Headed over to my favorite local restaurant. Was looking forward to sitting and relaxing with a cocktail along with a fabulous meal. Cocktails were perfect. Warm bread basket served with dipping olive oil. Smelled divine. Ordered steak which was properly cooked however it wasn't seared which greatly effected the quality of the meal. Also ordered the grilled shrimp. Similarly to the steak, the shrimp wasn't partially crispy on the outside which makes it delicious. Again, it was tasty but it effected the quality of the meal. I mentioned to the waiter the issue, and that the grill simply cannot be hot enough with the result of these dishes. He seemed very uninterested in my comments. I'm hoping this isn't what I can expect next visit. Hi read more

We've been to Bottagra three times now in the past couple of months, and I'm sorry that we've been missing out previously. Our son's girlfriend's family has been going there for years, but for some reason it was just never on our radar (I guess it's just not an area we head to very often). We first tried it for our wedding anniversary, then went back with friends, and then most recently went for their Easter buffet brunch. FOOD: we've found the food to be outstanding. Everything we've had has been delicious. My wife's favorite food is stuffed artichoke, and she feels that theirs is the best in our area. SERVICE: attentive, cordial, responsive, welcoming. AMBIANCE: their main dining area is one large room, which I'm not crazy about in general, but the lighting and the dark wood of the bar area makes it feel more intimate. One other item to add: the owner is very hands-on, and doesn't appear to treat his staff like there's a hierarchy over which he is the head: he is present there in the restaurant, wearing a polo shirt the same as staffers, and at Easter we saw him personally running food to tables. Overall impression: the place is flawless. It has now become one of our regular "go to" places, and we already have plans to go there with another couple. read more

Food was very tasty, drinks were great, ambiance was both romantic and 'very Jersey' at the same time, finally the service was on par. Would highly recommend it. read more

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Our favorite restaurant for any event or celebration! The service is always spectacular and the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. Not to mention they had it fully decked out for Christmas! They even have smaller rooms if you prefer a table in a more quiet area. Our table area had a "fire" going on the TV - so cute! You can't go wrong with any of the appetizers or cocktails, but I strongly recommend trying the spinach malfatti. It's a very unique menu item and absolutely delish! read more

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Party of 10 eating outside it was a lot of fun under tent food served. Everything is delicious beginning to end. The service was good ambience nice with the lights and music Definitely a place to go it was a little hot read more

What a cool spot! Came here for my friends birthday on a Thursday and it was so much fun!! Very cool fun atmosphere - nice size bar on one side of the place. We were in the tented area with the entertainment and DJ. Food was awesome, servers were awesome! Loved it! read more

We had a reservation for a group of 8 at Bottagra last night. The restaurant and outdoor seating patio was very elegantly decorated. Music and lighting created a chill ambiance. The staff was friendly and provided us with excellent table service. We shared appetizers like fried octopus, fried calamari, squash blossoms and arancini. For dinner, I ordered the short ribs. The best part of the evening for me was the Lychee Martini!! Bottagra is a beautiful restaurant with a cool atmosphere. The service was excellent but the food was quite mediocre. I expected more based on the Yelp reviews. Also they implement a Non Cash Adjustment to the bill. It's a 3.95 % charge of your total bill if you use a credit card. Luckily we paid with cash but Bottagra should inform their patrons when making a reservation so you can plan accordingly. read more

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So this is was a great place ! The food was great, the ambiance, the drink, the bartender (caught his name as Chris) n the vibe were beyond my expectations.. not so close to my house but worth the Uber ride . Went on a Friday was great and Saturday was even better - singer was excellent ! GREAT PLACE read more

Pricey but worth the quality of the food We went to celebrate my Birthday and they def didn't disappoint. The service is amazing as well read more

I feel like the tent in the front should go, as a first timer we couldn't find the front door! The inside is a bit outdated but the service was incredible and the food is out of this world. Unfortunately they were out of Sancerre, we tried to get a bottle- but they had some good alternatives. Will definitely be back. read more

I came here for birthdays and weddings, this is a terrific venue. The service here is super friendly and this is definitely my favorite italian spot in New Jersey. You have to try their angry chicken parm. It is a spicy vodka sauce made into a chicken parm, definitely my favorite menu item. Date night, weddings and birthdays I would highly recommend having here. They have treated my family well everytime we have came here. read more

