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Robyn Lane

Robyn Lane

Robyn Lane

13 Favorite Italian Markets In Monmouth & Ocean Locals Swear By

By Robyn Lane

13 Favorite Italian Markets In Monmouth & Ocean Locals swear by range from colossal to cozy.

If we’re talking about the newest Uncle Giuseppe’s location in Tinton Falls, we’re talking colossal!

As a foodie and passionate home cook & baker, I would call Uncle Giuseppe’s my Italian specialty store wonderland.

It’s like a kid walking into Disney World for the first time. Instead of seeing Mickey Mouse, I see wall to wall-to-wall Italian specialties, fresh prepared foods, an incredible bakery, in house pizzeria, an artisan & specialty cheese department, a huge selection of fresh pasta, excellent produce, quality meats & seafood, a candy counter, gelato stand, and a deli where they guarantee your selections are fresh.

Favorite Italian Markets In Monmouth & Ocean According To The Locals - Breakin' Bread Toms River

That’s a lot to take in.

If I want an experience that is less overwhelming, I shop at locally owned businesses that often carry what I’m looking for.

Fresh Italian breads, pastries, store made sausages…etc. Monmouth & Ocean Counties are filled with Italian specialty stores,  markets, and Salumerias.

According to Bricco Salumeria’s site: A Salumeria is defined as a cured meat shop or Italian deli. Salumeria features many kinds of cured Italian meats such as sausage, salami, prosciutto, honey ham, and many other cold cuts. To cure meat means taking action to preserve the meat and add more flavor to it by adding salt. Salt adds flavor and preserves the meat by drawing out its moisture.

History Of  Salumerias

Salumerias originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. When Salumerias first became a thing, they did not produce their own meats, they would select meats and other products from purveyors. Back in the Middle Ages purveyors worked in a guild system to produce these products. The guild system was eventually shut down during the turn of the 19th century.

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Products Available At a Salumeria

These Italian markets and salumerias are where you want to buy Genoa Salami, Prosciutto Di Parma, Soppresatta, and other cured meats. You can also pick up imported cheeses like Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano Reggiano, Sharp Provolone, and more.

Now, we’re going to take a ride through Monmouth & Ocean counties and find some of the best Italian specialty markets the locals swear by.

  • Della Cucina - 1407 NJ-37, Toms River, NJ 08753

    Starting with one of my personal favorites. Della Cucina offers friendly service and a plethora of fantastic fresh food. I don’t often buy prepared foods, but I had an exceptional experience eating a spread catered by Della Cucina and I just had to see the store for myself. The Chicken Francese is possibly the best I’ve ever had outside of my own kitchen. I can’t give enough praise to do this place justice. The sandwiches, grocery offerings, fresh pasta, bakery goods, especially the Italian bread and cannolis are off the chain.

  • Mulberry Street - 474 Brick Blvd, Brick Township, NJ 08723

    A great Italian food center proudly owned & operated by the Colasurdo family. I’ve eaten their catered food many times, and oddly enough for an Italian market they made the best corned beef & cabbage I’ve ever had.

    So many friends and listeners have mentioned this place as their 1st choice.  Great sandwiches of all kinds, a vinegar bar, homemade salads (get the octopus salad), stromboli, a great butcher shop and deli, and imported pasta and groceries. Honorable mention for the delicious homemade meatballs. So good, no sauce needed.

     

     

     

  • Zano Bros. of Brooklyn - 360 N Main St, Waretown, NJ 08758

    The question is, “What do the Zano Brothers make that isn’t good?” I can’t think of a single thing.

    I can’t tell you how many people have mentioned this place as their hometown favorite. I have traveled from Toms River several times because the place is so good.

    The fried calamari isn’t that frozen crap you get at the supermarket, it’s got the tentacles and rings. It lightly fried and never rubbery.

    The homemade sauces from the Francese to the vodka sauce are things you want to keep on hand.

