A Big Apple hospitality group that runs a slew of international eateries will be bringing its homemade Italian delights to Newark next year.
The ongoing overhaul of Gateway One is aiming to transform the food landscape around Newark Penn Station, New Jersey’s busiest transit hub. The revitalization, being undertaken by owners Onyx Equities, has drawn several high-profile restaurants to the complex that include the recently announced arrival of NYC’s Mökbar.
Serafina is perhaps the biggest name to commit to space in The Junction, the section slated to be Gateway One’s main dining area. Founded by Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato, Serafina’s story goes back to a trip at sea when they became stranded in a small boat.
Both men promised that they would open a restaurant together if they survived the ordeal and they followed through on that commitment, launching Serafina Fabulous Pizza on 79th Street on the Upper East Side in 1995. The restaurant group has expanded significantly since, also operating Brasserie Cognac, Farinella Bakery, and Bar Penellope along with eateries in Puerto Rico, Brazil, Japan, India, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The menu at Serafina focuses on authentic Italian fare with an emphasis on homemade pasta. Dishes like garganelli, orecchiette, baked tagliolini, ravioli, and a variety of risottos dot the menu, which includes a substantial pizza section with traditional, white, and focaccia pies.
Other mains at Serafina include branzino and cherry tomatoes or meat options like a grass-fed filet mignon or chicken Milanese. Several of the restaurant’s NYC locations offer a weekend brunch menu and cocktails, but it is unclear if the Newark location will have a liquor license.
Onyx Equities anticipates having The Junction portion of Gateway One up and running during 2022 and a public relations representative for Serafina says the group plans to have their Newark outpost open during April.
