USA. Villa Restaurant Group has announced the opening of a new eatery at Newark Liberty International and plans to bring three new dining venues to the airport. All will be situated in the Terminal B pre-security area and commence trading during 2019.

The multi-brand restaurant operator and franchisor was awarded a contract to open the new venues by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports earlier this year, following a Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP).

Restaurant concept Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill has already opened its doors to passengers at the airport. It is offering a new take on Mexican classics, including freshly-made tortilla chips, house-made salsas, hand-mashed guacamole and slow-marinated and flame-grilled steak and chicken.

The three planned venues are Villa Restaurant Group’s proprietary quick-service brand Tony + Benny’s Pizza Parlor, along with the partnership concept Carlo’s Bakery, founded by Buddy Valastro Jr., a chef and TV personality. Also in the pipeline is the group’s 40NORTH Restaurants’ full-service restaurant concept, Piattino: A Neighborhood Bistro.

Tony + Benny’s Pizza Parlor will offer travellers menu items inspired by vintage recipes, including classic, Sicilian, grandma and margarita pizzas, pastas, calzones and fried street eats, all made from fresh ingredients. The venue will also serve a variety of hot breakfast options.

Carlo’s Bakery will specialise in baking sweet treats for airport passengers. “We at Carlo’s Bakery are very excited to have teamed up with Villa Restaurant Group to open this new location in Terminal B at Newark Airport,” said Valastro Jr. “Villa’s extensive experience with restaurant operations ensures this location will be in amazing hands.”

Piattino: A Neighborhood Bistro is a well-known restaurant in the North Jersey area, and its new venue at the airport will serve up modern twists on traditional Italian fare. These will include its hand-stretched Neapolitan style pizzas and sandizzas (its own version of a Panini), baked fresh at 800 degrees in its imported Italian stone-fired oven.

Villa Restaurant Group Senior Manager of Business Development Christopher McNamee said: “We are proud to have been selected by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and URW Airports to bring fresh, new and innovative dining options to Newark Liberty International Airport, right here in our home state of New Jersey.

“The CEP outlined a strong desire to focus on local brands and cuisine. As industry veterans, we have the experience and system-wide flexibility to scale our own concepts accordingly and to work with partner brands to deliver the quality and variety that can exceed the passengers’ and the developer’s needs.

“These new openings will give us a great opportunity to expand the footprint and exposure of some of our fastest growing concepts, further our relationship with a great strategic partner and to debut the first-ever airport location of a world class brand right here in our own backyard.”

Villa Restaurant Group, which began with a single pizzeria in New York City more than 50 years ago, has grown to encompass nearly 350 total restaurant locations across 15 brands in 41 US states and six countries.

Other locations for the group’s airport restaurants include LaGuardia International, Orlando International, Philadelphia International, and Baltimore/Washington International.

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The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2019 will be held in Dallas, hosted by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on 26-27 June. HMSHost North America CEO Steve Johnson will be among the powerful line-up of speakers.

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