In a quiet Somerset County town, a 10,000-square-foot Italian restaurant is drawing the kind of crowd usually reserved for red carpets and private jets.
Ristorante MV, located in a restored 200-year-old stone building, has become a frequent stop for celebrities including Eli Manning, Mike Tyson, Reggie Bush, Teresa Giudice, Kevin Jonas, and Elvis Duran. Political figures such as Gov. Phil Murphy, former Gov. Chris Christie, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have also made appearances. Most visit regularly.
The restaurant’s rise comes without fanfare. There are no velvet ropes or press photos, only handmade pasta, house-churned gelato, twice-daily mozzarella, and bread baked using water engineered to match New York’s soft profile. They butcher the veal themselves and let the prosciutto age in a specially designed room, ensuring every step meets their high standards.
The interior matches the ambition. Guests dine beneath a 14-foot olive tree, surrounded by stone walls, velvet chairs and a white marble bar anchoring the room. Security staff maintain privacy during visits from high-profile patrons, allowing for a seamless experience with minimal disruption.
Ristorante MV is rooted in the vision of Pasquino and Michael Vitiello, a father and son who carry forward family recipes passed down through generations. They focus on delivering New York-style Italian food with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant’s design reflects that vision, created by top tri-state designers to feel like a home away from home.
Despite the attention, the kitchen runs without theatrics. The owners emphasize hard work and consistency, not celebrity endorsements. Many guests discover the restaurant through personal connections rather than promotional efforts.
Now in its fourth year, Ristorante MV draws both familiar faces and local regulars. On any given weeknight, longtime customers fill the tables alongside visiting celebrities, keeping the spot rooted in its community as much as it is in its growing notarity.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
- Staffhttps://thedigestonline.com/author/thedigeststaff/
- Staffhttps://thedigestonline.com/author/thedigeststaff/
- Staffhttps://thedigestonline.com/author/thedigeststaff/
- Staffhttps://thedigestonline.com/author/thedigeststaff/