Not bad not bad! I didn't know it was located in a plaza, but you would never know once you're inside. Ambiance is so cozy and on the fancier side. From the hostess to our server, really good service. The food was tasty! Their menu changes often, but our favorite was the pasta with hints of espresso and dark chocolate (not sweet at all, savory actually). We ate it so fast I didn't take a pic. Steak was tasty, too. I would come back! read more

Il Nido - 40 day dry aged ribeye - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

Interesting, carefully crafted dishes with unique flavors. Chef's table made for a fun view behind-the-scenes. James was an excellent waiter, knowledgeable about the food and wine, plus very personable. Looking forward to returning for our next special occasion. read more

Fantastic venue. Were lucky enough to have a reservation on a quiet night, near the fire place in a dim lit dining room. The food was great. The drinks were great. And service was fine. Prices are a tad high for the area and the quality, with other options of more authentic Italian food being cheaper, but with less of the ambiance. Recommend for date nights and good Italian food. read more

Il Nido - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

As soon as I walked into Il Nido I felt like "this is the kind of special place you go out on a date." Well I was by myself, and I walked away feeling like this was the best date I've ever taken myself on! The service was attentive and welcoming from the start to finish. I felt at home even though I was a weirdo eating there by myself, treating myself to a fantastic meal. The environment was very cool and classic. The food, oh my gosh, the food. Elegant and delicious. I ordered the Wagyu meatballs to start, along with the grapefruit old fashioned. The meatballs were succulent and flavorful. Perfect temperature and texture, balanced in every way. Second dish was the halibut. The sauce it came with flavored with the leeks and mushrooms and hint of lemon was the perfect partner to the fish, which had a crisp outer texture but flaked just enough with the touch of a fork. Even if I was alone, I was in love, with the food! If I lived closer to Il NidI'd bring my wife to show her how much she means to me. But honestly this was the perfect place to treat myself as well. read more

Il Nido - Wagyu Meatballs - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

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I'm going to make this quick. This place is a great date night spot. Food is incredible, and the honey prawns will be the best thing you'll ever eat. Book your reservation now! read more

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Food , drinks and service great. El gave us great service. We asked to have the music turned down and he did it. Thank you !!

Elegant & Attention to detail Dishes are made from scratch with fresh organic ingredients. I thoroughly enjoyed the assortment of appetizers ordered. The roasted beets were paired perfectly with soft goat's milk cheese. I've also never had a better salad than the grilled artichoke salad, and the piccolo charcuterie board was the perfect amount for 4 people to pick from before our main dishes. Honestly, we were a little disappointed to learn that they don't serve the split bone marrow shank every night. It is was drew us in to try this restaurant, however, we were still extremely satisfied with their other options. I ordered the best pasta ever. The pappardelle with braised oxtail is amazing. It comes in a flavorful broth, and isn't too rich. So delicious! The atmosphere is very well planned. Although it was a busy night, the way in which the walls were placed minimizes the noise and genuinely makes you feel like you're in someone's home. I also don't frequently talk about bathrooms, but the thoughtfulness and attention to detail flows into that space as well. The only thing I would critique is the tira misu, as it was presented in a "deconstructed" style and that really took away from the desert. The chocolate dome was delicious, however the lady finger was a little dry. Overall we were more than satisfied and I would recommend this restaurant if you're looking for some delicious Italian food. read more

Il Nido - Back: Tira Misu / Front: Warm Toffee Cake - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

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Wasn't blown away. Actually feel that Aunt Butchies has better tasting food. My dish could had been less salty. I did the Rigatoni dish. The Meatball appetizer did help get the score up to three stars. Was also disappointed with the Olive cake. It was a bit too hard and not to my liking. Place is a bit pricey, and I don't feel it met the price. Our waiter Addonay did a great job with attending and explaining the menu. He was 5 stars, if I can go 3-1/2 I would just because he was great. read more

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Ambience great, music great , food excellent, servers lack luster ! They had zero personality, did not feel welcomed , catered too, did not feel like this was a night out at all. It was here is your water , what would you like to eat and handed us the bill. When I was a waitress back in the day I worked for my tip. We had late reservations too no excuses. Most couples were on their way out. Not sure I'll be back. read more

