by Phil Nerges

From the outside, I thought Federici's South looked like most other strip-mall pizzerias. Inside, I found something different. I entered to find comfortable, diner-style booths in one room, and in the back, a larger room with tables and casual décor. I sensed a different atmosphere, different from the rock-hard seating in fast food restaurants or predictably decorated franchise restaurants. It reminded me of how restaurants used to be.

"This is a family restaurant," said owner Pat Hansen, before referring to it as an Italian restaurant. "I know 90 percent of my customers". Hansen said he and his wife, Margee Federici-Hansen, opened the place in 1984 after learning their trade from Margee's father, Frank "Spat" Federici, at his restaurant, Federici's Family Italian Restaurant on East Main Street in Freehold.

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Source: http://www.app.com/