Excellent service. Excellent steak and absolutely mind-blowing gnocchi! Will definitely come back for the full tasting menu and some more. Keep in mind that it's a BYOB place so a bottle of good wine will make a perfect addition to a great dinner experience. Overall, A++ read more

Gioia Mia - Hangar steak. Yum! - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

My BF and I came here for dinner for my birthday last night. We both had the tasting menu. We pleased that we could do the tasting menu because it normally is off limits for us - he doesn't eat shellfish or pork, and I can't eat potatoes or tomatoes. There were plenty of options for us, many of which sounded delicious. You do, however, needed to BYOB, something which I do not prefer. They do offer "emergency delivery" but we did not avail ourselves of the service. [I normally have a glass of wine but he doesn't, and it wasn't worth the trouble] Here is what we ordered: First course: Tuna Tartare and Polenta Fries. Both were very good. I don't think the polenta fries are worth the numerous accolades afforded by prior reviewers. The tuna was quite good though. Second course: Squash Soup and Foie Gras: Both were delicious. Third course: Truffle Rigatoni and Braised Short Rib & Taleggio Ravioli. The rigatoni was average but the ravioli was absolutely stellar and one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. It was reminiscent of what I enjoyed during visits to Northern Italy. The filling was well cooked and seasoned, the pasta was delicate and sauce was sooooo good. I could eat it every day and not get bored. This was the highlight of the night. Fourth course: Duck breast and Seafood risotto: The duck breast was quite nice; delicious and cooked beautifully. The seafood risotto was OK. The rice was slightly undercooked (no, not al dente; undercooked). Some of the seafood was overcooked (scallop was great, octopus good, shrimp was slightly over) and was served with unnecessary foam. Fifth course: Molten chocolate cake and Bread pudding - both good but wished that the bread pudding was served warmer. Service was friendly and efficient, and the ambiance was charming. I would go back again and recommend it for a special evening for dinner. read more

We came here couple weeks ago for my boss's 40 year birthday dinner, we had total 18 people. While the restaurant was almost empty, they first placed our seats in a small place in main dining room and tried to squeeze us into a desk I thought it can only sit for 12- 14 people. After we told the manager that it wouldn't work for us, they switched us to the other side of the room . Because they did not have other guests sitting in that side of room but us, it was just like we owned the private party room of ourselves! The food was delicious and the atmosphere is great! My coworker ordered duck and she loved it! I love my steak as well though it was a bit overdone but flavor was great. I ordered oyster on the shell for appetizers but I don't think it was fresh enough and I will not recommend this dish to you. read more

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I've been to Fascino multiple times. I usually order a la carte, but I've also tried their five-course tasting menu twice and the vegetarian tasting menu once. Briefly, Fascino is my favorite restaurant in NJ, and there is a reason why I continue to go back. The dishes are almost always very good, sometimes even excellent. Service is always impeccable, and Fascino is now the place my family chooses to go to for special occasions. Memorable appetizers: - Yellowfin tuna rollatini: Beautifully presented. Raw yellowfin tuna wrapped around a cucumber and fennel salad and topped with radish and scallions. It was served with a sesame vinaigrette that gave the dish an Asian tinge. I'm glad to say that the vinaigrette never overpowered the delicate flavor of the fish and the crisp vegetables added a great crunch. - Seared foie gras: This was an appetizer special that I ordered once. It was served with a jam (I believe it was apricot) that added a nice sweetness and worked well in cutting through the fattiness of the foie. - Truffled trumpet mushrooms over polenta: This was just perfect. The mushrooms were fleshy and had a light aroma of truffle. The polenta was creamy and perfectly seasoned. Memorable entrees: - Braised short rib ravioli in a black truffle sauce: This was the pasta special of the day and is perhaps the best ravioli I've ever had. The pasta was cooked well and the short rib was wonderfully moist and tender. The sauce was not too salty and complemented the short rib well. - Pan seared sea scallops: The scallops were cooked perfectly with a beautiful sear and there was a nice foam over the scallops that added a great aroma. The scallops were served over a farro risotto, and I was pleased to see that the rice was not overcooked, which happens too often. - Slow braised short rib: I think this was the very first entree I ever ordered at Fascino, and is still one of the best. The short rib was so tender and juicy and was served over a truffled creamy polenta. The sauce was savory but was also slightly sweet; it brought the whole dish together nicely. And I need to mention how amazing the mascarpone polenta fries are here. Order this as a side and I promise that you won't regret it. The only drawback is that dessert is more varied in quality. The peanut butter and chocolate parfait is way too heavy and sweet and the apple crostata with double caramel gelato failed to differentiate itself from those at other restaurants. However, the pistachio praline bread pudding and molten chocolate cake were both wonderful. read more

