The best Hillsborough has to offer! Awesome fun Italian spot just minutes from where I grew up. Great service, real hometown feel, accessible menu and lovely patio. Pasta dishes were on point and so was the arancini. We'll be back! read more

So, this review will stand out as this place consistently gets great reviews, and if I were reviewing prior to this past Saturday, I would have given a great review as all previous visits were very good. The reason for the about face is I have never been treated with such disrespect by management/ownership in my life! We had a 7:30 reservation, showed up a few minutes early, and checked in. The hostess told us we can wait by the outside bar, and she would come get us. 20 minutes later, she walked over by the area and went back to the desk. I walked over and checked to make sure she wasn't looking for us. She says no, looks inside and says she's still waiting for guests to leave. OK, I go back. It's now 8, my friend walks over and looks in and sees there are 2 open tables and suggests we walk over to the desk. We do and another hostess asks us after about 5 minutes if she can help, we state were waiting for our table, she looked inside and said OK, we have a table for you. So finally seated at around 8:10. We sit, server comes over in a few, tells us about the specials, sees we have our drinks from outside (the original drinks, more on that later) and says she will be back for our order. Bread (4 measly pieces) comes; she eventually comes back after taking an order from the table next to us who was seated after us and takes our order. Before she leaves my wife asks for more bread with our appetizers, to which she responds dismissively w/ attitude "I'll see what I can do".   My wife is mad; we are all angry as it's 8:45 and the only thing we have been served is bread & attitude. I went outside to find the owner (and his son) who had been out there helping the staff. I walk up and start the conversation stating, 1st off we really enjoy this place and have always had a good experience, but I wanted to share what was happening this evening, specifically w/ the server. I didn't yell, I wasn't belligerent, just voiced my/our displeasure. His response was a rambling about their special bread, why it's limited, blah blah blah. Totally missed the point which was how she responded. So, I respond by saying he obviously isn't concerned with the feedback as all he did was defend their bread position and that I was going back inside. I went back in. The owner and his son proceed to follow me in (confrontational much!) and the owner CONTINUES his bread rant. The son then asks me why I dared speak to his "80 yr old father?". Well, he is walking around like the mayor, I knew he was the owner, so I gave him my feedback. The rest is a bit fuzzy, but it's 8:20ish, no food, a confrontation with ownership and a terrible server. The son comes back and challenges me on our reservation time stating it was 7:45. As if that mattered. It WAS 7:30 and I asked him to come outside, and I'll show him the reservation. I go outside, food/wine shows up, there's yelling (not by us) and they ask us TO LEAVE! WTF! I ask what is going on, wife/friends get up and start getting ready to leave, then another 'henchmen' comes out of the back and starts mean mugging me as if he's ready to throw hands and has the nerve to say, "your inebriated". We had one drink the hour we were there, we couldn't get served enough to be drunk! The owner yelling "this is a family place", blah blah blah. They initiated the confrontation, and the only thing I can think of is I may have used an expletive when OUTSIDE with them (away from any other patrons), never yelled and never was belligerent. I'm 63 and never got kicked out of a bar let alone at a restaurant.  So, I doubt anyone reading this will stay away, but if you do go, especially on a weekend, don't expect good service, and DON'T DARE complain or give feedback. You have been warned! read more

Good dinner but not the best I've had. This restaurant received great reviews and it did somewhat live up to it. Context matters and in a farmland type suburb, it's a great Italian restaurant. Service was friendly, timely and professional. Setup was a bit odd as it felt cramped into a rectangular dining area with the entrance (cold air as it's winter) blasting customers eating. Reception was immediate upon entering. On the left is the bar with the oven and pizza making right there. Then you have seating all the way to the back which is not too big. They have a beautiful patio area to the right. Wine list was average sized but not too luxury in its options. 1. Bread with olive oil - Ciabatta was great; loved it. Olive oil was not pour your own. Instead it came prepoured into small take-out containers. 2. Margharita pizza - We added a burrata on top. The pizza itself was more of a specialty type pizza as it was soggy, thin but flavorful. It does give off a quick hand made there vibe. 3. Cavatelli with broccolini and sausage - Good taste, good portion size. The meat was plentiful and the pasta just a bit more cooked than al dente. 4. Tiramisu - Had this with a macchiato which was good. Tiramisu is a good portion size, square, not alcoholic, and a good mix of textures. 5. Flourless chocolate cake - Thick and flavorful. Good chocolate flavor. Overall, great to try once and I'd probably be back for pasta but not pizza. read more

