Mike Gallucci's Pizzeria 'Lucci opens in Belmar

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·2 min read

There is a two-block stretch at Belmar's north end that is home to nearly a dozen different types of food, from Greek gyros and Peruvian ceviche to Mexi-Cali burritos and Indian tandoori dishes.

With the opening of Mike Gallucci's Pizzeria 'Lucci, pizza from a culinary school graduate who studied in Italy joins the list.

Gallucci, who co-founded Rosie's Pizza in Point Pleasant Beach in 2017, opens Pizzeria 'Lucci this week. He is joined in the kitchen by Adam Simmons, who has worked as a pizza chef for eight years at places like Corbo & Sons in Holmdel's Bell Market, and chef and pop-up pizzeria owner Michael Buscemi.

More: And the winner of APP.com's Pizza Playoff is ... The Galley in Asbury Park NJ

"I'm going to start with pizza, salad and meatballs, then when we get our feet wet, we can slowly roll out a few more things," Gallucci said of the menu at his 30-seat BYOB, tucked between Santo Ceviche and Hoagitos in Belmar Plaza.

Aside from a classic pizza with marinara and a small selection of toppings, Galllucci will offer specialty pizzas, like one with pepperoni with red onion, shaved garlic Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh mozzarella; and a spinach pie with heavy cream and garlic.

The menu also has meatballs and a "really good chef's salad" of romaine lettuce, radicchio, endive, oil-cured peppers, Calabrian oregano, garbanzo beans and Dijon vinaigrette.

More: Pizza, burgers, street food and more served at the Shore's newest restaurants

Pizzeria 'Lucci owner Mike Gallucci shreds Parmigiano Reggiano onto a house pepperoni pizza at his new Belmar restaurant.
Pizzeria 'Lucci owner Mike Gallucci shreds Parmigiano Reggiano onto a house pepperoni pizza at his new Belmar restaurant.

Baked at 585 degrees in a deck oven, Gallucci's pies will be made from a dough recipe that has been tweaked since Gallucci's days at Rosie's. His pizzas are round, not square, though he is considering square pizzas for slices.

"The thing about dough is, it's going to change (with the environment)," he said. "It's going to change the product without (me) even thinking about it."

Gallucci plans to be open for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays, and dessert, delivery and online ordering are in the works.

Go: 809 Belmar Plaza, Belmar; instagram.com/pizzerialucci.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Pizzeria 'Lucci opens in Belmar, with Mike Gallucci