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A great overall experience from the food, to the ambiance & service! Burrata - served with prosciutto, figs & hazelnuts added a special touch! Scallops - perfectly seared and seasoned, risotto was good but nothing extraordinary Wagyu NY Strip - tasted delicious but was a little over cooked for liking (we ordered medium rare and it came out closer to medium/ medium well). Perfectly seared on the outside Pappardelle - the star of the show, hand-made pasta with braised oxtail that was very tender and flavorful. The 36 mo aged parmigiano really elevated the dish and gave it a special flavor! Warm Toffee Cake - delicious ending to a perfect meal, soft & full of cinnamon-goodness Overall, a great experience. Will definitely be back in the future! read more

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Elegant venue perfect for that special occasion or intimate dinner when you want to hear the conversation. Tonight we celebrated my birthday on a Thursday evening with another couple. We sat in a very quiet corner in the back room. We ordered drinks and delicious appetizers. We had the meatballs and shrimp cocktail. The crusty bread was out of this world. After, we shared the cowboy steak with broccoli rabe and crunchy roasted potatoes. The menu was not vast but there was something for everyone. This is not your average day restaurant. Expect to pay a premium for the quality food, service and atmosphere. read more

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On our ongoing quest for great Italian food we visited Il Nido this evening. The restaurant is in a strip mall, a rather sad, poorly maintained strip mall with vacant storefronts. The Il Nido storefront however is very attractive. As you enter there is a small, tight reception area. As you are seated, the area opens up and the dining room is warm and comfortable. We had a reservation and three of us arrived within 15 minutes of each other. It was nice that they allowed us time to wait at the table for each other. That might be because there really would've been nowhere else to wait. The menu is short, but that's more common these days. And It's Modern Italian (their words on Facebook) not traditional Italian. Note- All the pastas are served al dente so beware if you don't like the taste of flour. At least the flour is imported! And it's farm to table, so I guess the farms are in the warmer states or Mexico this time of year. There was enough variety on the menu except for the shareable appetizers, which all included cheese plates. One of us started with the scallop appetizer. Tasty but odd. Four scallops, grilled lemon and tomato based lentils, $29. It was soupy and was not served with a spoon. We followed with four different pasta dishes. Small portions, but tasty. The Gramaglia (think short Bucatino) was the best. The Garganelli (think ribbed, pointy, fat penne) Ragú (meat sauce) was nice and the Cavatelli with braised octopus was also good. But the Mezzaluna Pasta (It's not a pasta, it's ravioli) of 'nduja (mushy Italian sausage) and orange butter (Mezzaluna is half moon shaped ravioli-we had to look up a lot of items on the menu) was way undercooked and seemed to bleed red when you cut into it. Even after sending it back, it came back undercooked. We had very good coffee and lovely strawberry sorbet. Our waiter had a nice personality and was attentive and somewhat knowledgeable. We left almost full lol. Il Nido is not our taste, not to our liking. But I guess we are heathens because a lot of other people seem to like it there. read more

Il Nido needs its own review category. There is really no place that I have been to in NJ like it. The ambiance is spectacular. You really feel like you're getting a fine dining experience. They also have the nice staff I have encountered at a restaurant in a while. Everyone said hello to you with a smile. Also this restaurant had very clear signs where the restrooms were so you did have to bother any of the staff asking them the question we all do at some point! It's things like this that make you realize they thought of the details. The bathrooms were beautiful and clean. They also had amenities. Again so detailed! The cocktails were excellent. Wine so good. The food. I don't think I have ever had such high quality food at a restaurant before. We eat clean and organic at home, so we know the difference and you can absolutely taste it at Il Nido. The chef clearly knows how to paid flavors well too. I'm telling you this establishment is one of a kind. You're going to pay more for that, but everything is so delicious and well thought out that you really don't even mind. We will be back. read more

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Way overpriced steak that we can cook as well not impressed ambiance pretty but noisy

Il Nido was an experience. The fact that everything is grass-fed and organic makes you feel good about the food you're eating. The pastas are made from scratch. You can tell that a lot of care goes into the food - especially when the menu changes so frequently. We started with shrimp and raw oysters. The oysters varied in size but all tasted fantastic (forgot to take a picture). I can't speak for all of the dishes but I ordered the filet mignon medium rare. It was a delicious plate and came with a variety of mushrooms in a cream sauce. I personally love eating a variety of mushrooms, although I did think the cream sauce was a tad salty. However we ordered sides of broccoli rabe and polenta - both were delish - but the polenta was even better dipped in the cream sauce. Yum! Steak was cooked perfect too. My fiancé enjoyed the black spaghetti and liked that the squid ink was cooked into the spaghetti. Sometimes when you have squid ink, it gets all over your mouth and teeth - but this didn't - which we liked. Dessert was good too. The ricotta cheesecake was so light. Although this place is very expensive, it truly is an experience. I enjoyed my night there and I'm sure you will too. read more

