We’re big fans of a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Between the limited-but-exquisite menu, the intimate atmosphere, and the like-home vibes, Bivio Pizza Napoletana truly checked off all these boxes before the announcement of its closure back in September 2022. Lucky for Montclair area residents, those who have not had the chance to try out Bivio Pizza Napoletana (or those who are missing the food here) will now be able to indulge in the restaurant’s Italian eats once again. Over a year after its initial closure, this beloved local pizza spot is reopening in MTC with a new owner this weekend — everything else will mostly stay the same with the exception of some new menu items. Read on to learn what we know about Bivio Pizza Napoletana reopening at 107 Pine Street in Montclair, plus more from our chat with the previous owners in 2022.
The Reopening
On January 3rd, @biviopizzanapoletana shared its first post on its new Instagram, hinting at a reopening by saying:
“In progress… we’ve been working to welcome you all to the new Bivio Pizza Napoletana
#staytuned
#softopening
#comingsoon
#biviopizzanapoletana
#montclairnj”
On January 5th, the spot posted more updates and shared photos of the updated space, see the full post below:
View this post on Instagram
Two days ago, Bivio Pizza Napoletana officially announced its reopening date. The spot will host its soft opening this weekend on Friday, January 19th, and Saturday, January 20th (which is already fully-booked, per Bivio’s Instagram story).
The restaurant shared with The Montclair Girl that everything is very much the same at Bivio Pizza Napoletana, but it is under new ownership. David Cafasso is the new owner. They also said that there will be some new menu items, and we will share what those are as soon as we find out.
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The September 2022 Closure
On the morning of September 19th, 2022 Bivio posted on Instagram saying that it had officially closed for good as of September 17th.
View this post on Instagram
“Ciao a tutti, The time has come… After nearly five years of offering true pizza Napoletana in Montclair, Bivio will be closing our doors as of September 17, 2022,” the post reads.
“Bivio has been a wonderful journey for Jackie and me. Our vision of opening a small authentic pizzeria in June 2011 has exceeded all of our hopes and dreams,” the post continues. “It has been our pleasure to serve our guests/friends with the best quality ingredients available to offer a true pizza Napoletana. We thank all of you for your support and you will always remain special to us. A huge shout out of thanks to our wonderful staff who made the dream possible and were always there for us, you are truly family. Finally, we’d like to thank all the food writers for the articles and awards acknowledging Bivio as one of the best pizza Napoletana in the area.”
The team signed off with one final goodbye. “Jackie and I have now reached a crossroad (un bivio) and look forward to the next chapter, another journey perhaps. This has been a bittersweet decision, much like a Napoletana espresso, bitter until tasting the sweetness of the unstirred sugar at the bottom of the demi tasse, like life – And so it goes… Grazie mille e tante auguri !! Tommaso , Jackie and la bambina (our natural yeast).”
The Backstory
Bivio Pizza Napoletana was previously owned by 30-year-long Montclair resident Tommaso Colao and his wife Jackie. “My family is from around Naples, and my mother and grandmother were great cooks,” Tommaso told The Montclair Girl a few years back. “I grew up in a very Italian home where my mother and grandmother would make bread, desserts, pastas — I mean everything! It’s just the way it was in my family.”
Though Tommaso is now an excellent chef, that wasn’t always his choice of career. Up until 2011, before opening the restaurant, he was actually a musician — and the two professions, according to Tommaso, aren’t dissimilar.
“[Cooking] is like playing music,” Tommaso said. “You got the heat from the fire, the colors from the flames, the rhythm of putting the pizza in, turn it, get it out. It’s a connection for me. It’s an artistic endeavor and I’m passionate about it.”
Inside Bivio Pizza Napoletana
The former Bivio Pizza Napoletana had a cozy atmosphere that immediately gave sensation of being at home. We expect the re-opened Bivio to be just as welcoming.
Near the wood-fired brick oven — which is successful at keeping the entire restaurant warm — diners could see Tommaso rolling out dough and preparing each pizza himself. The menu was brought over on an easel where the waiter or waitress describes the in-house ingredients as well as the homemade bread and dough. The restaurant only sat 24 — and when we dropped by in 2022, every table was full. The ambiance was romantic and intimate, immediately transporting visitors to small-town Italy with Pine Street providing the perfect backdrop.
The Pizza
Formerly, there were five pizzas and two appetizers on the menu with an addition of specials each night. New ownership assured MG that the menu would largely remain the same (and use the same dough), with the addition of a few new items. In 2021, Tommaso’s personal recommendation was the Margherita — which, of course, we had to sample. Each pizza was small enough to eat personally, or you could order several to share. The pizza baked for only roughly 60 seconds in Bivio’s brick oven before is is brought to the table.
Tommaso told MG that he spent years developing his flavor profile; and it showed. There really is a beautiful simplicity of ingredients that makes each bite delightful, fresh, and delicate. We’re so excited for this local gem to re-enter the Montclair dining scene.
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