The food was excellent. I had seafood stuffed shells. Very flavorful and piping hot. My date had…read morechicken and broccoli alfredo which was also very good. Service was excellent! I would highly recommend this restaurant. Diana W

Hmmmm, I had such high expectations for this place but will have to keep searching for my 'go to'…read moreItalian restaurant in the area. The place was clean and service was excellent. But honestly, I came here for 1 thing, and 1 thing only: Chicken Parm. The Chicken Parm was a nice portion, cooked perfectly, tasty sauce and the cheese melted perfectly. Its appearance was picturesque, and I did take a picture of it. Now my complaint, the piece of chicken was really flat, thin and incredibly dense/tough. My perfect chicken in a Parm is thicker and delicate, almost airy. This was not, and for $28, I will not be back! Then $5 for a fountain drink and $5 for a plain simple salad globbed with Caesar dressing, VERY POSSIBLY store bought, sad! The side of pasta is in my attached picture but really not worth mentioning as it was that forgettable! So I'm still in search for my 'go to' chicken parm place for that area! Suggestions appreciated!!!

You keep stacking the Wood and I'll keep stacking the Slices !! Phenomenal Wood Fired Pizza coming…read moreout of this place and I can't believe it took Me this long to stop in here WOW. The first thing that's completely noticeable as you walk in is how welcoming and friendly the front of the house is and table service from then on throughout the entire visit is equally impressive. Second thing that's noticeable is that unmistakable aroma of wood smoked deliciousness emanating from the ovens. It was at this moment when My tastebuds started to get a little excited in anticipation, Lol. So far I've tried their meat lover's masterpiece the "Peppa Pig" Pizza: with Soppressata, Pepperoni, Sausage, Bacon Marmalade, Peppadew Peppers, Basil, Mozzarella, and Tomato Sauce. The Dough had a very nice Leopard Char to it and was thin where it needed to be and thick around the edges, the Sauce and Cheese combination was on point too and I really enjoyed the toppings which were all very flavorful and made for a perfect 5 out of 5 Pizza experience!!  Out'Freakin'Standing !! Needless to say I'll definitely be back, Come And Get Your Munch On !!

My best friend hosted her baby shower at Wood Stack a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed my meal and…read morethe service was great too. They started us off with some appetiziers for the table which included avocado toast, rice balls, and salad. For my main course, I ordered the Pappardelle Bolognese which was a huge portion. The pasta was fresh and the meat sauce was super flavorful. The inside is decorated very nice and has a sort of rustic theme. The area where we were sat was the perfect size for an intimate shower. I plan to come back and visit for lunch or dinner in the near future. Avocado Toast: 5/5 Rice Balls: 5/5 Salad: 5/5 Pappardelle Bolognese: 5/5

Must say that this was the best chicken parm I ever had. Slightly spicy with a lot of flavor…read more Will return for this dish.

We visited again last night and were very underwhelmed. We had reservations and were seated right…read moreaway. The staff in the pizzeria are so friendly and welcoming. The hostess was pleasant and our server was nice, other interactions not so much. We were asked by a runner maybe with no enthusiasm what we wanted to drink. We had a wine bottle on the table and clearly needed wine glasses. The food was underwhelming. We had the exact same order we had last time and the short rib pasta my husband had was just ok. My Brooklyn chicken parm was good, could have used more sauce and the spaghetti served with it was about 2 minutes away from Al dente. It was so hard. I told the server and she asked if I wanted it cooked more?? And left saying she will see what she can do. The same runner dude came out and was basically like "what's going on?" I said my spaghetti isn't cooked and he asked if I "want it taken back and cooked more or another dish". Ummm I'm not sure how to cook spaghetti more. I asked for another serving. Even the people sitting next to us were dumbfounded by the interaction. Like were they going to take it back and rinse it off and reboil it. Any way. We were disappointed. Next time we may just order take out or try the pizzas.

I honestly have no complaints about this restaurant. If I ever had to choose my last meal, I'd…read morehappily order it from this menu! Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Huge compliments to the chef and everyone in the kitchen for creating such an incredible dining experience. I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and order the salmon with a citrus sauce and radishes. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm so glad I took the chance. The bright citrus flavors paired perfectly with the salmon, and the radishes added just the right amount of freshness and texture. I wouldn't change a single thing about the dish. The pasta was just as impressive. The sauce was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. It tasted like something my grandmother would have made from scratch--fresh, homemade pasta cooked with love. It had that comforting, homemade quality that makes a meal unforgettable. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, and it was phenomenal. It wasn't overly sweet, which I really appreciated. The texture was incredibly light, smooth, and airy, practically melting in my mouth with every bite. The service was just as wonderful as the food. Our waitress was kind, attentive, and genuinely pleasant throughout the meal, making the experience feel even more welcoming. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, with a modern, elegant aesthetic that creates the perfect atmosphere for a special evening. It's an ideal spot for date night, but I actually dined alone and enjoyed every minute of it. The ambiance was so relaxing that I never felt out of place. This is the kind of restaurant you keep thinking about long after you've left. Between the exceptional food, warm service, and beautiful atmosphere, I'll definitely be back.

Italiana by Zod has quickly become our go-to Italian, in a town full of competition!…read more They truly excel in salads, pastas, and pizzas. You also cannot go wrong with the meatballs or the tres leches; there are plenty of places in town to get very good versions nearby, but we like the ones here best. We've always had great service here, from the hostess to servers. Whether weeknight or Sunday late brunch, the ambiance is always right. Everyone we know who's come here has raved about their experience. North Jersey teems with Italian restaurants. But Italiana really deserves its prime location in Montclair.

Was craving some pizza + pasta so tried this place on a whim! We asked to be seated outside since…read morethere are still a few open tables, but it was quite hard trying to flag down a server as they rarely came outside. We tried the penne vodka and the works pizza and had plenty of leftovers for two. The penne vodka wasn't quite as flavorful as I would usually like and some pasta pieces were still hard unfortunately. The pizza was nice and crispy, lots of toppings and perfect amount of cheese. Prices were pretty average. As for location, they have a full parking lot and parking right on the street, which mainly seemed used by those grabbing take-out. Overall, service was a bit slow and our pasta was a little underwhelming, but would probably try some other dishes here.

We've been coming to this restaurant for many years now…read more We love the food. It always comes out hot, tasty and to our liking. :We started off with pasta fagioli soup that was enough for two people and super delicious. I had chicken cacciatore that was very flavorful and my husband had one of his favorites, broccoli rabe, sausage and orecchiette. Never a complaint. Highly recommend this restaurant and say hi to the owner, Joe Forte. A really nice guy

This was my second time dining at Lombardi's, and just like the first, my boyfriend and I walked so…read moresatisfying and very full. Tucked inside a strip mall in Cedar Grove, this very unassuming spot might fool you at first glance. From the outside (and even when you first walk in), it has a casual dive-bar feel, but don't let that fool you as the food is absolutely phenomenal. Our friends who live just five minutes away insisted we try it, and I'm so glad they did. The first time we went, we shared the mussels as a starter. It was fresh, flavorful, and a great way to kick things off. But the real star of the show is the Chicken Scarpariello. You can choose your spice level (Sweet, Medium, or Hot) for just $24.99, and it's worth every penny. It's packed with sautéed chicken, mushrooms, onions, vinegar peppers, sausage, sliced potatoes (that look like chips but are addictively good), and garlic, all in a lightly braised brown sauce. We always get it over linguine and honestly, it's one of the best pasta dishes I've had. My boyfriend who never walks out of a restaurant with leftovers actually had me pack it up and his friend walk it to the car. That's how good it was! Our friends ordered the Chicken Lombardi served over penne. This meal is a double-breasted chicken topped with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, and a creamy pink vodka sauce. Also fantastic, but if you're into bold, spiced flavors, Scarpariello is the way to go for sure. We had two teenagers with us who ordered Chicken Parm with angel hair pasta and Buffalo chicken wings. While their palettes are still evolving, the next-day leftover parm was a hit! Drinks were strong, in fact, my Cosmo came with a serious kick, so I asked for a side of cranberry juice to tone it down, and the staff was super accommodating. Speaking of the staff, the service both times has been warm, attentive, and never rushed. My boyfriend and I already made a pact, that any time we're with these friends again in their area, Lombardi's will be our go-to. We've heard the pizza is amazing, so that's next on the list. If you're in the area and looking for unexpectedly amazing Italian food in a laid-back setting, do yourself a favor and try Lombardi's. Just trust me and come hungry.

What happened to the pizza ? At one point it was as good as Star Tavern. It's Doughy and the…read moresauce has no flavor. Plus the place is starting to look old and tired. It was great for so many years. I hope they bounce back.

The Tuesday special is always a great deal, especially if you try several different pies…read more The prosciutto crudo pizza is my favorite in the area. Large party of 8 and still the service from Michael was excellent, very attentive.

I had been meaning to give the Columbia Inn in Montville a try for a while since friends of mine…read morementioned that pizza aficionado Dave Portnoy had awarded their exceptional thin crust pizza an 8.7 back in 2020. Even though my usual dining companion and I don't enjoy pizza - due to my lactose intolerance (more on that later) - we finally stopped in for dinner on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant occupies a historic building built in the 1870s that once served as Montville town hall and later became a tavern and inn catering to travelers making their way through northern New Jersey along US Route 202 and the Morris Canal. Today, the Columbia Inn offers diners a great neighborhood pub atmosphere with a lively bar scene and an adjacent dining room that can accommodate larger parties in a casual, family-friendly dining experience. Overall, our food was terrific. My dining companion really enjoyed her St. Peter's fish ($28), a flaky white fish topped with minced garlic, diced tomato with arugula, and a light tomato sauce alongside mashed potatoes and mashed carrots. I ordered the Chicken Scarpariello ($28) -- a very robust sauté of chicken, Italian sausage, and sweet and spicy peppers in a bold, tangy white wine and vinegar sauce -- also served with the mashed potatoes and mashed carrots. Both of us thought our entreés were genuinely delicious. However, we hit a plot twist. Navigating an Italian menu with lactose intolerance is already an extreme sport, but the description of the Scarpariello in the menu looked totally safe. Enter a creative sous chef, who apparently likes to improvise a little off-script. A few bites in, I realized my chicken was secretly wearing a cozy blanket of melted cheese hidden just underneath the sauce. I strive to be the lowest-maintenance diner on the planet and will happily eat around almost anything (while deferring my criticism to a Yelp review) to avoid sending a plate back to the kitchen. I was fully prepared to operationally pick off the cheese and soldier on, but our server, Yuri, caught my look of mild betrayal and swooped in like an absolute hero. He refused to let me suffer through a cheese-scraping mission, insisted on taking my dish back to the kitchen, and had a fresh, dairy-free version out to me in record time and offered his sincere apologies for the snafu. Major credit to Yuri for handling it like a total rockstar. I'm deducting half a star for the stealth cheese surprise and rounding down to 4 stars, but thanks to Yuri's legendary service and the fantastic food, we had a great night and will definitely be back! PRO TIP: The chef seems to enjoy freelancing and dishes may be served with slight variations from the menu descriptions. This has the potential to cause problems for people with food allergies -- so be sure to make your server aware of any specific requests when ordering.

Another great meal here! We ordered rice balls, mozzarella sticks, pizza, and veal cutlet, and…read moreeverything was hot, fresh, and delicious. Our waiter was attentive and provided excellent service. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back!

I came here with my son to pick up a $175 catering order for a party. While we were there, my son…read moreneeded to use the restroom. I politely asked permission and was told, "Sorry, the restroom is only for dine-in customers." I was spending $175 at this restaurant, yet my son couldn't use the bathroom because our food was to go? That is an incredibly disappointing way to treat a paying customer. We ended up going to a framing business on the corner, where a gentleman kindly let my son use the restroom--even though we weren't customers. I truly appreciated his kindness and understanding. Honestly, I considered leaving the food and taking my business elsewhere, but my card had already been charged when I placed the order. I order catering regularly, and this experience has cost you a customer. A little courtesy would have gone a long way. You can keep your restroom policy; I'll take my business and my money somewhere else.