New Restaurant: The Taste of Little Italy Comes to Downtown Monroe

Frank Cortese and his family have had many restaurants over the last 37 years, including the Little Italy Pizzeria Restaurants currently in operation in Winder and Athens. They are now bringing their authentic Italian cuisine to downtown Monroe.

“I often used to drive through Monroe and really liked what I saw – it is a beautiful town and they take good care of it. That’s why I decided I wanted to come here,” Cortese said, adding that the doors of Monroe’s newest restaurant, Little Italy Pizzeria, would open at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18. “We will be giving away samples of our pizza so people can taste what we have.”

Cortese said he came to America when he was 10 years old and developed his love of food working in restaurants in New York City. He has owned restaurant chains in New York and Miami, before opening his first Little Italy Pizza in downtown Athens in 1997. He now has a second one in Athens under the management of his son and another location in Winder. Little Italy is known for its true New York-style pizza, calzones, strombolis, sub sandwiches and pastas. Cortese said his prices are reasonable and the helpings very generous.

The menu for Little Italy Pizzeria can be seen in images. Cortese and his family invite Monroe residents to stop by Tuesday after 11 a.m. and sample some true Italian Cuisine. The restaurant is located at 105 N Broad St. in downtown Monroe.