Let me say right up front, I'm going to try and be as respectful as I can with my review. That said... Came here on a Saturday night when they had entertainment (the guy from Jersey Boys, sorry I don't know his name.) 1) The JB guy shows up with a karaoke machine and does a few songs, which were nice. But then turns the mic and machine over to 2 drunked up chicks who dominated the night with their slurred off key singing, and for a good part of the time too! Um, I didn't pay for this. Which brings me to... 2) Dinners were up charged because of the "entertainment," which we don't mind. But I didn't expect to pay extra for 'drunk Saturday night karaoke.' So we quickly ate our dinners and left, which was a shame. 3) The service was good. I don't know the woman's name, but she was attentive. Likewise, the food was good (chicken dinners). Nothing great, but nice. The one thing that was really good was the ginger calamari. Will I eat here again? Maybe. But when they don't have "entertainment." read more

nice old school Italian vibe restaurant. came on a saturday night while they had a live band playing. the owner is very welcoming and caring. food was pretty good but the service from the waitress was pretty slow and forgetful. other than that its a very nice place to go and pretty good food. just wish or waitress didn't forget a app order and a drink order. read more

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It's really 3.5, but I'll round up. Bella Luce is right on Franklin Ave, next to a municipal parking lot. The decor is very attractive , and there is a large very nice bar. The service was not particularly welcoming, but was efficient. As for the food, we ordered Antipasto, Caesar Salad, Pork Chop w/ Peppers and Potatoes, Stuffed Shrimp w/ Lobster and Crabmeat in Lemon Sauce, and Mixed Chocolate Cheesecake. The best dish was probably the Antipasto. This was a beautiful selection of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Except for the oddly bland olives, this was delicious. The Caesar Salad was pretty standard. The Pork Chop looked very impressive. This was a very hearty portion. My husband thought it lacked a bit of flavor, but was otherwise fine. The Shrimp were a bit disappointing. The stuffing was rather bland, and the sauce had no acidic punch from the lemon. Honestly, I feel like I could have had the same dish at a diner, and not paid $39 for it. The Cheesecake was very rich and tasty. Overall, the meal was fine, but it is quite pricey. I'm not sure that it was worth the money, so I would hesitate to return. read more

MEH. The food was just average and it took longer than expected (30 mins) to get served. Everything was just basically meh and I'll likely not return. read more

Great place! Classic authentic Italian restaurant. Love the crowd. Music was a bit loud tho couldn't communicate much at the table. Food was great! read more

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I made a reservation on open table because I had a gift card. We drove 20 miles, got to the restaurant and it was closed. I called it a few times that week and got recorded message, then an out of service message from the phone. Didn't get to use the gift card or experience the good reviews this place had. read more

Bartender ignoring customer sitting with friend at other end of the bar. Friend noticed me waving. Calamari not cooked well after telling her I wanted it very crispy. Came out white and mushy. I sent it back. read more

Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the Crispy Calamari and their special, the Bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and well seasoned. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend. read more

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Friends of our recommended this restaurant to us. So we decided to give it a try. The restaurant itself is very nice inside. Love the glass front. Staff and service was excellent. Very attentive. The basket of bread.... Um.... Not sure about this one. The bread was hard and very difficult to pull apart. Maybe they should warm it up first or something. We ordered the meatball appetizer, which was really good. Sauce was excellent!! Minestrone soup was delicious. Had the blank ink linguine with shrimp and octopus. Absolutely delicious. An abundance of shrimp and octopus pieces. Flavor was excellent. Grilled pork chop was fantastic. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Nice size pork chop also. Pasta with garlic and oil was ok. Didn't use enough oil. Very bland taste and pasta was sticky. Apple crumb dessert was awesome. Very different flavor. Would definitely go back. read more

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Food tasted very good! We had calamari, burrata and the meatballs for appetizers. And for dinner I got the Short Ribs Pappardelle which was delicious! We also had the sangria and it was very large and were each able to get about 2-3 cups from it. The waitress and staff were extremely kind and accommodating to the 3 children that were present. read more

Bella Luce Restaurant and Bar - Short Ribs Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Went there to hear a singer who performs there once in a while not necessarily expecting great food and it wasn't great. Wasn't great but not terrible. Very disorganized run place. We had a reservation for 7 pm and they couldn't find it after waiting 15 minutes to find someone in charge so luckily we sat at the bar which was good but only 1 bartender. Again we went to hear Gerard no other reason to go to this restaurant. read more

