... we went back to Montclair doing our "Thursday" thing. Cafe Giotto was the first and only stop. Same great atmosphere and same great staff. I admit I maybe over doing it but the soup of the day and sandwich I had was outstanding. read more

Cafe Giotto - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

***3 1/2 stars*** Yesterday I decided on a total whim to just grab lunch here before seeing Disclosure Day across the street. I've walked by a gazillion times, usually in the mid-afternoon or evening when the place is really jumping (at least based on the outdoor seating situation). This time around, I came for an early lunch around 11:30am when there were only a few other people sitting down and I had my pick of indoor or outdoor seating. I didn't get much of a look at the interior during my brief trip inside, but it seemed pleasant enough. Morally I didn't have much of a choice though but to sit outside at their communal picnic tables, given that it was sunny and 72. You do the math. As most of my solo eating adventures go, the service was excellent. It definitely helped that it wasn't busy, but both waitresses on the premises were super attentive and I ordered my meal literally within 30 seconds of sitting down. I wasn't on a hardcore schedule (my movie wasn't for an hour and 15 minutes) but I was in and out in probably 20-25 minutes, which is just wild for a legit sit-down meal. Top marks all around. I liked that they kept a bottle of tap at my table too; just efficient there. As soon as I saw gnocchi on the menu, my decision was made. I went with the gnocchi al pomodoro off the lunch entree menu, which was honestly just okay. This is usually a dish I really enjoy, and while it was clearly fresh (the chunks of mozzy are a nice touch) it was pretty bland and tasteless. It's extremely rare for me to look around for seasoning, but I did here (and didn't see any within range, so let it go). Honestly very surprising. The gnocchi itself was fine, but the pieces were so small it was actually difficult to eat/get them onto the fork tines. I had to scoop most of them up, and it was a slow process. Not the biggest deal in the world (the gnocchi was tasty in and of itself) but just a slight annoyance. The price point was fine; with tip, I paid a little over $20, which is on par for Montclair. Maybe it was just an off day/lunch, but I think the play is to come back for dinner with a bottle of wine and get a different dish. This place is very popular (during my brief meal, several people walked by openly declaring they were going to stop by later to eat) so perhaps a few grains of salt here, which would have been nice to add to my dish. read more

Cafe Giotto - Gnocchi Al Pomodoro. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

If you are looking for an Italian gem in New Jersey (Montclair) Cafe Giotto is a must-visit. Before we tackle the amazing food, the first impressions were great. The lighting is warm and cozy and beckons you to dine in and enjoy every bite. The service at is excellent, from the moment you walk in. Everyone is very friendly and on a busy night we didn't have to wait long. It is BYOB, so we brought a red, white and orange wine that paired well with our meal. My friend eats at Cafe Giotto often so he's of a regular and the staff treated us really well which made our experience even better. We started with the Insalata di Mare, which was very fresh. The handmade pasta is really great and I had the Seafood Linguine, with lots of scallops and shrimp in a broth, and extra spicy. i tasted some of my friends' dishes too, which included flat bread pizza, ravioli, salmon and some other delectable dishes. I ended the night with their Tiramisu. It was the perfect finish, to the meal. Not too sweet and nicely presented with fresh fruit. Though I'm not in Jersey often, I'm sure to return to Cafe Giotto later this year. read more

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I had no idea this place existed for so long and I was really missing out. It's located on the cutest street and at first you think it's just a tiny coffee shop but then you realize they have an entire back room seating area and so much to offer. When you enter, there are an assortment of pastries so we had to get the egg custard tart, the caramelized onion and potato tart, and the were very kind to give us a chocolate tart for free. We also ordered a margarita flatbread and an eggplant parm sandwhich. The tomato sauce on the sandwhich and the flatbread is unbeatable. The eggplant parm sandwhich was probably the best one we've ever had. All of the pastries were amazing but the egg custard tart was my favorite. It had a hint of lemon and was super creamy. The owners were so kind and welcoming and I would definitely go back for a small coffee and pastry or for a full meal. read more