Gioia Mia - Australian barramundi with parmigiano spaetzle and zucchini-squash ragu - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

this place is a real find. I am normally not a huge fan of italian restaurants, particularly in NJ, but i was a big fan of this place. I showed up a bit early and asked them to decant my bottle of wine (tip, if you go there, bring a great bottle of wine with you as its BYOB). We then went around the corner to grab a cocktail at Pig & Whistle, which is a great place to grab a drink. ambience is very nice. appropriately dark and it felt elegant (particularly for NJ). My decanted bottle of wine was awaiting (in a proper decanter, not just opened). Service was great. they were appropriately attentive, but since i had a business dinner, allowed us to catch up without being obtrusive. we ordered a number of things to share and they brought us separately served half portions with proper presentation. that was a nice touch. appetizers: the heirloom tomatoes with Burrata. One of the best damn salads I have had in a while. the tomatoes are in peak season, and the creamy burrata was coupled with just the right amount of balsamic, salt and basil. YUM. We also got the tuna Tartare. Was good as well. Dinner- I got the the pasta with truffle/mushrooms. Perfect al dente pasta with a sauce that was creamy, but not overburdened. I didn't finish all the mushrooms that came with it, but was happy with my dish. My friend got one of the fish dishes and was pleased with his. Desserts - we got the recommended blueberry bread pudding and the chocolate molten lava cake. I really wanted to try the zeppole's but will get them next time. We also got a coffee and capucinno. Our wine paired extremely well with the food to make for a perfect meal. The bill came out to be a shockingly low $112 before tip. for a meal of this caliber in NY you would be paying double. I will be back. read more

Gioia Mia - Beet salad. Phenomenal. - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I've been to many restaurants in the Montclair area, and with that being said, my expectations were pretty high for this place. We just moved to Upper Montclair and we were really excited to try out some new spots nearby. After looking at a few reviews, we decided to try out Fascino.........big mistake. Upon arriving, I loved the fact that this was a small restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. The waiters were absolutely splendid and very attentive. We were even lucky to find a parking spot directly in front of the restaurant! I thought that this was destined to be an awesome night. After arriving, we placed our orders; we decided on the gnocchi and the hangar steak. The food came out quickly and looked fabulous! Once I had the first bite, I was immediately grossed out. My steak was super tough and fatty and hard to cut through with the knife. My boyfriend actually decided not to even try a bite because he wasn't able to cut through successfully. Luckily, I was able to try his dish. His gnocchi legitimately tasted like Chef Boyardee...not even kidding. Very mushy and just all around unimpressive. Actually, to be honest, I would have preferred Chef Boyardee over this plate. We both literally took two bites of our plates before deciding it was time to wrap up and leave. The only thing that saved this experience was the waiter. Our waiter was just so pleasant we felt bad even complaining. In fact, we left him an awesome tip (because it's not his fault the food sucked).The staff was all that I expected and more. I'm hoping that this was just an off night here. Either way, I'm almost positive I wouldn't come back here. read more

Dinner at Fascino before a comedy show at the Wellmont theatre located across the street. It's BYOB, always a plus. Ordered the rosemary focaccia to start, wish it was just bread for the table, but you in fact have to order it. Very good focaccia. We started with polenta fries, and then 2 orders of small pasta to share. Polenta fries are too thick, and not great flavor. Blue cheese dip can only do so much, but overall, a disappointment. The gnocchi and squid ink pappardelle were the pastas. Winner was the gnocchi. Fluffy pillows cooked to perfection. For our entrees, we split two big portions of Stracciatella cheese agnolotti and the rigatoni ala gricia. Both very good, I'd probably go with agnolotti if you're picking between the two, but honestly you can't go wrong with any of the pasta options. Just preference at that point. Overall, if you're in the area for BYOB Italian, this has to be on your list. read more

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This new restaurant was recommended by a few people in town -- and they were spot on, the food was amazing. We order a few pasta dishes and the short ribs. The service and ambience was excellent and I highly recommend. read more

