When you walk into Che Pizza Italian Restaurant it is easy to understand why the many loyal customers quickly feel like family.
From scrumptious lunch and dinner fare to the perfect menu for special occasions, the shop located in the heart of downtown Metuchen, is known for “great food and a nice environment. People say that we have good vibes,” says co-owner Dario Barone.
He said that recently one of the families that appreciates his shop held a multi-occasion party to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and he hosted 45 members in their party.
Barone takes care of the front of the house, while co-owners Antonio Coppola and Massimo DiPietro use their 25 years of culinary experience in the kitchen.
“I enjoy seeing the big smiles on the faces of the customers, especially the children,” Barone explained. “I see so many families that are repeat customers. We use top quality fresh ingredients on the made-to-order pizzas and everything on the menu is fresh, delicious, and made from scratch.”
Che Pizza has become a community gathering spot that Barone, the co-owners, and his customers truly appreciate.
“The spot where we are located in this congenial town is in front of a beautiful Piazza like we have in Italy. It reminds me of home. My family is from Monte Di Proceda, a small town outside of Naples.”
Barone and his wife Ieleen, a local school principal, enjoy the diversity in Metuchen, which results in a myriad of different groups living together in harmony.
“We appreciate the people here; they quickly become like members of our own family.”
Che Pizza’s menu is filled with delicious pizza, salad, and Italian pasta dishes and specialties.
When it comes to his favorite menu items, Barone said it depends on his mood.
Che Pizza Italian Restaurant offers “a true taste of Italy’ with their lunch and dinner fare from made-to-order pizzas to Pork Chop Alla Romana.
“People enjoy many of the lunch and dinner specials that I prefer, including the swordfish, pork chops, and Fettuccine de Mare. Everything on the menu is delicious!”
Everyone involved in Che Pizza has a favorite and for DiPietro, it is the gourmet pizza topped with prosciutto, fig jam, arugula, and shaved parmigiana cheese.
The reason the three owners selected the current location on Pearl Street is a result of the great affection the owners have for Metuchen. They found a restaurant that had gone out of business and created their iconic pizza place there.
“We have created something that many other restaurants do not have when it comes to the hospitality and high level of customer service,” DiPietro explained. “Metuchen reminds me of the Istanbul airport, it is a melting pot of people from Europe, Asia, South Africa, and elsewhere. I love that combination of people getting together all in one place.”
Several customers enjoy the food at Che Pizza so much that they dine there nearly every day, which delights the shop’s owners.
Dan Koval, the owner of Koval Mural in Metuchen, says that when his girlfriend Shannon Concitis and his niece and four nephews visit, they are always thrilled to go with the extended family to Che Pizza for their favorite Italian fare.
“They are between the ages of two and eight, and they love getting individual original plain pizzas and mozzarella sticks,” Koval explained. “For dessert, they each choose a tasty (blueberry or pistachio) gelato with cold plastic spoons. This is the coolest thing for a young kid.”
Koval, who was one of Che Pizza’s first customers after making a mural for the business, said his personal favorite is the pork chop dinner with a little extra spice.
“I appreciate the food, the atmosphere, and the people who run this special restaurant. I saw the passion the owners have and I grew to admire them. They have become close friends.”
The menu items include Mediterranean Salad with grilled chicken and Primavera Salad with/ Sauteed Shrimp, and mixed greens, strawberries, apple, shaved parmesan, walnuts, and sauteed shrimp with a Raspberry vinaigrette. Yum!
Among the scrumptious entrees are rigatoni tossed with crab meat, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in a light marinara sauce. Chicken Milanese; Orecchiette pasta tossed with broccoli rabe, and shrimp in garlic and oil; Linguine Montese; linguine tossed with shrimp, olives, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and cherry peppers in a white wine sauce. Screaming Yum!
The menu also includes Pork Chop Alla Romana; Pan seared pork chop sauteed w/broccoli rabe and hot cherry peppers and Fettuccine pasta, with crab meat, scallops, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in a light vodka sauce.
Additional items include grilled swordfish, served with capers, white wine lemon sauce over spinach; and homemade stuffed shrimp ravioli tossed with clams, cherry tomatoes, mussels, crab meat, and mushrooms in white wine sauce.
So, why come to Che Pizza to eat in, take out, have your event catered, or celebrate a joyous rite-of-passage on site?
“The food is excellent,” said Barone without hesitation. “The environment is nice and the prices are very reasonable.
“Most of the people who come to Che Pizza say they feel like they are back in Italy when they are here. We love to hear how happy they are to be here and look forward to seeing them the next time they visit!”
Che Pizza is located at 21 Pearl St.
Hours: Closed on Monday
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
