La Cucina Di Nava 

Originally opened in late 2020 and recently under new ownership (along with its sister meat restaurant, The Humble Toast), La Cucina di Nava has now been bringing cholov Yisroel “humble Italian cookery” to Teaneck for three years. The menu focuses on traditional Italian-American classics, but there are also several fun and creative dishes not typically seen in your typical Italian cucina. For example, starters include not only familiar favorites like panko-breaded Mozzarella Fritta and a balsamic glazed Bruschetta Della Casa, but also a deliciously unusual salad dubbed the Blue Pear, which features Bartlett pear, arugula, bleu cheese, and candied walnuts. Pasta lovers will find not only traditional Lasagna and Spicy Rigatoni a la Vodka, but also Truffle Mac, a sophisticated take on the humble mac & cheese that includes white truffle oil and panko.

The pizza menu at La Cucina di Nava is a lot of fun, thanks in large part to the availability of vegan “meats” like “chicken” and “sausage”. The Bufala pizza pairs the “chicken” with spicy buffalo sauce, gorgonzola cheese, pickled celery, and ranch dressing, while the Rodeo pizza features it with barbecue sauce, smoked gouda, fresh cilantro, and shaved red onions. Meanwhile, the vegan “sausage” appears in both a traditional Spicy Sausage pizza and the Philly Cheese “Steak” pie with roasted peppers, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and cheddar and smoked gouda cheeses. The classics are here as well, including the Margalita, with buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, and garlic, and the Grandpa Pie, featuring San Marzano pomodoro sauce, shredded mozzarella, and fresh roasted garlic-basil oil.

The dessert menu at Cucina di Nava is truly an all-star list of Italian dairy decadence; standouts include the Molten Lava Cake made with Belgium dark couverture chocolate and sea salt, as well as the velvety Italian-Style Creme Brûlée. The restaurant has a bevy of beverages available hot or cold as well, ranging from a classic Cappuccino to an imaginative Toffee Caramel Frappe and from a traditional Strawberry Cream milkshake to a whimsical Watermelon smoothie.

True to its tagline, this restaurant delivers Italian fare that starts with simple, humble ingredients, yet ends with truly spectacular and original flavors. Located at 192A W Englewood Avenue in Teaneck, La Cucina di Nava is 100% cholov Yisrael under the supervision of the RCBC and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. and Saturday night from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m.