New spots for pizza, cheesesteaks coming to Toms River

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

Toms River diners soon will have two new restaurants to try, both from owners with other eateries in the area.

Pies on 37, owned by Brandi and Ricky Digiovanna of Pies on Nine South in Lacey, will open in January in The Orchards at Dover. The restaurant, 1311 Route 37 West, replaces Joey D's Pizza and joins seven other food businesses in the plaza: Saladworks, Five Guys, Bubbakoo's Burritos, Fortune Buffet, Jersey Mike's, Yo Factor frozen yogurt, and Turning Point, which opened last year in a shuttered Ruby Tuesday.

G's Cheesesteaks, which opened in Point Pleasant Beach in May and was formerly known as GKnows Cheesesteaks, will open at 1611 Route 37 East. The restaurant, which is expected to open within the next two weeks, will fill the storefront vacated by Philly Philly Steaks in July.

Pies on 37, sister restaurant to Pies on Nine South in Lacey, will open soon in the Joey D's Pizza space on Route 37 in Toms River.
Pies on 37, sister restaurant to Pies on Nine South in Lacey, will open soon in the Joey D's Pizza space on Route 37 in Toms River.

More: Last chance for Jersey Shore eats: When does your favorite restaurant close for season?

This is the second G's Cheesesteaks location in New Jersey. Owner Giacomo Pisano, who grew up in his family's Pennsylvania pizza chain, The Pizza Spot, opened the first in 2015 in Staten Island.

"We’re not a traditional cheesesteak spot. It's more of like a gourmet twist, with a New York-style bread," Pisano told the Asbury Park Press before opening on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach. "It's not a hoagie roll, where you can bend it. It’s got that crispy, crunchy outside but is airy on the inside."

The "Truffle Wiz Wit" at G's Cheesesteaks is made with ribeye steak, cherry peppers, garlic, mayo fried onions and truffle Cheese Wiz.
The "Truffle Wiz Wit" at G's Cheesesteaks is made with ribeye steak, cherry peppers, garlic, mayo fried onions and truffle Cheese Wiz.

More: KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot brings something new to Toms River

The restaurant serves a classic cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp American cheese and Cheese Wiz; a truffle version with caramelized onions, hot cherry peppers and mayo with white truffle Wiz; and one with pepperoni, bacon and Mike's hot honey, plus housemade cheesesteak egg rolls.

For the Digiovannas, this is their second new pizzeria in several years. In 2021, the couple opened Pies on Nine South in the former Linda's Pizza in the Forked River section of Lacey. They also previously owned Pies on Nine in Beachwood.

A variety of slice pies at Pies on Nine South in Lacey.
A variety of slice pies at Pies on Nine South in Lacey.

"We’re completely gutting (the Toms River restaurant) to make it look like the other Pies on Nine," said Brandi Digiovanna, adding that aside from offering additional slice pies to take advantage of foot traffic in the shopping center, the menu will be the same as their other location.

Diners can expect entrees, salads, sandwiches and gourmet-style pizzas, like chicken Francaise with garlic knot crust, Sicilian chicken parm, chipotle chicken cheesesteak, and Big Mac — plus desserts like apple pie-stuffed zeppoli and Italian rainbow cake.

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 and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River restaurants: G's Cheesesteaks and Pies on 37 to open