Oh boy, so I'm from out of town...we'll call it Texas. Anyway I was snookered the first night here, went to a nice Italian restaurant that was BYOB...well I didn't have a B so couldn't really do the BYO....to wrap up the B. So I had pasta, desert, and ice water. Well....not to be tricked again, went to the Shop Rite, and got myself 4 bottles for car inventory! The nice ladies commented on my purchases, and upon explaining my planned next stop to the next BYOB I'd found...they said OH-NO honey you need to go yo Caffe Navona, they'll get you a bottle of wine and they're the best Italian around. So.....here I go, walked in to the nicest bar and bartender (Florida) first thing made sure I could get a bottle of wine and then the rest was awesome. Some sort of Caprese with a little different cheese and maybe better than the usual....spaghetti Bolognese (OMG) and a Limoncello desert. All around just GREAT!!! read more

Another Review from a poor man. This was a place I wanted to try for a long while. Finally went for my birthday. The food was good and the service was excellent. My only two gripes are that it is a bit pricier than I would have liked to have spent and the chicken parm was average, to me, for the money spent. Everyone else's dish was fantastic! read more

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Can't say enough about Caffe Navona after our recent shower at the restaurant. Food was delicious with compliments from everyone who attended. The service was so attentive and professional. Jay was unbelievable with the attention he paid to our guests and their needs. The owner, Marco, could not have have done any more to make the celebration just perfect. Highly recommend Caffe Navonna. read more

Great service and attention on customers I ask for a special dish off the menu and they made it right away great place to feel comfortable and have a lovely dinner with the family read more

Caffe Navona - Parpadelle carbonara - Italian Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

Had a wonderful dining experience and can't wait for my rehearsal dinner here! Stopped in the other day with my mom to try the food out. Was very pleased with the service and the food. The owner was a delight to speak to and his staff was very kind and attentive. They were able to make accommodation for me (dairy free) and provided recommendations. The table came with bread and a spread. It was fantastic! We ordered pappardelle bolognese - wow so good! The pasta tasted so fresh! You can tell it was house made. We also ordered a sandwich to split. We packed half of it up, as we were so full. The portions are huge. Very happy with this place and very excited for my rehearsal dinner in November, but I'll be back sooner for sure. My mother in law wants to try it with how highly we spoke about it! read more

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This place is absolutely awesome. We met some friends there. It was my first time it's their regular spot and I can see why it's very Italian very welcoming. I wouldn't say it's casual but you don't have to get super dressed up either. The food is absolutely outstanding and the service terrific. The owner came and did multiple table touches with us. I would imagine he would anyway, but our friends know him personally. I will come back here many times and try multiple dishes. The fillet was epic. read more

Great place to visit. Great food , great service, great bartender, outstanding food. I've been there many times and will continue to do so. Love it!!!! read more

I felt the service and straightforward food I got at my first visit did not really hold up on a subsequent visit. My guest and I went in on a Thursday evening, and I gloriously basked in the live music and lively atmosphere. Although we were seated right away, we felt basically ignored after our drink orders arrived. It took our waiter multiple passes around the dining room to finally stop and take our order. A couple seated after us got their food before we did, and a different waiter stopped at our table with another table's entrees, which was frustrating since the food already was taking too long. As for the food itself, at least the portions remain generous. But the orecchiette was really just okay - not only undersalted, but plain. The lasagna I can recommend, on the other hand - the blend of cheeses comes across deliciously - and the bolognese sauce was meaty, although it was also starting to separate. Prices were in $20-30 range for each entree, which feels high vs. the sophistication of the food, but okay when considering that you'll have leftovers. read more

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Great food, great atmosphere, and great entertainment. Easy to find right on route 46 and plenty of parking. The menu always has interesting choices, and specials. Thanks read more

I've never had a bad meal here. The Osso Bucco is beyond delicious. Warm friendly environment. Marco is the best host !