Ama Pizza - Cavatelli Broccoli Rabe E Salsiceia, Margherita Pizza with Burrata - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

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We have mostly enjoyed our dining experience at AMA restaurant in Hillsborough. The owner Achille and his family/staff are caring and dedicated to serving their customers. Unfortunately while at the Kringle Market today at the Flounders Brewing Company, AMA had their mobile pizza truck and were offering personal pizzas and meatballs. We ordered both the Margarita Pizza and an order of the meatball appetizer. It appeared they were late in setting up and not ready to serve until after 12 noon although the Kringle Market opened at 11AM. Their pizza was exceptionally delicious and were told they needed more time for their meatballs to heat up. We returned and they served us an order of meatballs and bread. When we attempted to eat them they were rock solid cold and partially frozen. We were told to give them 10 more minutes and when we did we were assured that they were ready to eat. Again when we attempted to eat them they were still cold and not edible. Since we were pressed for time and they were very reluctant to refund we asked for a 'to go' lid. Overall experience has always been positive but they definitely failed to provide an enjoyable dining experience today . Too bad since our family is also from Provincial Avellino Campania Italy . We consider Napoli our neighbors. read more

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This place is a must stop when in NJ. We met a group of friends here for dinner. Had a reservation since we were a large party of 9. Table ready on time. The vibe is always fun - whether you're seated outside on the patio or inside. Our server was Emily and she was amazing - friendly, responsive, thorough, fun, proactive. We sampled much of the menu from salads, to sides (love the broccolini and the mushrooms), meat charcuterie, meatballs and of course got pizza. The margherita is our go to and we also got a pesto this time around. For dessert we shared a bunch of stuff - cannoli, ricotta cookies, cream puffs, gelato Everything was very good. The only issue this time around was that some of the pizzas were quite burnt in parts (couldn't eat the crust - sad) and lacked enough sauce (first time this has happened to us) so it must've just been an off day. Highly recommend. read more

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Picked this spot to have a casual dinner based on our previous visit and it sure didn't disappoint . Margherita pizza was mind blowing and has become one my favorites in recent times . Roasted Beet salad - Tri colored beets served with ricotta and hot honey. Lip smacking goodness Fried zucchini blossom - Anything fried can't go wrong, but this could have benefited from a bit more seasoning Cacio Pepe - Curly farfalle that was cooked chewy , tossed in olive oil black pepper and pecorino cheese , showered with a generous amount of Parmesan Gnocchi - was my least favorite .. very dense didn't have any wow factor to offset the texture .. Side of mushroom- basic dish elevated by its simplicity..Juat mushroom olive oil & garlic . Flourless chocolate cake - was another classic baked treat that I loved Tiramisu - Perfectly balanced coffee flavor Service was quick and our waiter was friendly and offered great suggestions. Ample parking but the gravel ground makes for a challenging walk from your car. A casual hangout spot that serves great Italian food using good quality ingredients. read more

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Still delicious. Can't leave here without the cannolis and affagato. And while we're at it, why not the pizzas and the apps too. Everyone in our party loves this place. read more

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Nice restaurant with a great patio. We were sat right away. The restaurant was very busy but service was attentive. The food was good too! Here's what I had: Chicken Parm- Decent parm, the chicken was cooked well. The sauce was just ok for me. Capricciosa pizza- Quality pizza cooked well and not overdone. Cannoli- Very good! 3 different kinds are served. You must try! Overall - nice place to eat with good prices and good food read more

Ama Pizza - Cannoli - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

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Came early without a reservation. Very friendly staff. They were able to accommodate us, 2 adults and a toddler. It looked like they had a party going on in their patio area which was really cute. The food was delicious. We shared two pies and a pasta dish. It was amazing. read more

