Sweet & Savory: Tavolena Bakery and Sandwich Shop
Mouthwatering sandwiches, fresh salads, homemade breads, and incredible sweet treats at this Jupiter gem
Utica, New York–bred Chef Michael Rolchigo opened Jupiter’s Tavolena Restaurant in 2023 with a mission: to pay homage to his Italian grandmother by sharing her passion for great food with his neighbors. You may have already heard the story of how he used to sit at the kitchen table as a child, intently watching as his Grandma whipped up her traditional Italian recipes. And how he took that kitchen table and installed it in Tavolena’s dining room, where he serves many of those treasured recipes, along with his own signature creations.
But did you know that Chef Michael is also a trained pastry chef? While interning at the Famous Frog and the Peach in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he was placed in the temporary position of pastry assistant, which prompted him to further his culinary studies and learn all he could about the world of pastry. Armed with a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Rolchigo enrolled in the school’s Pastry Program and also earned a degree in Pastry Art.
With Tavolena Restaurant up and running, he decided it was time to share his bonus skills with the community, opening a bakery and sandwich shop next door in February 2025. Inside the intimate space, Rolchigo serves a variety of monster sandwiches using nothing but the best ingredients ($17-$20). For meat lovers, The Big Lufthansa is where it’s at—imported ham, spicy capicola, salami, crispy pepperoni, Auricchio provolone, mayo, shredded lettuce and onions, vine tomatoes, Italian herbs, and red wine Italian vinaigrette, served on freshly baked semolina bread. And the über-popular Lena’s Meatball Smash, served on garlic semolina. Lighter options include the Ariccia—herb-roasted sliced porchetta, broccoli rabe, Auricchio provolone, roasted garlic aioli, and a port wine glaze, served on toasted semolina. And the simple but delectable Chicken Milanese—pan-fried chicken cutlet, lemon aioli, and arugula, on toasted ciabatta. There are 13 tasty sandwich options in all, and the staff has been known to accommodate special requests as long as they have the ingredients on hand.
You may want to save half of your hearty lunch for later, because you’ll definitely want to sample the sweets too—this is for sure something Chef Michael truly excels at. His cookies are simply to die for, including the chocolate fudge espresso, biscotti, chocolate chip sea salt, and (my personal favorite) almond pasté. There’s cheesecake, cannoli, tiramisu, croissants, and more Italian pastries. And, the star of the show IMO, the homemade ice cream—flavors like hazelnut, Belgian chocolate, pistachio, and the incredible basil gelato.
Also on the menu: Italian quiches, homemade breads, daily pizzas, and Chef’s signature Utica tomato pie, plus beverages including specialty coffee drinks, beer, wine, and Italian sodas.
The bakery and sandwich shop is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. View the full menu here.