The service was great and the entrees were delicious. The only down side to the meal were the apps all being different temperatures, especially the squash soup which was absolutely delicious but it was barely room temp, which was a major contrast to the polenta fries that were piping hot. The bread was warm which wasn't that bad but again compared to the polenta fries, I wish the bread would've been a little warmer. The hanger steak was seasoned very well and the creamy fontina polenta was delectable! The broccoli Rabe was a bit bitter in my opinion however the broccolini is to die for! The chicken was extremely moist and flavorful. I appreciated the home made mash, but again, they got cold fast. It was my wife's bday so they gave her a complimentary scoop which was pretty cool. Ultimately they need to work on their heating lamp situation or possibly timing everything a little better to ensure all the food gets out it's the same temperature. But overall I'd recommend them and would return again. read more

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I had some friends take me here for a birthday dinner and was looking forward to the meal. We were promptly seated and given menus while they opened our champagne. After deciding on oysters, salad and the octopus appetizer we placed that order. At this point the bread came out which I thought was odd since we should gotten that before we ordered. I found the oysters to be fresh and flavorful and the octopus I tried to also be very good. My wife was not impressed with the salad as the quarter pieces of romaine lettuce were rather hard and difficult to cut. For my entrée I went with the braised short ribs that came with swiss chard, celery root-apple puree and roasted baby carrots. Three entrees came out quickly but a fourth was delayed which I thought was inexcusable for this level of restaurant. While I enjoyed the ribs the service gaffes were enough to sour me on the experience. It felt like more attention was being paid to other tables instead of ours. With the plethora of great restaurants in the area this type of scenario should not occur. read more

Went out of business with no warning and did not transfer gift card funds to new owner.

Enjoyed a very lovely meal here for an early Valentine's Day dinner. We tried the tasting menu and we were very happy with our meal! Our waiter was very attentive and answered any questions we had regarding the menu. The foie gras was my favorite! The dessert sampler was a nice end to a very tasty dinner. Very romantic setting and it's BYOB. Can't wait to return! read more

Gioia Mia - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Can't believe I haven't reviewed Fascio before. It's absolutely my favorite "treat yourself" restaurant in town. The first time I went (pre-COVID), we had the tasting menu and I thought I was literally going to die of both fullness and happiness at the same time. The food is just absolutely tremendous, the menu is so fun (very hard to choose with so many delicious looking options), the service was flawless, and the vibe was perfect. They even had someone who would go out and pickup a bottle of wine for you at the liquor store down the street (GENIUS). The second time we got takeout very shortly after COVID started. We had an occasion to celebrate and were thrilled to find they had opened. Not only did they have it hot and ready for me at a specific time I requested, not only was the chef/owner himself there to process my order, not only was the food just as tasty as it was in person, but the food was freaking immaculately presented in a damn plastic takeout container. How?? I don't exactly have the income to be a consistent patron here, but if I did, I'd be a regular. Until then, Fascino has solidified itself as THE go-to restaurant for my special occasions. Hard to imagine any other place in town doing it better. read more

So disappointing ! We walked in and were seated quickly. I didn't realize it was BYO but they have a liquor store they work with to have the wine delivered to your table. Easy enough and pretty decent prices on the wine ! It's a small intimate restaurant which seemed like a good thing at first. Our waiter was nice but a little off- he made a comment to my friend saying he could tell it was her first time here (it was everyone's first time ). I laughed it off and made a joke about it . We ordered our food I ordered an app and pasta as my meal- I made it clear it needed to come out all together as no one else would have to wait. We got bread and oil had fun convo but started to feel Pretty hungry! 20 min later my app came out- I grabbed our waiter and said - is the rest Of the food coming out soon because I made a point to order all together . Yes yes. 30-40 min later (so 50-60 min after ordering) we received the rest of our food .. we all ordered pasta and one person ordered chicken .. then to make matters worse my pasta was horrific- I seriously wanted to cry. I What truly made this one of my worst dining experiences was the waiter completely ignored us in between ordering and food- he knew there was a delay and just decided to ignore it- maybe a complimentary appetizer or something - a sorry would have sufficed. I sent my pasta back as it was not at all what I ordered and it tasted horrible. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the octopus was actually good, the host was nice and the convenience of the wine. I had high hopes and unfortunately was super disappointed read more

