A new Italian restaurant will open in downtown Morristown this week, promising house-made pastas and contemporary cuisine.
Cotto, which translates to “cooked” in Italian, is located at 90 South Street near the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
The new Morristown restaurant is part of the Stirling Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind the Stirling Tavern and the Dublin Pub in Morristown, as well as the Stirling Hotel in Stirling.
The Dublin Pub is across the street from Cotto.
Owners John and Christy Baldassarre are partnering with Altin Zhuleku, the group’s director of operations, and Brandon Campney, its culinary director, on the venture.
Executive Chef Jordan Petriello will lead the kitchen. He most recently served as executive chef at Il Nido in Marlboro, where his Italian dishes drew praise from podcast host Joe Rogan.
Petriello has worked at several Michelin-starred New York City restaurants, including Rezdôra, and was part of the opening team at Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen in Morristown.
Executive Chef Jordan Petriello will lead the kitchen at Cotto. He most recently served as executive chef at Il Nido in Marlboro.Stirling Restaurant Group
The menu will feature house-made pastas, seasonal antipasti and “thoughtful, ingredient-driven dishes that celebrate the richness and diversity of Italian culinary traditions,” according to the owners.
Cotto’s culinary identity is defined by a refined and innovative approach to Italian cooking, featuring high-quality ingredients, regional specialties, and creative pairings that depart from traditional dishes, the owners said.
“We want every dish to feel both familiar and surprising — like coming home, but to a place you’ve never been,” Petriello said in a statement.
Cotto will open to the public with reservations starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Hours will be Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9:45 p.m. and Sunday 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations are available on Resy.
Next year, the restaurant plans to open for lunch with a separate menu.
Dining and Cooking