Dino’s adds an Italian bistro to Main Street location
Will begin al fresco table service Memorial Day weekend
Come Memorial Day weekend, Dino’s market on Main Street will offer outside table service to customers in an Italian Bistro setting.
The city recently granted approval to co-owners Dino LaSasso and Steven Cancellieri [shown above, respectively] for an outside seating area along Main Street, LaSasso said.
LaSasso and Cancellieri brought on Raymond Tutela, 51, former owner of Sandals restaurant in Bradley Beach, to run the Bistro, which will operate Tuesday through Saturday.
Tutela was forced to close his restaurant after it was heavily damaged with the pipes froze and broke in January. After that, he decided not to re-open.
“So, I’m going to stick here with Dino and run a bistro,” Tutela said.
Tutela brings 35 years’ experience cooking multiple styles of food, including Italian, German and Kosher fare.
The bistro will sport its own menu, separate from what the market generally offers, which gives restaurant owners the opportunity to serve fresh seafood and pasta dishes like shellfish and steamers, along with “a killer gourmet burger” and brick oven pizza La Sasso said.
Options for vegans, vegetarians and those with gluten allergies will be included, he said.
Pat Bender, LaSasso’s mother, will also be on hand to make desserts like her well-known zabaglione, an Italian custard dish usually topped with fruit.
“The plan is to give people fresh, homemade, on the spot, a la carte cooking,” Tutela said. “What we are planning on here is giving people fresh organic, farm-to-table, local produce.”
The bistro fare will be reasonably priced, with something for every budget, LaSasso said.
Patrons will also be able to bring their own alcohol. For those that opt to bring their own wine and brandy, LaSasso and Tutela will marinate fruits in citrus and other seasoning to mix them up sangria if they desire it, LaSasso said.
Main Street is the next horizon for new and innovatice restaurants and businesses in Asbury Park, according to LaSasso.
“Main Street is not part of the forgotten city anymore,” he said. “Main Street needs to become a viable business area.”
The bistro will begin service Memorial Day weekend. Bistro hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to close, weather permitting.
Dino’s on Main is located at 300 Main Street. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
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