We Are Family

Patrizia’s of Red Bank provides authentic Italian food in a fun atmosphere, just like its city sister restaurants

by Jessica Jones-Gorman • Photos By amessé photography

When Giacomo Alaio opened a family-style Italian restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2006, building upon the success of his decades-old Bronx eatery, platters of fresh grilled octopus, irresistibly thick slices of homemade mozzarella, and about a dozen different homemade varieties of pasta instantly attracted food fans from all over New York City.

Maybe it was the heirloom recipes from Alaio’s grandmother’s kitchen, or the restaurant’s plentiful portions and secret Sangria, but suddenly, Patrizia’s, Alaio’s beautifully appointed bistro, was a success. So, the idea was to expand once again, this time to a bustling shopping center in the middle of Staten Island. When that location also thrived, Alaio and his partners began scouting for their next space. A location became available in Red Bank, NJ, and they knew they had found the perfect spot.

“When I moved down here, I told my partners that we needed to be in New Jersey,” noted Lou Maschi, co-owner of Patrizia’s of Red Bank. “I drove down Broad Street about two years ago and saw a lease sign. I instantly knew it would be an ideal fit.”

The space, formerly occupied by a movie production company, was completely renovated and designed to fit Patrizia’s Tuscan theme.

“The space was being used to stage movie productions, so it was completely covered with equipment and these huge partitions,” Maschi said. “At first it was difficult to envision what the restaurant would look like, but there were these wonderful 60-foot cathedral ceilings and plenty of natural light, so we knew we could transform it into something special.”

The owners opted for exposed brick and freshly finished hardwood floors. A stucco finish was applied to the walls, emulating a style found in many authentic Italian restaurants.

“We installed wood-burning ovens and a copper countertop, too,” Maschi said. “We wanted the space to look very rustic.”

The menu and family-style philosophy remained the same as the other Patrizia’s throughout New York City, however—authentic Italian food served just the way they do in Naples.

“I was born there,” Alaio said. “And in Italy, when you go to eat, there are no menus…the food just keeps coming. So that’s what we do here. Large platters of food to feed the whole table. But we also offer a traditional menu for people who want to tailor their order.”

The Red Bank location, which features two levels, has a glass-enclosed party room upstairs and balcony seating overlooking Broad Street—prime real estate for diners each and every weekend. Billed as an eatery with “high-end food in a fun atmosphere,” the restaurant has become a neighborhood hotspot.

“We cater to large groups, too, and the idea here is to feel like you’re at your grandmother’s house having a big Italian feast,” Maschi said. “And whether you order from the family-style menu or eat a la carte, everyone who comes in feels very much at home.”

Everything on the menu is homemade. Its innovative dishes include fresh cuts of bronzino, traditional plates of marsala, parmigiana and francese, plus a signature pasta filled with four different imported cheeses and coated in a light, creamy mushroom sauce.

“We also mix a linguine pasta in a wheel of Parmesan cheese tableside,” Maschi said. “It heats up the cheese and is then covered with mushrooms and truffle oil. Just delicious.”

There’s 16 different types of thin-crusted pizza cooked in a 1,000°F woodburning oven, which Alaio explained is required to get true Italian flavor. The intense heat means an ultra-quick cooking time, and results in crusts that are crisp and crackling. It also lends a smoky pungency to pizza toppings—charring, caramelizing, and melting all things that go in.

The restaurant’s signature “star pizza”—in which the dough is folded into star-like points and filled with ingredients like cheese, prosciutto, ham or sausage—has earned its own following.

“People come in and ask for it and we’ve even received requests for it from different parts of the country,” Maschi said with a grin.

Patrizia’s homemade desserts include tiramisu, almond cake, and a Nutella pizza, which is filled with marscapone cheese in the corners and topped with a layer of Nutella, strawberries, powered sugar, and whipped cream.

The family-style dining option (a 10-course meal at a price point of $55) includes hot and cold antipasto, pasta, several different varieties of meat and fish, plus dessert. A perfect choice, Maschi said, for large groups of guests celebrating a special occasion.

“People come here for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions because we have become known as the spot where you can bring the whole family,” Maschi said. “Our famous birthday song probably plays about two dozen times a night, and the whole dining room lights up with people singing and laughing.”

For Maschi, that’s what the Patrizia’s experience is all about.

“We focus on good food,” he concluded. “And then provide a fun atmosphere in which to enjoy it.”