All the tables were empty, but she decided she would not seat people for lunch. I saw no notes on the door or posts online. It was disappointing as we were concerned about a change in food quality after the pandemic. We felt the best time to visit was during lunch, based on a response to another Yelper from the owner, "Sometimes it happens when the kitchen is overwhelming on Friday or Saturday that some dishes couldn't be perfect as we want". Upon closer inspection of some of the reviews, it might be for the best that we weren't seated. The younger people here seemed like they might be able to improve things one day. I wish them all the very best. Perhaps I'll try again in a few years. Edit: in response to this from the owner response from Claudia R: "Dear Mr. K, I am sorry but I am extremely confused as your review doesn't make much sense. Today I left for Italy and there are no females working at the restaurant as stated in your review " she decided she would not sit for lunch". I truly believe you made a mistake as this review has nothing to do with us." Thank you for responding Chef Claudia R. This was your establishment. It happened 2 months ago in Februrary, the same month as another negative review was posted. I usually do a bit of research before posting an overall negative review. And that's why I decided to give 2 stars instead of 1, as my experience wasn't as bad as some others. If you search for "rude" under your reviews, you will see another negative review from 2 months ago as well. Personally, I chose not to include the word rude, because I consider it a harsh word and we did not find you rude. But it was different enough that I felt other Yelpers should be informed. Perhaps Februrary this was an anomaly, as I see the other reviews that mention rudeness are a bit older. Side note, you misquoted me. I only mention this because you used quotation marks. Personally, I can't get my iPhone to copy text on the Yelp app, so I used my PC to properly quote you. I hope you enjoy Italy Chef Claudia, I don't know enough about Italian food, but I absolutely loved the bistecca alla fiorentina and the ribollita I had in Florence. I wish you the very best for your trip and your business. sk read more

Excellent pasta dishes! Been there twice and a third visit is already in the books! There's room for improved service.

A wonderful restaurant for great pasta! Fresh and different. Cute restaurant with a friendly and attentive staff, Good desserts, too, if you have room! read more

I went today for lunch with two friends! This restaurant is so wonderful! The meatball appetizer, bread, and burrata was scrumptious! I had a new item On menu! Manicotti stuffed with eggplant, tomatoes ! It was so delicious I was scraping the dish. This Restaurant is so worth the trip from Brooklyn ! Leave room for dessert. I love the owners. read more

Went for lunch and food was good. Ordered a take out order and they suggested it be consumed right away because of the particular dish, which shows their care and awareness for their food and patron. Nice ambiance. read more

Nice interior but small restaurant. I would definitely recommend getting reservations. We went at 5:30 on a Tues. and it was busy. We started with focaccia di recco con speck which was very thin bread filled with stracchino cheese with speck and some greens. Very fresh and hot. Delicious. I had ravioli with alla salsa di noci which is cheese ravioli with a walnut cream sauce. It was very good. My husband had lasagna which has very thin noodles - looks like they are assembled individually and cooked to order. Also, very nice. We also had the ricotta/nutella pie for dessert which is lighter than it looks and has very nice flavor/texture. Overall, a delicious meal. read more

From Scratch never fails to blow me away. You are welcomed by the owners chef Claudia and her husband Roberto who make you feel like you are truly walking into Italy.. the restaurant is lively and the food is to die for. To start we had the salad which was lightly dressed, refreshing and a great balance of flavors with crispy apples gorgonzola and walnuts. We also got the soup of the day which was pasta e fagioli. The special was chicken saltimbocca and it was hands down the best meal I have ever had. The chicken was crispy and topped with fried sage in a delicious brown sauce. The pastas can't be beat. The cacio e pepe is creamy but not over done, and the fresh trofie was cooked perfectly with an incredibly fresh pesto sauce. For dessert we got the signature nutella pie and the homemade napoleon. You cannot miss the nutella pie!!! It melts in your mouth and I actually dream about it. Overall a great place to come as a family or on a date, and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And don't skip dessert! read more

