The man behind PBS's "Eat! Drink! Italy! with Vic Rallo" wanted to bring something new and different to Staten Island -- an eatery that cooks all its food over a wood-fired hearth. Victor Rallo, a well-known New Jersey restaurateur, said he will open Surf Restaurant in Urby -- the 900-unit development on Stapleton's waterfront -- by next month.

"This is a new play on American cuisine, using all fire. It's the most ancient way of cooking, and I think it's becoming popular again. All kinds of food tastes great cooked over live fire," said Rallo. The 9,000-square-foot, two-story eatery will have seating for 200 people and panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, Downtown Manhattan and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.