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Bottagra

4.0 (313 reviews)
PriceyItalian
Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Order Bottagra Takeout or Delivery

Bottagra Photos

BOTTAGRA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Upscale
Moderate noise
Dressy
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Bottagra

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Reviews With Photos

Black Squid Ink Linguini
Anatoli L.

An amazing Christmas holiday lunch experience. The place was magically decorated, with the real holiday feel. Food was good, not amazing considering the prices, but solid. Colossal crab meat cocktail was excellent, with delicious big chunks of crab meat. Asian-style fried calamari were also delicious. I had squid ink pasta with shrimp as my main dish, and it was delicious. Excellent service, patient and attentive (our group took a while to assemble). Two notes. First, make your reservation in advance. If you want to get a table close to Christmas, book at least 6 weeks in advance. Second, note that lunch menu is not offered during holiday time. Recommended.

Virginia T.

Outstanding holiday decor! I mean fantastic! Per fee for place for a date although I've heard the brunch is fab. The food is OK. Not bad but def not the best. Pricing a bit more upscale Good drinks and very large space -host private parties as well. We had veggies which were delish but spicy Steak was good Octopus was not bad Again-I'd try it again but only around the holidays bc of the vibe and decor!

Pistachio Pudding Cake - so good!
Lor W.

Damn, I wish I lived closer to Bottagra! Excellent dining experience on Saturday evening. My friend and I had a 6:30 PM reservation and it appears we arrived just ahead of the dinner rush. We sat in the main dining room, but the outdoor space is beautiful. They even have an outdoor bar! The interior dining room was lively. I loved the ambiance...lots of chandeliers and dim, sexy lighting that's flattering for all. Lychee martini for me and a Pear martini for her. Unique glassware! -- Stuffed Zucchini Flowers - lightly battered and delicious. The best I've ever had! -- Rigatoni Vinnaro - absolutely amazing vodka sauce -- Chicken Scarpariello - balanced and absolutely delicious -- Pistachio Pudding Cake - are you kidding me? It was warm and sensational. Insanely good. Can I even attempt to replicate this at home?? Likely not. Service is on-point. Efficient and super friendly to boot. I am already planning my next trip to North Jersey just to dine here again!

Fettucine Limone
Steph C.

Big parking but have to pay $10. We came for dinner. Outside dining under the tent during the summer, very nice ambiance but it was very hot. I ordered the fettuccine limone it was delicious. My friends ordered the skirt steak (very small portion) and chicken balsamico (very thin small chicken slice with way too much mushrooms on too). There was a dj. The entertainment made it fun. Service could be better. Took forever to get bill than to pay it another long wait. I even went inside to pay it at bar but the line was long because only one bartender. When finally paid , another long wait for the receipt. The dj/entertainment made it a Nice experience

Ribeye with sautéed garlic Sauteed Spinach
Jacklyn P.

For my birthday, my date took me to Bottagra, a charming Italian spot in Hawthorne New Jersey that's known for its lively Thursday nights. While we went on a Friday (which turned out to be pretty quiet), I had a good time and definitely see the potential of this place on its more popular night. Thursdays are the real party nights at Bottagra, with a DJ, dancers, entertainers and a minimum spend per person that goes toward your food and drinks for the night. It's definitely something to plan ahead for, especially if you want a good table. Sundays are also fun with their brunch scene--which I'd love to try next. When we arrived, we were introduced to our server, Edwin--hands down, the best-dressed waiter we've ever had. He was incredibly sweet and attentive. When we asked why the place was so empty (only about four tables booked), he explained that Friday nights tend to be slower, with Thursdays and Sundays being the big event days. We basically had the place to ourselves... and the entertainer too, who sang 80s and 90s rock just for us. We kicked things off with cocktails. My date had his usual rye old-fashioned, and I tried a bourbon lemon drop martini (inspired by a similar one I had at Life After in Edgewater). We were pleasantly surprised--both drinks were excellent. The old-fashioned was smooth and flavorful (8.5/10), and the lemon drop bourbon martini was a solid 9/10 for me. For appetizers, we ordered the crab cakes and 10 East Coast oysters. The crab cakes were seasoned well with sweet peppers--tasty, though the breadcrumb crust could've been a little crispier (7.5/10). The oysters came with all the classic fixings--mignonette, cocktail sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, and lemon--but unfortunately, they had bits of shell in them, which took away from the experience (7/10). For our main, we shared the ribeye steak with sautéed garlic spinach and mac & cheese. The steak was cooked perfectly--tender, juicy, and just the right amount of pink. The mac & cheese was creamy without being runny, and the spinach, though heavy on garlic, was delicious. This dish was definitely a highlight (8/10). Even though it was a quiet Friday night, I still had a good time. We got to chat with the singer and even make some birthday song requests. I'd absolutely come back on a Thursday or for Sunday brunch with friends--it seems like that's when the place really comes alive. And if you go, do yourself a favor and sit in Edwin's section. He's friendly, professional, and made the night even more enjoyable.