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Ordered the salmon and it was really good, crispy edges and cooked as requested. Side of spinach and mushrooms was also delicious. read more

Cafe Giotto - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

We had a great lunch. The servers were friendly and gave great suggestions since it was our first time. It's a BYOB spot and there's a wine shop right next door which was perfect. We sat outside and started with a Caesar salad + a side of grilled chicken. Chicken was seasoned and a great cut of breast meat. I had the lasagna and my husband had the Tagliatelle, Aglio e Olio, and sausage crumble. The lasagna was okay. It was missing ricotta or something that didn't make the layers just stick together flatly. The tagliatelle Aglio e Olio definitely needs to be touched up. The pasta didn't taste like anything and the sausage was good but didn't have any of the flavoring from the Aglio e Olio. We asked for a side of parm, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. (The before & after picture is included). It was very very good after we added some life to it! As for the dessert.....blown away! First of all, the Affogato was the best one I've ever had. We asked to substitute Caramel Gelato instead of vanilla. YES! So good! Then we had the Berries & Cream. Listen...I don't know what that cream was but I am going back specifically for this dessert. WOW! We almost ordered a second one because I didn't want to share. So light and tart. Beautiful! read more

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Because of all the good reviews of this place, I wanted to try it since it's been sitting in my bookmarks for so long ! Finally was able to try it out and a couple things I must say -- It's a great place to eat at when the weather is nice as they have seating outdoors. Inside is quite small, though I'm not sure if there was more seating in the back since I kept seeing people walk back there... Onto the food ! The sourdough you get in the beginning was so nice -- warm, crispy, and fluffy. The perfect, rustic sourdough. The house focaccia came in an unexpected fashion, but it was so good. A nice focaccia with some caremlized onion topped with arugula and balsamic glaze - yum. The Caesar salad was good, but nothing exceptional. We enjoyed the pasta for the pasta itself, and the clams were delicious, but we both came to the conclusion that the sauces might have needed just a little more garlic but this is probably just our personal preference. The way the pasta itself was made, though, was so good and chewy, you could tell they're made right there. Service was great! The water refill just kept coming it was honestly quite amazing. We could pour the water ourselves but it's like they never gave us the chance to. Staff were all kind and bustling around. We saw some servers bring out lasagna and honestly that looked perfect so I would want to try that. Would I come back here ? Maybe. But I would recommend this place for someone to try out if they wanted proper pasta. read more

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Cafe Giotti is a cute tiny Italian spot in Montclair where a friend and I walked in on a Friday evening to have dinner. We were given complimentary bread and I ordered the fazzoletti since I was unfamiliar with that pasta shape. It was essentially like a ravioli in that it had filling and it wasn't bad even though it looked like a small portion size. For dessert, we had the tiramisu and panna cotta, which was my friend's first time having panna cotta. I appreciated how both of our desserts came with fresh berries and I liked my tiramisu! read more

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Very inviting space to dine in, friendly staff and good food. Wish they would take reservations but we didn't really have to wait too long. We were a party of 4 and ordered the clams (got about 10 small clams) for an appetizer as well as the eggplant parm. Both very tasty. The tagliolini seafood and the parpardelle and meatballs were the best dinners. The other 2 meals - lasagne bolognese (small portion and was lacking something) and the cavatelli bosco (lacked seasoning and was disappointing) - were just ok. read more

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Stopped by for a Saturday lunch. Picked up a bottle of Rioja from Amanti as Giotto is BYOB. Had the lamb sandwich on peasant bread. Well put together, moist and delicious == could only manage half because I plumped for the side of roasted potatoes with peppers and onions. That was outstanding-- perfect cook on the potatoes, lots of sweet red and green peppers and soft purple onions. La Portena's chicken sandwich with broccoli rabe and mozzarella was also excellent. Sandwiches were accompanied by a generous portion of taro chips. Will return for pasta. Good service as well. read more

