D'Amore's brings a taste of Italy to Wall with toasts, espresso, sandwiches and more

Picture yourself sitting at a cafe in Italy on a warm sunny morning, sipping espresso and eating the freshest avocado toast you've ever tried. D'Amore's Caffe and Toast in Wall might not be able to fly you to Europe, but they certainly emulate the feeling of being there.

Sam Bergeron and her husband, Travis Bergeron, opened D'Amore's in November with her father, Russell Grabow, and Jasmin D'Amore Grasso and her husband, Jeffrey Bell. (Grasso and Bell own the seasonal D'Amore's Toast in Lavallette, which opened in 2022.)

The inspiration behind the menu came when Grasso was visiting Florence, Italy, and tried a "a big thick cut of freshly baked bread, topped with smashed avocado, poached egg, shaved parm, olive oil and basil,"

It made her think, "Why aren't I making food like this at home?"

So she did.

The dish can be found on the menu at both locations as D'Amore's Toast.

But Grasso's love for Italy and fresh ingredients runs deeper than a trip — it's in her blood. Countless menu items have been named after Grasso's Italian family members.

"My grandparents, my mother, everyone always had a garden," she said.

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Growing up, her late mother, Faith Liguori, would make dishes with fresh ingredients, like tomato salad or fig-covered toast and homemade fig balsamic from an heirloom fig tree her father brought from Italy.

Those recipes can be found on the menu, too.

The Faith Dear's Italian Toast features a choice of toast buttered and topped with house arugula salad, fresh mozzarella and homemade tomato salad drizzled with olive oil, a thick balsamic glaze and fresh basil.

A late summer special, Faith Dear's Fig Toast, is made with figs from Faith's own fig tree (which Grasso now tends to), whipped ricotta, arugula salad, and homemade fig balsamic jam.

Popular year-round menu items are also named after Grasso's family, like the Architectural Toast (Bell is an architect) with smashed avocado, house arugula salad, bacon, egg, everything bagel seasoning topped with shaved parmesan.

"During the summer, a lot of people come to us because they don't want the heavy fried foods the Jersey Shore has," Grasso said. "And the people that come to us in the summer, are now visiting us in Wall."

Travis and Sam Bergeron — the owners of several Joe's Bagel and Grill locations around the Shore — run the new year-round spot, while Grasso teaches at Pine Beach Elementary School in Toms River.

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"You walk in and everything's fresh and homey," Travis Bergeron said. "We want people to feel like they're coming to Nonna's house, and like these recipes have been around forever."

The new space is drenched in sunlight, with homey decor like rustic table fixtures and exposed bricks. It's also bigger than the original D'Amore's, with an added espresso machine and panini press.

Espresso beans are ground to order for every drink, including the Pistachio latte with espresso, steamed milk and pistachio syrup, topped with crushed pistachios; and the Nutella latte with espresso, steamed milk, hazelnut syrup and chocolate sauce.

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There are also smoothies like the vanilla strawberry protein shake with vanilla protein, fresh strawberries and flax seeds, and sandwiches like the Italian Panini with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, salami, sun dried tomatoes, and shaved parmesan.

"It's so great seeing people eat prosciutto for breakfast, just like they were in Europe," Grasso said. " ... They really get the concept."

Grasso hopes to not only make her mother proud, but also her late grandparents, Elizabeth D'Amore Liguori and Aniello Liguori, who once owned the former Nick's Spaghetti House in Seaside Heights.

They can be seen pictured cooking together at the Wall location.

"I couldn't be more thankful to be able to bring this experience to [our customers]," Grasso said.

Go: 1861 Route 35 (former Circus Drive-in location); 732-561-0114, damorescaffeandtoast.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: D'Amore's in Wall Township brings taste of Italy to Jersey Shore