Ama Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

This place was honestly awful. From the service to food, I cannot recommend this place. The only positive of my experience was the ambience. The outdoor patio was pretty and it felt like a nice local venue that is welcoming. The other not so bad thing about this place and pricing wasn't the worst I have ever seen. Our service and food however were awful. Our server was really there to take our drink and food order and was basically nonexistent throughout the rest of the meal, checked up on us only about "halfway" through eating the meal. Food took a really long time to come out, about half an hour after ordering. Which is why for a reason below, I didn't make a change for any reordering... I tried their fluffy orange juice drink with Campari it was incredibly bitter. The server knew I questioned my drink before ordering and didn't even care to check to see if I liked it, it just sat there the entire time. Finally by the dessert time, I told them that we didn't like the it when it was still full and he took it off the bill after multiple times of asking. We got the tres pizza, Cacio e Pepe pasta, and meatless balls. The meatless balls had a nice fry to them but they weren't that good compared to other restaurants. The Cacio e Pepe pasta was not cooked well and had little flavor to them. They felt rushed and had no care in the preparation. I will blame partially myself for the tres pizza and that I should have specified that I was vegetarian but I was assured by someone at my table that it was (it wasn't). However, some people tried the pizza anyway, and it wasn't good. Also there was a sausage pizza that looked like the cheese wasn't melted (like that of a maybe vegan consistency). I don't know, none of us liked the food here that we got. Overall, I cannot recommend this place due to the poor quality food and even poorer service. read more

Ama Pizza - Tre Colori Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

A+ service. Ama's is a total gem. Located in the middle of a residential area, Ama's is cozy and yummy. The flavors all hit but the calamari was special. Meaty, fresh, juicy, and lightly battered with a hit of lemon. This is definitely about to be our go-to place read more

Ama Pizza - Gnocchi Sorrentina, Calamari Fritti - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

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Hot, crowded and overpriced. They have the gall to charge a corking fee for byob, as though this were a sophisticated establishment. And the son of the owner has a serious attitude problem, as other reviewers noted. read more

We loved this placed. A perfect fall brunch day. We sat outside and what a cute vibe. They had it decorated sooo nicely. The service staff is so nice. They had nice recommendations and even checked on us every so often. The food came out super fast too. We got Margherita pizza, spaghetti and for dessert tiramisu and espresso. Typical basic choices but the taste was on point. Will be back frequently. read more

Ama Pizza - Margherita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

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My brother who traveled to Italy said that this place has the most authentic Italian pizza that he's ever tried in Jersey. However, I'm not quite a big fan of the pizzas here. When the pizzas are out, they're not freshly hot as I expected (pretty lukewarm I'd say). The spaghetti and the steak were pretty decent though! The steak was cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and paired so nice with mushrooms and onions. Affogato and pistachio gelato were just okay. They're very busy although it was on a Wednesday evening, so I'd recommend to make a reservation before you come. Service was okay. Plenty of parking spaces. It takes us 50 minutes to drive from Central Jersey, and I'm more into the thin crust pizza than this one. It's worth a try tho! read more

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We had to come here for dinner on our trip up from Tennessee. We started with a bottle rose and some delicious focaccia bread. Next was the Caprese salad with tomatoes from their garden.... Nothing like Jersey tomatoes. While the salad looked overdressed, the olive oil was perfect and the salad was wonderful and fresh. We both had the cacio y Pepe, which is why we came. Pasta was perfectly cooked, however the sauce was a bit light on the cheese. We had more grated on, but it wasn't the same as last time here. It was closer to buttered noodles with shredded cheese on top. My husband ate meatballs as his protein and said it was a 4/5. He wasn't fond of the pine nut texture. Perhaps the chef could consider chopping the pine nuts? My cod was perfectl! Seasoned beautifully and cooked perfectly. We had cream puffs for dessert and they were perfect! AMA makes a delicious cappuccino and that was accompanied by Amaro 70 and something close to a port. read more

