WESTFIELD, NJ — A popular Italian restaurant down the Shore is expanding to Westfield.
Cafe Isola will be opening in the former Feast Catering at 27 Elm St. in Westfield.
Pat Luisi with the restaurant said they are planning to open in April. They opened their current location in Long Beach Island during the summer of 2023.
“Our customers are from the Central and North Jersey, Philly area. And they would constantly tell us that they would love to have a restaurant locally, outside the summer time,” said Luisi to Patch. “And we have a lot, really a lot of Westfield customers. So we found a great opportunity right on Elm Street, and are opening Isola Italian Trattoria.”
The Westfield location has been totally remodeled.
“It’s got a real kind of almost like a Tuscan vibe. The food will be as good as we have down in Long Beach Island. All the pastas are made fresh,” said Luisi.
Additionally, Luisi said their Executive Chef Ermeliner Firmani at the Long Beach Island location will be coming up to Westfield. Firmani, who is from Italy and has owned multiple restaurants in the past, is creating the menu for Westfield.
“We are going to have a mozzarella bar and we’re gonna make all the fresh pasta in the front, and this station is going to have different types of vegetables,” said Firmani.
The menu will also rotate seasonally.
“We’re gonna go rotate it two or three times a year. We will do a winter menu, a full menu and a spring menu,” said Firmani.
All of the food is going to be sourced locally, Italian products will be imported, and the meats will be organic and fresh, such as the chicken that will come directly from Dutch Country.
“It’s going to be real Italian food with a contemporary twist,” said Firmani. “I am going to give it a contemporary spin. It’s not something you will find out here.”
Mayor Shelley Brindle previously noted at the Feb. 25 Council meeting that Cafe Isola “has a huge following.”
For more information, visit isolawestfield.com or instagram.com/isolalbi.