I was super excited to try this place because I had read great reviews on the food. Plus I love to support small businesses. We went for my birthday - party of 6. We ordered our appetizers and what had was tasty but the portions were for babies, not even shareable. When it came to order entrees, they were out of 3 of the 6 dishes we requested, I thought that was strange for a Saturday night and the restaurant was not even packed. OK anyway... We adapted. I had the Duck and it was cooked well and was tasty, however the greens that were served with them had sand in them and made the dish inedible. My friends said their food was just ok. My mom was there also and I did not have to ask her what she thought of her steak (which I could tell was over cooked) her face said it all. What really got me though was that at the end of the night the waiter disappeared. We had all finished our dessert and we sat there waiting for our check... and waiting... and waiting. Finally we asked the manager where our waiter was she said he left. I could understand if it was the end of his shift but to not even come over and say "i'm giving your table to someone else" or even present the check was pretty unprofessional to say the least. I was disappointed overall. read more

I am a fan of Fascino. It is a small, intimate restaurant and we were here on a Tuesday night and it was busy. Make sure you have a reservation. Also, we found out that they do half off oysters on Tuesday nights, we did not indulge but it definitely sparked interest for next time. My husband and I started off the roasted Spanish octopus. The octopus came accompanied by potatoes, arugula and a delicious aioli sauce. I thought the octopus was prepared well, although I have had better once before at another restaurant. Overall though I did think it was tasty and the aioli really made the dish for me. Next, we did an appetizer order of the burrata triangoli pasta to share. All Fascino's pastas are homemade and you can definitely tell. The pasta was really good, we both enjoyed it. It came with some smoked pistachios on top which was unique but complimented the dish well. For main entrees I went with the buttermilk baked chicken. It came with a creamy polenta which was out of this world delicious. Honestly, it was the best polenta I have ever had. I would come back just for that alone! The chicken had a truffle pesto on it which was also very appetizing. I really enjoyed the dish overall. My husband ordered the pork chop saltimbocca and he said it was prepared excellently and enjoyed. We were too stuffed to try dessert but next time we definitely will. This spot is also a BYO, which of course is always a plus. Fascino will be seeing us again! Almost forgot, it was my birthday and they brought out a card with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a candle. I thought that was super sweet! read more

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Just tried Fascino this last weekend for the first time and was not disappointed. Ambiance/Service: we had a reservation for 9pm and were a little early so expected to wait. Table was ready a few minutes before 9 for us. It's BYOB so we took a walk to buy wine but the host said they could arrange to have a bottle delivered for us which I thought was a nice service. The atmosphere is chic and appropriately lit (I hate when places are too dark to read the menu). The server was very attentive and informative, he gave great recommendations and made sure we were satisfied with each course. Food: delicious, no complaints here. We started with the fig bruschetta and yellowfin tuna crudo, both tasty and good to share for two. Yellowfin tuna was light and the jalapeños gave it a nice kick. For entrees I went with the ricotta gnocchi with crumbled sausage (recommended) which was delicious. Gnocchi's were actually pretty light thus not making the dish too heavy. Sauce and sausage were great as well. My girl got the squid ink rigatoni which was also good (gnocchi was better). Her dish came packed with seafood but the pasta and sauce were very tasty. Also a hearty meal as well. Note: we both went with the full portions, you can opt for the small size if you get full easy. For dessert we shared the warm apple crostata which came with caramel ice cream, that was delicious and a good size to share for two as well. Food & service were both what you hope for when you go out to eat - I'd definitely recommend this place and would go back. read more

Gioia Mia - Yellowfin Tuna Crudo - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Short and sweet, had a date planned at 8 PM on a Sunday night they accommodated us with no problems, There was still a nice crowd in the restaurant, dark and romantic ambiance parking was easy on the side streets, Best oysters I've ever had hands-down , clean not too briny fresh horseradish, And some other unique sides, The sausage gnocchi were to die for, The kale salad was so condensed and filling And the dessert menu is dangerous!! We had the blueberry pudding cake . I can't wait to go back! read more

Started with the beef tar tar that was on the menu at the time. Was absolutely delicious and the best I've had. Then had two pasta dishes - squid ink and then the lemon pepper. Both were well portioned and you could tell it was fresh and hand made. The service was incredible, special shout out to George who was a great, attentive, and sweet server. We had wine delivered which was easy and convenient. Not wildly busy at 6:30 on a Friday. Overall I'd return again to try another menu and experience something new. read more

