A familiar name is returning to Morristown’s dining scene.
Joseph Cetrulo, who owned La Campagna from 1995 to 2012, got planning board approval on Thursday for the Masseria Italian Steakhouse, which he aims to open at Headquarters Plaza this summer.
“It will be a quality Italian restaurant in town, which I think everybody knows the town really needs,” said Cetrulo, whose Trinity Hospitality Group owns Stella Marina Bar & Restaurant in Asbury Park and Sirena Bar, Bistro & Restaurant in Long Branch.
The new steakhouse will seat 200, not counting seasonal outdoor customers, and will feature a private dining room called “The Wine Library,” a glass-walled dining area with a view of the kitchen, and an oversized bar to accommodate dining.
A “pocket” liquor license has been renewed through June, said the project’s attorney, Frank Vitolo.
“Unlike Tuesday, this is an actual restaurant,” quipped Vitolo, referring to another restaurant application this week from a family better known for its Morristown bars.
Masseria — Italian for “farm”–only needed minor variances for signage. The vote was unanimous, and enthusiastic.
“Your reputation precedes you,” Mayor Tim Dougherty told Cetrulo. “We are really getting the real deal here…You are putting a product into our community that we can all be proud of.”
“I think this is an asset to the town,” said planning board Chairman Joe Stanley.
Chris Russo, the town council liaison to the board, said he has dined at other Cetrulo restaurants. If this one is “anywhere near as good as the other ones, it would definitely be a hit in Morristown,” he predicted.
A sample menu includes a variety of steaks, Scottish salmon and “Gnocchi with Braised Rabbit and a Touch of Tomato.” Prices were not listed.
Masseria will front the driveway that curves around to the Hyatt Regency Morristown.
The mayor said it continues a revitalization of this block of Speedwell Avenue, which has welcomed the upscale 1776 by David Burke restaurant and the new headquarters of Valley National Bank, and seen Headquarters Plaza renovate Pioneer Park and improve its parking garage.
That’s where valets will park cars for Masseria customers, HQ Plaza representative Christine Rothermel told the board.
Cetrulo opened his first restaurant at age 22; Masseria will be the 10th he has owned over his four-decade career. His prior ventures included the popular Adagio in Summit, where he was chef and his wife Cathy was pastry chef.
Masseria won’t do takeout. “It’s more of a high-end tablecloth restaurant,” said Cetrulo, who knows something about high-end tastes.
In 2014, he bought Glynallyn, a 32,000-square-foot Tudor mansion on seven acres in Morris Township.
Modeled after an English manor built in 1481, Glynallyn boasts 575 windows, 66 rooms, 19 fireplaces and a dungeon. It was featured as the 2012 Mansion in May, a fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center.
Awesome!!!