NORTH JERSEY — Gia Giudice grew up on reality TV. Her mom, Teresa, was part of the original cast of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" when it premiered in 2009. Gia was 8 at the time.
It's this history of sharing her family life on screen that inspired Giudice, now 25, to name her upcoming Bergen County restaurant "Il Vero," which means truth in Italian.
She's gearing up to open the Westwood eatery on Sept. 22. In an interview with Patch, she talked about what makes the restaurant unique, why she's putting law school on hold, and her future in reality TV.
Young Star
Giudice's parents both appeared on season 1 of RHONJ, sharing blessed occasions and family drama. The couple ultimately divorced, but Gia was able to steer through choppy family waters and graduate from Rutgers in 2023.
Giudice majored in criminal justice and minored in sociology. She took internships at the Middlesex County Public Defender's Office and with immigration lawyers.
Those may seem odd choices for a reality star, but Giudice told Patch she was focused on academics while in school, and was interested in the law.
Still, she stayed connected to the reality TV universe through appearances and videos, while dating boyfriend Christian Carmichael, whom she met at a party at the Shore in 2019.
When Gia graduated, she had a choice to make: Head to law school as planned, or continue to ride the reality wave?
She studied for the LSATs and prepared to start her applications, but knew she couldn't attend graduate school and focus on her reality career.
She got a boost when she won a tough competition on the military race show "Special Forces."
"My career took a turn overnight and I started realizing the opportunity and potential," she told Patch. "I had to make a decision. I decided to take a leap for myself. I knew I couldn't do both. I said, 'You know what? I'm in my 20s. This is probably the only time I could optimize this opportunity. And I put a pause on law school...I don't think you should ever say never."
Her youthful status was also behind her recent move to Jersey City, she says, rather than suburban Morris County where she grew up, or Bergen County, where the restaurant is.
With her entrepreneur boyfriend in Manhattan, and podcast based there, she said it made sense to live in Jersey City — where she can commute quickly to the city by train and keep her car.
"Right now, I'm constantly driving," she said. "The car is something I'm definitely used to. I drive everywhere, whether it's home for Sunday dinners ... the drive and the time never stopped me. I can drive into New York City for work, and at night when the restaurant is open, I'll head over to Bergen County and split my time."
Giudice was considering both Jersey City and Hoboken, popular foodie towns with easy Big Apple commutes.
"I definitely love the area," she said. "You feel that sense of community walking around in the mornings, walking my dog, and I can hop on the PATH to get into the city."
Restaurant Experience
Il Vero will be different from most restaurants, Giudice said, because of its variety of Italian and Mediterranean dishes, and because she wants an "experience" that people return to.
She emphasized the light fare that will be offered.
The young star chose the location in Westwood because the venue's owner, Maria Sausa, was running a popular restaurant called Prohibition, but was looking for a change post-pandemic.
Prohibition had a lot to offer: two floors, a lounge, and a rooftop.
"We kind of clicked right off the bat," Giudice said, and the pair went into business.
Giucdice's mom Teresa, who has written a cookbook, is also a partner, and the menu will be guided by "Chef Paco" from Naples.
Giudice excited about several of the entrees and appetizers.
"I love the eggplant parmesan," she said. "The way the chef does it is incredible. It reminds me of how my grandparents and my mom did it, how my mom still does it. I love the fried oysters, and I was never one to say I loved a fried oyster. We'll have grilled artichokes, grilled octopus."
She added, "It's a different way of clean eating with Italian food that a lot of people are not used to. So that you don't have to leave the restaurant feeling so stuffed ... we'll have crab pasta with lemon sauce, lobster dishes, meat dishes, lamb chops."
Giudice is still ironing out some of the details, like the hours. But she has big dreams.
"It's a place where we want everyone to come for dinner and enjoy, and not leave after dinner," she said. "We are really establishing a vibe and an ambiance. The whole restaurant is about the experience. We want people to leave wanting to come back."
She expects the venue to live up to its name.
"Throughout the years of my family being known throughout New Jersey and beyond," she said, "we've always been real to ourselves and authentic as a family."
Il Vero will be located at 170 Center Ave. READ MORE: Gia Giudice Gives Tour Of New Restaurant
Watch Patch websites in Bergen County later this month for a peek inside the new venue. Want to subscribe to our free newsletter with news in Jersey City, Hoboken, or any town in Bergen County? Input your email address and town here.
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