Coming Tuesday, good food and friends at La Piazza

October 5
Coming Tuesday, good food and friends at La Piazza

For Jeff Piazza opening a restaurant in Jenkins Township is like a homecoming. “It’s exciting to open a small business in the same town where I played Little League,” he said on Friday while workers installed a new sign reading “La Piazza” on the front of the former Espresso Restaurant, and more recently Sunrise Diner, at 1723 River Road in Port Blanchard.

A worker in a cherry picker hangs the new sign at LaPiazza on River Road.

Manager Liz Martorana, left, and Jeff Piazza prepare for Tuesday’s 7 a.m. opening of La Piazza on river Road.

photos by jack smiles

Jeff’s business partner is his father, Augie Piazza. His manager is Liz Matorana, who is also excited to be working at a restaurant in the Pittston area once again. She was one of the owners of the landmark Tony’s Pizza in the City Line Plaza before it was sold in 2006.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the people I knew as customers at Tony’s,” she said. “I miss everyone. I hope I get that opportunity here.”

Piazza last worked at Gelpiaz where he worked six years. He also worked at K-Medici. “I learned from those guys,” he said.

Piazza said the restaurant business has changed locally over the past 10 years and he wants to fill what he sees as a new niche. “In a great market people were fine dining and enjoying it. Then the chain phase swept through and offered an okay product at reasonable prices. Now people are sick of the chain food and in trying economic times it’s time to get back to the roots of food. I feel offering a homemade quality product at a price that is affordable for a whole family and in an elegant but comfortable atmosphere is the way to go.”

Looking around at bare walls on Friday as workers scurried around, Jeff said the atmosphere, once created, will be Tuscan-influenced. The food, too, is Italian-influenced. Even the breakfast items have an Italian flair. There’s Eggs Sicilian, Italian French toast, Italian Omelet and the Classic Piazza Breakfast.

Lunch items on the extensive menu include specialty sandwiches, wraps, and salads. For dinner there’s a variety of pastas and homemade potato gnocchi and cheese and meat raviolis with a choice of sauces. There is also a “Rustic Comfort Food” section on the menu with wood-board polenta, turkey dinners and open face hot roast beef. Other dinner entrees include seafood, steaks and chops.

La Piazza expects to employ 15 local workers and Jeff said, whenever he can, he will use local vendors for products. A liquor license is coming. It may take a month to clear. In the meantime customers are free to BYOB.

La Piazza will open on Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock. “We are ready to share good food with good friends,” Jeff Piazza said. “My father Augie will always be around to ensure your dining experience will be one to remember.”