What a great spot. Went with and old friend that just needed to get out for a fun night. We got there and both asked for different glasses of wine. Both of them chosen by Walter was great. She got the soup and I got done calamari. We both ate the whole thing. She got the shrimp and I got clams I just loved mine and ate the whole thing. She is very picky but still loved it. Place had a great vibe and everyone we talked to at the table next to us was having fun. Just a fun spot with great food read more

Ambiance - large bar and light music on a saturday night. Not very crowded. Some people dining at bar and a few tables filled. TVs playing sports and one had on turkey hunting. Service - super kind, but felt like we were battling for their attention a bit when trying to get more water / the bill. Lots of talking in the back. But other than that they were super kind and sweet. Very personable. Food - started with the crostini which was pretty good but it could've used more of the truffle honey, could barely taste or notice it. Had two pasta dishes as a main, the pesto and the rigatoni. Pesto was a bit oily and lacked taste for my liking but it was pretty good. Rigatoni was delicious. Overall, felt like pretty standard Italian fare. Would've loved to see a traditional pasta vodka on the menu! Meat prices were very high but would be interested to see how they taste. Overall - 3.5, good experience, food wasn't out of this world but it hit the spot on a cold Saturday night where some comfort food was needed. read more

The staff is very attentive. Complimentary bread & eggplant dip. We Ordered for appetizers the meatballs & octopus salad. For dinner the Fettucine Norcia & Short Ribs Pappardelle. The food was great. I would definitely recommend this place. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Decor: 5/5 read more

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The food here is excellent! I've never had a bad meal. The food is consistently delicious. I compliment the Chef everytime I eat here. The cheese wheel & pasta on Wednesday nights is the best! The farro salad, shrimp arabiata and pork chop are my favorite dishes. Cocktails are done well, especially the dirty martini. The owner, Joe makes everyone feel at home. The staff is friendly and attentive. Music/entertainment on some nights. Outdoor terrace weather permitting. My only negative is that the bathrooms could use an update or at least a thorough, deep cleaning from floors to ceilings. read more

I celebrated a private 40th birthday party with 60 people here and let me tell you, everything about this place is awesome!!! Joe (The Owner) was so incredible to work with. Leading up to the party, I had many questions and Joe was willing and able to answer my calls very professionally and in a timely manner. He went ABOVE AND BEYOND for me and for the party. I could never thank him enough. The restaurant/ bar is clean, elegant and cozy. It is suitable for a party or for a casual dinner. The servers are absolutely incredible. They are fast and efficient, not to mention professional and kind. The food.... Omg the food. *chef's kiss* Every single item is delicious. I was also lucky enough to try the pasta wheel that usually takes place on Wednesdays. Best pasta I've ever had. You will not be disappointed here. read more

Kudos to the chef! Everything sounded so delish I couldn't wrap my brain around what I even wanted to try for my first visit here! It didn't help seeing everything being brought to its respective tables as everything was screaming CHOOSE ME! NO CHOOSE ME! Lol I probably could have just ate a huge bowl of the complimentary eggplant caponata and bread. I would have licked the plate if it was socially acceptable. We started with a charcuterie which was great! I have to say though I was more of a fan of the cheeses versus the meats, but we could see the meats being freshly sliced through the open kitchen window. That little cup of candied fruits perfectly complimented the cheeses especially the Gorgonzola. For dinner we chose Fettuccine Norcia, Pasta Braids and the Paccheri Bolognese. Everything was so yummy and fresh, but we could only finish a third of the fettuccine and braids because we kind of got tired of the flavor. However no discredit to these dishes! I normally don't go with creamy sauces so that was on me, not the Chef! For dessert we had to try the modern cannoli. Well well well....good thing I saved room for this! The caramel almond tuile alone was pure bliss! Finished the night off with a coconut mojito! Such a happy drink! Parking on street, but I think there is a municipal lot nearby. Make a reservation because this place gets popping fast. All staff was on point, friendly and nothing sat at that open kitchen window for longer than a minute! Well done Bella Luce! We will definitely be back! read more

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I was really excited to check this place out, but feel that it fell flat. Our party was a little larger with six of us at the table. It was a little tight and constantly had to move our chairs as people walked by. The menu looked great and the salmon I ordered was tasty. We ended up going on a night where they had a pasta wheel special. One member of our party opted for it since she had never seen it before. Having had enjoyed the pasta wheel in the past at other restaurants, I know that preparing the dish takes time, but we were all ok with waiting. Each entrée at the table came out at a different time, and not just a couple minutes- I'm talking 10-15 in between. The pasta wheel was, of course, the most delayed but the hostess kept assuring us it was on the way. Eventually we were told our table was next and by this time the rest of the table had finished eating. We could have forgiven all of this, but a few moments later the waitress arrived with a plate of pasta and the pasta wheel chef went on to serve another table. With a pasta wheel, you pay for the presentation and it's severely disappointing when you spend your night waiting and end up paying $30 for Italian mac and cheese. When I asked why our table was just served the dish instead of having the opportunity to watch it be made like the other patrons, we were told that they did not want to keep us waiting any longer. Had we been asking about timing I would have understood, but the updates they provided were unsolicited. You would hope that when you wait that long that it would be worthwhile in the end. This was not the case. Unfortunately, I cannot see myself recommending this restaurant to anyone. The prices are not justified by neither taste nor service and there are too many other excellent options in the area. read more

