North Bergen is a hub for delicious Latin + Italian food and trust us, there are tons of amazing hidden gems in the neighborhood. Trattoria La Sorrentina {located at 7831 Avenue, North Bergen} is no exception. Established in 2003, this gem has been serving up mouth-watering, authentic Italian food for the last 17 years. Read on to learn all about this hidden gem in North Bergen.
The History
Trattoria La Sorrentina is a family-owned and operated business. Giacomo Vanacore, the owner of the restaurant, has deep roots in the food industry, beginning with both sets of grandparents. Some members of the family were in the trade of making olive oil and other traditional Italian ingredients. The property was purchased by Giacomo’s father in 1976 when it used to be a cafe/game lounge.
In 1984, the family decided to transform the building into a pizzeria. Maintaining ownership, the family moved back to Italy, where Giacomo chose to study the culinary arts in high school and went on to cook in France and Germany. In 2003, the family made the decision to move back to the U.S.and take their earlier business to the next level. Giacomo put everything he had learned from cooking in the most acclaimed countries in the industry into creating Trattoria La Sorrentina.
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The Atmosphere
Nestled on the corner of a busy street, visitors of Trattoria La Sorrentina will feel as if they were at a family’s Sunday dinner. The neutral tones provide a cozy ambiance, with the open-kitchen being the focal point. Custom tile-murals of Sorrento, Italy, decorate the walls for an added effect {to feel like you’re on vacation in Italia, minus the airplane travel}.
The Menu
Trattoria La Sorrentina specializes in brick oven pizza and seafood dishes. The ingredients that aren’t made in-house, like the bread and mozzarella, are bought fresh daily. The complimentary bread is made of the same dough they use to create their pizza. Giacomo and his father make their homemade mozzarella three times a day, regardless of how busy it is in the kitchen. It’s their pride and joy.
We recommend starting your meal with the frittura alla Napoletana {rice balls, potatoes croquettes, fried mozzarella, and calzoncini with tomato sauce}, the trippa alla parmigiana {stewed tripe with peperoncino, tomato, and parmigiano} or one of our favorites, the polipo al salmoriglio {grilled baby octopus with olive oil, parsley, and lemon juice}.
Now, for the seafood lovers out there, definitely order the spaghetti al sapori di mare {think mixed seafood with a white wine and gently spiced tomato sauce}, linguine con le vongole veraci {clams, white wine, and parsley or red sauce}, or the dentice alla’acqua pazza {fish of the day sauteed in garlic, white wine, and cherry tomatoes}. Realistically, whatever you order will be delicious, but those are some top-notch choices.
Beyond the heavier dishes, there are 15 brick oven pie options, the restaurant’s shining stars, available to order. They serve them by the pie but they are small enough for one to two people to enjoy.
For a heavier pie, opt for the quattro stagioni {eggplant artichokes, mushrooms, and prosciutto}. For those with a sweet tooth, try the Nutella pizza. Finally, for those who prefer a classic pizza, the restaurant has traditional options like margherita, marinara, and Napoletana.
Our personal favorite is the savory signature Sorrentina Pie {cherry tomato, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto, and romano}. You can order a tiramisu or cannoli to complete your dinner in true Italian fashion. Plus, for those who are partial to a glass of vino to cleanse the palette, Trattoria La Sorrentina offers 15 wine options by the glass or half bottle as well as 13 draft beers.
All of the dishes are generously sized, so it’s not unusual to take home leftovers and for such amazing quality, the prices are unbelievably affordable. For vegetarians and vegans, if you tell your waiter they will make sure there is no meat/cheese included in your order.
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Catering
Bonus, you can take Trattoria La Sorrentina’s food home with you, too {and not just in a to-go box}. They offer small trays { serving eight to 10 people) and large trays {15 to 18 people}. Similar to the in-house menu, their extensive catering list ranges from antipasti/salads, pasta, seafood, and dessert.
We recommend visiting during the week, as it tends to get packed on the weekends. They don’t take reservations so be sure to get there as early as possible. The fresh ingredients that are created with great attention to detail are unrivaled in North Bergen. This Italian food destination is an absolute must-try for anyone in Northern Jersey.
Have you been to La Trattoria La Sorrentina yet? What did you get? Let us know in the comments!
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