Nestled unobtrusively among the corner stores on Newark Avenue by Kennedy Boulevard, Casa Dante has been a staple of the Journal Square neighborhood since 1986.
To Jersey City residents from back in the day, the name harkens back to the 1950s, when it opened at its original location on Summit Avenue. Tradition is a good word to describe Casa Dante. Lured by the authentic Italian food, people who have moved from the area traditionally come back to this familiar place.
The waiters are as much a part of the restaurant as the dining room. Talking to each other across the floor in Italian, many have been a fixture for 30 years. Sal Falcone, who has worked at Casa Dante for three decades, is a former captain in the Italian Army. Louis Terminiello, or “Hoboken Lou,” has worked there since the place opened at its old location 35 years ago.
“The food is still the same,” said Terminiello. “The place has been renovated, but the character has stood the test of time.”
Many well-known people from the sports and entertainment industries come to Casa Dante. The wait staff recalls seeing over the years people including: Larry Holmes (who had a boat in Port Liberte), Mike Tyson, members of the Giants, actress Celeste Holmes, singer Jimmy Roselli, Nancy Sinatra, and Sopranos cast members like Steve Van Zandt, Joey “Pants” Pantoliano, and Edie Falco.
In fact, according to the people who work there, Phil Rizzuto used to leave ballgames early, telling the crowd that he was going to Casa Dante.
Appetizers and entrees
The dishes are large, filling and satisfying. As tempting as it might be to overindulge in the wide variety, remember an appetizer and entrée will fill you up just fine. Each entrée is served with a pasta of the day, small salad, or vegetable or potato of the day.
For an appetizer, you might try the Dante Salad ($11.95), a cold seafood salad with shrimp, calamari, and scungilli (conch), olives, and celery in garlic with olive oil and lemon. With a variety of textures, it is really more a cold seafood sampler than a mere salad.
“Many people are surprised to find they’re eating conch,” said owner Vito Mastromonaco.
Mastromonaco previously owned Villa Capri, now Puccini’s on West Side Avenue, and said that many of Casa Dante’s current customers dined at Villa Capri 25 years ago. He owns Casa Dante with his brother, Tom. For a pasta dish, try the marechiare ($9.50), which is cappellini de angelo (angel hair) with chopped clams, in white clam sauce, with plump tomatoes added. It was tasty, and the dish had an aroma that carried halfway across the room.
As an entrée, the shrimp with white wine sauce ($23.95) is not to be missed. The large shrimps are flavored with a white wine sauce.
Another entrée is the lamb chop ($20.95), tender lamb with Swiss Chard and Potato. The fresh lamb was a tender piece of meat, and the potatoes complemented it perfectly.
By this time, we were thinking about taking some food home for later. Mastromonaco stressed that his food is best eaten fresh, although people often order to go.
“Lots of people take out food on their way, and then ask why it doesn’t taste the same,” he said.
Casa Dante’s atmosphere and décor is classy, with tuxedoed waiters and valet parking, but the atmosphere is relaxed and intimate. “You’re not going to keep that figure if you come here twice a day,” one of the waiters called out to a familiar diner returning for dinner.
Friday, Ray LaRovere plays standards on the piano. There is also a less expensive lunch menu with smaller portions.
Casa Dante is located at 737 Newark Ave., Jersey City. Call (201) 795-2750 for reservations. Major credit cards are accepted.