Such amazing food! I have now been there a couple times and the food and service are fantastic. They have changed their menu for the summer and the options are great. I tried the Braised Spanish Octopus as a starter this time and loved it. Honestly though everything I have had so far are things I loved, so can't go wrong. Would definitely recommend this place! read more

I hate to give a bad review to replace that's clearly struggling to get back on its feet after the pandemic. But I have been to Fascino a couple of times pre-pandemic and I was terribly disappointed with the quality of the meal I had the other day. I am not going to get into the details, except to say the steak was too tough to chew, and the vegetables were tasteless and soggy. It's tough to say where the problem lies, maybe they haven't been able to get their chef back, who knows? But the mismatch between the high prices and the bad food are simply too great to ignore. My hope is the owners will see the review and take a careful look at what's going on in the kitchen. read more

If there is a better BYO or Italian restaurant in New Jersey, I have not been there, despite decades of looking! Service is impeccable, the dishes are creative and ample and the setting is nice, with adequate distance between tables. The pastas, mussels, scallops and halibut were outstanding and left no room for the tempting desserts. Entrees are $26-$38, so don't bring your friend who thinks heaven is a large $20 chicken parm. read more

All I can say is, trust the critical reviews of this place. What's the hype? The prices do not match the quality. Drive 25 minutes into the city and get proper Italian. Hoping to find something better in Montclair though. Good: - the service - Oysters (fresh, small Canadian) - Focaccia bread (properly salty and herby) Bad (generally no seasoning, lacked flavor): - Polenta fries (salt couldn't even save these) - Squid ink pasta (the saddest part for me ) - Sea bass (plain) read more

Very disappointing.....we couldn't wait to try this place....the gnocchi was on a level with chef boyardee ....and the polenta that came with my chicken tasted like paste. My boyfriend had the lamb dish and thought it was ok ...not terrible but overall not sure what people in this area consider "good food" read more

Absolutely the best italian dinner I've had. My fiancé and I went here for v day and they have a set 4 course meal and byob. You had three choices for each course. We got different items for each course, ate half, and switched plates. Everything was done to perfection. We ate all the plates clean, and wiped down the remaining sauce w bread. Wish I can come back for every v day. It was truly a remarkable evening!! read more

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This was exactly what I needed after a stressful day at work. The ambiance was relaxing and inviting. The servers attentive. Where do I start? Dessert of course! The Ricotta Zeppole has become my new favorite. It's hot and tasty. The perfect end to our dinner For my entree I ordered the pignoli crusted nova scotia halibut, seasonal vegetables, smoky prosciutto broth. So good. I actually have one comment about the music lol! Showtunes from Grease. Maybe next time stick with Michael Buble. However, I am looking forward to going back and trying more their menu. read more

Besides the struggle to find parking it's a Very nice place, and affordable too. It's byob The food was very good but they didn't really have any juice, it was mostly soda which kinda sucks cause everybody doesn't drink soda or liquor. The food took a while to come not sure if it was because it was a big party or what but it definitely seemed like it took too long to come. read more

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An employee took our credit card that I accidentally left and was told would be in a safe. I called and they said they no longer had my credit card. The employee went to Apple and spent $3K in merchandise. I called the store multiple times asking to speak to a manager. A manager has never returned our calls. Do not give them your business. read more

Had dinner with my wife here a few weeks ago. We accidentally left our credit card in the bill book and didn't realize it until we were home. We called them and the manager said they'd keep our credit card in a safe for us. A few days go by and we call the restaurant and they told us the owner cut our card up because it had been a few days. About a week later we have over $3,000 in fraudulent charges on our credit card. We called the restaurant and left a message with the manager about what happened and no call back from them. read more

Great food, great service, our waiter George took good care of us. Thank you George. The place is nice and clean, a lot of tables and people seemed to be enjoying themselves, we'll be back for sure. read more