It was Christmas Eve with family. Prior to this evening, the restaurant was asked more than once if they could accommodate Gluten free, because of celiac disease ( NOT a choice diet) they said yes ... I ended up in the emergency room Christmas Eve and half of Christmas Day vomiting more than 30 times because the food I ate was NOT gluten free!! I am from the Aquino Party of 10 read more

It used to be great. Now it's just noisy and blah. Expensive but not worth the price. Good place if you are a young single who wants to party. Definitely not a family reunion dinner place. read more

Amazing restaurant to celebrate an occasion or just for dining. The food was delicious, plentiful with just the amount of spice! Drew created a wonderful ambiance. Miguel was especially thoughtful. It is child-friendly. We will be back. read more

Raw chicken last time I was there, hard to come back from that. They gave me a gift card to make up for it but it's hard to bounce back from that pink jelly image! read more

I was one of at least 20 people celebrating a friendship birthday. We had a nice private room, but there was never a moment that we were not attended to by the servers. The food was incredible. And it just seemed to never stop coming. Had I known that the appetizers were just appetizers, I would have left more room for the well prepared entrées! I dine out often, but for some reason I was never aware of Bottagra.... Based on the service, the quality of the food, and what I believe is fair pricing, I would certainly consider having my next large party here . I also can't wait to try it with a more intimate party of two or four . read more

The food and service at Bottagra is excellent. As far as Italian, it's the best I've had in a long time! Everything was tasty, well seasoned, and paired nicely. Service was attentive without hovering. It was a little loud and at times difficult to hear, but the restaurant was PACKED as you'd expect on a Saturday night. We will be back!! read more

Was there for the Holidays, ambiance is Beautiful, food was great, the entertainment that walked around was amazing. Really enjoyed the entire experience. read more

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What a great restaurant! Amazing service, great food and ambiance. There wasnt anything that wasn't good.. Great drinks, we weren't rushed and very nice staff. I plan to come back here very often! read more

We absolutely love this place and people who work there. Manager Andre, waiters Edwin and Andrew deserve raise and six star reviews!!!:) Thanks guys! You are always so caring and friendly! Your permanent satisfied customers Irina and Gary. read more

Bottagra - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

Went Thursday evening with a bunch of friends and it was lots of fun. The food was very good. Drinks were spectacular. Their entertainment is so great, like Las Vegas fun. read more

Bottagra - Amazing belly dancer show part of their amazing entertainment on Thursday - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

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Thoroughly enjoyed many meals here through the years. Last time I came in l, I ordered the Sicilian ribeye which was unreal- in a caper sauce with a side of Mac and cheese?! Another exemplary dish, is the spinach malfotti appetizer; cheese and spinach balls in a vodka-like sauce. Service is always on par. read more

Bottagra - Sicilian rib eye - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

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Having driven by this place many times I have never thought to stop in and dine here. The outside is not the most appealing to the eyes because the restaurant is smack dab in the middle of an industrial zone. You have a huge Koehler distribution plant next door. A couple of old automotive garages or junk yards next door and an old shopping center across the street. The restaurant is located on a busy main road that goes from one town to the next. I finally had the chance to try Bottagra for a company holiday party. The inside of the restaurant definitely does not match the outside. So don't be fooled. It was dimly lit and had a romantic ambiance with candles in the middle of the table and holiday decoration surrounding the main dining area. I ordered the Skirt steak and the pistachio cake. The steak was cooked to order and the cake was soft and not as sweet as I thought it'd be. The waiter was very attentive and came to check on us every so often. The food pricing was pretty fair considering what they have to offer. I'd give this place another try because they offered some interesting dishes, but as a first time diner, I had to try to steak because if you mess up steak then there's no way anything else would be cooked better. read more

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Visited this restaurant on Valentines day. We really liked the overall service. Food was good too. Loved the cocktails and desserts. Highly recommend this place. read more

Bottagra - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

Great food but TOOOO LOUD!!!!!!!!! We were there on a Saturday night. The food was perfect but the service was ridiculously slow and we could not talk to the person next to us due to a performer that was just too loud for the room. read more