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Food: Not sure where to start except that this place is definitely a gem! Place is a little hidden but once you find out about this place you'd be coming back! Came here with a party of 6 and we ordered so many dishes! Every dish was scrumptious and I can see myself enjoying these dishes without ever getting tired! Cost: A moderate price range but since the dishes are so well put together and prepared, it didn't bother me too much. Not a place to come eat every day but definitely when celebrating something special. Environment: This place is very spacious and there are plenty of tables throughout the restaurant. They're also capable of seating large parties and so don't be afraid to come here with large groups to enjoy these delicious meals! Service: Service was very speedy and well orchestrated between the front and the back kitchen. I felt like all of our dishes came out together and the appetizers, entrees and desserts were timed out very well. Uniqueness: A definitely gem that provides delicious dishes and excellent service! I have been back here several times since my first introduction to this place and I hope to come back more often in the future as well! read more

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To pull a five star rating, after 42 reviews, they must be doing something right. And, I think they are for sure at this main stream Italian restaurant in Marlboro. The ambience is low-key with brick walls and laid back but it can get a little loud at times because of the conviviality. The service top notch but not in your face so to speak. The menu limited but in a good way so as not to confuse with too many choices, and it keeps them focused on what they do well which is dish out some outstanding food. After a simple but nice bread service we each enjoyed a half portion of one of their house made pastas. A squid ink seafood and a wide noodle with bolognese were both outstanding. We then shared a lovely special salad before our shared ribeye steak entree. The steak was done perfectly and delicious. For dessert we opted for their olive oil cake and it was awesome. Then they served us a complimentary dish of Italian cookies that we took home and devoured the next day. Bottom line: Simply outstanding dining right here in central Jersey. Hope to see more choices like this in the future! read more

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This place has become one of our favorites! The ambience, the staff, the FOOD, it's always a great experience. We even have a favorite server who is so great and hospitable. We love their bread! We always say bread is a first impression. And it is spot in fresh & just yummy. We have gotten their octopus which is grilled so perfectly, along with some potatoes that are the perfect crisp and it has a sauce under it all that goes great! We also get oysters, that are also chilled perfect and delicious, but only 2 choices- east and west coast. We also get the Brussel sprouts. They are a MUST TRY here. Soooo good and made/ baked just perfect. We have also had their uni crudo. Super tender and fresh. They now serve liquor so that was a huge plus to pair some drinks with the food. For our meals we have had their specials, I got their truffle spaghetti, and it was WOW. The price was up their but it was well worth it and they didn't jip you on the truffle. They make the pasta in house and it is so so fresh and perfectly made. My husband got their Bronzino that was served so different but it was so so good and hand the perfect crisp. I have also gotten the black ink pasta with seafood, it was EXCELLENT. So much flavor. This time around I tried a specials dish, the prime rib wrapped in a type of pasta with a sauce, while it was super tender, full of great flavor and like nothing I've ever had, it was heavy for me. We've also gotten their gnocchi. It was creative and full of flavor, but I am not a fan of big and cheesy gnocchi that looks like a block lol. Glad I got it as an app not the meal. Their dessert is made in house and it was good. The chocolate terrine. It's super rich. We will be back as usual to try more or have the same! read more

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Food portions are too small way too small. To be honest I did not like the food. Very different from the first time we went there. I my Opinion owner ship change. Service was good. Except for the bar. Too long to get drinks. Place still looks nice. But I don't eat nice. Will never return. read more

The past was amazing, I got their special that they had that night it was 180 for 2 ppl But the steak was very fatty and majority of it was just fat. It would've been better off if I got a filet mignon for myself instead of sharing it. Amazing service and really good apps. I deffs recommend if you want some quality pasta and apps. read more

Il Nido - 46oz steak special [forgot the name] - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