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Sooo delicious - their dishes are truly FROM SCRATCH! You can really taste the difference in the quality of their pasta and sauces. There is an open kitchen where you can see the Chef working hard on each dish. The space itself is small but cozy - definitely need a reservation on busier nights. Also it's BYOB like most of Ridgewood. I had the seasonal item - butternut squash ravioli which was really amazing. The buttery sage sauce really complimented the taste of the sweet squash. My friends also really enjoyed their meal! We had the cheese board to share as app; I wish I could remember the names but they were really yummy served with a spicy honey jam and a fig ginger jam which was delicious. I would recommend this spot to anyone looking for authentic Italian food! Next time I hope to try their desserts. read more

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Let me just say, wow! I ordered the gricia, a pasta dish with cacio e Pepe sauce and guanciale on top and it blew me away! The ambience was quiet and warm, and you felt like you were the only ones there which is great for a date. The service was that of a Michelin star restaurant. They gave us bread and oil in the beginning which was a nice touch. They also went ahead and put flowers on our table which made my date super happy. Overall, I'm very impressed with this place. There are true authentic Italian dishes here and it took me back to when I was in Rome eating cacio e Pepe. Does not compare to these other restaurants that claim they are "authentic Italian." Highly recommend. (Ps all dishes and recipes are homemade by the chef and owner) read more

From Scratch - a vase of red roses on a table - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Unbelievable food, wonderful staff!! cozy setting !! I've never been to Italy, but I feld Italy came to me. So authentic!!

This review is only because of the limited and less vegetarian options on the menu. We went here after having some food at Truly Sichuan, we were not that hungry to order entree for two so we just ordered Pinsa Romano. While the pinsa Romano was fresh and soft and freshly prepared but it was not extraordinary. I felt the marinara sauce on the pinsa margarita was not freshly made but tasted like Ragu's marinara. I couldn't order the pasta as pesto pasta was not on the menu but from some of the pictures posted by other yelpers it felt like it was on the menu. This review is just for the pinsa and not for pasta or anything else on the menu. read more

From Scratch - Pinsa alla Parmigiana - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

I don't usually write reviews for places, good or bad, but I had to leave one for From Scratch. My wife and I had dinner here last week and it was hands down one of the best meals I have had in my life. I have enjoyed a lot of Italian food in my life and this tops it all. The service was great and it was really cool to be able to see into the kitchen and watch the chef at work. I cannot recommend From Scratch enough - we will be going back many, many times and telling everyone who will listen to go. read more

I've wanted to try this place for so long and so happy I finally did! It 100% met & exceeded my expectations! First - I want to say thank you to the girl answering my calls who was so polite and helpful dealing with my reservation time indecisiveness and was still able to accommodate me. Additionally, the service was absolutely great! Everyone worked together to make sure we also had our water refilled and everything was taken care of. The food itself is amazing!! My boyfriend is not a huge pasta fan and he doesn't like pasta just anywhere - but this place passed the test for him too! The piñsa pizza was delightful - it was flavorful, perfectly salted, and just the right combination of doughy and crispy. Truly a great dining experience and love that it is BYOB!!! Thank you all for a wonderful dinner! read more

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Attenzione! Freshest pasta I have ever had outside of Italy! Let's start from the the spotless interiors with open kitchen concept, but let's face it, the star here is Chef Claudia's food. This humble, unassuming eatery serves up the most mouthwatering, fresh and transcending Italian dishes, that it sets the bar head and shoulders above the norm. Everything pictured was outstanding! From the focaccia di recca con speck, tonnarelli cacio e pepe and the delicious ricotta Nutella pie, a "Must have" topped off with two heart shortbread cookies from Chef Claudia herself. You could taste in every dish prepared the love and passion put into it. Lastly, the service was warm, genuine and attentive. DO NOT PASS From Scratch up. Note to bring your own wine as only Italian soft drinks are served. Make it next on your list, I know I'll definitely be back and soon. read more

