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    Cucina Calandra

    3.8 (352 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pizza, Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Cucina Calandra Takeout or Delivery

    Cucina Calandra Photos

    CUCINA CALANDRA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cucina Calandra

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    Meredith A.

    I came for a conference in this hotel and visited the attached Cucina Calandra for dinner with my family. It was good! Not high end or anything but for a mid-casual pasta place, we really enjoyed it. The cheese bread at the beginning of the meal started us off right. Amazing! The Italian salad was ok, and the spaghetti bolognese was delicious. We finished the night with affogato and that was lovely. Our waiter was friendly. Would recommend!

    Grinchmas
    Michelle J.

    Such a fun spot for the holidays, with cute grinch themed cocktails. Definitely recommend if you enjoy Italian food and wish there were some grinch themed apps. Also they accept reservations and their service is friendly and attentive

    Mary V.

    Old-school New Jersey Italian cuisine. Think: traditional dishes and HUGE portions. When we visited earlier this month, the restaurant was under renovation, so they had moved all the tables into the bar area. Servers started us with bread from their bakery, served with olive oil for dipping (yum, cutely served in a colander). We continued with two fresh salads, two pastas (one with pesto sauce, one with vodka sauce) and the chicken cutlet with gnocchi. Again, portions were huge! Felt like a pound of pasta on my plate. I should have asked to add a protein, to balance my carb loading. Other than that, the food was pretty good - for that price point I just look for something a little more inspired. We took home half of the food as take-out. I think they could shrink their portion sizes and reduce their food costs, to reduce their menu costs, and everyone would still have plenty to eat. Just a thought. The short wine list showcases mostly Italian wines. I enjoyed a sambuca after dinner while my family shared cheesecake and affogato for dessert. The restaurant was BUSY and servers were friendly and attentive. Very family-friendly spot with lots of kiddos. To our surprise on this recent Saturday evening, live music started mid-dinner: a man, a guitar, and some entertaining backup tracks. It got a little loud for us, but entertaining, and fun to see all the kids dancing to the music.

    Pappardelle bolagnese
    Diana M.

    Came here for lunch with girlfriends for their holiday grinches grotto. It was such a cute way to spend some time with friends for the holiday. Plenty of parking in the lot. We made reservations ahead of time. The themed drinks looked fun. I personally had a spicy margarita. Food and drinks were good. Service was great. The gave us each a loaf of bread on the way out which was nice !

    Pasta
    Joanne T.

    Came in for a holiday pop up (Grinches Grotto) with friends and had a lovely holiday experience. Make reservations in advance as they are a tiny restaurant and limited seating. We had pizza to start. It was a hot honey and pepperoni pizza. Delicious! I ordered the lobster ravioli, good but a small portion. My husband had pasta and my friend had seafood pasta. Everything was good. We ordered holiday drink but the presentation was underwhelming. Had few desserts - also average. Overall a good spot. We didn't love the blasting music at the end of our dining experience. They seemed like they wanted to turn it into a night club. Just wasn't the vibe for us.

    Seafood pasta
    Dena H.

    We came here for the Christmas decorations and atmosphere and had a great time! I wish the drinks were a bit more festive or in festive mugs but they were good. We shared the fried calamari to start and it was good. For our entree we shared the chicken parm and rigatoni Ala vodka and both were delicious. My friends also enjoyed their dishes. The food was overall very good!

    Zucchini fries and Fried Calamari
    Gissell M.

    Wanted to find a place with elevated pizza and pasta for a early dinner. On a Monday it's hard to find in north jersey. I enjoy Calandra bread and was excited to try the restaurant. You can imagine the disappointment when they said there is no pizza yet it wasn't listed on the menu anywhere. We then ordered apps but crab cakes come in a trio and not on there own. Finally we get to the dinners and the lasagna packed a punch. It does have peas so I will caution you. Rigatoni vodka was much denser and less saucy then other locations. Chicken was grilled and tasted a bit lemony. Ordered the carrot cake for dessert but it was sold out. Vanilla gelato was pricy but satisfying.

    Cioppino
    Monica D.

    I went with a few friends for their Bacon and Bourbon night a couple of weeks ago and while they had plenty of bourbon (3 tastings with 2 shots each) it was more than we can drink because we had to drive. Also aside from a bacon candle and additions to an entrée, there wasn't much bacon to be had. The selections were very good. I went with the appetizer of shrimp with a bourbon glaze, the Fig n Pig entrée and the bourbon bread pudding. They had an expert on hand to walk you through each tasting and the saxophonist playing was really good. An overall phenomenal value at just $50. I'll keep coming back to this place because it is really good food, service and events.

