Lucatelli’s opens in Doylestown, plus four other places for good eats new on the scene in Bucks County
Dave Schiano’s love of the business started in his dad’s pizza shop, where he helped after school most days, working alongside his big brother and the rest of their family.
At 11 years old, Schiano washed dishes, wiped down tables and answered the phones. A few years later, he worked his way into the back of the house where he learned to make the pizzas.
He watched as his dad made a pizza so good customers would come back week after week for it.
Friday nights were especially thrilling, Schiano recalled. He’d spend those busy nights peeling garlic while doing his best to keep up with the phones as they’d ring off the hook with customers’ orders. It was on those nights, when the shop would churn out 200 to 300 pizzas in just two hours, Schiano fell in love with the job.
“It was just that rush. The people standing, waiting, watching us perform. It’s the whole experience and environment and energy, it’s something that’s been built in me. Those Friday nights is what made me realize inside this could be my future. And just to see my father grow (the business) from a little house to an empire. Watching him grow from nothing, coming over to this country, and into success. He was the pizza king. And one day I hope people look back and say the same thing about me.”
Years later, Schiano has followed in his dad’s footsteps, opening up Lucatelli’s Pizzeria in Doylestown Borough. The pizza shop’s name is a play on his 7-year-old son’s name, Luca.
The Doylestown spot is Schiano’s second chance at owning a pizzeria. He originally set up shop in Philadelphia just before COVID hit, and the ripple effects of the pandemic forced him to close his doors last year. But giving his dream another go has been a blessing, he explained.
“Everything happened the way it should happen, and I feel like it’s the way it should be. Doylestown has been really good to me. Not being able to work for a year and finding a dream location and the response from this community in helping me grow is making me really fall in love with Doylestown,” said Schiano, who originally grew up in Horsham.
As Schiano’s plans for Lucatelli’s fell into place, he was encouraged by the support of his dad every step of the way. But 12 days after the pizzeria’s soft opening on Jan. 11, his father, who had been his inspiration and mentor, passed away.
“Through all his pain and everything he was cheering for me,” said Schiano.
“My father has given me all his strength and all his knowledge,” he added. “Up until he was 77 years old, he was still inside that pizza shop. He worked every day, 7 days a week. If I’m half the man my father was, I know I’m a good man.”
Using recipes passed down from his parents who both emigrated from Italy, Schiano crafted a menu that includes many classic Italian items, like stromboli and grandma pie, finetuned by his passion for creativity in the kitchen and a commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
The eggplant parmesan, Schiano said, was recreated from a recipe his mother brought over from Sicily. The pizza sauce is the same one his dad used at Maple Glen Pizza all those years.
“My father has the best sauce, so the only thing to improve upon is the crust. And it’s how I’ve taken the pizza to another level,” he said.
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A table for one: He came into her restaurant twice a day, without fail. Then, he was gone.
Schiano worked to improve the crust by using a double zero flour, rated for its finer, silky texture. He also allows the yeast starter to ferment for 72 hours, which adds more flavor. The combination of these two factors creates a lighter, airier crust that’s easier to digest, he said.
The restaurant itself, located in Mercer Square Shopping Center, has plenty of seating, surrounded by the modern Italian vibe of Vespa-inspired décor. They offer a gluten-free crust for those with dietary restrictions. And for anyone looking to end their meal on a sweet note, they currently serve up two dessert options — Nutella sticks and Italian doughnuts stuffed with cannoli cream.
Schiano hopes to carry on his dad’s legacy by creating a space where families can gather over good food, just like he remembers at his dad’s pizza shop on those busy nights peeling garlic and answering phones.
“They come to see us, so they can sit around and talk and laugh. We became a part of every household and every family, so they could be together. We need to keep creating this experience every Friday night. I just want it to live on,” said Schiano. “My inspiration is being able to share those moments and memories with people as they come together around the table.”
