Absurdly good. This place has been a staple in the area for a long time, and they really make the…read moremost of their space. The strip mall itself isn't anything special, but the surrounding area is beautiful , and once you're inside, the restaurant feels warm and inviting. The food is fantastic, and the variety on the menu is impressive. The chef clearly knows what they're doing because every single dish we tried was genuinely delicious. It's the kind of spot where you can't go wrong: date night, dinner with friends, or anything in between. We brought our own bottle and had a great time. Our waiter was super knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. The staff even joked around with me when I forgot my to‑go bag, and yes, I absolutely took it home because the food is that good. I also appreciate that they don't act like offering takeout is beneath them; even the takeout bag was nice. I honestly wish my meals were this good every night. I hope everyone who works here is paid well and enjoys what they do, because they're running the place exactly how a restaurant should be run. It feels like a true community staple somewhere that transports you a bit and makes the whole experience feel special. Lovely all around.

Celebrated my husband's birthday with dinner here. The spot is moody and dark. Service was fine, no…read morecomplaints. What we ordered: - POLETTE (pine nuts raisins beef meatballs, tomato sauce, melted cacio cavallo - CALAMARI (fried squid, spicy tomato sauce) - SALTIMBOCCA (veal tenderloin scaloppini, prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, spinach, crispy sage, brandy sauce, fingerling potatoes) - CINQUANTA (fifty layered lasagne, spinach pasta, veal tenderloin stew, cheese, mushrooms, marsala sauce) - NON-ALCOHOLIC SPRITZ - NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK BELLINI The food was good. It was a good experience overall.

Sunday evening Labor Day weekend…read more No wait for a table at 5:30 pm Ordered Salmon and grilled sausage with Fettuccine Alfredo Friendly service Music playing in the background $69 Will return

Came here on a Saturday night with two friends on our way back from a brewery up north. The…read morerestaurant was decorated with such beautiful and fun interiors. There were flowers everywhere and the overall atmosphere gave off homey European restaurant vibes. The wait staff also dressed very nicely. We got a bruschetta to share and I got the Italian sausage pasta while my friends got the short rib ravioli special and the eggplant parm. The dishes are so filling and flavorful. What stood out was the nice and the flowery presentation. The service was very friendly and fast. It's such a gem and I'm very glad we discovered this place. Will definitely come back to try more dishes as well as the drinks and desserts!

This was a casual and small spot in a mini complex with unique Italian breakfast and lunch options…read more The service was nice and friendly while the food came out in a timely manner. I went with the croissant panino ($17). This also came with a side salad or fries. I went with the salad, and it was tasty and fresh. The croissant had mortadella, burrata cheese, arugula, crushed pistachio, and a balsamic glaze. It was well put together. The croissant itself was flaky and buttery. The layers of mortadella was appetizing while the pistachio provided a nice crunch factor to the sandwich. The glaze really brought everything together. I also tried the fig grilled cheese that had prosciutto, mozzarella, and provolone cheese with a fig jam. This was good. There was a nice char on the Italian bread while the fig jam was a unique compliment to the cheeses. Will I go back? Definitely.

Traveled out of our way to try Cafe Basilico and it did not disappoint. Visited on a weekday and…read moregot seated immediately. The small quaint environment was welcoming and service was punctual. We started with a warm pistachio latte, which was one of the best we've had. The Fig Grilled Cheese was good, but the fig jam could've been better; however, the fries that accompanied the sandwich hit.the.spot... just perfect. The cannoli French toast was equally as delicious - the portion size was generous and they did NOT skimp on the cannoli bites... absolutely scrumptious. Hope to make a trip back soon and try more off their menu!

This cute pasta restaurant is located in a plaza, so parking is free and it's easy (compared to…read moreother downtown restaurants). We really enjoyed their house made options, including the tagliatelle and ravioli. We had a number of their dishes and they were all delicious. Service was friendly and the ambiance was lovely.

The meatballs are not that great. The pasta is cook to…read moreperfection local pasta place where u can eat after you're done with shopping since the restaurant is located at a mall plaza. Very laid back ambiance. The service is friendly but they don't allow you to do substitutions on the dishes. They also have a good variety of desserts

Special pork chop tonight is a "Wow". Bourbon peach sauce with risotto…read more Also worth trying is their New Jersey State of Mind cocktail, seems like a Last Word riff with gin, Aperol, Maraschino, and lemon juice.

I came back here and had the same appetizer as my two prior visits, the Hotsy totsy shrimp. It was…read morenot as good as my prior visits here. It felt like the shrimp needed a little more crunch. The sauce was tasty like in the past. For my entrée, I had the classic cheesesteak, which was offered on Thursday night. It was shaved ribeye steak with White American cheese, caramelized onions, and cherry pepper relish on a pizza roll. It also came with a side of fries. There were a ton of fries, and they were cooked nicely with a good amount of parmesan. The cheesesteak as a whole was solid. The roll was the key as it was soft and went well with the toppings. I just wanted more filling present. Everything was tasty but needed a bit more. I also tried cacio e pepe, and it was good, more peppery than I would have thought, but still solid. I also tried their pork chop special. They were nicely grilled with just enough flavoring. The pistachio tartufo was once again ordered, but this time there was Nutella present. I did not mind this as it actually paired nicely with the tartufo as a whole.

