Tuscany Restaurant Opens Today On Valley Road

At 4 p.m. today, Tuscany, an Italian restaurant specializing in cannelloni, tortelloni, and other pastas, will celebrate its grand opening at 622 Valley Road in Upper Montclair.

earlier this year that the restaurant would be opening in the space formerly occupied by Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

"I'm a true, real Italian and not a want-to-be Italian," said owner Valter Cianni, adding that his food also is "real Italian."

As he put the finishing touches on his restaurant Monday, Cianni showed off a menu that includes Lasagnette Toscana—handmade square pasta, with fresh plum tomatoes, thinly sliced eggplant, fresh mozzarella, pecorino, and a splash of pesto—for $12 as well as Bistecca Fiorentina—aged 17-ounce Prime New York Shell Steak, broiled and topped with a butter garlic sauce and a sprinkle of pecorino—for $39.

There's also a variety of seafood including Gamberoni al Vino Bianco—jumbo shrimp, lightly battered and sauteed with lemon, white wine, over wilted spinach—for $26.

Primi Piattis, or first courses, include Cannelloni—tubular pasta studded with braised short ribs, parmigiano reggiano, and spinach, in a light Cognac cream sauce—for $22.

Having moved to the United States from southern Italy in 1980, Cianni is no stranger to the restaurant business. He owns Tuscany Bistro in Tappan, New York and Cafe La Mer in Naples, Florida. He also owned another restaurant called Tuscany Trattoria for 18 years in Westwood, New Jersey before closing it in 2010.

At the new Tuscany in Upper Montclair, Cianni said he'll serve homemade pastas—gnocchi, fettuccine, pappardelle, and more—plus a variety of steaks and seafood, and a tiramisu prepared without eggs—using cannoli cream, mascarpone, chocolate, and whipped cream.

He said the BYOB restaurant, decorated with paintings showing off Tuscan landscapes, will be open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, starting today, May 22.

No doubt people in Upper Montclair will be thrilled that something is finally opening in the spot just a few doors down from Williams-Sonoma.

The Arlington, Va.-based chain Five Guys had opened there in November 2010 following a long 18-month wait. But then the popular burger joint disappeared without a trace the end of November 2011. 

So will you try Tuscany? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.