I keep coming back to La Pergola, and every time I'm reminded why. Walking in feels less like going to a restaurant and more like showing up at someone's house for dinner. The owners know us, check in, make sure we're taken care of, and that kind of warmth is hard to find anymore. The chicken parm is the reason I bring people here for the first time. It comes out family style on a board, and it's genuinely one of the best versions of the dish I've had anywhere. The scallops were perfectly seared too, simple and done right. Good food is one thing, but it's the way this family runs their restaurant that keeps me coming back. If you haven't been, go. You'll understand what I mean. read more

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Very nice owner and service was good. They seem short staffed and it was noticeable but we had nowhere urgent to be so we didn't mind. We did see other tables a little irradiated with the slow service. Overall food wasn't bad. Place was busy for a Thursday night. We were seated outside where no sun or views because you're stuck between two buildings and next to train station so wouldn't call it a romantic or nice setting. My wife got the chicken parmigiana, it was massive and could have feed 4 people...def have had better chicken parm but this seemed to be a popular dish. We also got the sole, and a pasta dish. On a scale from 1 to 10 I'd give this place a solid 5. read more

We had a wonderful dining experience at La Pergola in Millburn. What really stood out was the exceptional service--everyone was welcoming, friendly, attentive, and incredibly prompt from the moment we arrived. The staff made us feel genuinely appreciated, and their hospitality elevated the entire evening. The food was very good overall. The salmon and cod were both outstanding--perfectly prepared and full of flavor. The duck was tasty but a bit overcooked for our preference. The cod portion was on the smaller side, while the salmon and duck portions were just right. Overall, we left happy with our experience and would definitely recommend La Pergola to anyone looking for great service and quality food in a warm, inviting atmosphere. We'll be back! read more

La Pergola is my go to restaurant in NJ! The food is consistently good and the staff is attentive and friendly. The chicken parm is a must have (insider tip: get the vodka sauce with it) and the gnocchi never disappoints. Be sure to leave room for dessert... they always have a wonderful selection. But what truly makes La Pergola a standout is that it is family run. Every night, you will be warmly greeted by a member of the family! read more

La Pergola - The gnocchi with vodka sauce and shrimp - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

One of the most wonderful dining experiences I've ever had. The atmosphere is great and the restaurant was packed, which gives you an idea right off the bat you're a good place. The service was perfect: attentive without being smothering, and the Maitre d' made sure we were treated well. And the food? Incredible! I started with the stuffed artichoke. It was cooked to perfection and didn't need any additional seasoning. My fiancee and the couple we were with had appetizer specials. We shared everything and cleaned our plates. I ordered the chicken parm, which is a dish I've had at dozens of restaurants over many decades. Theirs blew the others away by orders of magnitude. First of all, it comes on a large wooden board and was literally (as in literally) the size of my face...and that was without it being pounded into a thin cutlet. Legit seemed like it was half a chicken. After I ate as much as I could, there were enough leftovers for two-and-a-half lunches. Everything about it was perfect. Veal Milanese, soft-shell crabs, and lasagna bolognese rounded out the entrees, and also were served in generous portions. They were all delicious. Desserts all around, but I refused to share my chocolate mousse cake for dessert because it was too good not to eat the whole thing. Although the prices might seem high just by looking at the menu, they are waaay beyond reasonable once you see the portions you get. The next time you are thinking about having an amazing dining experience, make reservations here. read more

The food, service and ambiance were excellent. Yesterday was my first visit to this restaurant and I was delighted with the whole experience. My granddaughter and I sat outside in the cool Pergola. At the time it was quiet and lovely. The wait staff was extremely friendly and courteous, helping us make our lunch selections. I will definitely return. The inside restaurant is more formal and very attractive. We both had oysters and the fillet of sole w pasta and completed the meal w the limoncello cake and cappuccino. Fantastic! read more

Attended an event on the outdoor patio and was very pleasantly surprised at how quaint and charming it was. The service was exceptional, the food portions were heaping, and the experience was 10/10. Staff was super attentive, and the patio put back, though tricky to find, is nicely shaded by trees and blocked off from the busy main roads so you feel like you've escaped! I would love to come back and try more of the menu. read more

La Pergola - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Fantastic food, wonderful outdoor dining garden, exceptional service! The specials are to die for. The owner will give you the shirt off his back, well actually his suit jacket -- he did literally, I was cold. Amazing. read more

Had a fantastic dinner at La Pergola in Millburn! We started with the Caesar salad and the fried zucchini -- which wasn't on the menu. It was light, crispy, and addictive. For the main course, we had the chicken parm and spinach fettuccine. Chicken parm was truly out of this world. Perfectly cooked with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. Portions here are generous, so come hungry or be ready to take some home. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