Top notch service and delicious food. Business group had dinner and it was a perfect night.read more

We had a great experience here. The food was good and very fairly priced for Italian cuisine. It's…read morenot a huge restaurant, but it has a cozy atmosphere with a nice ambiance. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and gave us great recommendations that didn't disappoint. It's also BYOB, which we absolutely love - it makes for an even better dining experience. Plus, there's a private lot, easy to park and will be back.

This restaurant genuinely made me emotional. From the moment we walked in, the owners made us feel…read moreso welcomed and cared for. It was one of the warmest and most genuine dining experiences I've ever had anywhere in the world. They were incredibly thoughtful about my food restrictions and went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable and included. At one point, the owner even had her husband come over and play a song for us on the piano. He was incredibly talented and had the most beautiful voice. And the food was just as wonderful. Everything tasted fresh, and the portion sizes were perfect. You could truly feel the care that went into every detail, from the hospitality to the food. I absolutely loved this place and will never forget the experience.

The Italian food here feels cozy and homemade. The owner also came out to play the piano for my…read moredad's bday and sing classic Italian songs. Service: the owner and his wife serve the restaurant. They're both so friendly and welcoming. At times the service can be a bit slow since it's mostly the two of them are serving the dining area Risotto with sausage- this was on the specials menu! Huge portion and the risotto was creamy, buttery with fragrant truffle Caserecce alla norma- aldente pasta, fresh eggplant flavor Bruschetta- simple with fresh basil, tomatoes and crusty bread

I was looking for a new Italian restaurant to try on my drive down 78 and discovered Lupa. I was…read morehappy to find a spot at the bar, and the staff and customers were all friendly. The ambiance is pretty, modern, and clean. For dinner, I ordered the pappardelle and broccoli rabe, which also came with fresh bread and a cold tomato spread. I finished my meal with a slice of tiramisu, and it was moist and flavorful. One of the staff mentioned that everything is made in-house. The restaurant is conveniently located just down the street from the train station, and parking was easy next door at the bank. Altogether, I really enjoyed my experience at Lupa, and I look forward to returning with friends to try more of the menu!

I was looking for a well rated Italian restaurant in Union County and Lupa Ristorante came up on…read moremany lists so I decided to check it out with friends. Lupa is located in a section of Berkely Heights that has seen a lot of recent construction, so it is very pretty and clean. You couldn't be blamed if you bypassed the restaurant. It is not very flashy looking and that is part of its charm. Be warned, there are not a lot of parking spaces behind the restaurant so you may wind up parking in the bank parking lot next to it (when the bank is closed of course). The staff at Lupa is super friendly and treats you like a regular even if this is your first time. The host was super nice, the waitress fantastic and the chef even came to our table to talk to us when we were done eating! The interior is very clean and modern looking. It's elegant and perfect for virtually any event including dates, anniversaries and family get togethers. We wound up sitting in the same area as the bar, which mostly has 2-4 seater tables and of course you can sit at the bar as well. The other side of the restaurant is where the larger tables are located. Here's a rundown of what we had: CLAMS ON TOAST Baby clams. crispy ham. thyme When I ordered this, I expected to see slices of toast with crispy ham and baby clams on top. Instead, it is two large pieces of wonderfully toasted bread with crispy ham on top. The actual clams sit in a *delicious* broth. Taken altogether these various components form a delicious bite. Be sure to dip that bread into the broth! SQUID INK SPAGHETTI lobster knuckles and claws. broccoli florets. grape tomatoes. Sherry Cream Sauce This dish has a wonderfully deep and earthy flavor. I've had squid ink pasta before and this was a wonderful example of it. The sauce was perfect and it was cooked beautifully. HANGER STEAK Truffled pomme frites. Chimichurri The steak was beautifully cooked (we had it medium rare) and the chimichurri sauce was great. However, the steak needed a bit more salt (and I'm not usually one to add salt to food). The pomme frites were wonderfully crispy and tasty. BROCCOLI RABE lemon. Kilos Broccoli rabe is a simple side dish but it is one of my favorites. It is also one that can easily be overcooked. These folks cooked it perfectly and it made for a fantastic side dish. My party and I loved our experience at Lupa and we all agreed we would happily return any time!

A Happy Anniversary well spent... the staff was welcoming accommodating and friendly…read more The space is very clean and bright. The food was delicious and affordable! Thank you Giovanni & team

Food was not as good as on the tik-tok $120 person. This is a high end pizzeria that serves steak…read moreand seafood. Basura! Will not be back. Bad lobster tails spoiled as hell. Just you average place where food is served. What was the trouble?