Food, service and ambiance. I love the family oriented service. Everything I tried was amazing.

I grabbed dinner with a friend here on a Tuesday night. The restaurant wasn't really busy, and I found street parking right in front. The guy who seated us was very friendly, and often checked on us during our meal. The restaurant is very nice, with a modern look. There is plenty of dark metals in the furnishings and the tables were granite. The dim lighting set an intimate mood. The meal started with complimentary bread served with eggplant Parmesan. It was pretty tasty. I chose this restaurant specifically because I wanted to try their Fettuccine Norcia , fettucine with crimini, shiitake, porcini, roasted garlic, black truffle butter, and grape tomatoes. This dish has A LOT of mushrooms. The sauce was rich, heavy, and creamy. It was a delicious dish, but extremely heavy. It was one of the few times I did not clean my plate. But i got to take it home anyway. I also tried got a taste of the pasta braids. This was a much lighter dish, with delicious Brussels sprouts. For dessert, we split a gooey, warm, chocolate brownie. It was served with ice cream and loaded with nuts. The service set the experience apart. We were checked on frequently, but not too often. We stuck around to chat over dessert and they didn't rush us out, even if it was after closing. A good dining experience overall. read more

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I absolutely LOVE this food! Everything is expertly prepared, from the soup and apps, to the pasta and entrees to the desert. The chef is phenomenal - his octopus app was hands down the best I've ever had. The squid ink pasta is amazing and the seafood is cooked perfectly - everything is done exactly the way it should be. The staff are extremely attentive and usually has more help then they need to ensure that you are well taken care of and the owners Joe is always around, is very hospitable and ensures the ship runs smoothly! I'm hosting a large work dinner there tonight and have been drooling all day thinking about what I'm going to eat! Try this place, you will not be disappointed! read more

My friends and I dined at Bella Luce last week & it was a very pleasant experience. They start you off with bread & butter, and though they lack a wine list & only have two kinds of wine (Chardonnay & Cab, one of each), they were both very good choices. The octopus is a must-try! I'm a pescatarian so I did not try the meatballs but my friends said they were buttery soft & delicious!! I tried one of their pastas but I can't seem to remember which one (sorry). The pasta was alright.. I originally wanted the linguini clam pasta but unfortunately, they were out of that entree that particular night. I'll definitely try it next time I visit. Overall, it was a pleasant experience & hope to dine there sometime in the future. read more

Bella Luce Restaurant and Bar - Meatballs & octopus salad appetizers - Italian Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Disappointing. I had heard great things about this restaurant, but that was some time ago. My wife and I finally got around to trying it out. The atmosphere is nice and the drinks are well made. The service was on point. The food, however, was mediocre at best. First, the bread we were served was cold and obviously refrigerated. I was not warmed or soft. The butter was hard as a rock and had freezer burn. The appetizers were were probably the best part of the meal and came out fairly quickly. The main dishes tasted as though they were prepackaged and reheated. Nothing felt fresh, despite an extended wait time for main dishes. We opted to skip desert after the lackluster main course. I normally try a place at least twice before leaving a review, but can't see myself trying again after the price, wait times and bland main courses. read more

5 well deserved stars! Excellent service and authentic Italian flavors. And a DJ even came out around 9pm on Saturday - so fun! read more

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I would always pass by here since Bella Luce is located in my hometown and fortunately when I finally decided to try this place, it was a good experience! The interior and ambiance feels very classy. You have the bar on one side with a low barrier that separates the table area. I was pleasantly surprised walking in here. The service my friend and I had was a good experience as well. I also like how you can see the kitchen in the back through the service window in the back if you want to observe the chefs preparing the dishes. As for the meal, I had the Fettuccine Norcia, which is fettuccine in cream with mushrooms, garlic, black truffle butter and tomatoes. I could definitely taste the freshness in the pasta and the overall dish was delightful. The sauce was not too overwhelming and I was fully satisfied! My friend got the seafood salad from a bite I took, also was tasty. For dessert, I got the White Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake. There was even some salted caramel glaze on top that provided a nice touch. The cheesecake itself was not overly sweet and it was a good way of ending our meal. With this location being so close, you are sure to see me here again! read more