This review is for a baby shower I just attended Yes the buffet was good. It was a brunch and everything was not only nice and hot but tasty. Most of all the service is impeccable and that is why I gave it 5 stars. The waiters and all the staff are so courteous, patient with the patrons and accepting every challenge with a smile One of the staff was Drew. He not only acted as waitstaff but attended to the party billing, clean up etc. This young man was top notch, gracious and super attentive. He is worth his weight in gold to this place. I would bring my own reunion or party there just due to their great service I heard someone ask for toast to be made for them and they said yes ma'am and went and made her some toast which wasn't on the menu To the management. Do whatever you can to hold onto Drew and the staff you have. They are all gems! read more

This was my first visit to Bottagra. It was a Friday at 1pm. I took a seat at the bar where I got great service from Chris. I ordered the Strozzapreti pasta which also came with a generous amount of bread. I enjoyed my meal while watching sports reviews on the television. The restaurant certainly is spacious plus it has the tent outside. There was no music which is so very odd because I primarily came here to complain about the extremely loud music that actually was painful when I walked by one night at 11pm from the train station. The food and service was excellent. It's just the bad neighbor antics that left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

Great food and service. The ambiance is very nice however the drinks I tried were not very appealing

On a weeknight for my sons birthday. Four of us had dinner. Limited wine selection which knocked down 1 star. Otherwise it was terrific. Service was great. Not rushed. Appetizers and all 4 meals were enjoyed. read more

Bottagra - Zucchini flower and Tuna tartare - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

Where to start...went here for a 4-year anniversary dinner with my fiance after everyone has been talking it up. Unfortunately this place didnt live up to their supposed standards whatsoever. We were sat toward the corner in the tent, and the tables are odd where a metal bar slams you right in the shin when pulling your chair in. Shortly after a party of about 30-40 people came in, were extremely loud, & started standing/encroaching around our table making eating and conversation uncomfortable. The staff tried to accommodate so picked up our table MID-MEAL and placed it about 3 feet over....which the party just used to the extra space and continued to be on top of us where I got hit in the shoulder with a purse, then an elbow of someone else. The staff didnt tell the party to maybe move over a bit or perhaps sit down. I feel like other measures could have been taken then moving our table mid-meal. The singer was pretty good though. The food entrees were just average, and the calamari seemed slightly undercooked, soft, and rubbery. I dont like writing poor reviews and have never done so but needed to just let people be aware of the environment. Would maybe give this place another chance if seated inside. read more

Bottagra - Chicken Francese - Italian Near Me - Hawthorne, New Jersey

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I just celebrated my birthday there tonight, which I normally do not like to celebrate. Our server/bartender, Chris, was top notch! From starting with showing us our table, to making sure we had drinks to going over all the specials, to ensuring we wanted for nothing. Not to mention the amazing food and drinks. I wouldn't hesitate recommending both the restaurant and Chris! I may even celebrate there again next year! read more

Went once on a Sunday brunch mania day! It was a blast but not for the older crowd. You have girls dancing on tables and bottle service and club music - one good time (once) lol read more

After the COVID shutdown, I really missed going out and experiencing live music again. I was pleasantly surprised by the Great food and great music on Tues and Saturday nights! Drew Szucs is a talented singer with a wide variety of songs from show tunes to classic rock. Had a great time and will keep coming back. read more

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3 stars, but BARELY! Uncoordinated service is what we were greeted with right from the get-go. It took a ridiculous amount of time for someone to step up and say "hello" which also accompanied an apology for the wait. He "Was unclear what section of the restaurant he was serving!!" We asked for a wine list and he disappeared. Then, another fellow steps up and announces that HE was our server! Well - two are better than one, right? Food was mediocre at best. One of the appetizers "Arancini" which is a rice ball type thing, was under cooked and gooey. The braised short ribs I had exhibited zero flavor as did the Veal Milanese . Then we ordered desert and it never comes out!!! Another issue that rubbed us the wrong way was the lack of social distancing. The family next to us were seated practically right on top of us. Also, we spotted numerous people without masks, including some of the staff. Walking out we could hear the thumping of heavy bass. Apparently the tent area outside turns into a Night Club in the evenings. Thanks....but no thanks! read more

