If you're a fan of Italian food who lives in North Jersey, there's a good chance the Mandara family name rings a bell. Bergen and Rockland County foodies have been familiar with Michael and Mena Mandara for years. The wife-and-husband pair – who work alongside their daughters, Deeana and Natalie – are the owners of Pizzeria Mandara and Posa Posa, which they proudly declare to be "family friendly" glimpses into the cultural cuisine of Southern Italy.

Now the Mandaras are bringing their time-tested recipes to Essex County with a new restaurant in West Caldwell. The family's newest venture, Mandara Ristorante and Pizzeria, is slated to open Feb. 1, 2019 at 40 Clinton Road in West Caldwell. The new restaurant will be the family's 11th; they've been in the food business for more than 60 years.