It is always exciting to see local chefs and restaurants on television, and this week, three were given air time.
One was praised by a legendary New Jersey rocker, another wowed a late-night host with its cheesesteak, and the third made a return to the Food Network.
Here are the details.
Undici in Rumson gets Bon Jovi nod
Owner Victor Rallo is pictured with brick oven pizza at his Rumson restaurant, Undici, in 2010.
Victor Rallo’s Italian restaurant, Undici, got a shoutout from Jon Bon Jovi, who shared his love of the eatery on the weekly Netflix video podcast “We’re Back! With Brian Williams.”
The program features Williams, a New Jersey native who spent some of his childhood years in Middletown, “in wide-ranging conversation with some of the most interesting figures shaping popular culture today,” according to Netflix.
On a recent episode, he asked the rocker to name the best Italian restaurant in Central Jersey
“The best restaurant in Central New Jersey is a place called Undici,” Bon Jovi said. “The man who opened it, the reason he opened it is he was looking for true fine dining in a place where he could go and get a table. So he opened his own restaurant, and thank God he did.”
Williams also gave a shoutout to Freehold Township ice cream shop and restaurant, Jersey Freeze, where Bon Jovi has been spotted with Bruce Springsteen.
Go: Undici, 11 West River Road, Rumson; 732-842 3880, undicirestaurant.com
Dining news: Restaurateur to bring Italian-style cafe Rallo to ‘gateway’ of Red Bank
G’s Cheeseteaks of Toms River on ‘Tonight Show’
A New York City-born cheesesteak shop with a Jersey Shore connection was featured on the Nov. 9 episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Derek Booras, Jack Pisano and Antonio Locke of G’s Cheesesteaks in front of their truck, as seen on season 18 of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.”
Guest Pete Davidson, an actor and comedian know from his time on “Saturday Night Live,” shared that he recently invested in G’s Cheesesteaks, which has a restaurant in Toms River. Owners Jack Pisano, Derek Booras and Antonio Locke were in the audience.
“These guys that I went to high school with in Staten Island … have a place directly across from (Madison Square Garden), and the cheesesteaks are phenomenal” Davidson said. “And I was like hey, can I get in on this?”
Davidson brought cheesesteaks for Fallon and his band, The Roots, to try.
“Unbelievable,” Fallon said after taking a bite of a cheesesteak. “I love it.”
Go: 1611 Route 37, Toms River; 973-741-0090, gscheesesteaks.com
Former Shore chef Britt Rescigno back on Food Network
Chef Britt Rescigno is pictured on the first season of Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas,” which aired in 2025.
Britt Rescigno, a New Jersey native who gained a following on Long Beach Island before opening a restaurant out west, is competing on Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas.” The show’s second season, which premiered Nov. 8, airs at 8 p.m. Sundays.
Rescigno is paired with pastry chef Ashley Holt for the competition, which pits 16 two-person teams of chefs who are competing for $100,000, plus money for charity.
Rescigno, who got her start in the culinary world at her family’s New Gretna restaurant, Allen’s Clam Bar, has appeared on four seasons of “Tournament of Champions,” as well as the holiday version of the show and “Beat Bobby Flay,” “Chopped,” “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Alex vs. America.”
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to her weekly newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jon Bon Jovi names his favorite Italian restaurant in NJ. Here’s where it is
Dining and Cooking