Dined there on Saturday night, we had a great dinner and there was entertainment. The singer had a great voice. Loved the entire experience except for the credit card surcharge fee, only occasionally in this market do I ever see this charge. read more

Great place!!! Great food and the DJ's are great! Truly a fun night out. Rob, Joe, Gino, Carmine and Justin get the crowd going and entertained. read more

Arrived at the place to see it's valet only. Valet staff was very good, prompt and courteous. Upon entering we were asked if we wanted to check our coats, we did. We walked up to the hostess and were seated right away. The server brought us water and we placed an order for wine. The environment and ambiance is nice, lively. We ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer special for the day which came with mango salsa. The coconut shrimp were ok, nothing to write home about. We got the cappelini de mari and shrimp scampi. Cappelini de mari was served with clams, mussels, scallops, calamari, shrimp, angel hair pasta tossed in a tomato sauce. A little more flavor would've made this dish better. Shrimp scampi came with 5 large shrimp, mashed potatoes, green beans and baby carrots. The shrimp scampi was nice and flavorful. We had wanted a half portion of the spinach linguini. It was mentioned in the menu that half portions can be ordered. The server told us we can't bc the pasta is already made and they would have to throw away the other half. Then why put it on the menu??! The server never came back to ask if we wanted another glass of wine. He seemed to want to rush us out the door when half the restaurant was empty. He dropped the dessert menu in front of us and scrolled to show us a few dessert items. I thought I'd found a nice place to go to locally and the bar seemed like a nice place to go for a drink and appetizers. I wouldn't recommend only bc of the poor service. read more

Went to Bottagra recently on a Thursday night for a bachelorette dinner party. I heard Bottagra had a fun boozy brunch type of atmosphere on Thursdays for dinner. I didn't expect much of a culinary experience because I had been to these places before in the city but was going more for the ambiance . All I can say is WOW. First the Italian restaurant is in a revolutionary era house. The Decor in the main dining room is quite elegant with low amber lighting and chandeliers but not pretentious. We were seated immediately in an outdoor tented area which was also quite nice. The DJ was playing a fantastic mix of 80s, 90s, and 2000s music. It was Never obnoxious and got all of us up on the dance floor..even those of us who had a long work day that started at 7am. Our group's age range was 30s to 50s and we all had a great time. But the biggest surprise for me was the excellent service and food quality while all the belly dancing, dancers on stilts, drummers and glow stick throwing was going on. Our server was Eric and he was very attentive in making sure we had everything we needed. Our drinks and water were refilled before we even knew our glasses were already empty. He was very cordial and the food did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was cooked well and the cocktails, although not cheap, were tasty and had a good pour. We had the fried calamari, crab cakes and a seafood salad for apps which everyone really liked and is large enough to share among six people. I had the grilled salmon for my entree which was perfect and the others enjoyed had various Italian dishes that they liked as well. One person in our group did not like the spicy skinny margarita but it was quickly replaced with no issues. This place is over the top in making sure you have a great experience and that we certainly did. I really enjoyed hearing some 80s freestyle classics that took me back to my NYC club hopping days while I had a very enjoyable time with friends. Will be back again. read more

If you are a minority, please do not waste your time to come here. I went there for a birthday celebration and the service was horrible from the beginning to the end. I chose to self park and not valet and the valet parking attendant told me to park in the back of the building which I did. Two minutes later, I seen a white couple pull in and park right in the front of the building, mind you that parking space was available when I pulled up there. At this point, I already knew what kind of place this was. We had a party of 15, yes it was a lot of us but that doesn't mean to give us crappy service. The servant we had was not friendly at all, he had a whole attitude the entire night. For the price we spent there, the food wasn't great neither. Will I recommended this place to any one, NEVER!!! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Bottagra tonight. Just want to say that we have been going there since day one. Tonight we had an issue with an appetizer. The dining room manager Andrea was so professional in how he dealt with it and made it all good. Andrea adds a lot of class to this restaurant. Great guy. Great dinner and service. Will return soon. Love it there. read more