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We like the atmosphere at La Pergola. This is our go to restaurant when seeing a show at the nearby Papermill Playhouse. Food is presented very nicely and tastes delicious. read more

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This restaurant is the perfect example of how small gestures can go a long way. My husband and I once booked a reservation on OpenTable without realizing it was just 15 minutes before closing. We offered to take the food to go, but the owner insisted we sit and dine comfortably. He constantly reassured us not to feel rushed and to enjoy ourselves. His kindness and hospitality were unexpected--and deeply appreciated. We've been back several times since, and it's because of that first experience. He made us feel not just welcomed, but highly valued. In today's world, that level of service stands out. Our go-to dishes are the Black Linguini and the Eggplant Lasagna, both consistently excellent. If you're looking for an elegant, family-friendly restaurant where customers are treated with genuine respect and warmth, this is the place. -------------------------------------------- Because dining is more than food - it's flavor, style and elegance that should be savored one bite at a time. - AMC read more

This upscale Italian restaurant is located in downtown Milburn, close to the transit center. They have a beautiful indoor dining room (elegantly decorated) as well as a nice outdoor space. We chose to eat outside because of the good weather. Service was friendly and helpful (especially answering questions about potential allergens). Complimentary bread came out warm with olive oil. I had the eggplant lasagna and my companion had the salmon entree. Both were very good. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a little bit of a crispy exterior. The greens were perfectly cooked. The eggplant lasagna had alternating layers of thin pasta sheets and eggplant slices. The bechamel sauce was not too heavy, and the top layer of cheese perfectly rounded out the dish. The tomato-based sauce was very flavorful (with basil and garlic). Pesto sauce also dotted the edge of the dish, was very tasty. The portions are generous. Neapolitan songs filled the area (went well with the whole vibe). Will be back! read more

La Pergola - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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We came here for our office Christmas party before the show at the Papermill Playhouse, which is right around the corner. Staff was extremely nice, when we got there it was early and it was empty. But the place filled up very quickly. The food was amazing. What a nice little elegant Italian restaurant I highly recommend. read more

La Pergola - Dry Sea Scallops with risotto - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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This restaurant is top notch! The food is out of this world especially the pork chop. The owner is so pleasant and accommodating. His wife even made my favorite butternut squash raviolis with their delicious sauce ( even though it wasn't on the menu!) See you soon!! read more

Good local red sauce Italian restaurant with many positive features: BYOB, across the street from Milburn parking garage, a garden in the back, large tables inside an out for large groups, family friendly and large portions that are suitable for sharing. The service is good as well. read more

La Pergola - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

The staff was amazing about accommodating allergies and preferences, the restaurant was full but not loud, and most importantly the food was delicious. I had the calamari, Caesar salad, and gnocchi in short rib sauce which were all amazing. Would highly recommend for family celebrations! read more

La Pergola - Gnocchi with Braised Beef Short Ribs Sauce - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

The room and decor are certainly pretty. The service was erratic. Exceptional at points, but absent at times. The main issue I had was with the food. I did a Caesar salad to start. It was absolutely fine. I went with the frutti de mare special as my main. While the seafood was properly cooked, it wasn't really abundant. One shrimp, 3 clams, 4 mussels and braised fish. My issue was with the sauce. Very heavy and too chunky for this dish, and cloyingly sweet. I still can shake the flavor the next day. Stuffed artichoke appetizer was met with meh reviews. Mushroom soup is quite tasty. I did try the cowboy ribeye special. There were 3 ordered at the table--all medium rare. 2 were medium one was medium well. I got to try a medium rendition, and it was quite tasty, and a large piece of meat. However, at $125 a pop, I found it absurdly priced. You can get a much better (and more affordable) rendition at many-a-steakhouse in the area. I also felt that the server could have and should have mentioned the price point, if for no other reason than that it was about triple the price of any other offering on the menu. The servers did a nice job of keeping our wine chilled and our water glasses full. They were prompt in taking our order, explaining specials, and addressing dietary concerns. The apps and mains were served at the appropriate pace. For some reason, after mains, there was at least a 15 minute break before anyone came to offer dessert. By that point, the group was pretty spent and just wanted to go home. Another brief delay to get the bill, followed by the sticker shock. Our meal for 11 people came out to well over $800. You'd have thought we went heavy on cocktails, but no, it's a BYOB. Even if you made it a meal for 8 and removed the ribeyes, you're still talking over $60/person for BYO Italian. With tip, we dropped about a grand for an 11 person dinner. For that money, I'd have expected one of the finer Italian meals in the area. Unfortunately, there are better Italian restaurants in town, let alone the greater area. You'll have a decent meal. Just don't expect for it to live up to its price point. Street parking available, and free parking after 6 in the garage across the street. read more

