Business & Tech

Morris Plains Couple Brings Taste of Italy to Tabor Rd.

Deli and restaurant features a variety of seafood, pasta, salads, sandwiches and meat entrees.

A Morris Plains couple recently opened the newest Italian deli and restaurant on Tabor Road.

Al and Melinda Imperati had the grand opening of Giabella's Salumeria & Cucina on Sunday, June 3 and have already seen many satisfied customers come in to their new restaurant.

"It's been good, getting a lot of positive feedback from the community," Melinda Imperati said. "Little by little each week sales are picking up."

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This Italian deli and restaurant located on 981 Tabor Road, is right off Route 53, near and less than a mile from the Mt. Tabor Train Station.

It features a wide variety of Italian food items such as speciality sandwiches, pasta and chicken entrees. The deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers deliveries, takeout and catering.

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Imperati said one of the most popular items has been the Giabella sandwich, one of their 20 speciality sandwiches.

The Giabella sandwich features prosciutto, fried eggplant, fresh basil, picante provolone, homemade roasted red peppers and balsamic vinaigrette.

Imperati said a lot of their dishes incorporate their homemade mozzarella, which is included in many of their entrees, pasta dishes and sandwiches.

Some of the pasta is even homemade at Giabella's Salumeria & Cucina. The deli's chief, Marcell Veiga, makes his own Ricotta Gnocchi in the Siciliana pasta dish. The dish contains roasted eggplant, fresh tomato, basil, mushrooms and garlic baked with mozzarella cheese and oreganata.

Customers can also enjoy a variety of appetizers such as homemade bocconcini balls, clams, muscles and calamari. The restaurant has signature burgers both with applewood smoked bacon and smoked cheddar or mozzarella cheese.

A kids menu is also offered with chicken fingers, ravioli, macaroni and cheese, and hamburgers, all items at a cost for less than $6.

The inspiration of the deli's name comes from the combination of the Imperati's three childrens' names—Isabella, 9, Giana, 5, and AJ, 6.

Italian delis aren't new to the Imperatis; they owned one in Westchester, N.Y. more than a decade ago when they first got married and lived in the area. Since then, both Al and Melinda took different career paths and moved to New Jersey to raise their children.

But several years ago, Al Imperati took the opportunity to get back in the restaurant business after the economy turned and he no longer worked as a salesperson for a tile marble company.

"He's always wanted to get back to owning a deli, so an opportunity opened here so we decided to jump on it," Melinda Imperati said.

Melinda Imperati said the most exciting thing for them about their grand opening is "to be able to give to the community a local deli and to be able to offer fresh food."

Imperati noted the lack of Italian delis around the area, and said this location is convenient for residents, with its close proximity to other local businesses.

Imperati said she and her husband are looking to add pizza to the menu, as well as some ice cream on their dessert menu. They currently have other dessert specialities such as their award-winning berry baci that includes a fresh baked phyillo dough cup filled with homemade canoli cream with mixed berry reduction and fresh whipped cream.

The deli and restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.


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