Basilico Celebrates 1 Year Of Serving Up Italian Cuisine In Somerset County

RARITAN, NJ — It's been just about one year since Hillsborough couple Joe Trani and Kari LaSpisa brought their authentic and delicious Italian cuisine to Raritan with their restaurant Basilico.

"Honestly it has been better than we could've ever imagined," said LaSpisa of their first year in business.

LaSpisa will celebrate its one-year anniversary on June 1 at 46 W Somerset St. in Raritan.

"We believed this town could check all the boxes for us," said LaSpisa. "It is a small, walking-sort-of-town, on the main drag. It was close to home and our space is small and intimate, which gives Joey the ability to cook the kind of food he wants to cook."

Trani — from the island of Ischia located off the coast of Naples, Italy — cooks from his heart. His dishes are authentic and mainly derived from his hometown roots of Ischia with some American-Italian influence.

"We are really happy people are accepting of his menu being unique and that they are open to trying a different sort of Italian food," said LaSpisa. "It makes it rewarding to have people say they never had this or never tried anything like this."

The menu rotates seasonally while keeping some of the staples such as Ai Funghi made with fresh mafalde pasta, marsala cream sauce, crumbled sausage, mushrooms, burrata, and parmigiano Reggiano.

For example, they took off their Ragu with Stew Meat when spring came and added Ischia made with rigatoni, jumbo shrimp, zucchini, and a cherry tomato sauce.

Trani will soon be launching his summer menu which will feature different bruschettas including a Pistachio Toast.

The menu also features specials on the weekends for the most part such as fried zucchini flowers.

LaSpisa says they have no plans to expand or find a larger space as it "would really change the way we are able to do things."

Trani is the only chef and cooks every dish as it is ordered.

"If we get bigger we don't have the ability to keep that level of quality, where you can just have every dish made just for you," said LaSpisa. "If you want Joey to cook your food, we need to stay small... That's it. We are a one-man show."

Basilico did make one addition with their retail place.

"We are now selling a lot of products we use, like our balsamic glaze, olive oil, dessert cream spread," said LaSpisa.

Limited outdoor dining has also re-opened for the season.

Basilico is open Tuesday through Thursday for dinner only and lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday.

They also offer pick-up and delivery through Grubhub.

"We are very happy with how the first year has gone," said LaSpisa. "We are just going to keep up with what we are doing."

For more information on Basilico visit basilicoitaliankitchen.com or facebook.com/basilicoitalianrestaurant.

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