In 2016, Felice and his father decided to open their first restaurant together— Viaggio Ristorante
in Wayne, New Jersey. Felice unveiled a restaurant true to his cooking philosophy— locally
sourced ingredients used to create traditional Italian fare with a modern touch. A multitude of
accolades paved the way for Robbie to open his second restaurant, Osteria Crescendo, in 2019
where he specializes in modernized Italian fare, and Italian street food at its bar. After five short
months, Osteria Crescendo joined Viaggio with a spot on NJ Monthly’s 30 Best Restaurants in
New Jersey. In early 2020, when a pandemic took the world by storm, Felice did anything but
slow down. Unsatisfied with standing still, Robbie turned to his friend, Luck Sarabhayavanija of
Montclair Hospitality Group, and conceptualized what would become one of the most talked
about pop-ups not only in NJ, but across the nation. pastaRAMEN started as a high end,
invite-only omakase that combined Italian and Japanese flavors. The cuisine, which Robbie
calls “Wafu Italian”, would prove to be a hit, and was featured in OK! Magazine’s Things We’re
Obsessed With, Us Weekly’s Buzz-o-meter, and Restaurant Business’ Is Wafu Cuisine the Next
Big Thing. After two years of strictly being an invite-only omakase—Felice opened his third
restaurant; a more casual, brick-and-mortar version of the pastaRAMEN pop-ups. In four quick
months pastaRAMEN’s Montclair brick-and-mortar found itself alongside its two sister
restaurants on the list for The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey published by NJ Monthly.
Felice always has projects in the works. He just added a speakeasy private dining room
alongside his restaurant in Montclair, and just opened an Italian Trattoria and Mozzarella Bar
aptly named Bar Mutz. If there is one thing Robbie hates, it’s standing still—for him, there is
always more work to be done.