Anacleto B.

So this is more of a review for their nightlife/Thursday night dinner parties. Somehow I had the luck of being invited to birthday dinner/banquet parties at Bottagra two (2) times in as many months. Not only did I get invited to the party, but on each occasion we were seated right smack in the middle of the tented party area. First, let me tell you, the theatrics would rival some NYC shows (that's a good thing). There were drummers, fire and sword manipulating belly dancers, as well as a live DJ. There was also a host bartender mixing shots, on-the-fly, as he passed through each party. They even had a mascot running about. Meanwhile, if you weren't in the party mood, but you wanted to have a nice date night, their interior restaurant was fantastically and intricately decorated for the holidays. The interior was warm and inviting. The sound from the tented/party area actually didn't permeate into the indoor section of the restaurant. Each of my party squads were like ~twenty (20) people deep, so items were pre-ordered from the Sit Down Banquet menu. So I got to sample the calamari, tomato & mozzarella, Penne Tomato Basil, salads, chicken parmigiana and rice balls. I'm probably missing some stuff but that's all I could recall. It was a little bit of a stretch to try and serve all the apps and dishes simultaneously to the whole table (a hallmark of stellar dinner service). Furthermore, I think we could've maybe used a 15% larger portion for the family style servings. I know the restaurant is Italian, but Americans can EAT. We also ordered bottle service and again, it was a little tough for the waiter to mix and serve twenty (20) drinks beyond the first round. It's not the end of the world, but on subsequent rounds of drinks you would definitely have to stand up and go to the ends of the table to mix your own drinks. That put one in a little bit of an etiquette quandary (sit politely and wait, or do it yourself while leaning over other guests), but we adapted. It should be noted that the presentation for bottle service was always "over the top" with lights and a procession of beautiful ladies. Each birthday party had their moment in the spotlight. I'll wrap this review up with a few final notes. I'd like to shout out my waitress on both occasions: Anne Marie. She was a consummate professional each time. First round drink success was due in large part to her. She actually had a birthday on the Tuesday before my first visit. I loved the fact that the entire waitstaff took a moment to celebrate her during the night. I hope that's a sign of a supportive workplace. Also, shoutout to security: One of them (I wish I got his name, but he was a tall Hispanic/Caucasian gentleman with a man bun) actually walked me to the restroom when I asked for its location. That's customer service tactic often encouraged, but rarely done. Valet service is great but I wouldn't mind parking my car. Lastly, the DJs were great but distinctly EDM/Dance specialists. I would've liked them to be a bit more adventurous with music genre selection. Bottom line: If you want to celebrate a birthday, their Thursday night dinner parties are great! You'll have a good time though sadly, they shut things down promptly at 01:00 am. So if you're a New Yorker, this might feel a little early, but then again, you might be grateful for the extra time to cross the river and head back into New York.

Pistachio affogato
Alison K.

