Wayne Magazine Back To School 2016 | Page 14

THE BUZZ WRITTEN BY CAROL BOTT JARGER GRASSHOPPER TOO IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT MOMMA’S BOY BECAUSE MOMMA SAYS SO Owner Paul Skiadas takes the burger joint of the ’60s and brings the experience into modern times with MOMMA’S BOY (140 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, 973-3333335, mommasboynj.com). Outdoor dining is available. Pair “the best shake in the neighborhood” with diner mainstays made from 100-percent natural beef burgers and hot dogs with no antibiotics, both on signature griddled potato rolls. Beer-battered cod is filleted by hand; cheesesteaks are made with real steak. For dessert there are made-to-order doughnuts, and create-your-own ice cream sandwiches with a choice of rich ice cream hugged by two home-baked cookies. CONEY ISLAND PIZZA 12 WAYNE MAGAZINE BACK TO SCHOOL 2016 GRASSHOPPER TOO (26 Erie Ave., 973-696-9698, grasshoppertoo.com) is a family-run business that’s been popular since 1988. Owners Edward Fitzpatrick and Tommy and Patti Fitzpatrick, long-time residents of Wayne, have found the formula for a successful nightspot and a favorite family restaurant. Weekday happy hours with an event calendar that includes karaoke, trivia games, live music, and dance parties, beckon to locals who meet up on a regular basis. Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner daily, and a light fare menu lures restaurant customers who know what tastes good. Wiener Schnitzel is on the fall menu, and seasonal fall beers will join the list of 24 beers already on tap. THE SECRET’S IN THE DOUGH CONEY ISLAND PIZZA (40 Hamburg Turnpike, Riverdale, 973-476-9223, cipizza.net) serves brick-oven pizza. Riverdale resident David Liu, co-owner with Robert Decarlo, says, “It’s always quality over quantity for us. Our dough is phenomenal and we only use fresh ingredients. We pick the tomatoes ourselves.” They never use shredded cheese, only fresh mozzarella which, is made in house. “Almost anything we can cook, we try to fit on a pizza, like chicken teriyaki pie and barbecue chicken pie. Our pulledpork pie is a little spicy and creamy at the same time,” he says. Coney Island Pizza also has a selection of flatbread sandwiches and desserts such as homemade key lime cannolis and tiramisu. MOMMA’S BOY: ANNE-MARIE CARUSO; GRASSHOPPER TOO: CHRIS MARKSBURY; CONEY ISLAND PIZZA: JOE SARNO HOP ON OVER