Excellent meal, warm staff and atmosphere added to a delightful dinner. The Pork Chop was exceptional, so was the Chicken Martini. Highly recommend read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - Pork Chop - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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My Thursday night women's group, as well as my family,have been coming to Cocco Bello Cafe for more than 10 years under several different ownerships. We have been coming to the new ownership for the past year. This evening our dinner was unacceptable. The skirt steak was ordered medium and it came out very rare and cold, the stuffed artichoke was burnt, (a extremely small artichoke for $18.00) the pasta with tomato and basil sauce (had to ask for additional gravy)was cold, not al dente, but raw!! When the owner came over to see how everything was,I told him how unhappy we all were. Never offered us dessert or adjusted the bill. Giving one star to this restaurant is being overly generous! read more

Having to find a place for a repass on a Monday afternoon during the summer season was no easy feat as foodie Italians were to be the guests. I finally resorted to an internet search and a leap of faith! I was confident from the moment I spoke with Danny that everything would work out and it did. He worked with me to build a multi-course sitdown menu and it did not disappoint. The food was top notch delicious and the service led by Tony was perfect. In fact, no one wanted to leave! I received 100% compliments with many guests determined to dine there regularly. Shout out to Cocco Bello Cafe--- well done and thank you! read more

Been going to Cocco Bello maybe 3-4x a year since we moved to the area 8 years ago. It's always been consistent, but last few times just seems quality is down and service has sucked. Always finding myself getting up from the table to go ask for something. Whether it's a refill on water, or get some pepper, Butter, another glass of soda, etc. Other complaint is with any of their chicken dishes. They pound their chicken so thin - OR just slice it so thin Sure you get 3 pieces with an entree, but it they add up to 1/4 a pound all together I would be shocked. Also, I remember they used to have homemade pasta. Whatever I just had was definitely boxed Our friend got the eggplant parm, which was good, but obviously pre-made and reheated. Overall disappointing. But still giving 3 stars since everything tastes good, it's. Just not satisfying. Service and portion size. I guess a good place to go if you are on Ozempic like 3/4 of this town. read more

It's been years since I have been here. I am so glad things have not changed. Food is still good and Antonio is still around. Consistent. Delicious. Friendly staff. read more

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I recently visitied this cafe and oh my, this place stinks. I couldnt let it take over but the food was massive and you know what else is massive. Imagine if ninja got a low taper fade. The service is great but the ambiance could be better. for example if there was shit on the walls it would really liven the place up. read more

Attended my company Christmas luncheon at this restaurant & I was impressed. Definitely returning with my husband. The food was delicious & eye catching. The service was prompt & courteous. read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - a salad on a plate - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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I see the word "casual" all over, and that is fitting here. This is a nice casual Italian spot in a town full of formal Italian of high quality. And this is no knock on the quality here, but I paid a formal price for a casual meal and that is not going to fly. Check my photos - they brought out 3 olives to start. One olive per person. With more than one garlic clove per person. I'm pretty sure that is quite far from most people's ideal olive to garlic to person ratio. Not to mention the plate was drowning in olive oil that required more than the two thin slices of bread per person to sop up. Breadsticks don't soak up oil very well, though they're tasty. At these prices, you can afford to bring out a normal plate of about 12-15 olives like other restaurants. Or, you know, price according to your casual atmosphere. On to the meal. Check my photo. It was a nice meal, although a few parts of it were odd. Carrot slices don't really belong in Italian food. The one random zucchini wedge was a bit out of place. Finally, broccoli is definitely a part of Italian cuisine, but not in a giant steamed tree on the side of the plate. It's supposed to be in pieces mixed into the dish. So I have some presentation and ingredient issues there. The other issue is the portion. If I'm ordering a basic dish of basic chicken and vegetables, I expect more than a single small potato cut in half. Two flattened chicken breasts is okay, but not tiny ones like this (they basically equalled one normal one). The vegetables were also more of a "one of this, one of that" instead of a good, healthy mix. For $22, either feed me really high quality food, or really large quantities of good food. This place is not doing these things. It's trying to get by on hoping Livingston is conditioned to pay more without getting more. Maybe that'll work, but I would rather add to the atmosphere for that kind of money. Food's fine, wallet beware. read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - A generous one olive and one garlic clove per person. - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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Great ambiance, delicious food and loved that they split up the plates we shared. Highly recommended