La Pergola - Frutti de mare - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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I've had some great meals here in the past. Last night, not so much. The place does have some nice ambience and service is always terrific. Also it's a BYOB. Last night we went with 2 other couples. We had a reservation and were seated right away. One bad thing was tables were placed so close to each other that we had almost no space between us and the tables next to us, making it somewhat uncomfortable. We shared appetizers, salads, fried zucchini and a stuffed fig. All good, none great. For mains my wife and her friend had the thinly pounded chicken parm and both said it was very good. My friend had the veal chop Milanese and said that was also very good. Me and one other ordered the Osso Buco special and this was a major disappointment. It seemed to be over cooked , making it tough, not the fall off the bone tender it should be. It was also extremely salty. Very over seasoned. Then it was served over a bed of risotto that was clearly undercooked. My wife's friend ordered the duck special and she was disappointed as well , saying it was definitely overcooked. Listen, these specials are 50 dollars plus and should certainly be prepared better. read more

La Pergola - Veal chop parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

food was excellent here. The portions were nice and the food is cooked to order. Everything is made for us on the premises when the weather is nice especially in the summer, There's a lovely outdoor garden to sit in but indoors is just as nice. read more

La Pergola was the best option for our pre-show dinner. They allowed for online reservations and provided outdoor dining which was extremely convenient. Our table shared the Caesar Salad and Burrata. The tomato chunks were ginormous. I had the Homemade Black Linguine (Wild caught shrimp, garden fresh herbs and signature frad-diavolo tomato Sauce) as my main dish and I was extremely disappointed. The sauce was very sweet and had no spice to it at all. The shrimps were not very fresh - the texture tells all. My partner had some Rib Gnocci dish that I tasted but didn't find memorable. I would not go back to this restaurant. TLDR: La Pergola was expensive for mediocre food. read more

Very nice experience dining at this beautiful restaurant. Service was fried, accommodating and attentive. Food was good although I do wish they had more creative appetizers options but overall dinner was delicious. My short rib gnocchi was fantastic and I'm not even a big pasta person! Alcohol - it's BYOB! Bring your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy Dessert - everything we ordered was delicious from chocolate cake to gelato but season peach sorbet stole the show. It was simply amazing! Try and catch it before it's gone along with the summer. Outdoor garden is a great setting for dinner on a warm night. It's tucked away behind a bank away from the street noise and cars so definitely try to get that outdoor table if you can. read more

La Pergola - Peach sorbet - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Cannot say enough good things about our experience with La Pergola. We hosted a lunch for my mom's birthday: from the planning to the execution, Eric was responsive, helpful, and organized. Not to mention the food was excellent- everything was delicious. Highly recommend for a private event. read more

Had party for grandson here. Food of very good and wait service was on point. Parking can be tricky on the street but a garage is located right across the street. Recommended. read more

This Italian restaurant is a perfect spot for just going to have a nice dinner with friends or go an a romantic date. It's BYOB too! So when coupled with the low lighting, it really sets the mood just right for a good old fashioned intimate wine and dine night. My favorite menu item BY FAR is the chicken parmigiana. It is easily one of the best chicken parms i've ever had. It's such a big portion size, the cheese is perfectly melted on, the sauce isn't overbearing and it's actually pretty sweet tasting. It comes with a side bowl of spaghetti and, of course, when you remember that you have complimentary bread, you leave super full. The service here was incredible too. The servers float around and help anyone that needs it, they cool your bottle if need be, they always top off your drink efficiently and make sure you're hydrated with water if you need it. read more

La Pergola - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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My husband and I sat outside for an early dinner. We were the only customers there at the time. There was a large number of workers eager to serve us. Three gentlemen told us the specials and three gentlemen asked to take our order on different occasions. We didn't really know who was our waiter. Started with the stuffed mushrooms. The filling tasted vegetarian and had a strong carrot taste. I would not order them again. (Gross texture IMO) I had the pork chop with sausage, peppers, and onions. It was huge!! Cooked to perfection! My husband had the mahi-mahi. It was in a tomato sauce with veggies like peas..he said the portion was on the smaller side but really enjoyed it! We didn't have dessert. Sat along the wall/shrubs. There was a little ledge that I wanted to put my purse on but there was all broken glass. The dirt was filled with garbage like champagne foil. Loved that it was byob! The waiters were on top of refilling our glasses. read more

