Arca is one of those places in Lincoln Park that really stands out. Since this is a small neighborhood, you don't find too many places like this around here. You can easily notice this restaurant when you drive by. It was my birthday night, and we decided to try a place right near our home. First impression -- I might be wrong -- but the building kind of reminded me of a church, especially with the colorful glass windows you normally see in churches. The ambience was really good, especially with the beautiful high ceilings and the unique setting. The whole place has a classy and modern vibe, but at the same time, it still feels warm and comfortable. We settled down and ordered: Shrimp Arrabbiata -- Had a nice tangy taste and was really good. Chicken Arca -- Chicken breast with shrimp, dried tomatoes, and mashed potatoes. This was really yum! Lumache Vodka -- Chicken, spinach, and vodka sauce. The pasta was really good. We really enjoyed the food. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. The menu has a good mix of pasta, seafood, steaks, and other Italian dishes, so there are plenty of options. Service was friendly and attentive, which made the overall experience even better. Definitely a nice place for a date night, family dinner, or any special occasion. Having a place like this right here in Lincoln Park is definitely a nice addition to the neighborhood! read more

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Here's the deal: I haven't been able to get here since they moved from down the block! I absolutely move the decor and layout! Unfortunately the food was not on par! The short rib ragu was just ok. The peas & carrots seemed like a frozen bag of veggie were added. The branzino was bland overcooked. The risotto was undercooked I really liked the atmosphere and was hoping the food would match . Perhaps it was just an off night. I would definitely try it again if I'm back in town and hope for better results! read more

Arca vibes Modern, trendy, and so lively--it honestly felt like I was in NYC! The Pear Martini is definitely one of my favorites. The service was professional and welcoming, everyone was dressed to impress, and the food was as delicious as it was beautiful. Such a fun night out! read more

Arca - Italian Near Me - Lincoln Park, New Jersey

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Ambiance: granted i visited with someone who actually works there, the ambiance was gorgeous, clean, welcoming for me and others. The Hosts/Owners, working the tables. Service: food came out immediately. Comfortable time was allowed between looking at menu and ordering. Food: drinks, amazing flavors, good alcohol ratio. Actual Food, My first visit in jersey that medium cooked meat was exact with an amazing natural flavor on the NYStrip. Seabass: seared on the outside, SUPER Fluffy and buttery in the inside... read more

Beautifully renovated space with a great atmosphere, the place was very clean and trendy! The food was delicious we started with some very flavorful calamari and a pistachio arugula salad which was light and flavorful. I had the short rib ragu which was delectable and fairly priced. Our server was charming and attentive as were the other staff floating around! Quality of the meal was great and the bill was not outlandish for 3 people having drinks, apps, mains and dessert. We will be back! read more

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I have been here twice. I was being generous coming back for a second time. The staff makes me my friends and family all super uncomfortable and annoyed the whole time. The food was just so average. The ambiance is nice. read more

I went to ARCA for a friend's birthday this weekend. We live pretty close by, but this was our first time visiting. My friend ordered a nice wine, and they had an extensive wine list with plenty of variety. I had the Purple Rain Martini because it was made with gin, which I love. It was a little sweeter than I usually prefer, but I still enjoyed it. There were two or three parties happening when we visited on Sunday afternoon, but they were nicely separated and did not affect the service at all. We were seated quickly, and our server was friendly and attentive. We started with the tuna tartare, which was delicious. For my entrée, I ordered the gnocchi. It seemed like it would normally be a great dish, but mine was a little too salty. I'm not sure whether the dish is usually prepared that way or whether it was just an off day. My friend ordered the vodka pasta and loved it. We did not have room for dessert, but I also have to mention how cool the overall ARCA theme is. The church-inspired design, stained-glass windows, and décor create such a unique atmosphere. Overall, we had a nice experience, and I'm looking forward to going back. read more

Hidden gem located in converted church in downtown Towaco Arca is a restaurant you may need to search out on your first visit by afterwards you"ll be hooked and want to return! Arca offers a diverse selection of traditional Italian dishes in an attractive open span eating area , has alfresco dining as well and a fun bar if you just what to "hydrate* or eat at the bar We split a bottle of red and started with the Bistro Calamari. Flash fried, balsamic reduction, hint of cajun spices, tomatoes and scallion - excellent take on an old specialty of squid portion is sized right to share . We also had the beef carpaccio, another well executed appetizer in a shareable portion For main i had the capelini pomodoro. Jumbo shrimp & pancetta, in a fresh plum tomato sauce over a bed of pasta - delicious and my friend had the bronzinno special Arca is worth searching out for an unusual place to dine between the environment, the excellent service and the foos you won't be disappointed! read more

