For six years, Mangia Toscano has been a cornerstone of the Metuchen dining scene, offering traditional Tuscan fare devoid of the Italian-American eats that permeate many New Jersey restaurants.
And now, co-owners and Florence, Italy, natives Alberto Buglione and Ivan Guarducci are taking their culinary prowess across Middlesex County.
In February, the men will open Casa Ragazzi, a modern Italian restaurant featuring handmade pastas and a full bar, at 378 George St. in New Brunswick, the former home of The Brunch Club.
“Our philosophy is rooted in a deep respect for tradition while embracing innovation, creating dishes that honor Italy’s culinary heritage while introducing contemporary techniques and flavor pairings,” said Buglione, who is also the executive chef at Mangia Toscano and Casa Ragazzi. Guarducci is the general manager of both restaurants.
Fare to be served at Casa Ragazzi.
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Buglione and Guarducci are partnering with Sam Vinci, the owner of Vinci Contracting, a commercial contracting company that has built Strickland Steakhouse and Mangia Toscano, among other restaurants.
Casa Ragazzi dishes may include pork loin cooked sous vide for eight hours and served with lentil purée, caramelized apples and a reduction sauce; and pan-seared swordfish with parsley and caper relish, spinach purée infused with brown butter and crispy onions.
“While Mangia Toscano offers more traditional cuisine, we will be able to play around a little bit more and express ourselves at Casa Ragazzi,” Buglione said.
Fare to be served at Casa Ragazzi.
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That expression will continue onto the bar at Casa Ragazzi, a welcome change for Buglione and Guarducci, whose Metuchen restaurant is BYOB. The new eatery will offer Italian wines and cocktails, as well as American cocktails with Italian twists.
Fare will be served in a more modern and elevated space than Mangia Toscano, Buglione said. Casa Ragazzi’s 60 seats, seven-seat bar and private dining room will be surrounded by furniture imported from Italy. The restaurant’s name means “house of friends” in Italian.
“At Casa Ragazzi, it’s all about feeling at home while experiencing something special,” Buglione said.
Buglione and Guarducci took over Mangia Toscano in 2019 from Buglione’s aunt, who opened it in 2016 as an Italian deli. The two spent years transforming it into a chic Italian restaurant — and now they hope to continue their restaurant legacy in a bigger city.
“Since the first time I came to New Jersey, I always liked the vibe of New Brunswick,” said Buglione. “It has so many nice restaurants, and we want to keep improving ourselves.”
Go: 378 George St., New Brunswick; opening in February.
Jenna Intersimone.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she’s a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Mangia Toscano owners to open New Brunswick Italian restaurant