Excellent service and ambiance. They lean into the "pergola" concept, particularly with their outdoor space. I normally don't like outdoor dining. It's partly PTSD from the lockdowns, but also living in NJ? Let's face it. It's usually either too cold or too hot, and there's bugs. No thanks. But I made an exception because the weather was perfect. We started off with the stuffed mushrooms, and the flavor was pretty good. I had the shrimp fra diavlo, and the sauce had no heat and was very bland. The black linguine was overcooked. We also got the scallops, and they were pretty good, but the portion was small. Overall, not worth the price. If you're going to be an Italian spot in Northern NJ, you are automatically in stiff competition and you can't get away with doing anything else than bringing your A game. When you're most inspired dish is chicken parm, which is more of an Italian-American red sauce feature but you bill yourself as a Northern Italian spot, something is off. read more

I attended a bridal shower here. Cute restsurant. Has both indoors and outdoor seating. The beet salad was delicious. I had the eggplant lasagna. Big portion, great flavor. For dessert, they had a limoncello cake. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I can't wait to try other items on the menu. read more

Ambience on patio is cute. Food is good but very expensive. Service is very slow as in you should budget 25 min to get the check Chicken Parm is very good. Linguini has like 3 shrimps They don't have a kids menu but can make butter pasta and chicken fingers Subtracting a star cuz hubs had GI issues after. read more

Great food, great atmosphere amazing service! Highly recommend this place. Can't wait to go back when the weather is warmer to dine outdoors. read more

Food is fair at best. Menu limited, bread fair. Nice outside seating area. Nice service but overall place is just fair. Don't plan on returning. read more

I went there for lunch and it was a fabulous place. The waiter welcomed me and gave me the best seat in the restaurant by the window. The ambiance was modern with high ceilings and great artwork. The food was delicious. I had the sole and it was seasoned and batter perfectly with white wine. My guess had seared tuna and it was outstanding. read more

La Pergola - Dining Room - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

We rode our Harley's all day and reached this place as they were closing, they kept the place open just to feed us and we were so grateful. Great experience and great food, thanks again for your kindness :) read more

4 stars for the food only! Service was just ok. The food was really excellent. After leaving La Pergola I couldn't remember another time I had gone to a restaurant for the first time thinking the food was good enough for us to return! The oysters were fresh and meaty. The portions were nicely sized. Order their chicken parm. It's amazing! Overall a good quality Italian restaurant! read more

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Love the outdoor patio area. Beautifully done but the food is ok. Nice large chunks of Crab Cocktail could have a better cocktail sauce and an added mustard sauce. read more

My wife and I had an early dinner here before going on to a show at the Paper Mill Playhouse. All of us enjoyed our dinners. Service was professional. Initially we were seated in the outdoor courtyard but a sudden squall forced us and many other diners inside. Management handled the disruption masterfully. We were seated indoors promptly and all our orders were delivered to the table perfectly. All in all, an excellent dining experience read more

Overpriced and snobby place (this is typical for Millburn). Food was okay but an average of $4 higher than the price listed online on their website. Perhaps a covid fee? They did have heat lamps which was nice and the outdoor space was aesthetically pleasing. Staff was also friendly. We had -gnocchi and we chose a different sauce than what was on the menu -lasagna bolognese - really yummy -la pergola salad -buratta appetizer Overall a good place but I probably won't be returning soon read more

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Best Lasagna I ever had. 9.5 Service was excellent. Great place. Great location, beautiful little town of Millburn read more

Food excellent service even better owner and wife are great people BYOB makes it even better

Great food,great service and amazing outdoor setting,feels like an enchanted garden, with a classic music in the background that enable you to have a nice conversation . Always a pleasure! read more

I've been to La Pergola multiple times and it is a great date destination. The dining room is beautiful and the service is excellent. I usually order their seafood dishes (e.g., linguini with clams or seafood fra diavolo) but opted to try the meat dishes for a change of pace. Sadly they did not meet my usual high expectations for this reliable Italian standby. I hate to leave a somewhat-negative review during these difficult times, but the food was (in one word) bland. We tried the duck special ($48) and it was not worth the price. The protein, while cooked beautifully, lacked flavor. There was only the slightest hint of orange, even though the plate was beautifully garnished with fruit slices. The saffron risotto, while delicious, couldn't make up for the high sticker price. The veal milanese ($36) lacked a distinct flavor profile as well. The meat was pounded thin and cooked well, but even with the topping fell short on flavor. The mozzarella, tomato and salad combo was refreshing but (dare I say it) boring. Still, I want to come back to La Pergola for another meal. Next time I will stick with their seafood and pasta mainstays. read more

La Pergola - Duck a la orange - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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