    Whether you go to do your shopping or to have a nice sit down meal, this is a place you need to experience at least once.

    Outdoor seating available during the warm months and indoor seating year round.

     

     

  • Lenny's Silverton Market - 1824 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753

    The biggest reasons to go to Lenny’s Silverton Market: Gigantic freshly made subs on excellent bread, homemade broccoli rabe-mozarella chicken sausage (my favorite thing at Lenny’s), Butchers offering top quality meats, homemade salads of all kinds, and breakfast sandwiches.  Lenny’s sister store, Colonial Ranch in Brick is of equal quality. Don’t go there hungry or you’ll wind up broke.

  • Breakin Bread Eatery - 1177 Fischer Blvd, Toms River, NJ 08753

    Most people in Ocean County who frequent the same social media food pages I do, have been here more than a few times and have shared their positive experiences.

    I have been here a few times and I have always shown up when Nicole is not there. Nicole is the owner and always displays some great looking dishes on Instagram.

    Parry’s review:  A small Italian deli that carries a broad variety of prepared foods. Lots of breads, olives and antipastos. Some items looked very special like their eggplant towers, their fried flounder cutlets and their eggplant and long hot dish.

    She summed it up perfectly. The long hots and the eggplant are my favorites. Of course the bread is top quality because it’s from Nicolo’s Italian Bakery in Montclair. Plus, they do a great catering business.

    Breakin’ Bread, Where your belly will be full and your heart will be happy!

     

  • Nino Jr's Italian Specialty - 2005 NJ-35, Oakhurst, NJ 07755

    I used to live within walking distance of this place. Fresh mozzarella, imported cheeses, excellent Italian bread, and all of your favorite Italian and American quality cold cuts. Homemade sauces, soups, and meals to go.

    Stuffed artichokes to die for and all kinds of salads made on the premises. The arugula salad with pine nuts and red onion is a big favorite.  A lot of my foodie friends either shop here or eat here at least once a week.

  • Durazzos Italian Market - 375 Drum Point Rd #6818, Brick Township, NJ 08723

    My Brick friends love Durazzo’s. Durazzo’s offers personal friendly service, and is the the perfect one stop shop- with a butcher, baked goods, produce, groceries, incredible sandwiches and more.

    I have a few listeners from North Jersey who come down to stay at the shore during the warm months, they shop and eat at Durazzo’s. 

    The owners make it a point to greet the customers to make sure they have a good experience.

  • Joe Leone's - 510 NJ-35, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

    Ocean County’s Big Daddy Of Them All, Joe Leone’s!

    It’s usually the first place people mention if they’re a long time local. Joe has built an incredible reputation over the last 25+ years making outstanding food. The options are mind blowing. The catering is unmatched, and the service is lovely.

    I promise you that if you go in there without knowing what you want, your head will spin. It once took me 20 minutes before I decided to order an eggplant pie, a flub turned favorite. A vendor that supplied their pie crusts mistakenly delivered a much smaller size than Joe Leone’s normally ordered. After correcting the mistake the company insisted the smaller pie crusts need not be returned. Later while making Eggplant Rollatini, Joe thought: what if a pie crust was used to layer the ingredients inside and bake? The rest is delicious history.

    The  many breads offered are out of this world, especially the seeded semolina. It is such a pleasure to shop here.

     

  • Pastosa Ravioli - 315 NJ-35, Eatontown, NJ 07724

    Hailing originally from Brooklyn, Pastosa has made quite a name for themselves here in New Jersey.

    I have shopped at the Eatontown store and my co-worker’s Jackie and Jimmy shop at the Manasquan store. Most people I come in contact with also shop at the Eatontown store which is why I chose to include this particular store.

    A store where the selections are plentiful. It truly is a one stop shop for all of your favorite Italian specialty needs, along with a wide variety of prepared foods.

