MAPLEWOOD , from P . 28 Spaghetti .”
“ I remember my dad telling me that one day , when he was a kid , he came and he saw the sign —’ World ’ s Best Spaghetti ’— it was a big claim , but it is great spaghetti . I ’ ve waited on many people who saw the sign and had to stop . They say , ‘ Your claim is supported . You have really great spaghetti ,’” he said .
The Maplewood restaurants use the finest ingredients for all of their dishes , Jeremy Italiano said .
“ We don ’ t sacrifice quality ingredients . Even if they get more expensive , we ’ d rather raise the price a little bit than get a lesser product . We ’ re all about keeping the quality of the food and keeping the traditions that my grandfather passed down to us ,” he said .
Jeremy Italiano said that the restaurants still use many of the recipes created by Joe Italiano Jr .
“ My dad has all of them written down , so if he ever feels that something is straying away , he ’ ll bring them out and make sure that we teach them to the new employees ,” he said .
Having his brothers in the kitchen also helps to ensure that each dish meets the Maplewood standard .
“ If they see something going out that doesn ’ t look quite right — they trained with my grandfather — they ’ ll correct it . They ’ ll say something like , ‘ You put one less scoop of butter .’ They just know from doing it for so long ; they know exactly what it ’ s supposed to be ,”
Jeremy Italiano said .
That consistency , he said , helps to create repeat customers .
“ Most people that I wait on myself say that they come back because it ’ s always the same . They know what to expect , and it ’ s always great ,” Jeremy Italiano said .
The family atmosphere of the Maplewood , he said , extends beyond the food , the kitchen and the staff , and also helps to make for regular patrons .
“ We treat everyone like family . I know a lot of people come in here and say that they feel like their aunt ’ s waiting on them ,” Jeremy Italiano said .
Satisfied customers , Jeremy Italiano said , are the best part of his job , and are what have made Joe Italiano ’ s Maplewood
THE HAMMONTONIAN | OCTOBER 2022 | P . 29
Maplewood : Home of the ‘ World ’ s Best Spaghetti ’
( LEFT TO RIGHT ) BONNIE BERTINO , MARGARET CRESCENZO AND ADA HENRICH EN- JOYED THEIR MEAL AT JOE ITALIANO ’ S MAPLEWOOD .
JOSEPH ITALIANO HOLDS A PLATE OF SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS AND STANDS BESIDE A PICTURE OF HIS GRANDFATHER , JOE ITALIANO JR .
such a success in Hammonton and at their other locations .
“ When I ’ m out serving people , someone can give a great compliment and that ’ s what makes me want to keep doing it : hearing how their families have been coming for years , and it ’ s great to meet someone that ’ s in the family , and they hope that we continue to keep doing it ,” he said .
Customer encounters like that , he said , are what keep him — and the Italiano family — going .
“ It can be tough work , but hearing the experiences of our customers and the history of their families coming ? I think that ’ s what does it for me ,” Jeremy Italiano said .