PRESS RELEASE (SHOUT 2007)

Giovanni Sanzone,who grew up cooking in his native Sicily,understands what an authentic Italian dining experience should be.

Anyone who has been to Little Italy,on Atlantic and Cresse in Wildwood Crest,knows what I mean.

As his customers pull into the ample parking outside of Little Italy,the relaxing sounds of Italian popular music fill the air.

Upon entering the restaurant,patrons are greeted with an atmosphere that is both festive and elegant. It is obvious that,in truly Italian fashion,a great amount of attention to detail went into the decoration of Little Italy.

The walls are fashioned to represent different Italian scenes-a fish market,a vegetable stand and a peek into the windows of an Italian restaurant,where people are laughing,eating,and enjoying themselves.

Bottles of oil line the walls with stone and tile surfaces in places. Each area of the dining room has a unique feel. In the center is a tree accented by the warm lighting which shines down from the blue ceiling.

Giovanni Sanzone and sous chef,Silvestro Pistola,offer several appetizer choices-from broccoli rabe to calamari to the appetizer sampler,which includes fried mazzarella,stuffed mushrooms,clams casino,fried calamari,and garlic bread.

All dinners are served with warm homemade bread and a choice of salad with their house viniagrette or soup-homemade clam chowder or soup of the day.

Diners can create their own pasta dish with Little Italy's choices of pasta,including spaghetti,angel hair,linguini,or their homemade ravioli,gnocchi,fettuccini and others. Add one of their five homemade sauces,which include vodka and alfredo,and you've tailored you own Italian feast.

In addition to their nearly endlees list of pasta possibilities, Little Italy offers steak dishes,veal and chicken saute's, baked pasta dishes and plenty of seafood dishes.

The Sanzone family,which came to America from Sicily in 1985,established Little Italy in May of 1996.

Sanzone who has been cookin since he was 12,runs the restaurant with his wife Sandy,and his friend Michael Schultz who runs the dining room.

The dining room seats 270 people and is available for banquets,large groups and special occasion parties. There is plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant,which is on the corner of Atlantic and Cresse Aves in Wildwood Crest.

Little Italy is open daily,serving dinner from 4:00pm. Early bird is served Sunday thru Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm. All major credit cards are accepted,and dress is casual. Little Italy is a smoke free restaurant. Call 523-0999 for more information