My favorite part of the summer is going out in the warm weather and discovering new places to dine out while on my travels throughout the tri-state area.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!I visited three awesome spots. As pizza places are enough, I hit a classic, favorite eatery spot on Shaolin (Staten Island, N.Y,) for good measure while balancing out my wonderful culinary experiences.
Turano’s Pizza Kitchen — 69 E Northfield Rd, Livingston, N.J., order online at (973) 758-8111. Hours: Monday – Saturday — 10:00 — 8:30, 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
I have driven by Turano’s a few times before and always wondered if it was any good. So, I met a buddy, on his suggestion, there for lunch. And I am grateful that I did.
I ordered three different varieties of pizza: a regular Napolitan Slice, and The Upside-Down Sicilian.
Every offering was delicious. I warmed up with the Napolitan. It sported a crispy, crunchy crust, savory sauce, and nice, stringy mozzarella.
Next came The Upside-Down Sicilian Pizza — a thick crusted square pizza topped with rich tomato sauce, melted mootz, and fresh basil. It was pretty close to the square I grew up on at L&B Spumoni Gardens in Gravesend, Brooklyn.
Again, the sauce hit the spot with its tanginess shining through, as all the elements of the pizza: crust, mootz, and basil blended together to make it a fantastic option.
But you would think I was no longer hungry. Well, think again, as I devoured the Northfield Pizza — plum tomato sauce, sausage, fresh mozzarella and basil on a thin-crust, as opposed to the Upside-Down’s thick crust. It was a superb change-of-pace for my taste buds, even though a picked away the sausage because I am vegetarian.
Furthermore, there are so many other great-looking varieties — such as the Drunken Grandma Pizza, vodka sauce, basil, and fresh mootz on a thin-crust, and the Valentina’s Pizza, plum tomato sauce, mushrooms, mootz and basil on a thin-crust — for my next visit to Turano’s.
Royal Crown Bakery and Cafe — 1350 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y.
Royal Crown has set the Staten Island standard for awesome sandwiches and great, freshly baked goods, not to mention its splendid coffees and house-made scrumptious breads, all set in a vibrant atmosphere since September 2007.
I have visited the iconic Italian eatery several times in the past and met up with friends for a bite earlier this summer.
I ordered a regular house salad, but it was anything but routine. Fresh mootz, roasted red peppers, eggplant, and greens, the salad was quite delicious and satisfying.
My buddies went the sweet tooth route, dialing up pieces of decant chocolate cake with rich, strong cappuccinos.
Additionally, its array of bake goods is unreal and mouthwatering. Royal Crown features cannoli cream-filled lobster tails and fruit cheesecake along with several cookies offerings sure to blow past any past expectations you ever had of the sweet treat.
But do yourself a favor and get one of Royal Crown’s many tasty sandwiches made with all sorts of fresh breads. From the fried chicken parmigiano sandwich to the chicken cullet hero crafted with mootz and roasted red peppers, top with its special balsamic glaze, which, I hear, makes the hero next-level delicious — everything is topnotch.
Bakery Hours: (718)-987-5771
- Tuesday through Saturday: 6 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 6 AM – 9 PM
Cucina (Kitchen) Hours: (718)-668-0284
- Tuesday through Saturday: 8 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Royal Crown is CLOSED ON MONDAYS
Ti Amo Pizza — 3555 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, N.Y. — (718) 477-0007. Hours: 11:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed on Sunday.
Nestled in a small shopping center on Staten Island, I stopped in at Ti Amo Pizza, as I was covering a Warriors of Wrestling professional wrestling card a few doors up.
First, the workers at Ti Amo were super friendly and helpful, highlighting its powerful pizza love factor.
So, I ordered a Napolitan slice and Margarita Sicilian as I settled in and enjoyed my surroundings on my pizza adventure.
Each offering was just as good as it looked. Crunchy, savory, and an equal dough-to-cheese ratio in each pizza piece made it a perfect meal before witnessing body slams and close lines in all of its professional wrestling glory.
The heart-shaped pizza looks very appetizing, and Ti Amo severs other delicious fare, such as calzones, garlic knots, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, French fries, onion rings, and more.
I am sure I will be back in the near future to try other pizza options.
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— Text and photos by Jerry Del Priore.
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