Cafe Giotto - Lamb sando. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Enjoyed lunch at Cafe Giotto with a friend. It's a small cafe with outdoor seating on the sidewalk of Church Street, which was perfect on a breezy afternoon. We started with the arancini, which are half mozzarella filled and half meat filled. Absolutely divine! My friend ordered the cavatelli with bolognese and I got the padova panino. The panino was what Italian sandwich dreams are made of- crusty bread, fresh toppings, and bursting with flavor. Service was friendly but on the slower side, but we were in no rush so didn't mind. Would definitely come back here again, especially for the rice balls! read more

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December 2024 update. Same excellent fantastic tiny little spot with some of the best and most authentic high quality Italian food around with great salads, sides, home made bread and pastries. Got to do the affogato too - first the gelato here is first rate but tur affogato is done right with fresh strong espresso .. not just coffee poured on top of ice cream. Super tight space with limited seating but in summer outdoor tables. Always nice staff. Great $ too. read more

Cafe Giotto - Focaccia ! And all the bread (10 on 10 scale) and pastries made in house. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Service here is a 10. The host was very nice and able to accommodate out needs. Food was on point, everything we had was very good. Once you place your order the table is giving bread and olive oil. They give you a very nice portion of food, my friend and I both had enough to take home. Desserts are a must here! The panna cotta with the balsamic is bold and so yummy with that whip cream and berries. We sat outside in the front of the restaurant and it is fully shaded. You may have to share tables with other parties like we did, it was no biggie, there's enough room where you don't feel like anybody is violating your space. read more

Cafe Giotto - Seasonal Ravioli (top left, has truffle), Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi (top right, part of special menu), Tagliolini Seafood (bottom middle) - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Authentically homemade and crafted food where you're not just dining out but you're having a real Italian food experience.

First of all bread, tomato sauce, blueberry jam all handmade, which I bought to take home-Lasagna was the right amount, delicious-chicken parm panino had a delicious crispy bread-Panacota better than flan it had blueberries, blaberries, strawberries and red-berries, it was super delicious-they gave us some Taro chips that are healthier than potato chips, I learned something today, thank you. Service was attentive and fast. Wow I'm definitely coming back. read more

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What a gem Cafe Giotto is! We were looking to try a new place and the reviews led us here for lunch. First of all, what a nice place. Very cool cafe vibes. Now to the food. Our table started with the Arancini and House Focaccia as appetizers. Delicious. We ordered Cavatelli Bolognese, Lamb Panino and Giotto Special Panino. So fresh and flavorful. The bread on the sandwiches had the right crunch and air. Only thing to know, be prepared to wait. Around 6-8 small tables. But it's BYOB! read more

Cafe Giotto - Cavatelli Bolognese - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I've been coming here for some time, honestly their food is just so great. Clean Ingredients with the perfect amount of love in each dish. I always get the lasagna, but their salad and lunch sandwiches are just as good. And forget about it... their deserts? Insane Def worth the hype and super homey inside. Though I've never came inside I always do take out. It's so delicious. read more

This darling Church Street gem is wonderful. Great outdoor, summer vibes. Food is always delicious and priced well. Service is great and it's BYOB. Highly recommend you try this place as you won't be disappointed. Yummo!! read more

Cafe Giotto - Pesto Cavatelli - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I'm not sure how I never left a review for this place but I have nothing but great things to say. From the amazing scallop grapefruit salads I go for in the summer to the heaven on earth lasagne and eggplant parm IT IS A MUST VISIT. Food is impeccable, service is accommodating the outdoor seating is adorable. Only pain points would be once the weather gets cold the indoor space leaves much to be desired a true hole in the wall type space but plenty to offer in terms of food, baked treats and coffee. They are sister restaurant to The Corner, but honestly no comparison in terms of food. My husband and I grabbed a barstool seat at the window for lunch midweek and just people enjoyed people watching and a decadent meal. If I could eat one thing for the rest of my life (and not gain a pound) haha it's probably this eggplant parm. Seasoning, sauce, eggplant, CHEESE it's just that good. Alone is enough for a meal (the app portion) We also ordered the pesto tagliatelle, perfectly el dente pasta and sadly this was a miss for me only because I think the steamed broccoli rabe watered down the dish. I ordered it as a side and then opted to add it in so not one of their signature dishes. They were serving a broccoli rabe lentil soup so I'm thinking they just used the steamed reserves from that from than sautéing Other than that everything I have had here is superb. Other details: Street parking Ample outdoor tables thought typically in a wind tunnel BYOB read more