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I can not speak highly enough about my experience with Bella Luce. I just had my second event there, and everything about my experience was wonderful. The owner makes the process of planning for a larger party so easy. He worked through the menu with me to ensure I was getting everything I wanted at a price I could work with. At the last minute, I had to cancel and switch my party date because my son got sick the day before, and it was a smooth transition, and the owner even reached out to see how my son was doing. The dinner itself was delicious and the service was top-notch. I will absolutely return to Bella Luce for another party, celebration, or simply to have dinner with my husband. read more

We found this place on open table for New Years eve. We were happy to get a reservation for a restaurant who was charging Alla Carte. We were a party of 7 people. The management was very accommodating and we're happy to work through a rough start. Our initial waiter was a little rude because we were unhappy with the table we sat at but he was replaced by manager to serve us. Our family was extremely happy with most of the food we ordered. The highlights were the Cajun calamari, chicken arrabiatta, the filet tip fettuccine, and the pork chop. All these dishes were different from any Italian Restaurant I've been to and were excellently prepared. The only two dishes that were a let down was the Short Rib Papperdelle and the Cannoli Dessert. The Papperdelle had too much sauce and the fresh pasta came out like mush which ultimately ruined the dish. The Cannoli Dessert was just Cannoli cream on a plate with homemade crisps that were too surgery and far off from a Cannoli shell. We look forward to returning here for a Parmagian Cheese Bowl Tuesdays though and were happy regardless of the minor issues mentioned. read more

One would think a normal staple dish of chicken Marsala be dull and lifeless, however Bella Luce had me fooled and made me drastically change my mind! The flavorful dish went over the top with making me completely satisfied. My wife had the steak and said their mashed potatoes were also quite tasty! Can't wait to go back and try more from this restaurant, going back can't possibly come soon enough! Sincerely one happy customer :-) read more

My family and I celebrated Father's Day here. We sat at the bar and order drinks as we waited for a table to become available. The hostess was gracious in her effort of finding us a comfortable and spacious table. We started off with Sangria, Crispy Calamari, Polenta, and Mussels alla Marinara. A bread basket was brought over along with Tapenade. My parents killed it. The calamari was fresh and lightly seasoned and the marinara that accompanied it was out of this world. For our entrees my mom and I ordered the Crab Cake Special. My dad had the Chicken Francese. We all chose potato and spinach as our sides. The food was phenomenal. From the presentation to the first bite I was hooked. The crabmeat was slightly sweet yet had a hint of spice that made it mouth watering good. My dad even raved about it and he's not into anything spicy. The aioli sauce paired with my meal was like opening Pandora's Box. I didn't know what I was getting myself into but I couldn't help going back for more. My dad enjoyed his chicken Francese. The sangria was delicious and snuck up on us. We finished off the evening with White Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake and Tiramisu. I didn't taste the cheesecake but he said it was good. I'm not a fan of the tiramisu served here. The pudding on top was fine but as I dug in I didn't care for the espresso. Bella Luce offers a casual enjoyable evening out. Whether it be by your lonesome, on a date, or a night out on the town with your family. read more

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Food was very good - not too much BUT as a lot of people have mentioned, the service is slow.

I wish I could give them 0 stars -- What a disappointment! We had a reservation for a Saturday evening; the place was half empty and they told us we had to sit at a table for 6! Meanwhile there was a table for 4 available and when we asked the hostess, she said no can't do it! Do yourself a favor and go to a restaurant that really wants your business!! read more

Food made passionately, professional and gracious service in a well appointed establishment. We started with the crispy calamari that was lightly batter and freshly fried. The calamari was tender , light and had the unmistakable fresh seafood sweetness to it. Buddy and I took forever to decide on the entre. Everything looks good. We agonized over our selection and finally arrived at Braised Ribs and Fetucine Nozaria. Both are fresh made , in house pasta. I had the fetucine and it was served with mushrooms over savory and creamy sauce. Long story short, we both concluded that our dishes are spectacular. Some body in the kitchen has mad skills. Somebody in the restaurant made a conscious choice to use the best and most fresh ingredients possible. The results are self evident. You take a bite and you know this is the REAL deal. The service is stellar. Our server, Francesca is warm, friendly and professional. Great wine service and did not once interrupt the table conversation. She did not just put plates in front of us.. she created the dining experience and orchestrated the services. This is a well run restaurant that takes pride in their food, service and space. You can be confident that this restaurant will perform when you most need it. read more