It was first visit. We went to the Fascino last night with good friends, we first ordered the rigatoni with pesto sauce as appetizer. The homemade pasta was not cooked properly. It's supposed to be al dente but it not fully cooked and it was oily and very salty. The service was just so so, they hired a new bus girl who didn't understand very simple instructions such as, "please get some ice" instead, she took my glass away. I ordered the Scallops seared over potatoes and they weren't fresh, rubbery and it was entirely over cooked and too salty. The potatoes are not edible at all. my boyfriend ordered lemon crusted chicken parmigiana and it was not fresh either and it had a drumstick. The focaccia bread had to ordered, it was hard, dry-and entirely too salty. It's really a one star restaurant. I don't mind spending good money for good food, but we really didn't enjoy it. We wondered what happened. read more

All I can say about Fascino is...wow. Came here for my wife and my one-year anniversary and we were both very impressed with this place. It was surprisingly empty for the Sunday before a holiday, so we didn't need a reservation but it sounds like it's recommended most other times. Our waitress was incredibly nice and, despite trying to upsell us on a couple of things, was not pushy at all. I ordered the gnocchi with italian sausage bolognese and my wife ordered the papardelle, both of which were delicious. The spice they used in the papardelle sauce/broth was very tasty, and the gnocchi was more tender than any I've ever tried. You really can't lose with either dish. As we noted it was our anniversary in our reservation, they gave us a complementary scoop of vanilla gelato before the check came, which was a nice cap on a great dinner. We'll definitely be back here with bigger appetites to try some of the appetizers as well. read more

This owner has ruined this place! The previous owner understood fine dining. This guy Ryan has DUMBED THIS PLACE DOWN! Been coming here over 12 years WILL NEVER COME BACK! Why doesn't he offer special items like FOIE GRAS when ppl call for a seating they could request it and have it as a special!! Good bye! read more

5 stars all around. Great food, great atmosphere, great service from start to finish!! We left so full and loved every bit of our meal from the salads to the amazing pasta to our main courses and finally the desserts! Fresh homemade pasta . Two thumbs up!! Squid ink Rigatoni with calamari and mushroom agnolotti (sp?) The dessert was awesome, homemade gelato and a homemade parfait of chocolate and peanut butter moose. Couldn't have had better. read more

We went to Fascino for their 4 course dinner menu on Valentine's Day. We have seen the restaurant listed many times on other sites/reviews mentioning that this place is really great so we had to give it a shot. The burrata was outstanding and I would go back just to have this again. Next up, I had the cavatelli with Octopus which was tremendous. This is pretty much where I stopped being impressed. The sirloin steak left a lot to be desired and dessert is nothing to brag about. If you are looking for good burrata and pasta, this is your place. If you are craving a steak, you may want to go somewhere else. The fish was not bad though. read more

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Having been to Battello a handful of times and Nico being my go-to happy hour spot, I had high expectations for Fascino. Needless to say, we didn't leave fascin-ated. We shared the octopus to start, which was delicious. And the fact that the kitchen actually split it deserves major kudos. They also split the gnocchi, even though we got the appetizer portion. They did not split the tuna, but it would have been awkward if they had. The gnocchi was soft and overcooked, but I appreciated the thick shreds of cheese and the small skillet for the serving dish. The tuna was underseasoned and frankly, uncreative. I also don't know who thought it was a good idea to only sear one side of the tuna, which was barely seared. The mint and diced watermelon were refreshing, but the mint was just thrown on the plate and left unchopped. Weird. BYOB is a plus, but overall, the entree menu is really not all that Italian. I think I will not be back. read more

Went on Fri evening with another couple. We had the octopus and polenta fries for appetizers, and then between the 4 of us we had the halibut, swordfish and sea bass. The apps and all three fish were delicious and very well prepared. We then shared the blueberry bread pudding and chocolate tort for dessert. The bread pudding was one of the best we had ever had. Add on top of this BYOB and very good service and this was a true winner. Will definitely go back. read more

The restaurant is BYOB and street parking only. Dimly lit and rustic. Servers were very nice. We got polenta fries with are 1.5 in by 4 in thick rectangles which are plain and the Gorgonzola cheese is liquid and pungent. The shrimp chowder has no cream it is more of a gumbo and the potatoes could have cooked a little longer. The pasta can be served as an app, we got the jersey girl. It was heavy on the lemon and zero truffle taste, but the pasta was nice an al dente. The scallop dish with "radish" was good, but the radish pieces were for decoration bc i got the end pieces. We got the bread pudding which was great but the chocolate lava cake was cold and hard. The place was ok. Not bad not great. read more