    The variety of ravioli and fresh pasta makes me happy. I usually grab a couple of their huge Sicilian rice balls and make a meal out of it accompanied by a salad.

    The subs are stacked high with meats and cheeses on the bread of your choice. If you’re gluten free, they can take care of your needs.

    You must try their baked goods, especially the pastries!  The Italian cheesecake cones are a must try according to Addie H.

    Catering here is also done exceptionally well. I dare you to find better stuffed breads anywhere else. Their stuffed breads are overstuffed! I’ve bought stuffed breads from other Italian specialty stores only to find there’s more bread than meat and cheese. Not at Pastosa of Eatontown. Mike and the crew here do an amazing job.

     

     

  • Luigi's Deli Meat Market - 424 Dover Rd, Toms River, NJ 08757

    Right down the block from my friend Harry’s food truck “Harry’s Smokin’ BBQ.”

    Luigi’s isn’t a huge place, but they do offer a lot of your favorite items that you’d normally buy at an Italian deli.

    The breakfast sandwiches are some of the best in town, and the subs are epic. They have a full service butcher on site offering a variety of meat packages to choose from. Excellent chicken cutlets, chops, steaks, roasts and more. Fresh produce, grocery items, and a variety of grab & go entrees and desserts.

    Terrific personal service that you would expect from your locally owned deli and meat market. Great prepared foods at your fingertips and they bake fresh Italian & French bread every day.

     

     

  • D'Angelo Italian Market of Freehold - 177 Elton Adelphia Rd, Freehold Township, NJ 07728

    I’ve come across many locals who love D’Angelo’s and prefer them to the “bigger” store in town because they have better customer service. Not my words, the words of people who frequent D’Angelo’s.

    Marie said, “You really get what you pay for.” Excellent customer service and superb catering.

    Steeped in Sicilian culture, D’Angelo’s offers quality  signature sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and a premiere full service butcher shop.

    Fresh Mozzarella, breads, olive oil selections, spices, and a treasure trove of pasta choices, along with homemade ready to take home sauces, D’Angelo’s is where the locals I know go for quality products.

    One thing to note, if you like spicy Mortadella, D’Angelo’s carries Ferrarini spicy mortadella with chili pepper imported from Italy. Now that’s Italian!

     

     

  • Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace - 990 Shrewsbury Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724

    I happily travel to my Italian specialty store wonderland, Uncle Giuseppe’s.  A family owned Italian specialty store that found it’s way to the Garden State in 2022. I was already familiar with Uncle G’s  on Long Island, where I’m originally from.

    There is no store in all of Monmouth & Ocean that can compare in size and selection of  items.

    The meat department is outstanding.  Premium meats, high quality tender chicken, gourmet burgers, oven-ready roasts, marinated steaks, house made pinwheels,  lamb and authentic Italian sausages. Uncle Giuseppe’s butchers will happily custom cut your meat. They have lamb sausage available in & out of the casing. I’ve never found that at any other Italian specialty store. 

    The pizzeria has every kind of pizza imaginable, plus the store made focaccia, stuffed breads, and baked goods are of supreme quality.

    More varieties of fresh pasta than I’ve ever seen in any store. It’s hard to describe the entire inventory of this incredibly large space, you MUST experience it for yourself.

    It really is the Disney World of Italian specialty food stores. Ask any of my foodie friends, they’ll say the same exact thing.

    Watch the interview below with Uncle Giuseppe’s CEO & Co-Founder, Carl DelPrete. Talk about quality control.

     

     

  • Livoti's Old World Market - Locations in: Aberdeen, Englishtown, Middletown, Freehold & Brick

    I’ve been shopping here for 10 years starting with their 1st store in Aberdeen. Great selection of meats, seafood, fresh breads, pizza counter, bakery, great produce, fresh mozzarella, grab and go foods, olive oil & vinegar station, and so much more. I love walking in on Sunday afternoon a few hours before dinner to grab a fresh out of the oven seeded Italian bread.

     

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