By Cathy Kiley

Pizzerias come and go but every town has at least one. Some don’t last very long or change ownership over and over again, most times without changing names. You never know who will be taking your order over the phone or making your pizza while you wait. This, however, is not the case with DiMaio’s Family Ristorante and Pizzeria.

Located in the Shoppes at Hellertown on Main Street, family-owned and operated DiMaio’s has been serving this community for a quarter of a century and is still going strong. My friend Jay and I visited recently and were delighted with our experience. The façade of DiMaio’s and its colorful bistro umbrellas provide the backdrop for the restaurant’s al fresco patio dining area and welcome visitors to enjoy delicious pizza and Italian specialties.

Our server, Abby, arrived after we were seated in the casual indoor dining room and assisted in opening the wine we brought while explaining the evening’s specials. The dining room has both booths and tables with seating for about 70 people. Many of the diners seemed to be regulars, obviously familiar with the service staff and engaging in friendly conversation. There were groups of couples enjoying dinner and each other’s company as well as families with small children enjoying pizza and chicken fingers. The acoustics are good in this room as even with the large, diverse group of diners, the atmosphere was fun but not too noisy. It is obvious that DiMaio’s is a favorite dining spot among locals and it’s easy to see why.

We began our meal by sharing a small antipasto but there are many appetizers on the menu including numerous salads and soups; as well as calamari, mussels, chicken wings and mozzarella sticks to name a few. Our antipasto of fresh greens, peppers, ham, salami, provolone, black and green olives, red ripe local tomatoes and Italian dressing was fresh, delicious and a perfect starter on a warm summer night. We paired the salad with a side order of DiMaio’s famous meatballs (on recommendation) and freshly baked Garlic Bread with Cheese. All of our appetizers were tasty and extremely satisfying. We should have stopped there and considered that our meal; however, we opted to go on and stuff ourselves completely!

I was in the mood for shrimp so I chose it parmigiana. The breaded shrimp was smothered in mozzarella, covered in DiMaio’s flavorful sauce and served with a side of pasta. Since this is not a meal that I order on a regular basis, it was a real treat for me. The shrimp quality was tender and delicious, and DiMaio’s spaghetti sauce was flavorful. Jay ordered Veal DiMao which is their version of Veal Saltimbocca. The veal layered with ham, spinach and mozzarella was prepared in a butter wine sauce and served with a side of pasta. I am a big fan of veal saltimbocca prepared the traditional way and this was done well, with ham standing in for the prosciutto. Both meals were delicious and generous, allowing us to bring some home to enjoy the next day.

DiMaio’s diverse menu lists seven specialty chicken selections and five veal dishes in addition to the many seafood and pasta offerings. They are famous for their pizza and my family has enjoyed it numerous times. DiMaio’s will be glad to prepare one for you with all of your favorite toppings or perhaps you’d prefer one of their gourmet pizzas such as Hawaiian, German, White Broccoli or the DiMaio’s Special with pepperoni, onions, meatballs, sausage, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms and extra cheese. For those not in the mood for a full meal, there are strombolis, calzones, burgers and hot and cold sandwiches to fill any craving one might have.

We completed our meal with espresso, cappuccino and cannoli. Both coffees were hot and freshly brewed, and the cannoli was a sweet ending to a fine meal and a fun night.

I have been to DiMaio’s on a number of occasions both to eat and pick up pizza and have always been greeted with friendly, competent service. I cannot say enough about the staff. Restaurant manager Anna DiMaio is extremely friendly. She stopped by our table to chat and told us of planned special events to celebrate their 25^th anniversary this year in order to thank their loyal customers (of which there are many). Abby, our server, was excellent and a pleasure to work with. I think it is important to point out that the DiMaios are a restaurant family and deeply dedicated to the business of welcoming other families to their long-established restaurant. They use only the finest ingredients and everything is made to order. From sandwiches, prepared on their freshly baked homemade bread, to any of their specialty dishes, time and quality are their main ingredients to assure that customers enjoy an outstanding meal.

DiMaio’s is located at 27 Main Street, Hellertown and opens every day but Sunday at 11:00 AM. The restaurant is handicapped- accessible, accepts credit cards, and is BYOB. Call 610-838-8004 or visit their website at: dimaios.net for further information.

Cathy Kiley has enjoyed fine cuisine from around the world and written restaurant reviews for the last 20 years both in the Lehigh Valley and on Long Beach Island, NJ.