Visited on a work trip, and had the bolognese. The homemade pasta and sauce made this dish incredible. Definitely made with love. The piano added a nice touch of elegance to the ambience. My only regret is not staying in town longer enabling be to enjoy the leftovers from the large delicious pasta. Will definitely be back if get a chance. read more

Went for a birthday was impressed with the ambience of the place nice homey atmosphere, great bar area and bartender. Wait staff seemed nice, had a nice choice of entrees to choose from appetizer of penne in vodka sauce was good as was the salad. The star of the day the entree was a big disappointment, I ordered the filet of sole and was very disappointed took one bite and that was all I ate of it. My opinion was that it wasn't fresh fish but a piece of frozen or old fish. I say that because it had a strong fishy taste and was not a delicate piece of sole. I know sole is a very mild tasting fish, a nice place like that should have fresh fish. Instant potatoes another no no. Say I'm picky but I no my food.b read more

This was our first time here and had an excellent dining experience! We went on a Wed night it was not too crowded. We were seated quickly. We all enjoyed our meals. It was delicious! The tiramisu was the best I ever had! The ambience was very nice. There was someone playing guitar so we got to hear some music. I definitely recommend going here. read more

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This review is long overdue. We found this place during Covid and have been frequenting this establishment ever since. The food is outstanding, but what really sets this place apart is the service. A lot of places claim "when you're here, you're family." But at Caffe Navona, this is real (all the way up to the owner, Marko). read more

What a nice surprise! Easy 5 star experience. Amazing service, vibe, food, music. Traveling for work can sometimes be difficult with finding a great place but, yelp never lets me down. I have literally no complaints and that is, rare. 5:30pm, seated immediately, drink orders taken immediately. A team of servers were all working together and you could tell they were well staffed. We were checked on constantly. Filling waters, drinks, very friendly, knowledgeable about the menu. They also had live music and it was very nice, not very loud, made for a great ambiance. The table was already set with bread and marinated tomatoes when we arrived. This was such a unique treat. It's become rare that restaurants even offer bread or a complimentary snack of sorts, and theirs is very good! The bread was soft and satisfying, leaving the star of the show to the delicious and perfectly marinated tomatoes. Olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper and herbs. Simple. Light. Refreshing. I was stuck between the Veal francese or the Marsala. One of the kind servers suggested the Francese and I'm glad he did! It was a wonderful dish. The sauce was perfectly seasoned and flavorful of wine and lemon, pasta was al dente, and the veal was so tender and perfectly prepared. The server gave us a heavy spoon full of some nice parm and a crack of fresh pepper. My colleague went for the pork tenderloin special over risotto. He said it was very good, and it looked great. The pork was fork tender. Would recommend, would return. The service really made the visit! We were in and out in about an hour, left perfectly full with leftover, price was reasonable for the quality served and it was all very good! read more

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This is by far the best Italian restaurant I have ever been too. We go alot and have never had a bad meal or experience, The staff is wonderful warm and friendly, We always sit in a booth in the bar and we love the look and feel of the place. Marco the owner is great and very friendly and goes out of his way to make things comfortable. this is a [lace everyone should try! read more

i was disappointed in the food. the salad was wilted the bread wasn't warm. we were in a back room with 4 tables near the side of the bar. the service wasn't great. it was a monday afternoon and the place was packed...we had reservations. read more

It's alright. Standard ambience and standard/good menu to choose from. Food is tasty and our waitress was a real sweetheart, so were the wait staff. Not a young/hip place. But they did have a jazz pianist play when we were there and it's not too far away, so I'd consider going again. Very generous portions. Like huge read more

Caffe Navona - Outside - Italian Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

Always amazing. Food and service are both consistently amazing. Highly recommend coming here.

Ambiance was classy the server recommendation was spot on . The food was tasty and fresh. Great service Russel sprouts was great read more

Caffe Navonna is a very nice Italian restaurant in Rockaway, NJ. It was very busy on a Saturday night for six of us in early March, 2025. Live music, food, service and ambiance were very good (but a little noisy with people enjoying the experience) as others have reported. Unfortunately, our reservation for 7 pm was not on the list. Fortunately, the host/manager was able to fit us in at 7:45. It was less than ideal, but the food was well worth the wait. Starting with grilled (not fried) calamari (excellent) and fried zucchini flowers to various pasta, bolognese, and veal parmigiana entrees were very good. And a single slice of Italian cheesecake (enough for 6) was a nice finish to the evening. read more

