A restaurant space that has been dormant for almost four years has sprung back to life, as Vicoletto officially opens in a cozy spot in Downtown Jersey City.
The new business comes from the team behind Blue Eyes in Hoboken, an Italian restaurant situated on that city’s waterfront, appropriately named after Frank Sinatra. Vicoletto is at 357 7th Street, which was home to Delenio’s until its owner’s unfortunate passing in 2022.
Vicoletto is “inspired by the small side streets of Southern Italy, where food is simple, intentional, and deeply personal.” The name translates to “small alley” in Italian, a nod to their intimate space with table and bar seating that overlooks the pizza-making.
The restaurant is BYOB, and while its menu is diverse, the highlight is its pizzas made in an authentic brick oven. Notable white pies include their Pistacchiosa, which blends Fior di Latte, Mortadella, Sicilian pistachio cream, and burrata, while their red pie Capricciosa includes prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, soppressata, artichokes, and olives.
Other interesting menu items include warm rosemary zeppole with prosciutto or a Grilled Mediterranean branzino with confit cherry tomatoes. Their spin on a burger blends dry-aged beef, Fontina, crispy bacon, mushrooms, and caramelized onions on a pizza dough bun.
Vicoletto does not currently take reservations and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. They are currently open daily from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., with an extra hour of service until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. You can follow the restaurant on Instagram at @vicolettojc.