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I was told about this place last summer but wasn't able to make it until tonight. A few friends and I went for dinner and we really enjoyed ourselves. I started out with a limoncello martini, which I thought was such a cool idea. It did not disappoint. I loved it! The table got truffle wings, which smelled of truffle as they were brought to the table. They were cooked perfectly. For dinner, I had the lobster ravioli. I really enjoyed it. It smelled and tasted deliciously of lobster. A great choice. I also find it really cool that this restaurant was built into an old church. They kept some of the stained glass windows and obviously the architecture of the building. Such a cool vibe. My only point of concern is, I felt the appetizer menu was not that large. Not that I was going there for apps, but there wasn't too much to choose from. Overall, I really enjoyed Arca and would definitely go back though read more

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I have been there twice. I hosted a 90th birthday party two weeks ago. The staff was very attentive and the food was great. I went again last night and tried different dishes and the food was amazing. The Bistro Calamari and the Cedar Plank Salmon was cooked perfectly. Again the staff were plentiful read more

This restaurant was a great place. Service is top notch. Multiple servers attended to us - not in an overwhelming sense- just making sure all our needs were met. The best part though was the food! From the varied bread they brought to the table to the cocktails to the entrees. The table enjoyed sea bass, truffle gnocchi and short rib. Everything was flavorful and the portions were excellent. We will be returning. read more

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We started with the pear salad which was tasty but very small portion. The lumache vodka pasta my wife had she liked alot. I had the Chicken Arca which was good. We finished up with the Piststashio Ricotta cake Which was very tasty. The place is pretty. High ceilings nice decor. The service was okay. As waiters and waitresses would assist like a team effort. The food was good and we will most likely be back again. read more

I had dinner here with my friends and loved it! The salmon was delicious. The shrimp appetizer was delicious as well! Lovely ambience and clean restrooms. Service was excellent. Tiramisu was ok. The espresso creme brûlée was amazing. read more

Arca - Italian Near Me - Lincoln Park, New Jersey

Found this spot on Yelp and decided to check it out. The interior is seriously beautiful--I think someone mentioned it used to be an old church? Either way, the vibe is super cool and the decor is stunning. We grabbed some drinks and really enjoyed those. As for the food, it was kind of all over the place. My friend had the gnocchi and it was amazing. I had a seafood dish that I honestly couldn't eat. No one even asked how the meal was, which was disappointing. The staff was super attentive, almost too much--felt like they were listening in on us at points. I don't mind good service, but it was a bit intense. Would I go back? Maybe--for drinks and the atmosphere. Just don't get the seafood! read more

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YUM!! I will dream about the truffle Parmesan wings!! Crunchy outside, succulent inside, beautifully seasoned. I'm not even a wing person and wow they were amazing. Creme brulee cheesecake was so fluffy and melt in your mouth! Could not stop eating it. And the rocher chocolate dessert I got one bite of that my friend ordered was so good! Gorgeous ambiance! Cannot wait to come back. read more

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Place is nice. Huge entry doors that make you feel like you're about to enter a church. Oh, right! This was an old church converted in to a restaurant. Food, thought was interesting. I'm traditionalist. Tuna tartar came with added bonus. Tomatoes & cucumbers. It clearly had more tomatoes than tuna. A fine way to stretch tuna rations! Presentation requires a bit of attention. Filet presentation was the worse. Mashed potatoes were bland. Three asparagus with ice scream type scoop of mashed potatoes on top. Sauce was out of place under the filet. And blue cheese on top of filet was a bit too much. I asked for rare, it was medium rare. Probably left under the heat lamp for longer than it should've been. Service is great! Meaning, we had our table under constant surveillance. Place is pumping with music. Felt like being at a club rather than a restaurant. read more

Made it back to Arca over Memorial Day weekend, we walked in without a reservation and mind you it was busy but we got lucky with a table on the patio! Started with oysters and the steak tartare which didn't look like much but it was good. Just wish they gave you more toast with the tartare. I ordered the shrimp risotto special for dinner and it was sooo damn good - it came with pieces of octopus and lobster. It was a big plate so I brought half of it home. We were on the fence about dessert and ended up getting two by accident! The pistachio ricotta cake is my fave here - it's light and airy with lots of flavor. And we tried the peanut butter tartufo for the first time - it was excellent! read more