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What a gem of a place!! I'm glad I did my research and came across From Scratch. We walked in and that's exactly what was going on....Fresh pasta being made from scratch. After eating the food I'm shocked it wasn't packed at opening. The pizza(Pinsa Romana) Amatraciana was bomb. Crispy, fresh, just enough salt and fat from the guanciale. Very close to perfection. The bolognese, while very good, needed a little more time to reduce and concentrate the flavors. I would do without it the next time. Now the carbonara, that was a masterpiece. Pasta (both dishes) was perfectly cooked and the carbonara sauce was holding on to the pasta for dear life. Evenly coated, rich, and downright deliciousness. This place should have a line up the block. I'm glad they didn't, but I'm shocked that wasn't the case. Do yourself a favor and go before the block long lines start! ENJOY!!! read more

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My husband and I love eating at From Scratch. We were just there to celebrate our anniversary three weeks ago. From Claudia's and her husband's warm welcome to the quality of service and the exquisite tasty food, we fell for its charming environment. The Claudia's must have nutella pie is my all time favorite desert!! It's definietely in our top three favorite in restaurants :)) read more

Let me start off with the only positives: friendly staff, clean kitchen and good ambiance. Unfortunately those are the only positives. My boyfriend and I went with reservations on a date night and they sat us at the last table by the kitchen despite there being several tables up front available (odd). We ordered the meatballs as an app and they were very dry. We had a clear view of the kitchen and saw that they put the meatballs in the microwave (not fresh). We both ordered rigatoni and were extremely disappointed. It was very stale and hard to chew. We both regret not sending it back but we are not confrontational. I did not even get halfway through my plate and my poor boyfriend had to finish it since he felt bad because it's quite pricey. I've gone to plenty of "authentic" Italian restaurants and was excited to try this place but it did not meet expectations. Hope they take this review as constructive criticism. read more

From Scratch - Stale Rigatoni Carbonara - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Before writing this review I made sure to go to the restaurant twice in the span of a 3 week period to get this right. Here we go. This is what a dining experience should be. The recipes, ingredients, care, and love could be felt in the cuisine in its entirety. The first experience was a pre-fix menu which I'm not certain is still offered but really hit the ball out of the park so to speak (10 out of 10) but for this experience I'll reference my most recent visit. My wife and I came to the village of Ridgewood on an ever so busy Saturday night. We entered this very quaint establishment. It's a beautiful layout, open kitchen design, and immaculately clean. We were sat towards the end of the restaurant and luckily for me next to the kitchen to get a sneak of the magic. Our meal started with arancini siciliani, the Sicilian rice balls. The flavor was very fitting and matched perfectly with the vinaigrette I believe it was placed on. We then order the Pinsa Brie with mozzarella and smoked prosciutto...whoa! The texture of the dough, the quality of the mozzarella and dab of balsamic were perfectly placed. Wish I ordered two (but I'll be back) Our main came and I chose the fettuccine alla bolognese. Interesting thing was I was eyeing the kitchen and (assuming) saw the chef pull the fettuccine right before it arrived on my plate. The flavors were so hearty, seasoned to perfection, and pasta very fresh. It brought me right to a village in Italy. For desserts I had the Nutella crumb cake and it was rich, appropriately flaky, and garnished perfectly on the plate. This has been one of the best dining experiences I've had. You can get a sense that the chef, family, and workers are going above and beyond to craft what each diner is eating...and you can taste it in every bite. This is a 5 out of 5 on here and a 10 out of 10 in my book. Looking forward to dining again. read more

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This was our first time trying pinso, it's different from pizza as the dough is different from pizza, the pinso dough is more soft, less fatty and less calories. We tried the pinso cacio e pepe and it was so delicious, soft, crispy and oozing with flavor. It tasted perfect. Of course we didn't have a frame of reference for pinso but this pinso was perfect! Our server was great too, she took great care of us even though she was the only one taking care of every customer. read more

