BY JAY BODAS
Staff Writer
JAY BODAS Marianna’s Market Place, Metuchen, offers breakfast daily along with imported Italian specialty groceries, as well as an International Cheese Shoppe representing 10 countries from around the world. METUCHEN –– The menu at Marianna’s Gourmet Table has grown over the past few months.
The shop, at the intersection of Main and New streets, has expanded its offerings to include a number of entrees, said part-owner Eric Berger.
“The emphasis is on the Mediterranean region, including Italy, France, Turkey and the Middle East,” he said. “When the restaurant was opened last November we just did tapas, but now we also do entrees along with about 20 tapas. You can order a lot of different items of food which you can pass around and share.”
The tapas range from lobster and crab to a chorizo sausage dish along with a variety of vegetarian items such as the tortilla espanola, a potato and egg omelet.
The entrees include a variety of seafood and other meat dishes, with a few vegetarian items. The restaurant in the back is elegantly decorated, with seating available on an indoor patio by the windows.
John Risley, another part-owner, brings 28 years of experience to the table.
“I have been in the business since I was 17 years old, when I started working at a Wendy’s in the Woodbridge Mall while still in college, of which I later became general manager,” Risley said. “The company that owned it eventually grew to become the third largest Wendy’s franchise in the country, with more than 1,100 employees. For 11 years I was a vice president in the company.”
He later owned the North Star Café in New Brunswick before he sold it last January. He met Berger in April through a mutual friend and came on board as part-owner in May. He brought along his chef, Ivan Contreras-Diaz.
A third owner is Chris Lotito, who owns a cheese company, Lotito Foods, Inc., based in Edison.
In addition to the restaurant, Marianna’s Main Street side opens to a deli that welcomes morning visitors for breakfast and carries imported Italian specialty groceries. The restaurant also offers gift baskets which are shipped worldwide. and catering to locations within an hour’s drive.
“We do in-house catering for the home or office, where we will cater lunch and dinner, as well as for weddings, where we will do everything, ranging from the hors d’oeuvres and carving station all the way to the main course,” Risley said. “We have the ability to deliver off-premises in a van and can provide the tablecloth, napkins and silverware. Also, someone can stay to take care of the serving and cleanup, and we also have servers who can pass the starters.”
Marianna’s also opens its doors on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for wine tastings and cheese.
“It is completely free for anyone who would like to come,” Berger said.
The restaurant is associated with two New Jersey wineries, Amalthea Cellars Winery and Cream Ridge Winery.
“Normally a restaurant needs a liquor license to serve alcohol, but New Jersey allows restaurants to be licensed to serve wines from particular vineyards around the state,” Berger said. “Each such vineyard is allowed a particular number of restaurants per county to which they can distribute their wines. We sell the wine at retail prices, which is less than what restaurants typically charge. The bottles range from $7.50 to about $50.”
Patrons can also bring their own liquor as well, Berger said.
Risley is looking forward to seeing the local community in his establishment.
“There really aren’t that many real Mediterranean restaurants in the area,” he said. “We have a lot of enthusiasm for downtown since it is a great place to bring your family to have a good time.”
For more information, about Marianna’s Gourmet Table, go to www.marianna-gourmet.com or call (732) 767-0773. Reservations are recommended, but not required.