When Dave Ligas was in the process of opening a new pizza parlor in Rutherford, N.J., the name was an easy choice — Casano’s Pizza Parlor, after his paternal grandmother, Marie Rene Casano.
While he sadly never got to meet her, Ligas keeps Casano’s spirit alive by emphasizing Jersey Italian hospitality with an homage to family dinners and making food he said she would be proud of. The Casano’s team makes the mozzarella and stracciatella fresh daily, along with a dough that requires a multi-day process.
The shop boasts a sign reading “No Slices” in the window. | Ally MacConchie
Ligas’ first foray into the pizza world began just a few towns over in Wallington, where he was a delivery driver for Tavolino Pizzeria + Trattoria. After years of working with the owners, when they finally stepped away from the business, they passed it on to him. Tavolino closed in 2022, and in the fall of 2023, Ligas announced that he would be opening up shop in Rutherford.
The entire place is filled with nostalgia, boasting a homey vibe unlike any typical pizza joint. That’s because it’s not one — rather, it’s a tribute to Ligas’s grandmother, and brings classic New Jersey Italian cooking to the forefront. Every pizza is made fresh, and customers order by the whole pie as there are no slices available. Ligas went so far as to put a retro-looking neon sign that says so in the window.
The interior features vintage furniture and televisions. | Casano‘s Pizza Parlor
The interior is decorated with a classic 1970s kind of vibe, incorporating antique couches, vintage TVs and TV dinner trays, and a vintage refrigerator in the front of house — “it’s my best fridge in the whole place,” Ligas said. The dining area is adorned with photographs on the walls, many of which feature Casano, which he said keep her memory alive. For Ligas, this is not just a restaurant, but a love letter to his family and good food.
The shop specializes in all different styles of pizza, including (clockwise) New York Style, French Onion, the Drunken Tor, and New Haven style. | Casano’s Pizza Parlor
Everything on the menu is only available as-is, but there are options for everyone. Fan-favorite pizzas include the classic Casano’s round pie, the New Haven style pie, the French Onion pizza, and the Drunken Tor (featuring vodka sauce, stracciatella cheese, pepperoni, basil, pecorino, EVOO, and hot honey). The sharables should not be forgotten, with homemade meatballs, Caesar salad, chicken parm, and rotating specials like Buffalo chicken sliders and cheesesteak sandwiches. Ligas is donating $2 of each sale of cheesesteak sandwiches to breast cancer research for the month of October, in honor of Casano.
While Casano’s recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, one thing is for sure — its classic dishes and family focus are timeless.