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AMA is a family run business that serves authentic wood fired oven pizza and fresh pasta. It is located off the beaten path, but worth driving there for the exceptional culinary experience. The service is helpful and friendly. There is a parking lot out front, and a fire pit area to wait for a table or to relax with family and friends. For exceptional pizza and pasta try this place. They have beer and wine, but they offer a reasonable $12 corking fee for those who want to bring their own wine. We look forward to our next visit. read more

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Whatever you do DEFINITELY get pizza here. Reminded me of the great pizza I had in Italy. The lemon soda from Italy that they sell is phenomenal as well. Love this place. Would certainly come back. read more

Ama Pizza - Bufala Pizza with prosciutto - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

My friends and I met up for dinner at Ama Pizza on a Friday night, and it really is such a hidden gem in an random location (it was two of my friends' first time there, and they almost drove past it, which I did my first time there). I highly recommend making a reservation online for Friday and Saturday nights, because it was full when we were there, with some groups having to wait for a table to free up. The olive oil that comes with the bread tastes just like the olive oil I had in Tuscany, and everything we ordered was delicious- you can really taste how fresh the tomatoes are on the bruschetta and the other ingredients they use for their pizzas and pastas. Special recognition for our server Mark! He was very knowledgeable about the wines and menu, was attentive, got everything we ordered correct, and we didn't feel rushed by him. Excellent service! read more

Ama Pizza - Stella Pizza, Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, Spaghetti Pomodorini - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

After driving past this spot for quite literally years, I finally stopped in. A perfect spot for lunch! My mom and I stopped in on a relatively warm November day and our seats outside by the standing heaters were truly perfect. Everything from the food to the patio and the overhead twinkling lights made for a fantastic lunch. We got a little bit of a few different things: The broccoli rabe side, the octopus appetizer, sausage and mushroom pizza and a side of the meatballs. All fantastic. The broccoli rabe was super garlicky (just the way I love it) and still very crunchy. I loved the hot honey on the pizza and I am usually never one to order sausage but it was delicious. I also loved the meatballs that had pine nuts in them, even though they were made just a little too tough. The red sauce they were in was fantastic. Oh and the octopus fully stole the show. Cannot wait to return! read more

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Everything was great! We got sausage and mushrooms pizza and margarita pizza, it is like being at Napoli again! We also ordered linguine and clams and the pasta was almost perfect! And finally we ordered Tuna salad. All great! read more

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Came back here today to celebrate my birthday and they did not disappoint! Couldn't wait to get my hands on the Mozzarella di Bufala DOP again, and got two for the table. We also tried the calamari, bruschetta, rice balls, and Stella Pizza appetizers. All were amazing and soo pretty you almost don't want to eat! For entrees, we had an assortment of pizzas and I took the opportunity to try the Dolce e Piccante pie. It was sooo good and flavorful. Cooked to perfection! For dessert we tried the cream puffs, biscotti cookies and pistachio gelato, all of which we scarfed down. VERY little came home with us. The staff were so nice and attentive, the atmosphere was relaxed and the tables weren't too close together, nor did they rush you. I appreciated that! Will definitely back! read more

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Service was was amazing. Everyone was welcoming and food came out fast. The food was absolutely amazing. I come from an off the boat Italian background and this place is as close as it gets to my Nonna's cooking. Pure authentic Italian food! 5/5!! read more

Delicious pizza and pasta. We were on the road running errands and decided to stop in for dinner. The Ama was able to accommodate us without a reservation at the bar. We were thankful on a busy night! We were also thankful to sit there and meet the wonderful bar staff. They were extremely friendly and provided great service. We each ordered pasta - butternut squash ravioli and cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe. Fresh, tasty, just wow. We will be back soon!! read more

I was lucky enough to attend an event catered by Ama and their mobile pizza oven. Fantastic Neapolitan pizza and bruschetta made with their house baked bread. I spoke with the Ama family's son who was passionate about how they've developed the right flour combination and hydration to optimize this style of pizza. They know flour! I'll need to convince my daughter to head down and try their pizza so maybe we don't have to trek to her favorite Brooklyn pizza place in the future! Their service was great/professional. Their other courses; antipasto, salads and pastas were exceptional too. Plus they had a portable gelato bar everyone raved about. Obviously, I high recommend Ama. read more