Came here to grab dinner with my friends from high school. One of them recommended this place to me and honestly was shocked that it was here in Livingston. It's a cozy cafe that does meals. There's parking in the back and an entrance in the back and you can seat yourselves. I was the last one to come but my friends were just sitting at a table (good amount available) and the servers came to take our order and bring it out. The quality of the food wasn't bad and it wasn't expensive-overall, decent food, not bad but not amazing either. Definitely can see this place getting full during the lunch time; apparently you can order ahead of time and pick it up too. Dont' know if i will be back but i wouldn't mind if i need to read more

Regularly eat here because of the high-quality food and great menu options. Service is phenomenal. Definitely recommend!

This is a nice place we enjoy meeting for our ladies' lunch. Excellent service and great food.

Small place with a curious choice of background music - the theme from Rocky. Not exactly "eating" music. Bread was subpar, chicken balsamico VERY tender. Waitstaff was good, if not the warmest. I got the feeling we were taking her away from her video games. Prices were reasonable, but there are better places in town. read more

We ordered a family dinner -- it was excellent Cocco Bello and Chef Rob always exceed our expectations I can't wait to order again and again and again read more

Nice atmosphere and great owners. They create cool, contemporary cuisine for discerning taste buds. We had a nice time. read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Another delicious dinner @ Cocobello. Duck, scallops & short ribs Being byo works for me too read more

Sat down at 12pm and left at 3:30pm. We were there THREE AND A HALF HOURS chasing down the waitresses so we could ORDER, so we could ORDER DESSERT, so we could freaking PAY. It was literally one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had. The food wasn't even that good and portions are tinyyyy. The majority of the time was spent waiting, not eating. They never came back after we ordered. I don't care if they don't want to check up on their customers, but could you at least refill waters??? I understand why Sweet Basil's is so much more popular, even if prices are a bit higher. read more

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Like my old friend Michelle L said, Cocco Bello Cafe is a casual gem in a town that desperately needs more flavor in their dining scene. What amazes me is that I waited so long to discover it. Really visually appealing decor, reminiscent of an early 20th century bar complete with woodwork and copper ceilings. Interestingly, there's a bar area although they don't have a liquor license. I guess it's more of a coffee and soda bar, both okay in my book. Love a really good BYOB. Livingston has plenty of good places to drink but very little in the way of really good food. Had a delicious lunch consisting of a tuna, brie and pancetta panini with a side of what may very well be the best french fries I've ever had, served well done and dirty. Yumm. Service was attentive and friendly and prices were more than reasonable. Like I've mentioned before, it's unusual for me to visit a restaurant and almost immediately insert them in my regular dining rotation. I eat out a minimum of 10x/week (true) and can't remember the last time I cooked anything besides a protein shake. Last place in Livingston I did that was Sweet Basil's and I've hit them up just about every week since I first ate there. Same with Cocco Bello. Great little place. See you again very soon! read more

We were treated like the restaurants only priority even though it was a packed Saturday night. With that attentiveness along with excellent food makes for a great dining experience! We had some delicious home made pasta to start (Pappardelle Porcini was my favorite) and the Honey Apple Pork Chop for my entree was amazing! read more

My new favorite Italian restaurant!!! Delicious from appetizer to dessert! Beautiful atmosphere and great staff!

This strip mall cafe is a perfect spot for a very well-crafted Cappucino or light bite for lunch. The salads and wraps are fresh, tasty and generous in portion size. Even the desserts in the case look yummy. The atmosphere is nothing particularly special, but it is always pleasant and the staff, albeit not always successful, tries very hard. It is a BYO and does get a decent dinner crowd on certain evenings, but I can't say I am running to this place for a spectacular night out or even a casual dinner. While the food will always suffice and the choices will appeal to even the pickiest of diners, there are so many restaurants in neighboring towns it is hard to see why this place would draw a lively crowd. That said, this place has been in business for several years now in a tough location where so many establishments have come and gone. It isn't hard to understand why since it will always deliver decent food, and has a young staff that aims to please. read more

