By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Bradley Beach’s landmark restaurant Piancone’s is opening soon with a new owner and a new name.
Anthony Pagano, known to area residents as the owner and chef at Pagano’s restaurant formerly located on Ocean Avenue in Bradley Beach, purchased the business with a lease to buy option on the building.
Piancone’s restaurant has been closed for several months.
Located at Main Street and McCabe Avenue, the new restaurant named Uva, Italian for grape, will open March 1 with the help of Pagano’s family and their combined 100 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
“We have our own group, my sister, brother, sister-in-law, uncle, mother,” he said.
Pagano’s father, the original owner of Pagano’s Restaurant, died a few years ago at the age of 56.
Pagano, who began cooking when he was 15, said this week he has been creating his menus and working on hiring staff.
“I’m working on the menu this week, then the next biggest thing is hiring staff,” he said.
Sections of the restaurant were undergoing minor renovations this week as finishing touches are being added to first floor.
Pagano, who will be the head chef, said the menu will include a light tapas menu, along with simple but elegant Italian entrees.
“It will be Italian ingredients, prepared differently,” he said. “Simply, elegantly.”
As an example Pagano said current offerings at Italian restaurants featuring layers of cheese, meats and vegetables over a chicken cutlet are just too heavy.
“You take the whole top off and make a meal out of just that,” he joked.
He will still be offering the traditional Italian meals of eggplant and chicken parmesan for those who like to stick with the familiar.
Pagano is also planning to reopen the deli part of the business on April 1. A bakery will eventually be part of the business as well.
The banquet hall upstairs, will be opened at a later time, with some interesting things planned, including a lounge, DJ and appetizer menu.
The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with a special prix fixe brunch menu on Sunday.
“No steaming chafing dishes; a special menu,” he said.
And with a family holding almost a century of experience in the restaurant business Pagano said he is confident things will be up and running smoothly on opening day March 1.
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