A group of us just dined here for the first time. We sat outside. where there was a piano player playing nice soothing music that was not too loud. Perfect ambiance. The owner came around multiple times to check on us, which made us feel important. Would definitely return. read more

I have a special love for Caffe Navona, the summer time outdoor seating is cute and reminds me of Italy, the live music is a nice touch and the food is always delicious. I highly recommend making a reservation here because it's always packed and the last time we came unannounced we were seated at the bar and it was a really bad experience. We know the restaurant was too busy to take us and they offered the bar as a last option so we took it but the bartender's foul mouth and all the chaos around us make our experience overwhelming and we regretted it especially since we were celebrating something special. That said, every other time I've been here has always been a 5/5 experience and I'd gladly come back. read more

Everything is just delicious! Service on spot! Very attentive and pleasing. The ambiance is warm and homey. Highly recommend Caffe Navona!

Food is 10/10. Service is amazing even though they do seem understaffed. Our server was very attentive even while running to all her other tables. the complimentary bruschetta they give you to start your meal is BOMB. outdoor eating area is so peaceful and the live acoustic music really took our Monday dinner out to the next level. Absolutely fantastic every time we come back. read more

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Caffe Navona is a top Italian dining experience where you are treated as family. The ambiance, service, and of course, the food are exceptionable. It has the class of a fine Italian restaurant but is not pretentious or snobby. Moreover, it is friendly and warm. Marco and his team make this gem a memorable experience from the moment you walk through the door to the moment you leave. There are several good Italian restaurants in the area but this is the best! As for the food, my wife and I have never been disappointed. If I had to narrow it down, you cannot go wrong with the standards. With that said, the "Sunday Sauce" is amazing and so is the NY Strip Steak with Gorgonzola. There is a also a great wine list and the crafted cocktails from the bar are outstanding. Caffe Navona has it all! read more

OUTSTANDING ALL AROUND!!! From the minute you walk till the minute you leave, you are waited on. Best service I've ever had. Restaurant is very pretty inside. The bar is off to the right and the dining rooms to the left. There are some tables near the bar also. The appetizers were.... Spiedini, Calamari' and beef Carpaccio. All 3 were equally delicious. Dinners consisted of, Crab Cakes ( fantastic.. packed with crab meat ), pork chop Giambotta ( perfectly cooked... tender and flavorful). Chicken Milanese ( tender and delicious), orecchiette with sausage was excellent and the chicken spada verde was great. Not one complaint from anyone!! Empty plates were had!!! Desserts... Creme Brulé, Mouse Tyrolese and Lemoncello cake. Again, all equally delicious. Drinks and sangria was awesome!! * stupid weird side note: The prettiest bathrooms I have ever seen in a restaurant. Excellent.... Excellent... Highly recommend!! read more

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Visited here for the first time during a week night dinner with coworkers. Luckily we made reservations ahead of time as this place is very busy and very packed. So packed that the three various levels of parking were full. This part is discouraging. Service inside was welcoming and friendly while super patient but clearly the staff as well tenured and knows what they're doing. The menu is quite extensive and has a lot of classic traditional dishes as well as their take on some traditional dishes with their modern approach. Portions are very generous considering the pricing and are very shareable. Although things can be shared family style it is not a mandate. I am very happy that during this meal we had appetizers entrées desserts and sampled quite a few of the wines and cocktails. This place is very lively very loud and very happening which brings a lot of great energy. I will definitely come back. read more

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We've been going to Caffe NaVona since the summer of 2020. Most times we go when there is not only Caffe NaVona's fabulous food, but also music by friends, esp Grover and Cardon. We have tried many dishes from salads, sandwiches, pizza, to regular dinner menu mainstays and specials. Everything has always been outstanding, so when my husband asked me where I wanted to go for our 20th anniversary, this was the answer. That night we had blood orange manhattans to start, then the special arancini, he had the crab cakes, I had the seared tuna and we shared the key lime pie. Grover was playing, another friend showed up in time for coffee and dessert, and it couldn't have been a better celebration. read more

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Nice atmosphere. Good food as well. They have a nice rustic bar inside as well as a large dinning area. They give complimentary bread accompanied with bruschetta to start which is an excellent touch. For an app we did the eggplant fritters. It comes with spinach and peppers. AWESOME!!! Absolutely get this. For the entree, I got a Caesar salad with chicken, was okay. The chicken was quite bland. The dressing was good and gave a generous amount of Parmesan cheese. My guest got a lobster roll. He said it was great. No desert but the deserts sounded good. read more

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My wife and I decided to celebrate our anniversary last night at Caffe Navona. It was the first time we've been there in quite a few years. Really not much has changed. It's still a nice, cozy restaurant with a piano player providing a romantic touch. Great ambiance! Equally important is the delicious food. From the bruschetta that's served when you sit, through the desserts, there are lots of great choices. We started off with the Eggplant Fritters appetizer. These balls of eggplant were delicious with a honey lemon sauce. For entrees, I chose Marco's Mother's Sunday Sauce and my wife had Chicken Milanese. My meal was delicious...meatball, sausage, and braciole over linguine with a fantastic sauce. For dessert, we went with the signature white chocolate mousse topped with raspberry chambord sauce. It was just how we remembered it from the last time we were here! The only issue at all was that my wife asked for onions to be left off her entree, yet there they were. Not too big a deal and she still enjoyed her meal. If you're in the Rockaway area and looking for a tasty Italian dinner, I definitely recommend Caffe Navona. Buon Appetito! read more

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This is one of our go to Italian places in the area. We are lucky to have many of them in Morris County, but Navona stands out for their old school approach. Really nice people and excellent service. I like their sauce (it's sauce, not gravy people) is bright and bold, which I happen to like. Lasagna and bolognese are really good and so are their pizzas. We tried the Rustica yesterday and it was excellent. Good crust. read more

Here's the deal. Coffee Navona is a staple of excellent Italian food in the area. They have great indoor/outdoor seating. Bar area and larger rooms for private events . Great restaurant always consistent!! read more

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Consistently excellent, great bartender. Marco is a great host. This is one of my go to places

Great food, great atmosphere. They had live music and a great selection of wines. The Italian food tasted fresh and flavorful. read more

Very good food can be a bit noisy but well worth it for the food. Definitely make a reservation as it's a very busy place.

We enjoyed our first visit so much we decided to come back for dinner for the second time this week. The owner greeted us at the door and welcomed us back. We decided to have drinks at the bar and then order from there as well. Great atmosphere, the live music was wonderful, great food and great service. Alyson did a great job at the bar, friendly service and stellar drinks ! I would come back to New Jersey just to come here !! read more

Caffe Navona - two people at a bar - Italian Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

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Authentic Italian with the best service. Hard to get in so that should tell you something. I recently went on a Wednesday night and it was packed. Even the table bruschetta is fantastic! read more

First time here and it was such a good experience!! We will definitely be coming back! Everything from the decorations to the staff was excellent! The food was amazing as well! We started with a calamari appetizer (didn't get a picture of it), they bring warm bread and house made bruschetta (delicious)! For our entrees, I got the shrimp veneziano and my SO got the gnocchi with vodka sauce with shrimp. You can tell the pasta was freshly made! We ended our meal with cappuccinos and a white chocolate mousse. Everything was so delicious! Will definitely be back soon! read more

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Had the pleasure of stumbling upon this gem for dinner. We were able to walk in around 8pm and be seated quickly. The restaurant was big with many dining rooms, a bar and w beautiful outdoor area which opens up in the warmer weather. We were greeted by the owner himself, Marco and he sat us fairly quickly. He was so nice, the second he brought us the menu he said, "if there's anything not anything on this menu that you want, just let me know" which was already unique in itself. We were all able to find something for each of us on his pretty extensive menu, he had everything you would find at a typical Italian restaurant. When you sit down, you get a bread basket and a little bowl of bruschetta with balsamic vinegrette which was a great start. The wine selection was nice and the cocktails were great. We ordered with the burrata for our app which was good. For our entrees we got the orchiette, jumbo shrimp pasta and gnocchi with vodka sauce. All of it was so good. The jumbo shrimp sauce with the angel hair made the dish and the vodka sauce for my gnocchi was to die for, in addition to them being pillowy goodness. Our only regret is that we wish we had saved room for dessert. Looking to coming back here for their outdoor patio! read more