Gia Giudice is opening her own restaurant in the Garden State, and she’s getting a lot of help from her mom, The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa Giudice.
The Italian-American mother-daughter duo announced plans for Gia to open Il Vero (Italian for “the truth” or “the real thing”) in Westwood, New Jersey, sharing photos of the future business under construction but slated to open in spring 2026.
“GUYS… I can FINALLY talk about this!!!” The Next Gen NYC-er wrote in a Jan. 15 Instagram post. “This has been a dream of my family’s for so long, and I’m beyond excited to officially step into this next chapter.”
“This venture means everything to me,” Gia continued. “Not just as a business, but as a way to continue and honor my mom’s legacy of cooking, family, and bringing people together around the table.”
In her own same-day post, Teresa seconded what her eldest wrote, adding, “Getting to do it alongside [Gia] makes it even more special.”
Bravolebs near and far were overjoyed by the news, including Gia’s sister Milania Giudice and engaged RHONJ couple Dolores Catania and Paulie Connell. The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Kandi Burruss, The Valley‘s Lala Kent, and The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Heather Dubrow were a few of many to offer their congratulations, while Teresa’s husband and Gia’s stepdad, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, shared his own snap of the construction project in his show of support.
Here’s what we know about Il Vero so far.
Details on Gia Giudice and Teresa Giudice’s roles in their restaurant, Il Vero
The Bravolebs partnered with restaurateur and commercial real estate developer Maria Sousa, as seen on the business’s already-up-and-running Instagram page, to bring the family’s “dream project” to fruition.
Related: Gia Giudice Reflects on Her Younger Self on RHONJ: “I Feel So Bad for Her”
Gia, who graduated from Rutgers University in 2023, is taking a lead on the hospitality endeavor, while Teresa is serving as a consultant.
“I’m beyond honored she asked me to consult on everything from the food to the vibe, the decor,” Teresa wrote. “The team is incredible. The space is stunning. And trust me when I say — the food is NEXT LEVEL.”
Gia added, “I truly cannot wait to welcome you all. We’re so excited to open in the town of Westwood and create an unforgettable experience for this amazing community.”
The Giudice family’s experience with Italian cooking
The Giudices’ legacy has always been steeped in hearty Italian cooking, with Teresa already having penned her Skinny Italian cookbook and Fabulicious! series. Her recipes hold close to their Italian heritage and have been a staple for generations, something now bestowed onto Gia, who has appeared in Teresa’s family-oriented books.
Gia even hosted a pizza-making party at her family’s home for the rest of the Next Gen NYC cast (Season 1, Episode 3), and she partnered with New York City’s Rubirosa Ristorante a little more than a year ago to showcase Vince Camuto fashion, as posted on Instagram.
But Teresa and Gia are not the only ones in the family trying their hands in the food industry. Teresa’s sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga, is the proud founder of Let’s Sprinkle by MG cookies, which started as something of a dig years after Teresa threw out her sprinkle cookies in Season 3.
Related: Gia Giudice Sheds New Light on Her Family’s Reconciliation with the Gorgas
Fans should also remember that, in 2017, Teresa, Melissa, and Joe Gorga opened Gorga’s Homemade Pasta & Pizza, a tribute to Teresa and Joe’s late mother, Antonia Gorga. “We wanted to share her recipes with the world,” Teresa told People at the time.
“My mother loved to cook; it was like her drug,” Joe told the outlet during the grand opening. “I always told her I was gonna open up a restaurant for her. Then I got busy. While I signed a contract on this place, we lost her. So this is for her.”
Although the business didn’t last, the Giudices and Gorgas have always found ways to honor their loved ones with food. When Joe and Melissa visited their eldest, Antonia Gorga, for college week in October, they used what precious time they had to make homemade mozzarella in the dorm with Joe and Teresa’s late father, Giacinto Gorga, close to their hearts.
As Antonia recalled, “My roommate’s dad is an old-school Italian who reminds me of my nonno, my dad’s dad … My dad kept saying, ‘He reminds me of my dad,’ with the biggest smile on his face, and I thought it was so bittersweet.’”
Now that the two once-estranged families mended fences during BravoCon 2025, see how Joe and Anonia celebrated Gia’s 25th birthday.
