Press & Reviews

They Have It All

Get to know Jo Jo's Italian Grille in Pleasantville

By Sandy Posnak

We went to Jo Jo's Italian Grille for a nice, relaxed dinner. By evening's end, we had that plus some great extras that are gifted to customers, compliments of Jo Jo's general managers Anthony and Joe Giaccone, the sons of proprietors Antonino, Sr. and Rita Giaccone. The first of these was a basket filled with warm slices of Italian bread, crispy focaccia (both plain and seeded) and a ramekin of fresh vegetables immersed in a tangy, white cream sauce. This was a nice way to kick off our meals while perusing the Pleasantville restaurant's extensive menu.

Another unexpected pleasure occurred when two instrumentalists/vocalists, Bruce on accordion, and Al playing guitar and trumpet, strolled from room to room serenading diners with tunes ranging from "I'm in the Mood for Love" to the Eagles' "Hotel California." This added a festive touch to the occasion, and before long many diners were singing along with the musicians.

Jo Jo's has been a Pleasantville favorite since 1970 when Antonino, Sr. and Rita opened the first Jo Jo's just four years after they came to the United States from Italy. Their mom-and-pop operation was located just a hop, skip and a jump from the restaurant's current location. Customers from Margate, Ventnor, Atlantic City and Pleasantville came to the tiny place to eat the couple's fresh pizza, homemade pasta and subs. By 1982, increased business necessitated a move to Jo Jo's current, much larger location. It became an American dream come true for Rita and Antonino. An expanded, more complete menu was also introduced at that time.

Anthony, Jr. and Joe were youngsters when they joined the family business. Although they're now involved in all aspects of the restaurant, they still find time to turn out some darn good pizza from the wood-fired brick oven that was constructed about four and a half years ago when Jo Jo's received major renovations. It now boasts three attractive dining rooms, including one that resembles an outdoor Italian piazza.

The Giaccones and their culinary team have created an inspiring menu that blends time-honored Old World Italian favorites with au courant offerings. Among the wide range of appetizer and soup choices are steamed little neck clams, fried calamari friti served with spicy marinara, sautéed jumbo lump crab cake, spinach and artichokes sautéed with garlic, buffalo wings, New England clam chowder, chicken escarole soup and pasta y fagiole. Meal beginnings range in price from $1.25-11.95.

Among the menu's entrées are dozens of pasta dishes, including pasta with meat sauce, pasta primavera, penne marinara with jumbo lump crabmeat, shrimp and scallops paisano served with pasta, stuffed shells, and lasagna. Other entrées include veal saltimbocca, veal piccata, flounder parmigiana, swordfish Siciliano, wood-fired salmon topped with four cheese sauce, shrimp and broccoli Alfredo, char-grilled New York sirloin, slow roasted prime rib, blackened chicken, and chicken Italiano prepared with breast of chicken sautéed with tomato, onion, spinach, garlic and olive oil and served over penne pasta. Entrées are priced from $7.95 for pasta with tomato sauce to $28.95 for a char-grilled veal chop. Most entrées include a choice of soup or salad. But hey, if you had a late lunch, or a big meal just isn't your thing on a given night, then you can chow down on a traditional hand-tossed pizza, a wrap, a sub, a salad or an antipasto.

There are more than 200 menu items in addition to Jo Jo's daily specials, so after digesting the menu, my husband and I had some serious decision making ahead of us. It only took moments for us to agree to share an eggplant rollatini appetizer ($6.95). This consisted of grilled eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with fresh tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. The ricotta cheese imparted a mild, sweet flavor to the rollatini; I loved it.

Dan gave some thought to ordering a wood-fired brick oven pizza ($7-$10) and he also contemplated getting the chicken piccata ($15.95), but finally decided in favor of the veal francaise ($18.95), one of his longtime favorites. The dish's milk-fed veal medallions were prepared francaise style with fresh mushrooms, white wine sauce and a smidgeon of lemon flavor. The generous portion of tender medallions was presented atop an equally liberal serving of angel hair pasta. Dan said that the dish had a very pleasing flavor.

My broiled seafood combination ($22.95) fell into the "just OK" category. The flounder was satisfactory but the scallops were bland and the four large shrimp were not firm (one was actually powdery). The entrée's most redeeming factor was the side of penne topped with a yummy tomato sauce.

Even if you think that you can't consume another morsel of food, do yourself a favor and order a piece of the creamiest, most delicious ricotta cheesecake ($4.25) this side of the moon. It's homemade by Joe's wife, Dawn, and provided the perfect final touch to our meals.

Also most gratifying was the excellent, professional service we received throughout the meal by both Kevin, our server, and a very attentive bus person.

Jo Jo's Italian Grille, at the corner of Black Horse Pike & Main Street in Pleasantville, features Italian specialties, seafood, steaks, pizza and more. Daily lunch & dinner specials; children's menu; strolling musicians on Saturday evenings. Also, bar & lounge, banquet facility; takeout and delivery, catering. Open daily from 11am to 11pm. Phone 646-8332.

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