Today was my second time coming to Ama pizza. The food is delicious. We were celebrating my friend's birthday and she tried the limoncello spritz. Highly recommend this. It is a very light and refreshing drink. Definitely on time for the summer. Our server was very sweet and helpful. She gave great recommendations when any one was unsure of what to order. This place feels like it is plucked out of Italy. We sat outside towards the back where we could get a great view of the entire outside seating. The first time I went to Ama Pizza I was able to park my own car, now they have valet. It is a nice touch but I do prefer to park my own car. That is the only reason for my 4 star review. We all left full and most of us had to take to go boxes. Be sure to save room for dessert! read more

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Here's the deal: it's a 4 or 5 ) but whoever thought that good food needs to SEEN and not FOUND is a liar! This place proves it! I lived in this town years for and I couldn't find it! It's literally at the bend in the road! Gravel parking lot.. nice inside and outdoor patio. Pizza(s) were delicious. If you don't like Neapolitan style pizza try their pasta dishes Come try it. But also don't Because I don't want to fight to get a table Service was great! read more

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Absolutely love this place!!! Most authentic Italian nearby, genuinely felt like I was in Italy. The ambiance here is amazing it feels fancy but it can be a casual bite or a nice dinner out. The food quality is amazing everything is so fresh. They have a large selection of pizza and pasta and great appetizers. We got the bufala pizza and lemon ravioli for entrees and these fried zucchini blossoms as an appetizer. The servers here and owners are so friendly we got free limoncello shots for the wait. Definitely gets busy here on the weekends but the wait is worth it! read more

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This is a hidden gem of a restaurant! Fantastic pizza and menu! The service was excellent and the ambiance felt like we were in Italy. HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

Not sure why this place is so busy. It's an interesting vibe, if you like a very loud dining room with little spacer or fresh air. Hostess brought us to our table 5 minutes before our reservation time and the waiter appeared shortly after to get us started. We enjoyed our spaghetti and freshly made pizza but serving sizes were inadequate. I thought it very odd that the pizza was only an eighth of an inch in thickness in some places. Lemon gelato was served with a tiny spoon made of plastic which seemed very cheap. We probably won't be back though it would be interesting to dine outside on a night when it isn't raining. read more

Had the pleasure of coming here for lunch... and then back again the next day for dinner while in Jersey. It's seriously that good. Upon entrance you're met with a wood fired oven imported straight from Italy, Neapolitan pizzas being ordered on the regular and a homey environment. Had the pizza for lunch the first day and it was truly one of the best Neapolitan pizzas I've had. Now if you don't like Neapolitan than I totally understand but don't worry their pasta is just as delightful. You can taste the passion in the food. The homemade gelato was the cherry on top! Def make a reservation, place gets busy! & You know what they say a long line is a good sign. That's for sure read more

Ama Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

Went there based on a recommendation from an Italian food lover, and she was so right. The food is fresh and ingredients are mostly flown from Italy. The interior is extremely cute with a small red scooter, huge pizza ovens giving an Italian vibe. Been there twice with family as well as friends and from drinks to appetizers everything stands out, with great value for money. We tried the green gnocchi, the honey sausage pizza, good old margarita or even the truffle pizza, the crust is as good as what one could have in Rome in fact better than some touristy places. The drinks are decent and large in my opinion a bit pricey. The service was fast and friendly. Summers there are open spaces and is really nice to have backyard picnicking vibes. I'm so glad we are finally going to give NYC some competition with NJ pizza scene growing. read more

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Great food, ambiance and service. It's a (not so) hidden gem.. Their Neapolitan style (00 caputo flour) pizzas are all great. One of the best pizza's in NJ!!! Tartufella (no speck) is worth the visit, cacio pepe pasta and zucchini blossom app were yummy. Now you can add summer truffles for $15 on any dish. This time, we found a metal string on the pasta. When we brought to their attention, they were sincerely apologetic and took off the item from our bill. Unlike the 'do you want change' treatment at Talula's (read my other review). read more

