Viggiano's on Sunset

Where Is It? In the colorful stretch of buildings on Sunset Boulevard, across from Exit Zero Filling Station.

Why Should I Go? The food at this BYO will transport you to southern Italy. It’s that authentic. Viggiano’s was an instant hit after opening in the summer of 2019 — New Jersey Monthly named it one of the state’s 30 Best New Restaurants.

Owner/chef Mark Viggiano is the son of first-generation Italians — his grandparents came to America in the late 1800s, bringing with them the recipes of Bel Paese, aka the beautiful country. The best childhood memories of Mark and his 10 siblings center around memorable family dinners.

Mark and his wife Lisa, a registered nurse, already operate the original Viggiano’s, an acclaimed spot in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. In the Cape May kitchen, the concept thankfully remains the same: family-style service and food made from scratch, using fresh ingredients sourced as locally as possible. The menu items, though they may look familiar, won’t taste like the Americanized take on Italian food you’ve likely encountered before. “We pride ourselves on our chicken parm,” Mark says. “It sounds simple, but we do it to order so it’s as fresh as possible, with the perfect amount of crunch.”

But it’s not just the food that’s been given the caring attention of the owner, it’s the space. The vibe is old-world Italian, meaning plenty of stone and tile, all laid by Mark and a friend.

From start to finish, this restaurant experience has been curated by the Viggiano family. The cherry on top of the sundae? Or, should we say, the powdered sugar on top of the cannoli? There’s plenty of free parking, which makes it that much easier to buon appetito.

Insider Tip: You have the option of two entrée sizes: piccolo (feeds one to two) or grande (feeds three to four).

Website: viggianosbyob.com

Phone: 609-435-5026

Address: 109 Sunset Boulevard, West Cape May