I was really happy with the lunch I ate here. The cappuccino was strong and the frittata I ordered was cheesy and meaty. It was also about a diameter in size. It was delicious. It was a potato, pepperoni, tomato, and spinach frittata with asiago cheese on top. The frittata was only $9 too and filled me up for the whole day. If I'm ever in the area again I'm coming back. Note: I had to pay in cash for part of my bill so be ready for that. It may not be 100% credit card acceptable. read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - Cappuccino $4.50 - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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I've been to Cocco Bello Cafe four times now!! It has become my favorite restaurant.. each time the food has been top notch.. the Pork Chop had to be the BEST I have ever had, scallops were fresh and prepared perfectly, short ribs fantastic & the home made pasta is fabulous. I especially loved the pappardelle with porcini mushrooms. Chef Rob does a dynamite job and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. Everyone I've sent reports the same.. definitely a winner! read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - Honey Apple Porkchop... perfection! - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Since i posted the review of this restaurant, i have learned that there are other owners beside the family members i encountered in the restaurant the night i visited there. I apologize for that omission. Regardless of the ownership , Cocco Bello Cafe is worth a visit to this restaurant for its food, service and ambiance. Go as soon as you can. read more

Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding! Orchiette was sooooooooooooooooooo good. Great service ... great food.

Attended a private event at the Cafe. Left there feeling like I'd just eaten the best meal ever and may not need to eat for days! So many delicious plates, one after another. From the Charcuterie board straight through to the delicious home made desserts, not one plate disappointed. The pasta was so fresh, the appetizers inspired and the main courses all amazed. Staff was friendly and accommodating--I had to Vegans at my table and they didn't miss out on a any course, with special dishes made just for them. Highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back for not an event but a sit down or take out meal. read more

Cocco Bello Cafe - I was too busy eating to get main dishes but this is the Charcuterie that started it all! - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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We celebrated my dear friends birthday at Coco Bello Cafe Today and it was fabulous in every way! The food was amazing! Several courses of delicious food! The homemade pasta was outstanding! The Chef did a wonderful job! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone! You will not be disappointed! read more

I really like this restaurant. I have been there a few times and the food is always delicious and the staff is very nice and accommodating. . Mady was very kind and gave me a few biscottis with my coffee. It was the pick me up that I needed. The staff made me feel very welcome. The soups are also very good. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Why there has not been a review since 2010 (and 1 at that!) for this place is beyond me. Cocco Bello is a cute little casual gem situated in a strip mall in Livingston. They serve some of the freshest Italian food we've had in town. Some favorites include their homemade meatballs and pasta, specialty chicken dishes, over-sized salads and crab cake appetizer. They also have a nice selection of daily specials. The prices are very reasonable and being BYOB makes the dining experience even cheaper. It's a little on the small side. Recommend making reservations on weekends. Definitely worth a try. Guarantee it will become one your go tos. read more

Very disappointed, I've been here in the past and the food was good, but this time the food was bland, the calamari were so small. Never again. Over priced nasty food. read more

V Authentic Italian food !!! Ordered for Mother's Day! All the food was yummy! Lamb was perfectly cooked, not over done as per request. Tiramisu was perfect !!! Price is reasonable. read more

Not as thrilled as some others with the new menu/chef. Aside from some of the things I was sorry to see let go was the Chicken Asiago, and I am equally sorry to see the much more limited menu of panini and the disappearance of fries as accompaniment. On the new dinner menu, I liked the pork chop and was less persuaded by the fruit sauce for the duck breast. I also find some innovation puzzling, like replacing cloth napkins with paper while adding a double layer of table cloths. So, while Cocco Bello stays on my list of local places, it's no longer as much one of my standbys. I'll hope for future improvements. read more

Nice place Good food. Owners are top shelf!!! Clean and food is fresh. Apps are fantastic. Great lunch also. read more

This was our first time here, since the reopening in October. For a Tuesday evening, it was packed. First bonus, BYOB! With friends, we shared the Caprese Salad. The tomatoes were deliciously ripe and the mozzarella, homemade - seasoned to perfection. We shared the Brussel sprouts appetizer, never had a tastier dish, prepared to perfection, delicious and generous portion. I had Chicken Boscovivo, so tender and tasty with mixed vegetables, sun dried tomatoes and potatoes, huge portion. I could have cleaned thhe plate with the delicious home made bread (but I didn't). My husband had the broiled scallops special, not on the regular menu. Although only 4, theY were jumbo with white asparagus and avocado. Delicious! Our friends had pasta dishes, with a special substitute request. Not a problem, delicious homemade pasta. We all shared the Tiramisu dessert, a perfect, light dessert.. Service was exceptional especially since it was so crowded. Rob Giordano is a native of Livingston, so accomplished - an extraordinary chef! We are delighted to have fine dining in our town. Will definitely return! read more

