This is a great spot that makes you feel like you've stepped out of New Jersey and into a neighborhood gem in a small Italian village. The service was personal and intimate, and the food was fresh, clean, and unique. We had the burrata and bufala mozzarella as appetizers, and both were fabulous. The cheese was so fresh and literally melted in your mouth. Perfect seasonings and mix of flavors on both. I had the cappellaci pasta as my entrée, which was stuffed with spinach and topped with Parmesan flakes, and it was delicious. The portion size was also just right - not so little that you're asking for more, but not so much that you're super stuffed afterwards either. We were there to celebrate a friend's birthday, so the owner Claudia brought out an assorted plate of homemade desserts with a candle, and each one was better than the next. I'm talking about a perfect slice of chocolate/nutella pie, tiramisu, a fluffy slice of cake with nutella and powdered sugar drizzled on top....wow. I could go on and on and on. Truly enjoyed the food and overall experience here! read more

Had a nice experience and I found the food to be good. Meat and cheese platter, fish and the ravioli were very good. Will go back.

Great idea for a new restaurant - ambience was excellent and service was attentive. The appetizers were excellent - the eggplant and salad were amazing. Pastas were interesting concoctions but the execution was not great. Two of our pasta dishes were very over seasoned and incredibly salty. All-in-all, OK place but entrees were not up to the hype. read more

Truly authentic, very fresh, flavorful meals. Nice atmosphere and wonderful chef/owner who takes the time to personalize your experience. The menu changes each week- we're excited to go back to enjoy Claudia's next inspiration. read more

This is the best Italian restaurant I've been to. All of the food is fresh and the chef Claudia is an absolute pleasure. I will definitely be back. read more

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If you have been to Rome and are craving a meal that fully satisfies your craving for authentic Roman dishes, then this is your place! My wife and I fell in love with the Cacio de Pepe we had in Rome. We tried hard to find a restaurant in the tristate area that offered Cacio de Pepe. Our search ended when we found out about this place through friends. This is by far one of my favorite Italian restaurants in NJ. The food is very high quality and stays true to the essence of good Italian food, which emphasizes the use of high quality ingredients. I've tried several dishes and have never been dissatisfied. The Cacio de Pepe is perfectly done with a nice balance of Pepper and Pecorino Romano in a consistency that is not too liquid or too thick. Cacio de Pepe is a tough dish to perfect in terms of timing and ingredient ratios. Another dish that speaks to the authenticity of this place is the seasonal tripe dish (usually offered during winter). The tomato sauce in the tripe dish is simple but flavorful and the tripe is cooked just right as it is not overly chewy. Large portion seekers, look elsewhere! I read many of the negative reviews here speaking to the taste of the food being bland. Those negative reviews probably came from people who have palates that have been bastardized by the overconsumption of salt and sugar in their diet. Ignore the self proclaimed foodies making negative comments. I assume many have never even been to Italy and hence can't appreciate how authentic this food really is. So if you are looking for a taste of Rome and like good food that is not overly seasoned, then this is your place! If big portions and salty dishes are your thing, then you are better off going to places like the Olive Garden. read more

Took a friend from out of town here for a girls night out. The food was amazing and delicious. The chef brought out our meals personally and told us all about them. It was a great culinary experience for our taste buds. The waitress was also very sweet and helpful. I will be back!! Thanks Claudia! read more

From Scratch is a lovely restaurant. The food is great!! I was recently There for lunch and really enjoyed the beautiful meat board, a great variety and high quality! The owners are super passionate about the business and take great pride in food and quality. They always come out to the dining room to Welcome and check on how things are. The smoked cheese, Scamoza(sp) is to die for!!! Imported from Italy!! Definitely worth a trip!!! read more

Went here tonight with my fiancé . AMAZING! From the service to the food, top notch! Already made reservations to return!