If you were ever at the previous restaurant you can't help but notice the unbelievable job they've done redoing the interior here. It went from a typical old northeast Italian joint to a stunning new classic. The shopping center here is old and filled with a mish-mosh of stores but Il Nido is certainly the jewel here. Service was impeccable from the moment we arrived until we left. Our water and wine glasses were always filled and dirty dishes were never left long on our table. We ordered a couple of appetizers for our table. The stuffed zucchini flowers and the grilled octopus. Both were excellent. For dinner i ordered the cappellacci dei briganti (hat shaped pasta) in a lamb ragu sauce...excellent! My husband ordered the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection and delicious. We of course saved room for dessert. We shared the pistachio cake which was PHENOMENAL! A bit on the pricier side but still a wonderful addition to the area. read more

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I had really been looking forward to trying out this restaurant because of all of the excellent reviews and delicious looking photos. I made a reservation for Father's Day and when they confirmed the time, they stayed that we needed to be out of the restaurant by a certain time, which was a turn off. Yes we probably would have been out by that time, and we were, but to advise customers that they need to be is a little rude. Our server was okay, he didn't smile at all but he seemed good natured. Bread is handed out individually, which I thought was a bit...cheap. It would have been nice if we had a bread basket instead of having to ask for another piece of bread. We ordered three appetizers for 6 people, which if we didn't order dessert after, might have been a bit small. The favorite was the grilled octopus, perfectly tender and soft and not fishy at all. We also got the deep fried blossom which was nothing super special but still a good dish. The soft shell crab was very well presented though the legs looked a little undercooked which was offputting. All of our main dishes were amazing. The squid ink pasta could have been a bit stronger tasting but it was a nice light dish. The ribeye steak was so moist and flavorful and everyone loved the potatoes. The John Dory was another favorite, as the fish was so fresh and moist. We got both lamb dishes--the chop and the pasta which were good though the pasta tasted almost the same as the ragu. Ordering desserts at the end here is definitely a must. Get the blueberry crostata if it's still available! It went perfectly with the lime sorbet. Cheesecake was lighter and fluffier than most Italian restaurants and I liked that they used rubarb which isn't that common here. Olive oil chocolate cake was good, but nothing special. The pistachio cake and ice cream was another must get and the layers are very pretty to the eye. The food here is beyond excellent, which despite the minor issues with their customer service, makes me give them 5 stars. I would definitely come, despite all that! read more

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Great food good service, very expensive. With those prices one would expect table cloths on the tables, warm bread, and specialty butter. This restaurant was lacking all those. Instead they had plastic place mats, cold bread, and a container of olive oil. and no herbs or spices to add to the olive oil. Disappointing. For those reasons I will give a 3 star. read more

Went there for dinner Sat Night. We had the blue prawns and crispy eggplant to start. Then everyone had pastas and a desert. I only ordered the prawns because of reviews I had read. I thought they were just 'OK'. However the eggplant and the pastas were fantastic. I thought that deserts were good as well. But the eggplant and the pastas were the standouts. Would go back for pasta in a heartbeat. read more

Great ambiance and attentive waiters. Skip the lasagna verde but get the black spaghetti as entree. The wagyu meatballs were the star of the show for me. And their cocktails were overall good. read more

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Amazing food / service & ambience. Everything that I've tried here has been on point with flavor and cooked perfectly. read more

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Wagyu meatballs are a must as an app. Got a perfectly cooked medium rare filet mignon as my entree. Always the best meals and service! read more

Il Nido - Filet mignon - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

The entire setting is romantic!The food is delicious. I had the chicken dish and it was packed with flavor, and it comes with veggies and small potato pieces. My spouse didn't like his pasta dish, but that's because he prefers the pasta on the softer side, not al dente. The olive cake dessert was good. I would prefer it to be more on the moist side, but with the gelato it made it slightly better. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive and very friendly. Our main waiter was Addonnay. He was awesome. He provided excellent service and his recommendation was great. My chicken dish was my favorite. Their meatball apps were really good. The reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5; I would like to see a slightly bigger pasta selection. I was at first disappointed since I wanted to try the spicy penne vodka and it's no longer on the menu. The pasta and chicken prices are slightly too high. The steak dishes are priced correctly, but the chicken breast dish was not worth $44. Still a great place for a special occasion and if you are going there for steak. read more

