Top left: Albivi owner Vincenzo Castronovo makes sure all of the tables in the new dining room are set for the arrival of patrons on Jan. 26. Above: The new reservation-only room seats approximately 60 and can be rented for parties and other special events. Left: Castronovo gestures toward old family photographs that his wife, Daniela, incorporated into the décor of the new dining room. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff New menu includes traditional Sicilian dishes E xperience the elegant side of
Albivi.
A portion of the Italian restaurant known for its Old World charm has been renovated to offer a new reservation-only banquet room finished with stone walls, rustic beams, chandeliers and a fireplace among other adornments such as floral arrangements and handpainted woodwork.
Millstone’s Castronovo family opened the Tuscany-style eatery in 2006 after years of operating Vinnie’s Lakeside Gourmet deli in the turn-of-the-century building at 866 Perrineville Road. The family also had a boutique there, but when a fire claimed it in 2008, they decided to create more dining space instead of rebuilding.
“There’s always a wait on weekends,” owner Vincenzo Castronovo said.
“We’re very excited to offer the new room. We’re already all booked up with reservations for this weekend,” he said earlier in the week.
The roomhas seating for approximately 60 people, and Albivi can now host parties and special events such as showers and communion celebrations, according to Castronovo.
Castronovo’s wife, Daniela, designed and decorated the new dining room, surprising her husband with black and white photographs of his parents, Francesco and Dorothea, along some of the walls. His father passed away a couple of years ago, and the photos remind Castronovo of how his family came to the United States from Sicily.
“My mother wanted to be by her brother, and my father brought her here on their honeymoon,” he said. “They never went back.”
The Castronovos pay homage to their ancestry through Albivi, which offers fresh baked bread, brick oven pizza, homemade pasta and traditional dishes in an oldcountry setting with brick walls, tiled floors and warm lighting.
Last month the restaurant changed its menu to offer more Sicilian classics, such as pasta con Le Sardi, which is a meal of fresh sardines, wild fennel, pignoli nuts, raisins, onions, Italian plum tomatoes and breadcrumbs over bucatini pasta. The new Real Sicilian pizza has thick crust topped with caciocavallo cheese, sautéed onions, fresh tomato sauce, a hint of anchovies, pecorino Romano cheese, breadcrumbs and oregano.
The restaurant has also introduced “Express Lunch” and “Meals to Go.” Express lunches and homemade meals are prepared daily, giving patrons the option of choosing two items for $6.99 from a menu of panini sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza.
For those who like to relax and dine, the restaurant continues to offer waiter service in the casual dining room during lunch and dinner hours. Albivi, which also provides off-premises catering, is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Valet parking is available on the weekends. Patrons can bring their own liquor to the premises. Outdoor seating and live entertainment are provided on the patio when weather permits.
To find out more about hosting a gathering or making dinner reservations for the new dining room, callAlbivi at 732-446-1085 or visit albivi.com for more information.