Our Story

Meet The Sicilian Guy. 

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Born in Palermo, Sicily in 1965, Riccardo DePaoli moved with his family to Jersey City, New Jersey at the age of three. He grew up in a restaurant environment, where his passion for cooking was ignited.

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His family has owned one of the first pizzerias in Bayonne in the 1970s and an iconic food truck in the 1980s. It was long before food trucks became trendy. Working alongside his mother, he learned how to prepare traditional, comforting Sicilian dishes and how to serve people with warmth and pride. But his aspirations extended beyond the kitchen. He wanted to connect with customers and describe his food with genuine love and authenticity.

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Determined to refine his craft so that he could share his family's traditional Sicilian comfort food with others, he attended culinary school in Manhattan, where he received classical training before working in high-end New York City restaurants. There, he honed his skills in both the kitchen and the front of the house, learning from respected chefs while developing his own style. 

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In 2000, he launched his own food truck, which provided the perfect platform to combine his passion for cooking with his love for engaging with customers. Through it, he brought authentic, high-quality Sicilian comfort food to the community.

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Thriving for 25 years, the Sicilian Guy's food truck became a beloved fixture in downtown Jersey City's waterfront. Even during challenging times like the pandemic, he adapted by bringing his food truck to the doorsteps of those working from home in Jersey City and Bayonne, spreading joy and comfort through his culinary delights.

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In the fall of 2025, the journey has come full circle, as he proudly opened a brick and mortar restaurant in downtown Jersey City, the very neighborhood he has called home for the past 45 years. 

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With his exceptional palate, he proved that one could create ideal dishes that allow the natural flavors of the ingredients themselves to truly shine—by using high-quality organic ingredients and authentic ingredients imported from Italy, and seasoning with the minimum necessary amount in perfect balance. No additional frills are necessary.

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Drawing from his background as a composer and musician, he creates dishes that are as compelling and poetic as music.

 

His popular Kick Ass Soup is a bright symphony of flavors that bursts in your mouth. It features the lively, rich taste of organic vegetables and the vibrant aroma of fresh herbs in a broth that is slowly simmered for four and a half hours to bring out its deep umami. Organic oven-roasted chicken is the star of the show in this satisfying soup.

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Lasagna is a light-hearted, "cloud-like" ensemble with homemade marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, imported pasta, and savory organic beef, all blending together in perfect harmony, accompanied by joyful chorus of Sicilian herbs.

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Focaccia is a dreamy adagietto, where the fragrant, savory taste of slowly fermented dough is gently embraced by the rich aroma of Sicily’s finest olive oil. Topped with Roman artichokes, Sicilian olives, and sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes, it is a culinary work of art. With every bite, you’ll be transported to a Sicilian family's dinner table filled with love.

 

Come experience more of the heartwarming tale of The Sicilian Guy, and savor the taste of tradition, love, and passion in every dish he serves.

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