From Scratch - From outside - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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This place has a lot of hype, I like the design, modern yet homie, and the staff is very friendly. It is very hard to get a reservation here, and I get what they are trying to do with the fresh made italian food, but for the price I was expecting to be blown away, and I really wasn't. I got gnocchi with speck, which was very al dente, and extremely salty (with the speck being in the dish, there really isn't a need for more salt). Also the portions are very small (I know this is an american comment, but when I am just getting pasta, there needs to be a little bit more) The desserts are amazing though. The ricotta and chocolate pie was great, not overly sweet, with a crust that melted in your mouth. I would come back just for the homemade dessert. In the end it is a good restaurant, but the hassle of getting a reservation, and the parking situation in ridgewood, doesn't make me want to run back. read more

From Scratch - Gnocci with speck - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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Ok so I wouldn't bring my wild children here normally, BUT it seemed slow and I have never been able to get in before. I'm so happy I took the risk - it was sofa king good that it put every other Italian restaurant in the area to shame. Oh and even my kids were in heaven. However, I wouldn't recommend anyone bring their kids because then you have to share. read more

From Scratch - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

The food was amazing! This is my first visit and I couldn't be more pleased! The carbonara with truffle cream was heaven and the meatball appetizer were I can't even describe it. The service was awesome. Definitely going back! read more

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A birthday destination for sure. The food is excellent and "from scratch "! The service was attentive and all of the staff friendly and knowledgeable. It is a small business so the feeling is very intimate. Their Nutella pie is absolutely delicious and unlike any dessert I have ever had. Even though I am not a Nutella affectionata it has a flavor beyond compare. read more

Authentic Italian food, small space needs reservation. I used to eat food with much less salt so to me a little too salty. I can see people may complain about portions comparing to average diner food but to me it is normal. Overall quality food and I enjoyed it. read more

Great atmosphere & delicious food makes you feel like you are dining in Italy. You can't go wrong with any dish. read more

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Second time for lunch with wife. As always, it's the freshest and wonderfully delicate simple flavors which makes for a grand meal. As it goes without saying this is also healthy and you don't feel guilty in the indulgence. Bravo! read more

Note: this is a cooking class review I attended a private cooking class with a total of seven women this past week at the restaurant From Scratch. Claudia taught us how to cook raviolis, Vegetables and a lemon cream custard. It was such a great class for $110 per person. She took her time & gave us recipes from her grandmother back in Italy. I would highly recommend going here for a birthday party although I've never been for a dinner service... I will be going back soon! read more

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The lasagna here is as good as you'll ever get in a restaurant. It truly lives up to the "from scratch" name. Thin, freshly made pasta, that appears to be assembled and baked to order in individual servings, meaning the noodles aren't soggy or mushy. Perfect amounts and flavor of the bechemel and cheese. My only nitpick is I wish the tomato flavor was amped up just a bit. The foccacia with proscuitto appetizer was outstanding, as was the nutella pie for dessert. This place is really a gem. read more