I just stopped in for takeout and I will definitely be going back! The staff are very friendly and were happy to talk with my dad and me. I ordered the scallops and calamari, which were delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anybody who is looking for EXQUISITE Italian food! read more

Last fall, I visited NJ from Florida and had dinner at Cocco Bello Cafe in Livingston. It was a wonderful dinner with a new menu and a fabulous new chef. You watched as he made from scratch, right in front of you, the most out of this world pasta! Then we had the breaded artichoke hearts, the salmon and the pork chop, all perfectly prepared. For dessert, we ate delicious homemade carrot cake, cheesecake and biscotti. The service and the staff at Cocco Bello was exceptional. The atmosphere was warm and family like. What a special restaurant! A few weeks ago, I sent my cousin to Cocco Bello Cafe promising her the best dinner of her life, only to be told she was so disappointed. What happened to the out of this world homemade pasta or the homemade desserts or the family like atmosphere? She informed me that there was a new menu and yet another new chef. What a shame! What a mistake! A few months ago Cocco Bello Cafe was an exciting innovative and trendy new restaurant welcomed and embraced by Livingston and other neighboring towns with open arms. Sadly, now it's just another typical, ordinary, mediocre, run of the mill, no great shakes Italian restaurant. Fran R. Sent from my iPhone read more

The food was fair. Somethings were very good - lobster bisque - and others were just ok. But the most remarkable is how small the portions are and how high the prices are. $26 or more for any fish/ seafood even in pasta. Do not get the pasta Scialatelli (with shellfish)- it looks like a half pasta order. You can barely find the seafood that is all chopped up in small pieces. Various filleted fish - Bronzino, Arctic char- come with skin which is crispy good but no warning for those who cannot stomach seeing fish skin. Nice ambience and very pleasant staff. Comfortable chairs. Not going back. read more

I'm surprised no one has yet to write a review for Cocco Bello on Yelp as this place is pretty good. I'll admit I was a bit hesitant about going to this place as I had read reviews elsewhere that service was sometimes bad for non-regulars. But our experience was a good one. I was able to call to make a reservation, which I think is a necessity on a Friday night considering how busy the place was that evening. We were immediately greeted at the rear entrance (parking is in the back) and brought to our table. The waitstaff and servers performed very well. I believe the owner or someone from the management walked around from table to table greeting people. Overall, it was a good atmosphere. The menu itself has a very good selection of different appetizers, salads, seafood, pastas, entrees, etc. And the prices were very reasonable with the salads being around $10-11 as an entree and $6-7 as a side, and the entrees ranged from $15-20 for the pastas and $18-25 for the entrees. Some of the specials approached $30. Mind you, these are just rough estimates from my recollection. If I recall correctly, their slow roasted duckling was $31. Looking around at the other tables, we realized that the portions were huge. So we started off with one order of the crab cakes, which came with a zesty spread on the side, some salad, and a sprinkle of a cajun-like pepper all around. They were very good. We then had the whole wheat fettuccine with shrimp and braised beef short ribs along with a side of spinach rabe. The fettuccine started off well, but I think all the extra sauce at the bottom of the bowl made the pasta a bit soggy by the end. Taste was good, but texture was off as a result of the pasta being soggy. The short ribs were perfect. Just the right size and a big helping of mashed potatoes with skins and truffle oil. Unfortunately, we were just too full to try anything else. Overall, we were very happy with our experience and would dine there again. read more

My wife and I have been to Cocco Bello 3-4 times in the last year and it's one of our favorite spots in Livingston for Italian. The service is always on point with a very friendly and attentive wait staff and the food is always good. Don't get me wrong, it's no Scalini Fideli (Chatham), but for the money it's pretty hard to beat and I think all the dishes are priced just right. Large portions too so be prepared to eat. The deserts are pretty delicious too so save some room! It's BYOB. read more

Excellent food at an excellent value! Always fresh fish and pasta dishes that are like my Nonna used to make!