Finally made it back to Bottagra after about 10 years from my first visit. A friend made a reservation for his birthday for 9 people. They were very busy, but allowed us to be seated despite not having the whole party present. The rooms are dark and moody with small lights on the tables. All of the apps we ordered were excellent - octopus, meatballs, arancini, burrata. I had been wanting to try bottarga (cured and dried fish roe) pasta for awhile but it isn't common on menus. The pasta was simple but packed with flavor from the bottarga and had plenty of texture from the breadcrumbs. My husband ordered the angry chicken parm, which was probably the best we have ever had! The vodka sauce was creamy, a bit sweet, and so addictive. The portion size was huge. For dessert, I tried the pistachio affogato and my husband had the pistachio cake. The pistachio gelato had chunks of nuts and was less intensely flavored as some pistachio gelatos I have had, but nonetheless tasty as an affogato. Cake was moist and a big portion alongside pistachio gelato as well. Prices are a bit higher, but the quality was very good. Our server was very attentive - kept the drinks flowing and helped us arrange a candle in the birthday boy's dessert.

4 Baked Four Cheese Macaroni
Samantha S.

The place to go during the holidays!! The restaurant was decked out in all its holiday glory where we went to celebrate 3 birthdays on a Sunday night at 6pm. Getting into the parking lot took some time as the place was packed. We were a party of six and had this reservation for about 2 months ahead of time. We were seated as soon as we came in which was nice since our whole party was not there yet. Our waiter came over right away and was super attentive throughout the whole meal, talking and laughing just what you want when you dine. To start I ordered off of the special holiday cocktail menu "let's get lit" another holiday martini during dinner that came in a Christmas ornament that the cocktail waitress pored right into the chilled martini glass. We had two appetizers..the spinach mulfati in a pink cream sauce (that is one of my all time favorites from here as I'm not a huge eater but can eat this by myself it's that good). We also ordered the calamari huge portion... cooked to perfection with a delicious light marinara sauce. I had the Sicilian Ribeye it was again a huge portion cooked medium just as I like it that came with a side of 4 cheese macaroni and cheese... absolutely delicious. I didn't try anyone else's meal but everyone was full, happy and cheerful worth every penny that was spent. Wound definitely come back whether for lunch, dinner, special event, etc. Highly recommend for a great meal and experience.

Hemalatha K.

Visited couple of times with friends, and had a great time. Both the visits were themed events, and the music and vibe was awesome. Cocktails were good during both visits, but Food was not so great the second time. Service was good and quick, considering how packed they were both times. Definitely recommend.

Entrance path
Daniel B.

What a wonderful way to spend my birthday! Had a terrific "soup to nuts" experience at Bottagra this evening. Our server and host, Jamie, was excellent - all the food and service experienced under his watch was excellent. Drew was on the microphone this evening, belting out all the crooners hits and some broadway tunes as well - great voice ! My diver scallops appetizer was perfectly cooked and the sauce had a nice subtle kick to it! Our friends also enjoyed their antipasta platter. For dinner, my rack of lamb dish was a generous portion of well-prepared lamb, cooked to my preference, and accompanied by an interesting spinach with melted roquefort cheese to give it a great blend of flavors. Our table, overall, enjoyed all their meals. My wife had a cake for me (thanks hunny!) and we enjoyed some cordials, and a couple of other desserts to finish out a great evening! Great time! I definitely recommend Bottagra for a nice night out with that special someone in your life or a great night with friends!

At the entrance
Eloy Y.

New Jersey has no shortage of Italian restaurants. Named for a fish roe used in Italian cooking, this establishment brings a modern Mediterranean flair to traditional Italian fare. My partner, our friends and I decided on dinner as first-timers for a party of six last night. Located on Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne, Bottagra offers a variety of dishes hailing both the northern and southern regions of Italy. Reservations were easily made on their website via OpenTable. Upon entering, it reminded us of a mountain retreat vibe, rustic but elegant, where we were greeted by the maitre'd. We were seated quickly in the dimly lit main dining room with music playing throughout. There were other smaller private party rooms. The diversely appointed menu featured fresh and flavorful culinary favorites as well as the extended verbal specials being a bonus. For starters, we opted for 12 Blue Point Oysters, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Shrimp & Brie, Veal Meatball Parmesan, and Today's Special - Red Leaf Salad. Our main entrees consisted of Capellini di Mare, Shrimp Scampi, Spinach Malfatti, Today's Special Red Snapper, Black Squid Ink Linguini, and Linguini Funghi. Complimentary warm crusty bread started our meal, which is a good sign when there are real olives in the oil on the table for the bread instead of butter. The food was deliciously tasty, flavorful, and presented in a trendy fashion. Being Saturday night and crowded, the main dining room was a bit loud because it's a popular place with great energy. The service was impeccable, the right amount without them hovering over us, and they didn't rush us out. Our server, Edwin, was friendly and accommodating, making sure we had everything. The price was very reasonable. It was an amazing culinary experience with food and friends to catch up, which we can recommend.

