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He passed his recipe and responsibilities down to his grandchildren, Stephen and Gary Barbarulo, who knead the dough and simmer the sauce every Tuesday through Sunday morning in traditional Barbarulo Family fashion.
Patsy’s was recently selected as a top finalist in Daily Voice's DVlicious Best Pizza in Passaic County competition. Voting continues through Oct. 26.
“This part of town was all Italian back in the day,” said Carlos Trinidad, a longtime bartender at the popular 7th Avenue eatery. “Everyone moved away but when they come back, they always come back here.”
The walls are plastered with pictures of regular customers, some of whom have been coming to the restaurant since it opened.
A Paterson police officer returns to Patsy’s and treats his family to pizza when he visits from Florida. Some couples who met at the tavern come back year after year to celebrate in the same booth.
A windbreaker-clad group of longtime friends recently sat down for a monthly dinner after a bocce game.
“The Spartans” formed their recreational organization in 1951, several years after meeting at summer camp. They’ve been coming monthly with their camp counselor, Moe, for more than six decades.
“The garbage pie!” exclaimed one Spartan in between sips of birch beer, referring to her usual order: a meat-medley on top of Patsy’s traditional pie.
Patsy’s bar was featured in Woody Allen’s 1985 film, “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” before the Barbarulo family moved it to the pizzeria.
The restaurant was also the first in the city to have a liquor license.
The “old school atmosphere and terrific pizza” is what Hawthorne resident Ed Trucil said has kept him coming back for more than three decades.
“My parents used to come here so when my sister visits from Texas she likes to eat here too,” Trucil said. “It’s one of the best around.”
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA PLACE. Voting ends at noon on Oct. 26. Only one vote per person.
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