Nasto's Ice Cream, Newark, NJ: A Restaurant Review

Nasto's Ice Cream: Restaurant Highlights

Fare: Ice Cream

Price: Moderate

Food Quality: Outstanding Homemade Italian Delicacies

Service: Wait staff are friendly, willing to please, and attentive.

Nasto's Ice CreamFounded in 1939 is a Newark landmark, This 3 generation family-run business serves outstanding homemade Italian delicacies.

Nasto's is popular with families who come for their "Old World Desserts" including Tartufo Gelato, regal (little queen) Reginetta, the espresso (pick-me-up) Tiramisu, Fresh Fruit Sorbet, and the popular traditional Cannoli, Spumoni and Bisque Tortoni.

Nasto's Ice Cream history dates to when Ballantine brewery operated a saloon in the two-story building after Prohibition. During this period, the Ironbound section of Newark was largely Italian-American, before the waves of Portuguese immigrants arrived in the 60's.

In 1939, Frank Nasto Sr. an immigrant from Salerno, Italy, bought the place and opened it as candy store. An ice cream machine was later installed in the front window and people would stop by to watch Nasto's ice cream being made.

Today, this family-owned business is owned and operated by Frank Nasto III, the third-generation owner, who oversees an operation churning out more than roughly 3,000 gallons a week, as the largest ice cream manufacturer in New Jersey. Most of the business is wholesale serving about 750 restaurants in New Jersey. While this is largely a Jersey operation, the milk and cream come from a dairy in Pennsylvania.

Nasto's Ice Cream is open seven days/week

(Updated September 2024)