SAYREVILLE, NJ — A Craigslist advertisement, two sons and a family looking for a place to build a business. That’s how the story of Rustoni’s Pizza in Sayreville began.

What started with a search for a pizzeria in 2012 has grown into a family-run restaurant with a café serving coffee, crepes, gelato and desserts. And the name Rustoni’s? There’s a family connection behind that, too.

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A Craigslist Listing That Led To Sayreville

When Rustoni’s owner Butch was searching for a place to open a pizzeria, he wasn’t necessarily planning to settle in Sayreville.

“I found a place on Craigslist. I’ve been looking all over for a pizzeria,” Butch recalled during a recent video interview with Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and Board of Education President Eloy Fernandez.

As he explored the neighborhood, something kept catching his attention: signs encouraging businesses to succeed in Sayreville.

He opened Rustoni’s in 2012, and what started as a business opportunity eventually became something more.

“It turned out to be a really nice community. We all help each other out,” Butch said.

Over time, Butch and his wife, Amanda, decided to make Sayreville their home and raise their family there.

Today, Amanda and their two sons are involved in the business, making Rustoni’s a family operation.

So, Where Did The Name Rustoni’s Come From?

It turns out the restaurant’s name has nothing to do with Butch’s last name, even though some customers have assumed otherwise.

Rustoni’s is named after the couple’s two sons, Rusty and Tony.

“My kids’ names are Rusty and Tony,” Butch explained during the interview. “Most people think it’s my last name.”

And the family connection goes beyond the name on the sign.

Amanda helps with the business and has played a big role in the restaurant’s appearance, including selecting decorations and helping shape the café.

During the interview, O’Brien credited Amanda and the couple’s sons for their involvement in the restaurant.

Butch also made sure his employees received recognition.

“Couldn’t do this without the staff. It’s not just me,” he said, adding that support from customers and the community has also been important.

More Than Just Pizza: A Café With Something Sweet

While Rustoni’s is known for pizza and Italian food, the family has expanded the business with Rustoni’s Café, offering another place for customers to sit down and enjoy coffee or dessert.

The café serves cappuccinos, lattes, crepes, gelato and a variety of sweets.

Butch said the idea was to offer something different from the traditional pizzeria experience.

“There’s nowhere in town to really sit down and have a crepe and cappuccinos,” he said while showing O’Brien and Fernandez around the café.

Most of the gelato comes from Italy, according to Butch, although certain flavors, including ube and pumpkin, come from a California supplier.

The café also makes its own flavored coffee syrups and offers rotating seasonal specials.

During the tour, Butch showed off some of the restaurant’s popular menu items, including a spicy-sweet pizza, a grandpa pie topped with caramelized onions and fresh mozzarella, rice balls and sandwiches served on homemade bread.

Amanda has also helped give the café its own personality, choosing and framing decorations and adding seasonal displays.

A Family Business That Gives Back

Rustoni’s connection to Sayreville extends beyond serving food.

During the interview, O’Brien and Fernandez thanked Butch and his family for their involvement in local schools, community events and support for emergency responders.

Fernandez specifically recognized the restaurant’s sponsorship of Sayreville’s Latin Day celebration.

O’Brien also praised Butch for contributing both food and his time to community activities.

For Butch, helping out is something he shares with his family, employees and customers.

“It’s my pleasure helping you guys out,” he told Fernandez, before crediting his staff and the community for supporting the restaurant.

What began with a Craigslist listing has become a family business named after two sons, with a pizzeria, café and a connection to the town the family now calls home.

Want To Visit Rustoni’s?

Rustoni’s Pizza and Café is located at 309 Main Street, Suite 3, Sayreville.

Visit www.sayrevillepizza.com for more information about the restaurant and its menu.

You can also watch the full interview and restaurant tour with Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and Eloy Fernandez.

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