2 Middletown Restaurants In Battle Over Rights To Dishes

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Luigi's Famous Pizza and Tatum's Table, both located in the Lincroft Grove strip mall in Middletown, are currently embroiled in a red-hot restaurant war. Luigi's says Tatum's is selling Italian dishes that only Luigi's has exclusive rights to sell, a clause written into its lease with the Lincroft Grove landlord.

Tatum's Table opened last fall, and is operated by Tatum Menake, a 21-year-old woman from Colts Neck. When she first opened last September, she said her restaurant was going to serve breakfast, brunch and lunch.

However, this month Tatum's Table offered a Valentine's Day dinner. And that's where the problems started.

Jason and Kelly Emerson, the husband-wife owners of Luigi's, which has been in business in Lincroft Grove since 1991, say that written into their lease is that Luigi's is the only restaurant in the strip mall allowed to sell certain Italian dishes, including chicken parmesan, veal dishes and gnocchi.

Tatum's is now selling those dishes, as per a special Valentine's Day menu they posted to their Instagram account.

"Tatum’s table posted a proposed dinner menu on social media," read this Facebook post from Luigi's, posted Sunday. "When the menu came out, we saw that they were going to sell several Italian dishes that we have had on our menu and have been selling for over 25 years. Italian dishes of which we have the exclusive rights to sell in our lease."

Luigi's said it noticed the Lincroft Grove landlord that Tatum's was violating their lease agreement. Luigi's said the landlord (never named) "notified Danny Menake (Menake's father) of Tatum’s Table and Mr. Menake’s response was 'I don’t care, I’m selling these items.'”

"The landlord at that time then told Mr. Menake that if he did not remove those Italian items in breach from the proposed dinner menu that they would not give him permission to open for dinner, and Tatum's table would be in breach of contract and landlord would begin the eviction process," said Luigi's. "At that point in time Mr. Menake became irate and started threatening to break the landlord’s legs and went on to threaten to kill him if he gave them any problems and didn’t allow him to open for dinner and let him sell what he wanted."

Tatum's was open for business Friday morning. "Of course we are open," said an unnamed manager when Patch called. She declined to answer when asked if the landlord did indeed begin eviction proceedings against them, and then hung up the phone.

Emerson said her husband then called Menake "and tried to explain to him that we have the exclusive rights on those items and asked him not to sell them and if he didn’t sell them the landlord would most likely approve Tatum’s table to open for dinner. Mr. Menake once again started threatening my husband with the same harsh, irate behavior saying things like, 'you don’t know who the f**k I am, I’m selling what I want to sell.' Mr Menake then went on to threaten my husband and our establishment that he was going to put in a wood-burning pizza stove and sell pizza and all the same items on our menu at half price and put Luigi's out of business. After these threats, the landlord and ourselves were forced to seek legal counsel and this is why Tatum's Table is now being handled in litigation by the courts."

In her own Facebook post in response, Tatum Menake said Luigi's is "bullying her."

"I am a 21-year-old girl and the sole owner of Tatum’s Table. My father has no involvement in the business," she said Sunday. "Recently, I’ve been subjected to intimidation and false accusations, particularly from Jason at Luigi’s. The issue has been over a few items on my menu, which, to be clear, are only a small part of our dinner menu. Tatum’s Table is primarily a steakhouse with some pastas — not in direct competition with Luigi’s. But instead of resolving the situation professionally, I’ve been harassed and threatened ... If I get bullied out of this shopping center, don’t worry I won’t be far. I will continue to serve you, my loyal customers, and bring my passion to wherever I go."

Luigi's sued Tatum's Feb. 13, a day before Tatum's Table planned to open for its Valentine's Day dinner.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Tatum's Table filed an answer to the lawsuit. In their legal response, they argue they serve their chicken parmesan on the bone (Luigi's is boneless) and also that their chicken parmesan is more expensive.

"Tatum Menake has never once reached out, called, emailed or spoken to neither Luigi’s or the landlord," said Luigi's. "It's all been done by her father Danny Menake. Unfortunately, Tatum Menake seems to be the innocent face of the restaurant, while her father is the one making all of the illegal threats and poor business decisions."

Patch report when Tatum's Table first opened: New Breakfast/Brunch Spot Opening Soon In Lincroft