Food and Drink
Vesuvio( stuffed pizza)
Flambéed Portugese Chorizo
Salumi E Formaggi
The ArtofPizza
WRITTEN BY KIMBERLY WILSON
Tucked away right off River Road, one can find this little gem known as Porto by Antonio. There’ s something that sets this wood-burning pizzeria aside from all the other places that offer pizza. Maybe it’ sthat owner Antonio Dinis makes his own dough from delicate flour imported from Naples or that he pushes the envelope with some of the menu items like the fried pizza, La Montanara, and the stuffed pizza, Vesuvio – hehit a home run on both.
La Montanara islightly fried dough topped with oven-roasted tomato sauce, imported mozzarella du bufala, basil and shaved grana Padano, and finished in the oven.
To make the Vesuvio, Dinis stuffs the crust with mozzarella, fresh ricotta and soppressata. Then he tops the pie with
•$$
• BYO
• OPEN 7DAYS
• RESERVATIONS ACCEPTEDFOR PARTIESOFSIX OR MORE
• FAMILY-FRIENDLY
more mozzarella, grana padano and tomato sauce. When put in the 850- degree oven that was imported from Naples, the crust puffs up and vents, much like the famous volcano, Mount Vesuvius.
Porto is not only known for the pizza – they pride themselves on their pasta dishes, including the infamous pappardelle, which Dinis makes himself. They also offer a handful of delicious appetizers, such as Flambeed Portugese Chorizo, fried dough puffs and the antipasto platter for two with house-made bread.
Nutella is a big theme at Porto, whether it’ sbeing displayed
NorthBergen
PORTOBYANTONIO
8921 OLD RIVER ROAD( 201) 941-7107
on shelves, used as apizza topping or drizzled over zeppoles.
This brick-walled restaurant in North Bergen is filled with dramatic modern art of Ronaldo, Michael Jordan and others. Youcan grab atable or sit at the counter in front of the pizza oven and watch the masters go to work. Bring a bottle of wine and order some red or white non-alcoholic sangria mix by the pitcher while you enjoy the bustling atmosphere and wait to indulge on all the tasty treats. ◆
Antonio Dinis, owner of Porto by Antonio in NorthBergen, shows offsome signaturepizzas.
MARKO GEORGIEV AND KIMBERLY WILSON
64 MAY 2016( 201) GOLDCOAST