This place is amazing. What a gem to have in my hometown. Native Italians from Rome truly making every single thing from scratch the way it should be! Unbelievably delicious food, creative menu, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Not your run of the mill spaghetti and meatballs and pizza place -- far better! I really appreciate too that they source fresh ingredients, organic and sustainable too from what I remember, and that the menu depends on the availability of these ingredients. I'm Italian too, and they really do justice to our shared heritage. I hope they are there forever! Bravo! read more

Doesn't get much better (or authentic) than This! Claudia was an amazing chef and the feeling like your in your own little Italian restaurant in Italy doesn't go unnoticed. Would recommend in a heart beat and will definitely be back. read more

My husband and I have dined at From Scratch twice in the last month, twice because there is nothing quite like it in all of Bergen County. The restaurant is a byob, small and you must make a reservation in advance. The food and hospitality is well worth a visit. Chef Claudia uses the freshest ingredients directly from Italy. Some of my homemade pasta favorites are the linguine carbonara and fettuccine amatriciana. The portion sizes are perfect and the flavors so full, delicious, and completely satisfying. We never quite have room for dessert, but their homemade choices look amazing. Filippo and Duncan are attentive, knowledgeable, and quite personable! If you haven't been yet and you love authentic Italian cooking, you must add From Scratch to your list. read more

I had a pleasant experience. Atmosphere is comfy and intimate. The food is not good enough for the price range. Dishes were somewhat creative but the flavors were not above average. I would not mind visiting again but would not actively choose to visit. read more

I hate to be redundant but i also loved "From Scratch". The food was simply and perfectly prepared . The ingredients were fresh and bright . With a limited , changing menu, I'll want to return to see what will be for dinner next week! This is the type of Italian restaurant I've been searching for. I am biased - my family hails from (near ) Rome. I felt transported to "la mia zia cucina". read more

Pasta was perfectly cooked, but the flavors weren't like wow. It was an okay meal at best, but would not go back. read more

Best restaurant in Ridgewood! I've been so many times and always had great experiences so I thought it was time to write a review... everything on the menu is delicious & Claudia is an incredible chef. Definitely don't skip dessert here- I love the Nutella cake and the cornflake cookies! I was sad when they switched the menu so my favorite salads are only available for lunch, but there are many other great options for dinner. Definitely try From Scratch if you haven't yet-- but be sure to make a reservation! read more

Had heard great things about the place but it was a disappointment. Appetizers were good (meat and cheese plate, crostoni) but the pasta dishes were not good. Carbonara was bland and the special pesto lasagna wasn't good at all. My husband only ate a portion of it which says a lot. The ambiance was nice and I really wanted to like this place. But overall, very disappointed to waste a babysitter on this meal. read more

A one of a kind authentic Italian family restaurant. The wife who has been cooking since she was a young child with her grandmother had a passion and integrity about her food and ingredients, and came to talk with us about the menu and the way she would prepare and cook our orders. The menu is small and delicious allowing them to cook and prepare everything freshly, including their pasta, and is regularly changing to give it a fresh and seasonal flavor. It definitely has the the feeling of being in Italy, with the natural flavors accentuated through artisanal preparation and cooking. From the Mozzarella wrapped in zucchini, to the Prosciutto, the hand made ravioli, or the Carbonara, the Cod in seasoned hand made breadcrumbs, over slivered potatoes, with a side of the most flavorful vegetables, or the Slightly warm Apple cake, and even to the cappuccino, everything was exceptional, nourishing, and felt like a truly delicious home cooked Italian meal. read more

Overall, food was good. Quality was very good. Presentation was very good. However, the service was a little off. Kept asking whether we were finished and the dishes were only 3/4 done. The restaurant was nearly empty. At one point, chef's speciality pasta was brought to our table. She wanted me to smell the dish. It was odd since we had already ordered our food. What a tease, we thought. The eggplant parm was beautifully stacked and presented. The dessert was so so. read more

What a fail. First off, if I have to wait an hour and half for my food I would like it to be hot, or warm even. Not cold. Second I expect meals to be served at the same time, not one at a time. This happened to every seat in the house. Not just our table for two, Fish came out, or meatballs, but not pasta. One woman next to me waited as 4 companions finished their meals and then her pesto pasta came. My husband's dinner was long eaten -a pasta dish that promised prosciutto but had none in it - when my ice cold in the middle eggplant dish finally arrived. To top it off, my blouse received four puncture holes when I draped it around my rickety plastic chair as anyone would normally do with a coat, shirt, etc. It seems that while moving it to stand up in the over crowded diner type room, the tails of the shirt got caught between the rivets of the folding chair, yes a folding chair, tearing 4 holes into the fabric. when I brought this to manager Roberto's attention, he only shrugged. Worst dining experience I've had. So many better polished less expensive places to eat in Ridgewood, Avoid this one like the plague. read more

Went for a Saturday night dinner with friends at From Scratch. When we went there - we had high expectation - as this place seems to serve pretty unique dishes. We were quickly seated and got bread and olive oil. For appetizers we ordered a couple of lentil soup specials and salads. The salads were nice and presented well. The two soups we got looked different (despite being identical). It seemed that one of the soups was taken too early from the line. One of the soups had Parmesan and olive oil drizzle - which the other missed. The taste was ok - but not great. For entree I ordered the Tripe - which I particularly like and is rare in American restaurants. We also had the ravioli special and the Branzino special. I was disappointed with the Tripe - it seemed under cooked and was missing the typical taste and smell I always get from Trippa Ala Romana. The entree was also relatively small for an entree. This was also true of the ravioli - which had only 4/5 raviolis. Service was friendly and nice, however, when we got the appetizers and entrees it took roughly 5 minutes from the moment the first plate arrived until all appetizers/entrees arrived. This caused the rest of us to have to wait for the last one, which diminished from the experience. So in conclusion: 1. Food - ok, not great and small portions. Inconsistent presentation. 2. Service - Friendly, yet - issue with synchronizing service of multiple portions. 3. Price - seems too high for portion size and quality. e.g. Soup appetizer was $12. The restaurant has potential - but should improve consistency and value. read more

This restaurant was very disappointing. I ordered the special, which was supposed to be a fresh branzino dish, but it came out and it smelled worse than red tide. I tried to return it but the nasty bitchy chef insisted that it was my fault that her stinky fish dish tasted like crap. She continued to argue with me and based on that I would never go back. After all that I gotta say that the lasagne is pretty yummy... read more

Over priced I've been to Scarpetta in NYC which is rated the best pasta in New York it's priced at $24 this pasta was $22 for the specia pasta, don't get me wrong it was okay but not a Scarpetta. Also had the Burrata it wasn't good at all. You tell me if shipping Burrata from Italy would taste good. Burrata is made on the spot with the man power of the chief. Pretty disappointed read more

Too overrated. Were there with my wife to taste "Real Italian Home made food" after our trip to Italy. Food was very salty and very expensive for what it was. Will not recommend to anybody. Too far from Real Italian. Owner wasn't friendly at all. Waitress was nice. Feel sorry for her that she had to work there. I wish him good luck. Maybe should go back to Real Italian cooking school PS:You'll never see Real Italians eating there. read more

this place is all apatizers. if you come with a big appetite you'll leave with an empty wallet. this is like small dishes. 1 or two pasta dishes. very fresh and very slow. I guess they want to give you the real feeling your in italia. andiamo! read more

From Scratch - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

While I really wanted to like this place, I can't. Some of the dishes like the mozzarella and eggplant were excellent, some of the entrees and pasta were a little small. There are not enough dishes or entrees with meat or protein for a teenagers. I liked most of my dinner, but left the Resturant unstratified. read more

Such a lovely restaurant, I'm so glad my husband and I found this place on Valentine's Day! The chef personally came out to ask how everything was I just love that. The food was excellent and the service was perfect. There's a new menu every week, we will be back. read more

Wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy! Wouldn't let me have Parmesan cheese for my pasta. Waitress said the chef does not serve cheese on the pasta. Shocked. I thought the customer was alwAys right. Food terrible. No flavor. Do not go there! read more

Wow! Really don't get the high ratings for this place. Small restaurant always busy that's why I wanted to try it. Very bright and a super clean look inside which I like Free chilled Poland spring water on the table what's not to like about that. We had the arugula salad with the dried beef. Never had thinly sliced dried beef with a salad before. I'll take a chance and it was very good the best part of the meal. A chickpea soup very bland. Makes me realize how good of a cook my Mom was Now this place is supposed to be known for pasta so I tried the pappardelleal ragu a very thin chop meat bolognese sauce. I've had better out of a jar (sorry) Also had Black sea bass a nice piece of fish if you like a small portion covered in a thick kind of lemon sauce. We skipped desert. 6 pm great staff hard working people. Go if you must we would never make a return trip. read more

Amazing! Made to order pasta. BYOB. Can't wait to go back!! Nice ambience right on the Main Street in Ridgewood. I felt like I was in Europe instead of New Jersey. Cannot recommend enough! read more

My boyfriend and I had a great experience at this restaurant. The pasta was delicious, the desert was incredible, and our waiter was very friendly. I would recommend getting a slice of apple pie and Nutella pie for desert - they were both really good. read more

Seriously delicious!! There is a lot of heart in this food! I will come back for whatever Claudia is cooking that day- hopefully gnocchi al pesto and mozzarella di bufula. I felt like I was eating pasta in Italy. read more

Fantastic, affordable and authentic italian. Can't wait to come back. The owners were present and proud of their food and rightfully so. The food tasted fresh. The pesto was made that morning. It is definitely not four $. read more

The food at From Scratch is absolutely phenomenal. I'm not prone to superlatives but I've eaten there 6 or 7 times and every meal is better than the next. It's intimate and casual and feels like you're sitting in Chef Claudia's kitchen. The Pasta Cacio e Pepe is fantastic and not to be missed. The Scamorza cheese has the most perfect smoky flavor and is a perfect starter. It's BYOB so grab your best Barolo or a hearty Cabernet and make a reservation immediately. You won't regret it. It will immediately become your "neighborhood Italian place" and the menu you'll fantasize over while you're eating your grilled chicken breasts at lunch at your office. read more

My new favorite restaurant. I have been here several times since their opening. I have also been to Italy several times. This restaurant is probably the closest thing you will find in northern new Jersey to authentic Italian food. And Claudia is the best! read more

This place is amazing!! The food was just the right proportion! Although it can be a little pricy, the food was good and the people are very nice! It was my first time and I will def be going back!!! Make sure you try the tagliere di formaggio/Miso!! So good! read more

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Ordered three times to go. Well, when unpacked at home and served on a familiar plate - very fresh, nicely done, quite tasty, definitely not Cipriani. What is amazing - I was screened for seating! First three times, I believed that all those empty tables were reserved (2-3 tables were occupied only) - I just thought that it was strange that while I waited to order, waited for my order to be cooked and packed, paid, chatted with some customers and a waitress, with Claudia herself - nobody came in to claim those empty tables. To be fair - the third time I was offered bar stool-like chair - it was so uncomfortable, that I had to decline. Well, today was a final - the fourth time. I walked at noon in a very empty restaurant; two people were having lunch, later a family joined a single person at another table. The waitress was about to seat me - but Claudia intervened. From afar, she said to me in English that all the tables were reserved, and when the waitress contradicted her in English - she sternly spoke to her in Italian. Waitress argued in Italian pointing at the tables in the back, Claudia argued back -damn! I should have continued my Italian study 30 years ago. I just walked out. Was I screened for being alone, fat, Jewish, chatty, not a pretty person by Claudia's standards, too damn friendly, badly dressed or not Ridgewood enough as judged by this impressive newcomer? I will probably never know - unless other fat Jewish chatty or otherwise sloppily dressed women rejected by this place would come forward and we do a statistical analysis. I will definitely tell this story to my Black, Indian, Asian and other diversity-defining friends and if they decide to waste their good time we might find out more. Last time I had this experience in 1970 -1972 in the Baltic Republics - looking distinctly Jewish and speaking Russian would prohibit you from getting a glass of water in most places. Never thought I would experience something like this again in my life! By the way - as I walked away - circled the block, bought a sandwich and returned for my pedicure appointment across the street from this wonderful restaurants - the tables were still empty. Just sayin.. Claudia, you obviously read these reviews: I recommended your place to my friends and neighbors in the past, because I was happy to support a new business in my neighborhood - I, certainly, will not do that again. It may not have impact on you, but I want you to know - you hurt my feelings and disappointed me. read more

On holiday in Rome we've realized that we are so, so fortunate to have such an authentic Italian eatery right in our little hometown of Ridgewood. Claudia and her super-attentive staff make sure every detail is correct and authentic, from the cheese and cured meats board to their delicious homemade pastas, with specials that are seasonally appropriate. Salads are also always fresh (who knew rocket aka arugula was so Italian?), and the mains are also excellent. When "in Rome" do as the Romans do and order off the specials--that's where you're guaranteed to have the freshest and most interesting options. The cookie at the end is a wonderful treat, too! Seriously you can't get more authentic than this--you may never go back to dry pasta again! And it may inspire you to book a trip to Rome! We're so lucky to have this little piece of Italy right at home. Grazie mille Claudia and staff!!! read more

Claudia and Roberto were both extremely hospitable and utterly charming, but if that's all there was, it wouldn't be enough to give an excellent review. The care that is taken in the cooking and serving process is also to be commended, my friend Betsey and I felt like we were transported to Italy, wanting to try some of everything, we agreed to share all plates. We started off with the cheese and charcuterie platter, a stunning display and delicious to boot... that alone was enough to sustain the two of us. We then had a pear, arugula, walnut salad and was impressed again, delicate flavor and wonderfully balanced with 30 month aged parmesan and a mellow balsamic. Then, but of course, a pasta dish that was truly divine in its simplicity...the way pasta should be. Spaghetti cooked perfectly al dente, with cherry tomatoes, toasted breadcrumbs, and anchovies...it was an exquisite work of art and done just right. We then shared the salmon special, steamed with olives, cherry tomatoes and served with puntarelle dressed in simple oil and vinegar. Truly authentic and delicious. We were too full for dessert, but since I cannot pass up a sweet finish to my meal, we ordered cappuccino and they came with delectable almond and cornflake cookies. I ordered takeout portions of their torta di mele as well as apricot crostata. The torta di mele was my hands down favorite, light, airy, delicately flavored and scented with apples and spices. They also offer cooking classes on premise, fun and food for all!! I'll be back again in a week or two, to see what else Claudia is preparing. read more

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What a good find. I stumbled upon this restaurant on the web and based on the good reviews we decided to try it. I called the restaurant and was fortunate to get a table on a Friday evening. The restaurant is rather small but bright and cozy. It's also a BYOB which is a plus. They also have an outdoor seating but we ate inside. Our table was right next to the kitchen and it was great that we were able to see the chef. First, it was nice to hear the workers speak Italian even though we didn't speak it but it gave us a sense of the authenticity of the place. Next, one of the servers was the daughter (I think) and hearing her call the chef 'Mama' was like having dinner at their home. We ordered both of the salads (the only ones in the prefix menu) and darn it they were delicious. I'm now a fan of Bresaola! Wow! Their pinsa Radicchio e de gorgonzola was too damn good - the crust was so crunchy as if the pie was cooked in a brick oven (but I don't think it was). Whatever they did it was just fabulous of a pie. The gnocchi a la bolognese was very good as well. Lastly, the service was excellent and can't wait to go back. read more