and house-made mozzarella is delicious on a crisp baguette. The vegetarian panino with grilled zucchini and eggplant is a tasty alternative. Cookies, biscotti, eclairs, cream puffs and cakes in the display case will entice you—as will the gelato stand.

Heads Up: Dolce & Salato sells dried pastas, canned tomatoes, olive oils and other products imported from Italy.