    Calamari.
    Allison H.

    Since moving to the West Coast, I've been severely deprived of NJ Italian food. Cucina Calandra has always been one of my favorites, with a reputation to match-- several bakeries, restaurants, and a shelf filled with restaurant awards. I've visited Cucina Calandra recently when I was visiting back home, and the food did not disappoint. The portions are generous for the value, and include a warm cheese bread and bread you can take to-go. All the dishes I tried were fresh, well-cooked, and flavorful. The chicken parm dish had a delicious pan-fried crust and toasted, melty cheese. The lobster ravioli special was acidic and savory, which balanced out the creamy pasta. And the calamari was so tender! (The plates will also be the size of your head... Maybe bigger.) Cucina Calandra is a solid spot for a dinner at reasonable price point. (Man, do I miss a good marinara.) Cucina Calandra did seem a little understaffed, though.

    Suzette S.

    My son's girlfriend sent me an Instagram reel about Cuncina Calandra's floral garden pop-up. Hubby and I made reservations. We arrived early and our reservation was for the floral garden but it was a bit outside. We were seated indoors. Great ambience, soft music playing, Tuscan decor. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner. Our server Kenny was great! The cheesy bread was served hot! Yum. Hubby and I selected entree's from the specials Pork chop and lobster ravioli. Bonus: Calandra bakery around the corner you can grab sweet treats and breads to go!!

    Chicken parm!

    From start to finish the food, ambiance and service was top notch. You will not be disappointed!

    Calamari Fritti

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    Ask the Community - Cucina Calandra

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    Dough - Wings..happy hour..not a fan..i prefer crispy wings

    Dough

    4.4(552 reviews)
    1.4 mi
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    Met up with friends for some wood-fired pizza, and this place was perfect for it! The restaurant…read morefeels like stepping into a beautiful log cabin--cozy and intimate for date nights, yet spacious enough for larger groups. They also have a full bar, craft beer and offer much more than just pizza, including vegan options, a great selection of appetizers, salads, handcrafted pastas, plus fish and steak dishes. The menu is really well done. We decided to share a few pizzas since the brick oven was calling our name: Margherita - fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil Pesto Chicken - wood-fired chicken, fresh basil, mozzarella, Fontina, and basil pesto Smokey the Pig - smoked mozzarella, baked prosciutto, field mushrooms, fresh garlic, and EVOO For dessert, we shared the coconut cake. It's plant-based, made with coconut milk and brown sugar, and topped with coconut flakes. The portion was easily enough for four people and absolutely delicious--super fresh and flavorful. Our server, Tara, was wonderful--so sweet and attentive. She checked in often, kept our drinks filled, and made sure we enjoyed everything from the food to dessert. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes!

    so I have good and bad things to say about this place. I'm gonna talk about the good…read more Service was excellent. I had the arugula and leeks pizza with mozzarella and balsamic drizzle. That was really good! their bread with the whipped butter was also delicious! this next thing I'm about to talk about is probably no fault of the restaurant but I'm a little traumatized by the whole experience so bear with me! Sometimes bad things happen to good people. I could also be very dramatic about things but I don't think I am. One of the bathroom stalls I locked and when I locked it I felt something on my thumb. IT WAS BROWN!!!!!!!! I came out of there and washed my hands until my thumb was raw! My whole hands were red. I don't even know how many times I washed them! This tiny dot of .... Let's not be coy but SHIT literally makes me even more afraid to use a public bathroom!! when I fucking hate them to begin with! I don't know how often a restaurant is supposed to check on stuff like this but God knows how long this was there for or who did it in the first place! People are fucking disgusting! it was in the handicap stall because one stall had pee on the seat which I also hate, and the other stall had no toilet paper. I'm not sure if this review is supposed to defer you from eating here. My food was really good. But this really freaked me out.

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    Michael Angelo's Restaurant & Brick Oven Pizza - Shrimp Diavolo

    Michael Angelo's Restaurant & Brick Oven Pizza

    4.1(166 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    The sweet older man from the place actually brought the pizza out to the car "so it doesn't get…read morecold". Don't order and then leave to wander around outside like I did because 6 minutes means 6 minutes. Good salty mozz, chewy thin crust. And he's right, you need to eat it hot. The rest of the pizza was not so great cold and reheated, those thin slices are a joy of the moment thing not to be revisited. But on the upside, I view the thin slices as really like eating half a standard regular slice, so go for as many as you can manage. This is one of the Jersey greats that is rarely mentioned, try it out.

