Outlaw dining: acqua e farina, newtown, pa

Outlaw Dining: Acqua e Farina, Newtown, PA

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1 min read
July 31, 2020

TOMS RIVER, NJ – With dining indoors banned in New Jersey but allowed in neighboring Pennsylvania, we’re going to take a look at some great dining spots on the other side of the Delaware River in a new series, “Outlaw Dining”.

Outlaw dining is the act of crossing the state line to engage in activity that is deemed illegal by order of the Governor of New Jersey.  In the past, New Jerseyeans would cross the border for fireworks.  Now, they are crossing the border for something for more nefarious…dinner.

We happened to pass Acqua e Farina last weekend and they caught our attention with their “wood fired” pizza sign.  We found out this place opened in 2017 and the name literally means “Water and Flour” in Italian.   Owners Pasquale and Anna Palino opened the pizzeria after operating the very successful Vecchia Osteria nearby and they serve a Neapolitan Pizza menu that is outrageously delicious and fresh.

Pizza here is sold by the pie, made in their 700-degree wood-fired oven, that was also built in Italy.

After being locked out of restaurants for nearly five months, being able to sit down in a nice clean establishment, under the state’s strict COVID-19 guidelines was a very satisfying and refreshing experience.   To be served without the heat, humidity, bugs, wind and the elements and to be served by a great waitress is just something we’re not accustomed to anymore.   Sure,  outdoor dining serves its purpose to allow New Jersey restaurants to survive, but c’mon, who really wants to eat in the middle of a parking lot on folding chairs and a folding table?

The staff was well masked and courteous and very friendly to outside visitors. It was a very nice and comfortable experience.  The Neopolitan pizzas were great. We went with the Margherita and a white sausage and mushroom pie.  Both were fantastic, fresh and tasty.   They also served us a fried calzone made with salami, not ham which is traditionally used here in Jersey.

There’s only two indoor tables at Acqua e Farina, in accordance with state guidelines, but if you happen to be in the area, we’d definitely recommend it as an outlaw dining destination.

 

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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