TOMS RIVER — The Office Restaurant & Lounge, a longtime Toms River gathering spot, is under new ownership after being acquired by Esperto Hospitality Group, a Holmdel company that continues to expand its presence in the Jersey Shore dining market.
Esperto took over the restaurant in January. The company’s leadership team includes founder John DiLeo, Vice President Anthony DiLeo and Culinary Director Jonathan Rice.
At The Office, the new owners plan to make a series of updates while leaving the restaurant’s identity intact. Director of Operations Tony Ruccio said the work will include interior touch-ups such as a new bar top, renovated restrooms and refreshed dining room furniture. The menu also will be revised, with a new pizza oven among the additions.
Even with those changes, the new company says they do not want to alter the role the business has played in the township for decades.
Ruccio said the goal is to preserve the restaurant as a familiar neighborhood destination and maintain the reputation it has built over the past 50 years.
The restaurant will stay open during the improvements, and the name will remain the same. Nicholas Pagano, a veteran employee, will continue as general manager.
The business sits at Route 37 and Main Street. It opened in 1975 under the late Phil Citta. Before that, the property spent nearly two decades operating as Toms River Hub, a bar and liquor store, under Phil’s father Joseph Citta.
When Phil took over the reins in 1975, he changed its name to its current one. Phil had a knack for making everyone feel at home with his warm hospitality and infectious smile. He also believed in sharing his good fortune with others through charitable means.
Phil Citta passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2004 at just 60 years old. However, his family ensured his legacy lived on – not just in the restaurant, but in the community. They made a $1 million donation to establish the cancer center that bears his name, expanding access to lifesaving treatment for local residents.
The purchase gives Esperto another established name as it grows its portfolio across Monmouth County and beyond. The group’s restaurants include Catezza Italian Kitchen & Bar in Red Bank, Cafe Pari in Red Bank, Covo Italian Steakhouse in Marlboro and Local House Kitchen & Bar in Tinton Falls. It also is preparing to open a Daddy’s Chicken Shack location in Tinton Falls this summer.