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Fantastic dinner! We live 20 minutes and decided to do il Nido for our 15th Anniversary. We started with some cocktails, my wife had the seasonal Snowflake Margarita and I went a dirty martini both made well. For apps we split the scallops and a Caesar salad. The scallops were excellent!!! Perfectly cooked, tender and full of flavor. The salad was fresh, crisp and the dressing was really good. . I also tried a 1/2 order of the quadratini pasta stuffed with potato with mushroom truffle sauce, SO good! For entrees my wife had the squid ink cavatelli which she enjoyed and I had the halibut which was perfectly cooked and well flavored. Finished with chocolate cake which was also very good. Will be working this into our rotation.. read more

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Great food and service. Great little date night place. Quite and relaxing environment

Hangry when I posted it. The lobster was rubbery and overcooked. So was the halibut unfortunately. It was extremely dry. The dessert was the best part. So not worth the drive. I'm sticking to Montclair. read more

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Great people Great Service Great Food My family and I had an Unforgettable time and can't wait to come back! read more

I took my mom here for an early dinner. We received excellent service from our waiter James. He was very attentive. My mom wanted a particular drink that wasn't on the menu and he went back to the bar to see if they could make it for her and they did! You can tell all the pasta is fresh and home made. Portions are small but filling! I would advise to stay away from ordering the mushroom fritto. Their menu selection is sophisticated, but this one I was not impressed with. I was kind of surprised the way they cooked their mushrooms. I think a lighter, sautéed version of the dish would've been much better. Despite the fact that we were extremely full we couldn't say no to their maple brûlée cheesecake, and it was outstanding!! read more

This is a gem on Route 9 in Marlboro. Scratch made pasta, authentic Italian made dishes. The pulpo and pasta (any) is delicious and a must-have. Desserts (panna cotta) is out of this world. Service and atmosphere is intimate and romantic. Upscale looking and nice touch are the lamps on the table. Cocktails and wines are reasonable and a must-have. (Especially the Gianni Appleseed!) can't wait to come here again and try more from their menu. But shhh... I don't want this place to get too crowded! read more

Il Nido - Desserts Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

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Service was great. (First star) Appetizers were good. (Second star) This place is overrated they charge you a lot for pasta that isn't good, I was with a group of 6 everyone got a different pasta but one of us who got the chicken and that was decent still overpriced for what you get but all the pastas were not good. read more

Went for my birthday. Our reservation was honored. Ambiance was quite nice. Waiter was very courteous. A very limited menu. Kitchen help needs improvement. Waited over an hour for our food. Waiter kept apologizing for the long wait. We all agreed that the food was mediocre. Prices were expensive. We will not be returning. read more

Easily the best Italian food in the area . My wife and I often go to NyC for food like this but with iL nido being so close we have no need to travel anywhere far to eat a good meal. Best part is the attire is smart casual so you do not need to wear a suit that won't fit as well after the first course! read more

For a special occasion this is the place to go. Every dish was my favorite. The atmosphere is warm, service friendly. This is definitely expensive , don't go on weeks when money is tight and do not expect big portions (they are small) You do need to order appetizers, pasta and a main to be full. Do expect fine food and a treat of a night out. read more

Hands down one of the best kept secrets in New Jersey. I was lucky enough to enjoy a seat at one of the chef tables and the level of care and attention to detail was second to none! Every bite was better then the last and I can't wait to come here again. read more

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Wonderful experience! This was our first time dining outdoors in a restaurant since the lockdown in March. I wanted to book a place to celebrate a birthday and after seeing Jennifer T's pics of this place week after week, I went ahead and booked it. The outdoor setup was beautiful and very relaxing. Each table was under its own tent in the parking lot and spaced quite far apart from other tables. The tables for 2 were on the sidewalk alongside the restaurant. This setup felt very private too. They offered to close one side of the curtain in our tent if the sun bothered us. This served a dual purpose- it created shade and also more privacy (and protection) from the next table, which was a very large party. There were no tables on the other side of the tent. The food was wonderful. To start, we ordered the wagyu meatballs....it was so tender. The sauce was very good too. We ended up ordering a second one. We also ordered the crab and lobster appetizer. It was a cold dish , served with a citrusy sauce that had some wasabi in it. It was delicious. For my main, I ordered the tagliatelle with bolognese sauce. Their pasta is homemade and you can taste the difference. 2 people ordered the bison steak, both medium. One came out medium but the other was overdone . We decided not to send it back. Service was great. All servers wore masks properly. When it started to get dark, the servers.brought out little lamps for each table. read more