Cike many a pizza pie, life has a way of coming full circle. Just ask Joe Condito, co-owner of the new Avenue Pizza restaurant in Bloomfield. As a teenager, he worked at a pizzeria in the exact location his pizza shop now stands 10 years later. With signature pies and an Italian American menu of modern favorites, he plans to stay where he is this time.
Joe – a military veteran – was born and raised in Bloomfield, and has always wanted to open his own business. “Having a business in the town that I grew up in seemed like a great idea,” he says. Now open, Avenue Pizza boasts a “modern, rustic look” and seats 24 guests indoors. However, during warmer weather, the restaurant offers sidewalk tables for outdoor dining.
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What’s on the Menu
Popular Italian American dishes at Avenue Pizza include the chicken cheesesteak sub, which is also Joe’s favorite; as well as penne vodka with chicken and the fan favorite wings in a variety of sauce options. (Wing sauces include buffalo mild, honey BBQ, Thai chili, and garlic.
Of course, pizza flies off the shelves here. The most popular are Chicken bacon ranch (mozzarella cheese, bacon, chicken, and ranch dressing) and the penne vodka pie. “We’re constantly coming up with different pizza ideas,” Joe says. By “we,” he means his fellow co-owner – and longtime friend – Tommy Accomando. Tommy is also the cook, who creates dishes using his family recipes. Angel Mercado is also a partner at Avenue Pizza.
The Munchie Menu
One part of the Avenue Pizza menu that stands out is the rotating Munchie Menu. This is where patrons will find delights such as cheesesteak egg rolls and apple pie empanadas; in addition to deep-fried cookie dough egg rolls (melted cookie dough in an egg roll and deep fried). But the biggest hit by far are the air-fried double-stuffed Oreos.
“We wanted to do something different,” Joe says about the Munchie Menu. For example, the “Box O’ Fries” is a pizza box full of french fries topped with BBQ chicken, buffalo chicken, chicken cheesesteak, and cheesy fries. “This menu gives us some flexibility to come up with crazy and fun ideas for people to try and enjoy.”
Visit Avenue Pizza at 32 Bloomfield Ave in Bloomfield. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Avenue Pizza