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Great Italian spot on Franklin Ave in Nutley. Always a very good meal. We just had my daughters 1st birthday party here. The owner Joe was extremely accommodating. Had a private room for 40 plus people. We were allowed to decorate, serve our own desserts and were never rushed in the least bit. The wait staff was fantastic, especially Christian. Food was fantastic, we had a pre fixe menu which Joe made very flexible. The food was fantastic, gravy/sauce was very homemade, the meatballs and prosciutto sandwich were dynamite. Thanks again Joe. Sorry no food pix read more

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I have been driving past this location for years and never went in so today we had dinner here. My wife said her meal was very good myself and another friend were not impressed with our meals. The atmosphere was lacking it just didn't feel like the experience we were looking for. For us I don't see us going back. Not terrible but not great either. read more

Went there tonight. My sister asked for flat water. She got Italian Fuji water. The waiter asked me what I wanted to drink , I said I didn't want to have anything. So a glass gets filled for her with bottle and one was given to me without being asked. For the record , I can't stand this water and was never asked if I wanted it or have lemon put in it. My sister was told by the other server , that they didn't charge her for that water. She took it home. I was never asked if I wanted sparkling water or a diet soda , if I didn't want wine or a drink. First time I've gone to a place to eat since COVID-19 and not happy. Menu needs to be expanded for weight watchers friendly as well. Poor selection. Need better salads, more vegetarian meal offerings.. Major changes need to be made. read more

While eating dinner a roach crawled out from the bread. The manager gave no sympathy and proceeded to ask "so your not paying the bill ?" Uhhhh no, we aren't. Didn't apologize, the servers were so apologetic but the manager didn't seem to care one bit. When we came in, the lights were so bright and no music was on so we asked if it could be lowered and music turned on.... -The bread was rock hard, very very stale. -The flank steaks had no seasoning and wasn't cooked to the temp asked -The bolognese was like ground meat added to jarred sauce read more

Terrible service waited 20+ minutes even with a reservation. They seated people who came after us first, and gave us utensils after 40 minutes. Served our drinks after 25 minutes after ordering when other people who ordered after us got their drinks almost immediately. Food was alright, not worth the price. I got the squid ink linguini. There were about 5 pieces of seafood with minimal spaghetti for $30, a huge ripoff. The waiter was incompetent, extremely slow in everything he did. It took them 20 minutes to give us the check when the table next to us got theirs immediately. They gave us two strawberries for valentines I guess that was ok. Would not recommend and would not go back again. read more

I wanted to come here a couple of times before I wrote my review. We heard some great things from yelp so we decided to try it out. The first time we came, we found ourselves at the bar and had a lovely experience although her service was sporadic, she was warm and inviting. The food was great and the wine was not cheap so be prepared. I had the bolognese which was delicious and the Pollo alla Scarpariello that my husband devoured. The eggplant that came with the bread basket is delicious, nice touch. We decided after that meal, we try it again. The second time we came here, we were served by a different bartender on a Monday night and had a whole different and much better experience. He was attentive, food was delicious and the place was on point. It made me want to return. The last time was disappointing, actually frustrating. We had the same bartender from our first visit. It was strange to see her eating from the owner's plate and having a "staff discussion" while we sat there and waited to be acknowledged. After about 15 minutes, the service bartender came over not the bartender (who was still talking to the owner) to see if we needed anything. Uhm, we like to order something to drink and eat.... We asked her a couple of questions, she looked lost. She may have been training. Also, during this, a few employees went behind the bar which starting to confuse matters more and her more which led to us waiting to order again for a few more minutes. After we finally put our orders in, the bar seemed to be in disarray and we decided to eat and leave. The owner who was eating next to us at the bar seemed to be having "staff talks" which were loud and as customers, we should not be listening to. These should be done after or before patrons walk in. It took us a bit to get our check and we weren't thanked or asked if we wanted anything so we just left disappointed. The food is always great here, the hostesses are lovely but for the prices they charge, I expect better service not just for regulars but for all who walk through your door. May just had been an off night so I would try them again but it may be a little bit before we venture back if we do. read more

Great intimate place. Friendly service. We got sat right away and were shown all the specials Ij had scallops wrapped in prosciutto that were amazing followed by shrimp risotto and they were both amazing. Definitely recommend it read more

Bella Luce Restaurant and Bar - Shrimp risotto - Italian Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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amazing seafood and pasta, and the atmosphere + service was great too! definitely would come back again! If you're looking for a romantic night this is perfect :) read more