Hoboken. Cradle of Italian Cooking In America. Talk about local flavor. No matter where you lived in Hoboken, it seemed there was a real Italian restaurant just Next door. And the aroma of spaghetti and meatballs wafting through the air. Come lunch or dinner, families crowded in to enjoy food from the old country. This was Hoboken, New Jersey. Known as the Italian City to locals. Birthplace of Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Rosselli. Maria Alfano, and her daughter Madelyn Alfano, owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen. How Fresh Is Fresh? "Fresh" is a term that many restaurants use very loosely. So we would like to clarify what we mean by "fresh." Cheese that was grated today (only imported Romano will do, the real thing). Garbanzo Beans that were bought from a grocer today and cured by hand. Italian sausages and Meatballs that are homemade at Maria's every day and never store bought. Olive Oil that's 100% pure. Bread, pizza dough and pastries that are baked fresh every day. Pasta that is imported from Italy and served al dente. And of course, Marinara sauce that Maria makes from scratch using the finest, naturally sweet plum tomatoes. Meat sauce made from fresh ground beef and simmered for hours. Linguine and clams & calamari fritti to make your mouth water. Trust us, when you taste it, you'll know what "fresh" really means.