    This establishment isn't just a restaurant; it's a delightful journey back to the heart of…read moretraditional Italian cooking, steeped in the rich heritage of Newark, NJ. The pizza is limited to a square pie, cut into small squares. Very thin, very crunchy, quite flavorful. This restaurant is mid sized with about 15 tables, seems to be able to accommodate very easily small and large groups. Also BYOB. Beyond their pizza, the full Italian menu pretty complete., very reasonable pricing. An inexpensive night out for a group of four. Conveniently located just behind the Red Roof Inn, it's an accessible hidden gem. Also plenty of parking. Very casual dining, in an old-school setting. I also noticed they are have a back room equipped for large parties. They also take reservations on busy nights.

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    Michael Angelo's Restaurant & Brick Oven Pizza - The pizza was spectacular

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    The pizza was spectacular

    Double Zero Pizza - MARGHERITA PIZZA
 
 San Marzano Tomatoes, Home Made Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Basil, And Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Vegetarian.

    Double Zero Pizza

    4.6(146 reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    We moved back to Jersey a year ago and could not find great pizza. We have finally found it!!!…read more Have been here twice already in a week. The smell of the wood fire as you walk in is amazing. And if you've forgotten a beverage - there's a liquor store across the parking lot!!! Mike is great to speak with as he preps the dough and everyone who comes in is a regular!

    Hands down the BEST 00-Style Wood-Fired Pizza in New Jersey…read moreyou're anywhere near Fairfield, stop what you're doing and get to Double Zero Pizza. I'm honestly shocked this place isn't packed wall-to-wall every night -- this is the kind of pizza you expect to find in Naples . From the second you walk in, you know they take their craft seriously. Stacks of real wood, the authentic Pavesi Italian oven, and trays of perfectly risen dough balls -- it's the real deal. No shortcuts, no gimmicks. Just craftsmanship. I ordered two pies: White Pie with Mushrooms & Olives Incredible. The crust has that perfect leopard-spotted char, blistered just right, crispy on the outside but still soft and airy inside. The ricotta and mozzarella are super fresh, the mushrooms taste like they were sliced minutes before hitting the oven, and the olives add the perfect salty punch. Every bite tasted like it was straight out of a wood-fired pizza boutique. Classic Margherita One word: unreal. The sauce is bright and fresh, the cheese melts into little pools of heaven, and the basil actually survives the oven without turning bitter. Balanced, clean, and addictive. The crust is truly the star -- you can tell they use high-quality "00" flour and slow fermentation. Light, airy, not heavy at all. The kind of crust you want to eat all of, even the charred ends. The owner Mike clearly cares about every detail -- from the dough to the toppings to the oven temperature. This isn't "pizza shop pizza," this is artisanal, handcrafted, authentic wood-fired pizza done right. Prices are super fair for this quality. Cash-only but totally worth it. If you love real Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, put this place on your list immediately. Easily one of the best pies I've had in NJ -- maybe the best. I'll definitely be back .

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    Wood Stack Pizza Kitchen

    Wood Stack Pizza Kitchen

    3.9(623 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    Woodstack is a great, casual place to dine for pizza and other Italian dishes. Reservations are…read morecertainly needed on the weekend since it's hard to quickly snag a table. I sat at the bar because the wait for a table was long, and the service was excellent. Each of the bartenders was friendly and attentive. Although I sat at the bar, I had a peach iced tea and one of their seasonal mocktails. Both tasted fantastic, and I didn't even miss the alcohol. For dinner, I had the Bader Sting pizza, which featured soppressata, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and hot honey. It was fantastic. My mate had the grandma pizza (mozzarella, pecorino romano, pesto, garlic, tomato sauce, oregano), and it was equally delicious. Since we were served bread before the meal, we could've shared one pizza since it had 6 slices, but I was glad I had leftovers. All in all, I had a great experience at Woodstack and look forward to trying their wings since I saw so many orders coming out. Plus, there is a happy hour during the week from 3-6 pm with great food and drink specials.

    Came here for the first time and had a great experience! We sat outside and the covered patio was…read moreperfect for a nice day with a bit of overcast. We had the Salumeria (cheese and meat board) special that was a huge portion! Definitely a good amount to share with a group of 4-6. My husband got the Bader Sting and it was a good amount of pizza with a lot of different flavors. I got the frutti di mare on the specials. I wish the seafood was a bit larger but otherwise it had lots of great flavors. Their espresso martinis were delicious!

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