A long overdue dinner here with friends -- curious about the buzz and the many 5 star Yelp ratings. Outdoor bistro style -- but indoors -- with bistro seating -- a bit cramped -- seats are not comfy. The organic ingredients are honest -- the food prep is skilled and the menu is mercifully brief -- but I still can't get to 4 or 5 stars -- and here's why. For starters -- at 6pm on a Friday night they were out of 5 menu items, including 3 specials. If you advertise a small menu and folks BYO to match some pre-selected dish you advertise on your website -- and you take reservations -- you should have enough food on hand to meet expected covers -- which is limited because the space is tiny. FS has room for maybe 25 diners at any one time and they probably do at least 2 seatings. Not rocket science to figure out what you need. The menu is heavily annotated with the origins of each ingredient -- right down to the Ligurian olives and Pantelleria capers. If you strip the labels from the ingredients (which accounts for 1/2 the menu) -- what FS really offers is the kind of regional home cooking you get in many small family run Italian eateries -- be they in Italy or -- Bensonhurst -- or some parts of the Bronx -- and increasingly in the recently gentrified sections of Brooklyn and the LES -- and yes -- even in YOUR OWN KITCHEN if you are a reasonably facile home cook and a knowledgeable shopper! So what did we eat? We started with the Bresaola over arugula drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction ($18) and the special Burrata over panzanella ($20). The sourced beef was sliced paper thin and went very well with the arugula -- but I dunno -- I eat this way at home several times a week. I chose this first course because they were out of my first and second choices. All you need to prepare this simple dish is to source the ingredients at Wegmans or Whole Foods or Corrado's or Uncle Giusseppes or even online -- and assemble. Nothing to cook. The combo was not wowing me at $18. The Burrata was excellent but the panzanella underneath was not -- overly soggy and watery with scarcely any flavor to speak of. Once again -- if you want this quality Burrata -- you can source it locally and -- presto bango -- pop it on a plate. I would have preferred some organically sourced FRESH tomato with this, a dollop (not a drizzle) of nice basil pesto maybe and a house made crostini for texture. As it was -- underwhelming at $20. For mains - two of us had a single Branzino filet (at $32) over sliced potato rounds with the olive/caper tapenade on top. I had mine with a simple side salad -- my friend had hers with the cauliflower gratin (very flavorful preparation -- get this). The others had pasta -- house made fettuccini served in a ragout of sausage ($26) and Paccheri alla carbonara -- showcasing artisanal pancetta and parmigiano reggiano ($20). The tapenade covering the Branzino filet was briny and silky -- but it looked awful (see pic here https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/from-scratch-ridgewood-3?select=PbUdM4ReaIDKQdpLJbVdnQ&userid=e05KY1rRbzt-OakI3I86RQ) kinda like pureed chili. We eat with our eyes first and this was not a promising first look. Had the chef reversed the fish and tapenade on the plate -- you get the same flavored bite and it just looks better -- after all -- it's about the fish. Also, a sprinkle of some greens on top or herbs would have made a nice finish to the plate. The potato's underneath were overdone and flavorless. They could have been baked and crisped -- adding texture to the dish and a bit more earthiness overall. Both pasta's were well prepared -- but again I quibble with the emphasis on ingredient origin rather than plating and flavor. Both plates needed more color and some fresh pepper and a sprinkle of fresh parsley or other herbs to cover would have helped. Service was attentive and the owner (Claudia) was gracious. She greeted us as we were leaving and we chatted briefly I bemoaned the menu's lack of protein choices. She said she avoids red meats for health reasons and also because her kitchen is not equipped with the kind of ovens and other equipment needed to get meat right -- and that last point was (in my view) the reason for the limited and at times quirky menu. The lack of a fully stocked kitchen and limited space arguably dictate Scratch's menu -- which is mostly curated raw or assembled, cured, braised or seared with emphasis on pasta. Stove and counter top cookery. If that's how you like your food prepared -- almost deli style -- than From Scratch is your kind of place. Our tab for 4 was a tad under $200 with tip -- without dessert and coffee. Figure this into your calculus when choosing From Scratch for your dining pleasure while roaming greater Ridgewood. It is right at market pricing in this town. Grazie mille Claudia! read more

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Best pasta I've had in Bergen county. Closest thing I've eaten to the pasta you eat in Italy.

