Here in New Jersey, it’s safe to say that Italian restaurants are one of the lifelines that hold the state together. Many of these iconic spots are family-owned small businesses, making their role even more critical to the communities in which they are located. Jimmy’s Family Kitchen, in the space formerly known as Miele’s Restaurant, located at 125 Bloomfield Avenue in Verona, seemingly checks off all of the boxes since the owners have been in the restaurant business for over the last 40 years. Keep reading to find out how its current name came to fruition and more about what makes this spot special.
It’s All in the Family
The Hill family, which owns and operates Jimmy’s Family Kitchen, has now had three generations in New Jersey. Patriarch Fred had a legendary coaching career in college football and baseball at Montclair State University for eight years and baseball at Rutgers University for almost 30 years. Jimmy, his son, played for him in college and went on to open several small businesses in the area including the Fred Hill Sports Academy, O’Neil’s Restaurant and Bar, Lakeside Deli, and Eight Hills Caterers.
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This led Jimmy and his son, Brian, to open their first restaurant as a duo; they were approached by the seller of Miele’s Restaurant last summer and were able to purchase it from him before he moved out of state. “It was very humbling, but given my father’s reputation in the food business in Verona, he picked my dad and our family as his buyers, and we graciously accepted! I have always dreamed of working with my father and being his business partner,” Brian told The Montclair Girl. “In these few short months of being open, it has been the best decision of my life.”
Jimmy’s Family Restaurant has a foundation that’s based on creating a family-friendly environment while providing a fresh and innovative dining experience. It all starts with the logo. Since the restaurant’s opening year was 2024, Jimmy and Brian were able to highlight Fred’s old jersey number, ‘24,’ in red to honor both colleges’ signature color. The brick walls accented with old-school portraits already give a modern yet homey feel to the restaurant. There are also two different seating areas to choose from: a bar area with high-top tables or a dining area. “We really pride ourselves on our family atmosphere and small-batch fresh cooking. Our goal is to be an Italian-American restaurant, not just old-school Italian,” Brian said.
What to Expect
The menu brings a lot of flavors to comfort food, as well as important messaging aligning with the Hill family’s generational values written across the top: “The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.” Appetizers are tasty enough to be a meal alone: MG highly recommends the shrimp beeps (tiny shrimp) in tomato clam sauce, the pinwheel salmon special, and its bestselling meatballs with ricotta as they melt in your mouth. Main course dishes include classics like chicken parmesan and osso buco as well as several pasta dishes and salads to choose from.
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A kid’s menu that includes chicken fingers, cheeseburger sliders, angel hair pasta with meatballs, and french fries gives something to satisfy any craving. Its menu also does a good job of reminding any customer that dessert is the most important part of the meal with tiramisu and cakes at the ready. (Literally, it’s written at the bottom!)
If there’s anything to be said about the owners of Jimmy’s Family Kitchen it’s that they care deeply about the community and respecting anyone that walks through the doors. The family doesn’t plan on franchising anytime soon but are looking forward to continuing to provide seasonal specials daily. The restaurant is open from 4:30PM–9:30PM Wednesday and Thursday; 4:30PM–10PM Friday and Saturday; and 4:30PM–9PM Sunday and Monday. It is closed on Tuesday.