Cafe Giotto - Eggplant parmigiana app - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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unfortunately I had one of the strangest and most rude experiences ever while attempting to dine here this evening. my fiancé and I had dinner plans to meet here for 5pm. i arrived at 5 and let the host know my party was 5 minutes away. while seated the waitress asked me what I would like to drink. I let her know that we are fasting for ramadan and that we won't be able to eat or drink for another 40 mins. I didn't see this as an issue because it would probaly take us 5 minutes to settle in, 10 minutes to decide on our order and drinks which would leave the kitchen with 25 minutes at least to make our meals. when I mentioned this to the waitress she left and came back a few minutes later notifying me that I would have to leave because i wouldn't be able to occupy the table for 40 minutes. when I explained we will be ordering food and not sitting for 40 minutes before ordering , she pulled the table out from in front of me and explained that I wouldn't be able to sit there for that period of time. I was stunned by how rude she was- as we are literally paying customers and had planned our whole evening around trying this place out on our dinner date. I would have completely understood the restaurants logic had it been a full house but it was literally an empty restaurant. we were the first ones there! There were minimum 10-15 tables open. To add insult to injury, when my party arrived and complained to the manager , the manager then tried "fixing" the problem by rambling on about how he wanted to work with us and serve us- saying " we'd love to give you the best service", only after having mentioned that we would be writing a review on how blatantly disrespectful they were to us. what's strange and interesting about this ordeal is that the restaurants argument was that they didn't want me to sit and hold the table for 40 minutes while their dinner rush would be coming in or while it would be busy, but by the time the whole confrontation was over with, we were still the first customers there for the evening!!! and by this time it was 5:25. no other customers had come in, and there's certainly was no dinner rush for us to have been reserving a table from other potential guests. should have just let me sit and wait for my guest instead of kicking a customer out anticipating other non existent guests. truly an outrageous experience read more

I love this place! Cute vibe, warm and inviting. They make me feel like family and the food is fresh and flavorful and make with love. The staff is so hospitable and I wish this place the best and lots of success with their new expansion. A true Montclair staple, coming from a local. Definitely my favorite place in town. read more

I've had this establishment bookmarked for a year now. Ever since I came back from a trip to Italy, I was on a mission to find restaurants that their food and atmosphere resemble it. Well, I wasn't disappointed at all. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is definitely very small and tight. However, their food was amazing. Fresh pasta and ingredients. Everything looked worthy of eating! I definitely recommend this Italian eatery for a date with a partner or friend. It's definitely suitable for 2 ppl only. read more

Cafe Giotto - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I loved how cozy and quaint this place felt. It's a tiny establishment tucked into church street and I almost missed them. I ordered the soup special for lunch. It was short rib, potato and roasted red pepper. It wasn't what I was expecting. It wasn't bad but didn't leave me wanting more. It was quite acidic and light on meat. The bread however, was fabulous. A featherlight, crisp crust and a dry Italian bread interior. The service was really lacking. I came at 12:30 and my order wasn't taken until close to 1. I wasn't given any water or even asked what I wanted to drink, which appears atypical since the other two tables were immediately offered tap or bottled water and the waitress bent over backwards to accommate breaking 1 salad into 3 plates. Perhaps I was poorly served because I dined alone. I promise I was super nice and laid back so it wasn't my attitude that caused neglect. If the service was more attentive I'd try them again but alas, there are other spots to try! read more

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Have ordered delivery from Cafe Giotta a few times and never disappointed. Remembered to take pics this time. Chicken in both the Pesto (with breaded chicken addition) and the Chix Milanese was still hot, crispy, and delicious. Great delivery service directly through their website. Food arrived 25 minutes before estimated arrival time. read more

Cafe Giotto - Pesto with spaghetti alla chitarra and breaded chicken, and some tomatoes from another dish - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Delish food made fresh daily and family run. Very friendly service. Always been a gem have to come by again soon!