Ama Pizza - Tartufella Pizza (no speck); Cacio e Pepe; Parmigiana di Melanzane - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

A unique pizza experience. In the summer the outdoor seating is reminiscent of sitting outside my grandfathers little vineyard in Tuscany. I love the unique combination of flavors and local fresh ingredients (ramps anyone?!) It can get really crowded on the weekends, plan accordingly. read more

Everything from the cocktails, appetizers, first and second course were great. So was the service. Highly recommended

My wife and I went on a Sunday. They only had valet parking. We parked one block away at the firehouse. The food was delicious. The service was very professional, great and quick. The ambiance was very nice. I would say this was a very enjoyable dining experience and we're definitely going back. read more

I returned here after about a year and ordered some new dishes, specifically some specials. For appetizers, the arancini and ravioli al limone was ordered. The ravioli was a pasta special that night. The arancini consisted of two rice balls. One of them was a Bolognese while the other was saffron. They were okay, a little under seasoned, however. The sauce both rice balls were in was appetizing. The ravioli was housemade spinach and ricotta ravioli with lemon butter and toasted pistachio. The ravioli was extremely light and tasted extremely fresh. The lemon butter was okay, needed seasoning as well. The pistachios were a nice touch. For my dinner, I had the mortadella e pistachio pizza. It was another daily special. It contained mozzarella, mortadella, Stracciatella, toasted pistachio, and lemon zest. This was not bad. The crust was undercooked, so it did not hold up all of the toppings present as there was a ton. I did like the combination of everything especially the touch of lemon zest. I also tried another special, the zuppa di cozze Napoletana. There was a bunch of seafood present ranging from octopus, mussels, shrimp, clams, etc. This was solid. The broth seemed to consist of butter, garlic, and a little bit of white wine with a hint of crushed red peppers. read more

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Got seated right away on a busy Sunday night, the staff were friendly and polite. The food was good as well. Felt full after but didn't feel too heavy. We ordered the bruschetta and calamari for appetizers, and one of their pizzas and chicken parm for an entree. Overall would give it a good rating. read more

Ama Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

We went to AMA to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We heard about the restaurant on the EDMS. We were hoping to see Elvis there but we went on a Saturday and he was there the next day. We enjoyed our selections. My daughter tried the Calabrese Margarita, which she said had a nice spicy level to it. We decided to try the Margherita and Pesto pizzas as appetizers. We have had pizza from several locations in Italy and we felt the pizza was almost as good as Italy. The sausage on the Pesto pizza was delicious. We also tried the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Mafaldine Cacio de Pepe, and the Chicken Parm. Since we were celebrating our daughter's birthday, she did enjoy a Cappuccino and the table shared the Biscotti di Renita (4 Ricotta cookies) and Bigné Di San Giuseppe (1 large chocolate cream puff and 1 large vanilla cream puff). We definitely will try the restaurant again. We were seated in the patio area which is completely covered and heated for the cold weather. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. read more

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There is a Napolitano haven nestled in the middle of Hillsborough...I kid you not! This experience was magical and absolutely delicious. The place is surrounded by lush greenery and the rustic vibes take you very far away from the city life. The food was to-die-for. The place was bustling and the staff was cool, calm and collected and very endearing. The owners received everyone like they were family guests. The cooks were super friendly and I swear they wizardly whipped up everything to perfection. Reservations are strongly recommended if you want to have premier outdoor seating but even if you are at the bar, you will have front row seats to the magic! Honestly this place has easily earned its 5 stars! read more

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My husband found this restaurant on TikTok last year, and it's so good that we've been back at least three times! Everything that we've tried here has been amazing. We've tried 3 to 4 different kinds of pizza, a couple pastas, and the chef special. I also finish off dinner with an Affogato, which is mind blowing. I am not a dessert person, but if I have enough room, I always get this. Not only is the food amazing, but the service and the drinks are great as well. They have a heated outdoor area so you can enjoy dining either outside or inside, regardless of weather this has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants to add into our date night rotation. read more

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