Kiki P.

I chose this place because I heard about their holiday decorations. Bottagra goes all out for Christmas- the decorations were over the top in the best way and made the whole experience feel festive and fun right from the start. The service was friendly and attentive, though it did move a little slowly at times. The entrees were amazing and the Christmas cocktail specials were creative and added to the holiday vibe. Be prepared for noise, though- it was exceptionally loud, which can make conversation tough, but also adds to the high-energy atmosphere. Oddly enough, one of my favorite details was the coat check- my coat was actually warm when I picked it up, which felt like such a thoughtful touch on a cold night. Overall, a fun, festive dining experience and a great spot for a lively holiday outing.

Tortellini soup
Claudia S.

BOTTAGRA never disappoints!! I've been here a few times for dinner and they amazing brunch parties. Today there was a ladies brunch with the whole restaurant filled we lots of vendors. Food is always delicious , excellent service and FUN FUN DANCE PARTY!! Can't wait to celebrate my birthday next month!!

Fried Calamari

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Absolutely delicious food and a super cool atmosphere. But I find it unaffordable and a little stuck up.

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The food @ Bottagra is always incredible. The ambience really set the mood and the waiter & staff are always on point and very attentive.

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Ask the Community - Bottagra

Has anyone held an event here? How did it go?

I had my wedding reception and we definitely made An excellent choice. See review on my page

Has this establishment changed owners?

Other than the Sunday brunch, does the restaurant have a dj there any other nights? And if so what nights?

There was someone singing last night. Tuesday

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Nadie's Touch of Pasta - Chicken and shrimp with rigatoni

Nadie's Touch of Pasta

(141 reviews)

$$

I just wanted to update my review again because that's how much I love this place. The staff is so…read morenice and they are very accommodating with any special requests because I know I'm a pain with the particular way I eat. This place is also great if you're having a small gathering, I noticed they pretty much have parties. There are almost every week which speaks volumes. For the prices and the quality of food you really can't beat it.

Good simple italian food done right! No tricks just good…read morehome cooking. Warm and friendly staff and comfortable seating. The staff is beyond accommodating. They are amazing. Anything you want they are happy to make it happen. BYOB a nice plus. Food review.... Comp bread with garlic eggplant spread. Gotta love garlic for this one. Great italian bread with an amazing olive oil for dipping. Olive oil is nicely spiced and includes a shaved cheese. Fried calamari was perfectly done. They offer mild or spicy marinara and we were able to get both for the table. Yummy! Great marinara!! Complimentary salad is a nice plus especially these days. Huge serving. Classic salad ingredients except topped with minced italian meats and cheese. A light italian dressing. De-lious. Chicken parm entree was thinly sliced and perfectly fried, lots of cheese in a wonderful marinara sauce, side of pasta included. Pork braciole over homemade gnocchi was amazing. Pork was fork tender and expertly stuffed and seasoned. Gnocchi were soft and fluffy. Another huge portion. I had it for 3 meals. Crispy salmon over mushroom risotto was perfection. Salmon was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Risotto was beautiful made with lots of mushrooms. So creamy! Just a bit too much finishing olive oil for our taste. Cappuccino was delicious with a big whipped cream top. Tartufo ice cream is traditional and delicious. A wonderful restaurant.

Bottagra - italian - Updated May 2026

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