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I tried this restaurant for the first time on Mother's Day. Set in a beautifully converted old church, I wasn't quite sure what to expect--but I was impressed from the moment I arrived. From the charming wrap-around porch to the bar glowing with underlighting, the atmosphere is effortlessly stylish and inviting. I ordered the truffle gnocchi, which were magnificent--perfectly soft, pillowy bites packed with flavor. For dessert, the vanilla bread pudding was absolutely sublime and the perfect ending to the meal. The waitstaff was attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. We had an early dinner reservation but decided to extend the evening with drinks at the bar. The bartenders were engaging, fun, and clearly skilled at what they do--they made excellent cocktails and added to the overall experience. All in all, it was a fantastic evening. I'm already looking forward to going back. read more

Visited twice, both times were great. The owners and so kind! Excellent service, delicious cocktails, and our meals were delicious. I love the outside bar area, it is so cute. This will definitely be a frequent place i visit! read more

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Beautiful place, service was great and food great! Prices seem a little high. Ordered Halibut, it was very good but was $49. For me it's a special occasion place read more

Arca - Halibut - Italian Near Me - Lincoln Park, New Jersey

We enjoyed our meal but it wasn't without some hiccups. When we arrived, there seemed to be confusion about our reservation..as in, they couldn't find it. They had a reservation book that looked a hot mess. My husband had his phone out ready to show the 3 minute call he had with them where he booked it. We were taken to a table upstairs. The whole decor is nice and tastefully done. However, as other reviews mention, it is super loud. So much so that it's a struggle to hear your table mates dinner conversation. Service was amazing and the food was great. I didn't care for the buratta but my husband enjoyed. I had the chicken Milanese and mushroom risotto and both were great. Husband had to the veal chop? And said it was amazing. Our dining companions enjoyed their meals as well. Everyone had a great time and we will be back. read more

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Let's start with they have valet service, that's a nice perk. Once inside the service & food are very good - our reservation was honored promptly. Complimentary assorted breads with sweet, soft butter was perfect. We started our meal with an appetizer of Bistro Calamari. We'd never had calamari prepared that way before and it was outstanding! We really enjoyed it. We each had a delicious pasta dish and finished off the meal with creamy, hot cappuccino. For us this is dessert & a real treat. We'll definitely be back. It's not cheap but worth every dollar. read more

Excellent drinks - We had the truffle wings & pair salad which were delicious -- I had the sizzling steak which I highly recommend getting sizzling - peanut butter tartufo for dessert Service is on point and atmosphere outside is fun read more

This is a new restaurant that was once a church. Beautifully decorated . Our server was Tony. He was one of the best waiters! Very friendly and courteous. I had a pear martini and it was delicious. We started out with tuna tartare. It had good flavor. For dinner I had the special which was squid ink, linguine with scallops and my husband had the truffle gnocchi with mixed vegetables and steak. We both enjoyed our meals. Service was quick. They also have valet parking and outdoor seating . We will be back! read more

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Food was great, nice scene and priced perfectly . Loved the pasta dishes. Has a little bit of everything on the menu.

Absolutely loved Arca! The restaurant is super modern and cozy. The food was delicious and the servers were top tier. Will definitely be returning! read more

Arca - Italian Near Me - Lincoln Park, New Jersey

Def a very cool vibe.. cocktails were obviously expensive for an upscale location like this but the food and drinks very good and staff was also great.. read more

Food and service was amazing! The ambience is great and great vibe. Best Halibut dish I ever had.

First off, I loved that they kept the original charm of the church by leaving the outdoor structure the same and when walking into the dining room they kept the second level where the choir would originally sit as more dining space. For food- for apps we got the shrimp arrabiatta and the calamari which were both juicy, crispy, and the spices in them were balanced well. The veal chop was thin and crispy but could have used a touch more sauce, and the chicken was juicy and well flavored. The only complaint was that we wish the sides were a bit bigger or they had 2 options included. Will definitely come here again! read more

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My husband and I came here for date night. The place itself is really cool. It used to be a church. Atmosphere is great. They do have outdoor seating which is nice on a beautiful day. The food and drinks were average. We both got the filet mignon which was okay. The seafood salad app special was my favorite part of the meal. If you're looking for a cool atmosphere with decent food, give this place a try. read more

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On the expensive side. Quite noisy in the main dining area. Food was good to very good for our party of four. Service was very attentive but it was hard to keep track of who was responsible for your table. Wine was a light pour. Probably won't go back. The environment, since it was a church at one time, was nice and unique but the value really wasn't there for us, considering we could hardly hear each other and we were seated right next to the bussing station. read more

