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.

Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people…read moreabout--because then you'll have a harder time getting a table. Luca's Ristorante is a hidden gem that proves you should never judge a restaurant by its parking lot. Not long after we were seated, we were greeted by Luca -- a Luca and not the Luca. Still he was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about his restaurant, taking the time to walk us through the menu and checking in throughout the meal without ever hovering. Luca's has a partial liquor license, offering a modest wine selection but is otherwise being BYOB. As we were told with a smile, they're much more interested in what's ON your plate than what's IN your glass. We started with two excellent appetizers. The arancini, already a family favorite, were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and disappeared from the table faster than anyone was willing to admit. The Polpette, Luca's signature meatballs with pine nuts and raisins, certainly earned the praise they've received from NJ.com as some of the best in the state. Even if raisins in meatballs sound unusual, trust the process. The restaurant proudly calls itself "A Taste of Ischia," the beautiful volcanic island in the Bay of Naples, and the seafood absolutely lives up to that promise. My squid ink pasta with octopus (the Polypus) was outstanding, with perfectly tender octopus and beautifully balanced flavors. The scallops were buttery, sweet, and cooked to perfection, while the Ischia -- loaded with mussels, clams, and calamari -- was every seafood lover's dream. The rest of the menu proved just as impressive. The Pappardelle, featuring burrata and a rich Bolognese sauce, was a huge hit, while the Romolo, a comforting combination of chicken, pasta, bacon, and sauce, was another winner that had no leftovers to speak of. If you somehow still have room after dinner, Luca's offers a nice assortment of gelato. But do yourself one favor: don't leave without ordering a cappuccino. Rich, foamy, and expertly made, it's the perfect finale to a memorable meal. If you find yourself in Somerset, just a few turns off Routes 287 or 1, make the stop. You'll be greeted by a wonderful staff, treated to outstanding food, and very likely leave wondering how a restaurant this good has been hiding in a strip mall all along.

The food is absolutely delicious. We had a duck appetizer that was so unique and delicious. It was…read moresuch a pleasure to see a menu without all the same old choices. Our favorite part of the evening was our sweet server, Ashley. She was so personable, friendly, experienced and smart. She treated us like we were VIP's. We need more people like her in the world.

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!

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

I've always come to this strip mall to dine at Nomad. However, due to recommendations from my…read morefriends, we decided to give Pastiamo a shot. Normally we stay away from pasta restaurants unless there's something unique to it. However, Pastiamo hit a home run immediately. From Chef Francesca being ever present in the restaurant - from serving to seating - to the homemade focaccia you receive as a starter, it was an impeccable dining experience. Then you add the nice plates and simple, yet warm decor. You just can't go wrong. We split the forza Italia as an appetizer to get more of a focaccia kick. We loved the homemade bread. The three cheeses were a nice and complimentary touch. Also, dousing this with some freshly squeezed orange juice didn't hurt. For the main course, we split a pesto gnocchi and a tagliatelle alla Norma. The pasta was truly homemade. Felt super fresh. The sauces were great and not too oily or salty. It was so good that we decided to bring some home to my parents. We will be back again!

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.

Decent chicken Parmesan sandwich, comes with fries or salad. The Caesar was very tasty…read more The steak and egg sandwich was delicious and filling, served with fresh hot potatoes. Our server was was friendly and checked in several times. They also have a huge cozy covered outdoor patio.

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.

The Russo family did a phenomenal job hosting my Mom's 70th birthday party. They were so courteous…read moreand friendly on the phone with planning and answering any questions my family or me had. The food (drinks, appetizers, salad, main courses and desserts) were all so delicious! The staff was super friendly and efficient in delivering food and clearing out finished dishes. My mom and all her friends and family had a spectacular time. Highly recommend this place for a family dinner or your next event!

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

TLDR: tasty food, wonderful atmosphere, and exceptional hosts, though a bit pricey…read more Da Filippo Autentica Cucina Italiana is a cozy space decorated with traditional Italian flare centered around a piano. Upon entering, each guest is warmly greeted by the host / waitress as family and seated. Each table is served house made bread before the meal. The special of the night, pork rolls stuffed with herbs and cheese was hearty and wonderfully cooked. The plate was delicious, but at around $40 it was a bit pricey for the portion. There was a birthday while our party was dining and the owner led the restaurant in singing a birthday song accompanied by piano and followed it up by playing some classic Italian songs afterwards. The service was wonderful and each guest was personally greeted and thanked upon leaving the restaurant. It's clear that the restaurant is well loved by locals and the owner. If I was celebrating an occasion area I would likely come by.

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!

The best Italian restaurant in Union County. Why did I wait so long to try this place? We tried a…read morelot of food and everything was fresh, well seasoned, and presented very well. I had the Dover sole and it was one of the best Dover soles I've had. Also extra credit for providing a proper fish knife and fork. Octopus had a spicy sauce that was excellent. I appreciated the fact that they don't over season their food like many restaurants do. Inside was modern and nice. I liked the rose on every table. Service was so very friendly without it being overbearing. The chef came out twice to say hello and check on us which I really appreciated. I highly recommend Lupa.

steak was phenomenal, pasta was cooked very well, and it didn't take too long. Service was great…read moreand so was the restaurant experience as a whole.

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