We chose this restaurant based on positive feedbacks but our experience was very disappointing. The food quality might have declined significantly since last reviews. We ordered Pasta Pomodoro and Pasta Aglio e Olio with grilled chicken; unfortunately, both dishes were pretty bad. The spaghetti was dry and reminiscent of instant ramen noodles. The sauces lacked of Italian flavor, the dishes may not have been freshly prepared. Also, the grilled chicken tasted like store bought rotisserie chicken and did not justify its price. The service was 1 out of 5, It's a takeout-level of service with restaurant prices. Overall, we were let down by our experience. We hope to see improvements, as the restaurant is actually nice and cozy that's why I give 2 stars. If they expect customers to pay a premium, they need to do better than this. Sorry guys read more

Delicious pasta, bread, soup & salad done right. On a beautiful day, it's wonderful to dine al fresco. Their bread is crunchy, light and great for sandwiches or just dipping it in olive oil. read more

Cafe Giotto - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Delicious food and great people watching atmosphere. Between us we ordered the leg of lamb, crispy salmon, chicken parm and spinach salad with chicken. We shared all around and were very pleased. Friendly service. Quick response. read more

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Words truly can't capture how much I adore this place. It's a cozy little venue with just four small tables and a counter that accommodates about six to eight people. While it may be tiny in size, it is a giant when it comes to both service and food quality. The waitstaff is not only friendly but also incredibly attentive, ensuring that every guest feels valued. I've sampled nearly everything on the menu, and I can honestly say that every dish is a delight. The leek soup is outstanding--rich and flavorful--while the tiramisu is simply divine. Their cappuccino is expertly crafted, and the homemade bread is a marvel, warm and fresh, setting the perfect tone for the meal. In the summer, I particularly enjoy dining outside. Although the tables are communal which adds a lovely social aspect to the experience. I can't emphasize enough how wonderful this place is to me. After five years of visits, it has become my absolute favorite spot in Montclair, a true gem that I look forward to revisiting every time. Each meal feels like a special occasion, and I always leave with a smile on my face and a full heart. read more

Absolutely love the vibe of this super tiny cafe on Church Street. It's small, cozy, and bustling. There's only a handful of seats so if you're with a group bigger than 4, I don't think you'd be able to eat here. We ordered multiple things from the menu for lunch on a Sunday - everything from sandwiches to salads to soups to pastries! The bread that comes on the paninis is super light and crusty and the sandwiches are generally huge (it's not a hot pressed panini if that's what you're thinking). I split the the salad of the day which was delicious and the breaded chicken sandwich, which I thought needed a little more flavor - the avocado mellowed it out a bit too much. It was nice that they put half the salad and half the sandwich on each of our plates. The service staff were great. And my friend said the chocolate mousse was amazing. Overall would definitely come back! read more

Cafe Giotto - Breaded Chicken Panini and daily salad - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Cafe Giotto gets a solid 4 stars. After reading some reviews, I decided to finally check this place out. The location is surprisingly intimate. There are three tables and some counter seats. I was eager to try their Specials Menu and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Arancini which was delicious. The sauce is excellent and that's coming from a Northern New Jersey Italian American. For my meal, I got the Black Truffle and Ricotta Tortellini which was really out of this world and I don't really love mushrooms, but the mushroom cream sauce was excellent. They gave prices of tortellini which is satisfying and left me hungry for dessert. The Short Rib Stew was what we were most looking forward to, but it was honestly disappointing despite the waitress saying how popular it was. The meat was tough and for me the gnocchi paled in comparison to the lightness and flavor of the tortellini. To be honest, I get Short Rib out quite a bit, and this was very disappointing. Despite this, we really enjoyed the meal. The other things we ate were so delicious that we kind of overlooked the Stew. For dessert we had the Tiramisu which was good, but not the best tiramisu I have had. I think I would try a different sweet next time. I would have given them 5 stars, but we had a few hiccups. Staff was extremely friendly, but we had to ask for water twice after sitting down and unfortunately, the short rib was too tough to eat. Instead of offering to replace the meal or take it off the bill, they gave us a discount. They were kind, but kind of did it as an after thought. I think this is a really great place for an intimate date, but seating is limited. The inside is very cute and the staff is very very nice. What shines about them is the Specials Menu, I think you can go back frequently and always get something new which is really delightful. read more

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Service is pretty bad. Apathetic and slow. The pastas are sub par. This place used to be better! Have been coming here for years but can't justify the cost for the product and service anymore. Shame because it's a good spot on Church. Last time they brought over the card reader without ever giving a check. When I asked to see the check first got an annoyed "fine". When did we get to have such bad service? And you're expecting a minimum of 20%?? Get real. read more

Came here on a grey rainy Sunday lunch time. There were outside tables available so we decided to check it out. Service was friendly and the place was clean. Started with focaccia and arancini which proved to be delicious. Then I moved on to lasagne and Italian ham panini as recommended by the waitress. All were delicious. The panini came with taro chips which I couldn't get enough of. Ended asking for more! The place is BYOB and there's a wine shop a few doors down too. Really enjoyed this place, apparently all items are made in house too. Impressive!!! read more

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My date really wanted to try this place so I obliged. We got the two most expensive pastas. One was gnocci with pesto. I got the Bolognese cavatelli which had veal in it. The gnocchi was really cheesy and was interesting..but I don't think it was worth spending $20 for. I liked the cavatelli Bolognese better. The veal was hardly there but it was decent. It was almost $20 too. The price has increased a lot in the last few years. The pastas were okay. The service was very good with very friendly bartenders. The pasta was a bit too chewy for me. It was okay and I wouldn't be in a rush to come here again. Nothing too special to me. read more

Cafe Giotto - Bolognese cavatelli pasta - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Great food and atmosphere. Authentic Italian cuisine. Love the chicken panino with broccoli rabe.

Hello again, I recently found out about this place from a tattoo artist and it's the same owner as The Corner and I love that place. I always say "the small spots usually have the best food" and this place did not disappoint. I'll be coming back. read more

Cafe Giotto - Pappardelle with Veal meatballs. - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Was craving pasta and lasagna so decided to give this spot a try. The portions were great, flavors were on point, the environment is warm and welcoming, staff was pleasant & had a great experience overall. The panna cotta & hot chocolate was a great way to finish up a late lunch. read more

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Was recommended this authentic Italian spot in the area. Forgot to take a photo of the Caesar salad but that was my favorite dish. I'm not a big salad person. My husband ordered it.. thankfully, because now I'm going get one as my main meal next time I'm in the area. Definitely recommend. read more

Cafe Giotto - Tagliatelle aglio e olio - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Amazing for the food and the service! definitely want to sing the servers' praises straight away--they were poised and helpful from beginning to end. we ordered light, a Caesar salad with Shrimp, and a daily special seafood salad with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and calamari. the portions were perfect and the seafood was so fresh and mild, bite for bite we enjoyed every moment. We've been to other Italian restaurants in Montclair, and while they're great, they seem solidly Jersey Italian, whereas this place felt like a throwback to when we were in Florence a year ago. Finished out light and utterly satisfying meal with affogato and it was sublime. all thumbs up read more

Cafe Giotto - Seafood Salad, Daiky Special - Cafes Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The stars are for the waitress, super sweet, experienced and kind...that's it! Besides the octopus carpaccio everything else was not good, spaghetti were so overcooked they looked like lomein, lamb was horrible, 3 slices of very tough meat! I expected more! read more