First Impression: Corto

June 13, 2018

What: Corto is a new Italian restaurant located at 507 Palisade Avenue, just steps away from Riverview Park in the Heights. The BYOB restaurant is the creation of Drew Buzzio (Salumeria Biellesse, Biricchino), Marc Magliozzi (Dozzino), and Peter Fontana. Their concept for Corto is simple — to deliver affordable, rustic Italian dishes.

Interior: The first thing you’ll see when you walk into Corto is its big, open kitchen. It’s the star of the restaurant and it fills the entire room with the aroma of delicious food. Along the sides of the restaurant are two long communal tables and a few individual tables that can accommodate groups of two or four. Decor is kept simple with just a few shelves and picture frames adorning the walls. That gives Corto a casual, cozy feel as if you were eating at a friend’s studio apartment. We also love the Legnano hanging from the wall — the brand of choice for many professional Italian cyclists.

Pasta e Ceci ($14)

The Menu: Corto’s menu currently offers five starters ($8 to $14), five pasta dishes ($12 to $16), and three main courses ($16 to $24). Coffee and dessert are $3 and $6, respectively. In keeping with the cucina povera theme (peasant kitchen), every dish at Corto is priced comfortably under $20 with the exception of the NJ Berkshire Pork, which is priced at $24. Dinner for two with appetizer, two pasta dishes, coffee, and dessert cost us $41. Add in a $12 bottle of wine and you’re still at just $53.

We Loved: Good food doesn’t have to to be overly complex. That’s what Buzzio told Jersey City Upfront back in January and that’s precisely what the kitchen at Corto is delivering — simple, delicious housemade food. In fact, you can count each entree’s ingredients with one hand. The Meat & Cheese Plate ($14) is the priciest starter, but an excellent appetizer for the table with salumi from New York’s Salumeria Biellese, cheese, and artichoke. It’s accompanied by a rustic, homemade bread with a heavy crust and soft center. The Pasta e Ceci ($14) is rustic food at its best. It’s made from humble ingredients — gnocchi sardi (Sardinian gnocchi) and chickpeas — yet delivers a lot of flavor. It’s a creamy pasta e ceci, but much lighter than your traditional gnocchi. We also loved the Brother’s Rigatoni — soft rigatoni in a surprisingly spicy tomato sauce with pancetta, basil, and mint. Dessert is currently limited to tiramisu or lemon cake. We had the lemon cake, which is light, refreshing, and the perfect end to a hearty dinner.

Could Be Better: Vegetarians/vegans take note — many of the main dishes at Corto have meat or cheese. You’ll want to check with the kitchen if certain items can be substituted. While we love the decor at Corto, we’ve never been fans of communal tables, so get there early if you want your own table for two or four.

Final Take: If you live in the Heights — congrats, you have one of Jersey City’s best Italian restaurants right at your doorstep. If you live elsewhere — make the simple trek to Corto. The food is outstanding, the vibe friendly, and we love that rather than present you with a multitude of Italian dishes — Corto is offering a few rustic dishes that are executed to perfection.

Brother’s Rigatoni ($13)