Pasquale Jones is a medium sized place packed with small tables and a number of counter seats. There is background music that adds to the noise level produced by hard surfaces and lots of people. One wall of the restaurant is the open kitchen that houses 2 wood fired ovens and 2 other walls have windows out to the street. There are some outdoor tables but the rain that day made them un-usable. The lighting is low and the pace is rushed as they really want to turn the tables several times in an evening. Service is included in your meal and they also offer complimentary house filtered and or carbonated water. Servers are friendly but not particularly attentive. There is a large wine list with one section devoted to reasonable but interesting wines.
The Littleneck Clam pizza had a wonderful puffy edge that offered a nice chew in the crust. The middle was thinner and piled with just enough ingredients to make it interesting but not soggy. The clams were not strongly flavored but the broccoli rabe did add an interesting taste. It was a good pizza.
For an entree we ordered the pork shank for 2 and a side of asparagus for a green. We were surprised to find the pork came with a salad of arugula and that the pork was accompanied by cooked fennel and onions. The asparagus had not been peeled and so were quite tough on the ends. They were covered with thin sliced tasty hard cheese and toasted hazelnuts. The toppings were nice but they buried the asparagus flavor. The pork was nicely seasoned but the different parts were very variable in moistness. It was a huge piece. The arugula salad really needed some dressing, it was dull as is.
For dessert they only have one offering each day. This day is was roasted rhubarb with strawberry gelato topped with pistachio crumble. It was very good and the rhubarb was successfully cooked to tenderness. Its tart nature paired well with the sweet and smooth strawberry gelato. The crumbles along with pistachio nuts added the needed texture component. It was a good sweet fix.