Delish! Best food delivery ever! We can't wait to actually dine at the restaurant! I'm 100% Italian and it takes a lot to impress me and I was blown away! We ordered the meatballs, bolognese pasta, walnut ravioli and Nutella ricotta pie. Everything really was delicious! Everything arrived nicely presented and they even sent complimentary cookies and a 20% off coupon on our next order! High quality food worth every penny! read more

This is the only restaurant in northern NJ where my wife cried in delight during a meal. The quality, consistency and value we've found here is unmatched. The genuine effort from the front of the house with the wait staff to the perfection delivered from the kitchen keeps us coming back for more. My wife grew up in Italy and knows the difference between Italian cuisine and Italian American food. We're blessed to enjoy real healthy fresh food. And genuinely cherish the opportunity to sit down at From Scratch for an experience every time. The quality is transformative, the value is superior. Claudia and her team deliver each time and should be proud. Get ready for a wonderful experience. Be sure to make reservations in advance. read more

From Scratch - Cacio e pepe - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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If you want to experience authentic food from Italy, go here. It's mouthwateringly delicious. I love this place.

Came here recently with another couple. We had a super early reservation - The food is lovely, service very attentive. Looking to try the classes next! read more

I ate there last evening with my daughter. She has been pushing me to eat there. She has told me that it has the best pasta dishes she has ever had. I thought her praise was hurtful to my wife. Going up my parents to us out to fine dining weekly and I was alway told not to order pasta because it would never be served as good as at home. Last evening proved them wrong and my daughter right. At 69 years old I have never had pasta at a restaurant. I had the best lasagna I've ever had. Incredibly delicious as was my daughter's pesto. It was so lite and fresh yet richly flavorful. From our appetizers, veal meatballs,( another no no in my parents book) to our Nepolean's. Every dish is prepared from scratch in their open kitchen. Service was good and the ambience is fitting of the more modern trattorias in Rome. I can't believe I writing this but "I want to go out for a pasta dinner " Go! You won't regret it. Don't be put off by the prices It's worth the price and more. read more

A family run restaurant. The best Authentic Italian Cuisine in the area. Every single item on the menu is a true delight. Appetizers, Pasta dishes, deserts, you cannot go wrong. Chef Claudia is one of a kind and her heart and passion is present in every plate that arrives at your table. The meals might take a little longer than you're used to, but it's all worth the wait. Staff is knowledgeable attentive and friendly. I wished I'd taken pictures of our courses! I'm going back soon. read more

Really delicious food !! the service was attentive. I never tasted lasagna so good. Everything was so fresh . I Can't wait to eat there again!! read more

From Scratch is the best Italian cuisine you can find in Bergen County. The food is amazing and the Santagati family are great people. Highly recommended. read more

I would have to say, chef Claudia is a bad ass! Though I do think she could smile a little bit more often, she looked a bit..she runs the whole kitchen by herself! With help from people, but it's 97% her I'm sure! Make sure you book your reservation in advance, the place isn't big-- and you NEED a spot, they do not welcome walk-ins. My cousins had recommended this place and mentioned non-stop about their freshly prepped sporadic changing menu, we aren't in jersey often - so we had to go! The appetizers are were great, make sure you BYOB, wine is a perfect match with their available appetizers, the crostini with the grilled zucchini was my favorite! When it comes to entrees you are limited in choice which only means they are using what they have for the day, if you think about it - this is very rare! Our waitress, the hostess, were both the kindest people, and helpful! There is one thing that threw me off, which made me deduct a star- the fact that three of us (out of 6) wanted the special of the day which was the meatloaf stuffed with mortadella (9 out of 10, delicious) ane unfortunately only two of us were allowed to order it. Now, as I mentioned we aren't in NJ often, and they open at 5:30, we were there at 6 - meaning we were their first serve of the night- the menu is limited as it is, the special should be the most of what they have on hand, because well, it's the special. It was upsetting to me that I had to shy away from getting the dish, and I had to settle for something else, and had to share the meatloaf with my husband. Otherwise everything was delicious in a clean and modern environment! read more

From scratch is the best restaurant in Bergen county. The food and the service is amazing . Chef Claudia is an amazing cook and her restaurant is top notch . Jean the waitress is very good and I always appreciate her service . read more

From Scratch - Stuff pepper special - Mediterranean Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey