Clinton, NJ – When Tiff’s Restaurant Co-Owner Michael Romanelli began working in the restaurant industry at the age of 13, he knew it was his calling.
Twenty-six years ago and several restaurant industry jobs later, Romanelli opened the first Tiff’s restaurant, formerly known as “Tiffany’s Garden.” in Union, NJ.
Romanelli knew opening the New Jersey-based multi-unit restaurant in an area surrounded by competitive markets, like New York City, was a gamble for a new restaurant, but he was confident it was the perfect location to expand.
“New Jersey is where I was born and raised,” Romanelli said. “It is my hometown, and I wanted my community to experience the freshly-prepared cuisine of Tiff’s.”
But Romanelli wasn’t the only one who saw potential in the Tiff’s concept. Long-time friend and former Baltimore Raven defense football player Tony Siragusa liked the Tiff’s concept so much that he pursued the idea of a partnership with Romanelli.
“Tony was originally a devoted guest at Tiff’s Union location,” Romanelli said. “He kept asking me about a co-ownership, and we have been partners in Tiff’s for the past eight years.”
Siragusa’s father owned an Italian restaurant while Siragusa was growing up, which may have contributed to his interest in the industry. Siragusa and Romanelli have also developed Goose's BBQ products, which sells Tiff's famous barbeque baby back ribs, seasoned pulled beef, seasoned pulled pork in barbeque sauce, shredded chicken and Italian meatballs in marinara sauce. These products are available in grocery stores across the country.
While Siragusa has more of the business sense, Romanelli took interest in researching and developing Tiff’s menu. Although Romanelli has no formal culinary or management education, he attributes his self-taught cooking methods to the influence of his Italian background. Now 90 to 95 percent of Tiff’s menu has been researched and developed by Romanelli, and all of Tiff’s new menu items are tested in the Pinebrook location before rolling out the items to other locations.
Tiff’s restaurant is a casual dining restaurant that serves an array of American favorites, such as its award-winning barbeque baby back ribs and freshly-prepared seafood, pasta and burger entrees. Tiff’s uses trans fat-free oil for all of its menu items. Some of Tiff’s signature items include its famous hot corn bread with cinnamon whipped butter and its new fresh-baked chicken pot pie with a toasted corn bread topping. Tiff’s awards include the “Montville Chamber of Commerce Best Business of the Year Award 2006,” and Tiff’s was also voted the “Best BBQ in the Tri-State” in a contest held by the New York CBS radio station.
Tiff’s restaurant was also the first restaurant in New Jersey to serve buffalo wings and use a conveyor convection oven, which never burns food and creates more efficient service and food-quality for guests.
Tiff’s hardwood floors and dark wood tables emulate a recreation room where guests can gather and enjoy a great meal. Tiffany lamps are spread throughout the restaurant, and black and white posters emulating Rockwell pictures are hung on the walls. Tiff’s oak bar and bar area features plasma flat screen televisions and trivia games that guests can play and compete against other players online for entertainment.
Currently, Tiff’s has five locations in Clinton, Pine Brook, Union, Morris Plains and Toms River. It is expecting to open two more locations in New Jersey by winter 2007.
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Denise Wilson
Quantified Marketing Group
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