Absolutely phenomenal, definitely NYC worthy and I can't see how anyone would give this place less than 5 stars if they're a true foodie. I was taken here on a date and I fell in love with the place the second I walked in. It's romantic, upscale, trendy, and super cute. We walked past the main room to the right where the second dining room is, sat down, and was immediately greeted by our waiter, Walter, who was amazing. We started with their soft shell crab special which was fried/battered soft shell crab over greens with oranges, great dish. Then we ordered the yellowfin tuna tartare, which was 4 pieces of toasted bread with ample amounts of fresh tuna tartare, light aioli and radishes, how can you go wrong here? My mouth is watering just talking about it. Then we had the roasted octopus with fingerling potatoes, pickled red onion and olive aioli...OMG...can I have 10 more of these?! They happily split this dish for us which was really nice. It's a small dish, but the combination of flavors is simply outstanding, lots going on in this dish, it was prepared very well. I've eaten some amazing octopus in Spain and this was certainly on a par. For dinner we started with two pastas: truffle scented rigatoni with forest mushroom ragu...again, the combination of flavors here was out of this world! Slight truffle flavor, nothing over powering with tons of mushrooms and cheese. Great pasta dish. We also did the jersey corn & mascarpone mezzaluna, sweet corn -herb fonduta...ravioli like pasta dish stuffed with sweet corn and cheese, and more cheese on top, I've never had anything like it, it was amazing. I asked for some cheese and I was given freshly grated cheese on the side, I wish it was like that everywhere! After that, because we were feeling totally gluttonous...we ordered the scallops and the herb crusted halibut. The scallops came 3/4 huge scallops to a dish with cauliflower puree, greens and baby carrots, the dish was excellent. The halibut came highly recommended from the waiter, it was a light/healthy dish with market vegetables and the fish was very flaky and fresh. For desert we had the molten chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato, the chocolate just melted in your mouth, and they gave me a card and wrote Happy Birthday on my dish which made me very happy! Overall, service was great, the place was beautiful, and the food was fantastic, My only complaint is that they told us we had to put our order in by 9:30 as the kitchen closed then. I thought that was a bit early for a Thursday, but whatever! Definitely come here! read more

Gioia Mia - Birthday desert!! - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Before i begin, The service here is Good! So with that out of the way, let me begin... This place lacks consistency, value, and execution. Consistency - Some items were incredible - Cauliflower and Apple soup, Veal and Pork Belly over Northern beans and swiss chard - Awesome ( except this was not what i wanted for dinner.... more later) Value - $25 dollars for Pasta that is mediocre at best? A pesto should be prepared one of two ways.... I prefer the thick herb paste, but i can accept the creamy preparation as well. What I do not accept is a watery oregano mixture with a hint of cheese. So watery that the alleged sauce is unable to adhere to any pasta in the plate. Next ... $8 dollars for Broccoli, flavorless and again in a bowl of water.... I suppose water is the theme of the restaurant, but in my culinary experience albeit years ago, water is rarely used for flavor. Execution - Did the Chef that I read about get sick this week? Or perhaps has he been abducted by aliens? Either way, I would be embarrassed and would never allow the atrocities mentioned above, out of my kitchen, but lets discuss a few more issues. First, they had no Chicken, Steak, or Broccolini. A restaurant that runs out of that many ingredients on a Saturday at 9:00 PM? Poor planning. Next, as an Italian american, I know it was mentioned above, but that Pesto was terrible. Now onto the order mistakes (not the waitresses fault), my wife asked for no croutons on her soup due to a gluten allergy, but this was overlooked. Then she asked for no added cheese on her pasta, which was also overlooked...... This restaurant was not packed so perhaps a little training needs to occur? Overall, for the price we paid, I am extremely annoyed and disappointed. I am happy spending money on good food and service, but unfortunately I only got one of this evening. For the money I spent, I am much better off at 3 other awesome Italian restaurants that I often visit in Montclair. I was hoping to add a new spot to our rotation, but I honestly have no reason to return! Lastly,,,, The table next to me was offered a free dessert. Was there experience that much worse than ours? Im curious to know how messed up their meal must have been because we weren't even offered a free coffee for such a dismal experience. *** One thing of note, they do try and accommodate gluten allergies by having gluten-free pasta in house read more

Gioia Mia - This is not pesto.. This is water and herbs - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey