Olivella Restaurant, North Bergen

Salvatore Olivella proved his culinary chops in the pizzerias of New York, but it's at his own restaurant in New Jersey that's he's hitting new heights as a chef. Born in Naples—a.k.a. the birthplace of pizza—Olivella naturally leans toward crispy dough topped with delectable, fresh ingredients. And at Olivella's, he crafts just that, using a fire-breathing brick oven as an essential tool in the process. Selecting classic ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and housemade mozzarella, he and his team craft pizzas that uphold the traditions of his home off the coast of Italy. Likewise, he exhibits his creativity and respect for tradition with a full menu of antipasti, such as the sushi di Parma, which wraps fresh semisoft cheese in strips of prosciutto alongside pesto and arugula.