Always treated as Family, Amazing Food and Service. Highly recommend Giving them a Try

Absolutely beautiful inside, great ambiance! Apps were amazing, gnocchi & calamari were excellent, so much flavor! I had the salmon which was perfectly cooked with an amazing sauce, almost sweet. Definitely going back! read more

Terrible that is all I have to say, the staff and food also just as bad. Won't recommend this place at all

Really lovely restaurant but the food is awful. Mussels were old fishy and inedible. An old review said don't try it, they were right and I was wrong. Grilled chicken tough and rubbery. Waiters are nasty argumentative. I'm spending $ and they act like they are doing me a favor. YIKES!!! read more

This was by far one of the best experiences I've had at a restaurant. First off the aesthetics are on point. It's warm, welcoming and perfect for any occasion. Secondly the service was great! Everyone was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. And lastly the food was absolutely delicious. From the appetizer to dessert it was all incredible. The drinks too were made to perfection. So happy we decided to try arca and will 100% be back! read more

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Arca is my favorite place to go for a great meal! Same owners from 202 Bistro. They don't disappoint and always remember me and treat my family as VIPs every time! read more

One Star - A Disgrace in Disguise of Elegance This place is a textbook case of style over substance. Yes, it's a beautiful venue--formerly a house of worship, now a monument to overinflated ego and mediocre food. Unfortunately, that's where the praise ends. What followed was one of the most chaotic and uncomfortable dining experiences I've ever had. From the moment we sat down, it felt like we were on a stopwatch. A waitress literally snatched my drink from my hand the moment I finished it. Busboys hovered like vultures, grabbing plates before we were done, and servers kept interrupting our conversation to rush us along. Want to enjoy your drink after dinner? Good luck--dessert will be shoved in your face before you can exhale. The service is suffocating yet scatterbrained. We were surrounded by servers, yet couldn't get basic requests right. It took multiple people to eventually bring us bread--and even then, it came only after repeating ourselves. Getting a napkin or another drink meant repeating the request to a parade of staff, none of whom seemed to know who was responsible for what. One server even misunderstood a simple drink order, which led to a truly unbelievable meltdown by the owner. Yes, the owner stormed over like a tyrant-in-training and accused us of bringing in alcohol because we dared question the pour of a drink. Spoiler: it was a bottle of sparkling water. Instead of a professional response or clarification, he berated us, cancelled our dessert, and made a scene in front of the entire restaurant--declaring we were banned and to "never return." You won't have to tell us twice. The food? Wildly inconsistent and overpriced. The gnocchi and calamari were decent--I'll give them that--but everything else? Over-seasoned, underwhelming, and sometimes just plain bad. A couple people in our group ended up sick after eating the short rib ragu, which was both watery and bland. I requested a simple modification--no peas or carrots--and was told the dish is pre-made and couldn't be changed. For these prices, I expect a lot more than a microwaved bowl of mush. Oh, and if you plan to use an American Express gift card? Forget it. They won't take it--and won't tell you until the end of the meal. In short: rude ownership, chaotic service, inconsistent food, inflated prices, and zero hospitality. This place doesn't deserve your time, your money, or the sacred space it inhabits. Avoid at all costs. read more

I'd been eager to try Arca ever since it opened, and I finally got the chance. The ambiance was exactly what I expected--an impressive and stylish conversion of a church into a trendy restaurant. Unfortunately, that's where the excitement ended. The acoustics were a major drawback. Churches are built to amplify sound, which doesn't translate well to a dining experience. The noise level was overwhelming--you could barely hear the person next to you, and the volume just kept escalating as everyone talked over one another. Service was equally disappointing. While attentive in theory, it felt disorganized in practice. We had at least seven different staff members come to our table, which created more confusion than care. We were even given the bill twice--after we had already paid. As for the food, it was hit or miss. The truffle wings were solid, and the oysters--though tasty--were the smallest Blue Points I've ever seen. My halibut was unfortunately overcooked, though my wife's sea bass was decent and our friend's steak was well-prepared. The standout was the Chocolate Mousse Cake, which was fantastic. The Pistachio Ricotta Cake, however, tasted like sweetened cardboard with a crunch. For the price point, you expect consistently excellent food and service--not a mixed bag. The crowd leans heavily toward the fashionable and / or the self-impressed, so if you're into a scene that values style over substance, this might be your kind of place. As for me, one visit was enough. read more

Loved everything! I plan on coming back on Tuesday. I hope we don't need a reservation!