Go: Lucatelli’s Pizzeria, located in Mercer Square Shopping Center at 73 Old Dublin Pike in Doylestown, is open every day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 215-377-9990. https://lucatellispizzeria.godaddysites.com
Also check out these new eateries on the scene in Bucks County:
Bakery Bethlehem, Levittown
Husband and wife team, Mauricio Valencia and Marly Orjuela, natives of Colombia, moved to the U.S. last summer, bringing with them their two daughters and a shared dream of starting their own bakery.
Just this month, that dream became a reality when they opened Bakery Bethlehem, a name inspired by its Hebrew namesake meaning “House of Bread.”
At Bakery Bethlehem, you’ll find both European- and Colombian-inspired breads and pastries.
As you walk up, stop for a peek through the large window showing the bakers at work. You might catch them whipping up a batch of pandebono or almojabana, sweet and savory Colombian breads made with cheese and a tapioca starch derived from cassava.
Customer Favorites: Babka bread and cinnamon bread.
Go: Bakery Bethlehem is in Levittown Town Center at 187 N. Kenwood Dr. in Levittown, is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 267-391-6026. Website: https://www.facebook.com/BakeryBethlehem
Pot Heads Coffee House, Bensalem
Pop into Pot Heads Coffee House for one of their specialty drinks, like their latest Valentine’s special — chocolate-covered cherry latte. In the mood for a different spin on your favorite hot beverage? Give The Grandpa a try, a regular drip coffee with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream on top.
If you’re hungry, you’ll be pleased by a tempting menu that goes beyond your typical coffeehouse offerings with treats like pot pie, quiche and double chocolate French toast.
The menu also includes a vegan- and gluten-friendly banana chocolate chip muffin, and they also sell gluten-free bagels, bagel chips and pretzel bites made by The Greater Knead in Bensalem. For the most part, Pot Heads is a take-out spot, but there is very limited seating for those looking to sit and sip.
Customer favorites: Apple Cake Muffins and Caramel Latte.
Go: Pot Heads Coffee House, at 3718-B Bristol Pike in Bensalem, is open Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 215-650-4169. https://www.potheadscoffeehouse.com
Giovanni’s DILLicious Pickles, Croydon
As if hoagies couldn’t get any better — get ready to relish a new twist on your lunchtime favorite. Owners, Michael and Anthony Favoroso, have tossed out the traditional bread roll in favor of a large pickle, partially scooped out and filled with a variety of sandwich fixings. The two brothers opened Giovanni’s DILLicious Pickles in Croydon last month, creating dill-inspired treats only a true pickle fan could dream up.
Their menu includes smaller bites, like loaded fried pickles and mini dill dippers, as well as larger treats, including a variety of pickle boats and pickle dogs. Their pickle pizza is another popular item, which is made on a seasoned cauliflower crust and topped with ranch, mozzarella, pickles and dill weed.
Customer Favorites: The Giovanni, a classic Italian hoagie on a pickle; and The Big Dill, a bacon-wrapped mozzarella-stuffed deep-fried pickle topped with their signature Giovanni sauce or ranch.
Go: Giovanni's Dillicious Pickles is at 802 Bristol Pike in Croydon, and is open Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 215-458-7270 https://www.facebook.com/giovannisDILLisiouspickledeli/
Embers Smokehouse and Tap, Chalfont
Craving smoky barbecue flavors and stick to your ribs comfort food? Check out Embers Smokehouse and Tap, which opened last month in the Chalfont Village Shopping Center, thanks to owners, Alisha Riexinger and Chef Scott Borghi.
Starters like their PYP Poutine or Burnt Brisket Ends will keep your hunger at bay, while you sort through a variety of hearty entrée choices, such as the 3x3 Grilled Cheese, a combination of pork belly, Carolina pulled pork, house-smoked bacon, a panko-fried tomato and three cheese blend grilled between two slices of challah bread.
Customer Favorites: “Our” Chicken and Waffles and Embers Table, a pick-your-protein style meal.
Go: Embers Smokehouse and Tap, at 237 W. Butler Ave. in Chalfont, is open Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 267-308-8668. https://www.emberssmokehouseandtap.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: New Bucks County restaurants bring pizza to Doylestown, coffee to Bensalem and bakery to Levittown
