La Pergola is a beautiful Northern Italian restaurant located in Millburn. It's owned by a couple where the wife is the chef, and the husband is the host making sure all his guests leave happy. I was very excited to dine here as they have some really unique pasta dishes I wanted to try, and all the pastas here are house made. The owner said we can order half orders of the pasta dishes as appetizers, and we were sure glad he did! That gave us a chance to try the amazing pasta here plus get to try two entrees from the menu. We ordered two half orders of pasta to start the beet gnocchi and butternut squash ravioli. The beet gnocchi was topped with honey toasted walnuts in a creamy parmesan champagne sauce. It was exceptional! The butternut squash ravioli came in a brown butter sage and sweet date sauce. It was outstanding! The pasta dishes here just blew us away! For entree I requested veal parmesan with a side of linguini. It wasn't on the menu, but he was so accommodating and said ok. We also ordered the red snapper in a puttanesca sauce over linguini. The veal parmesan was cooked to perfection, and I was so happy I was able to order it with linguini instead of potatoes and vegetables. It gave me another chance to enjoy the fresh made pasta here! The red sauce it came with was made Northern style so it isn't as flavorful as I like my marinara sauce to be. It was a little more bland, but the veal itself was very good. The red snapper dish we both loved the puttanesca sauce, but we thought the red snapper itself had a bit of a fishy taste. The restaurant was very busy at this time, and now a waiter came over with the dessert menu. The dessert menu was limited which I was kind of disappointed with because their online menu there was a raspberry tart and a fig tart listed. Both of which I was hoping to order, but were not on the menu we received. I asked the waiter if there was any other dessert specials and he said no. We ended up ordering a mousse cake and a limoncello cake. The mousse cake wasn't that great. The limoncello cake was pretty good. We were both happy we dined at La Pergola. The house made pastas here are the star dishes. They were fantastic! The owner was warm and accommodating to us which is how every business should be run. I recommend dining at La Pergola in Millburn, and don't leave without ordering one of their house made pasta dishes! read more

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All what we had was perfectly done, salmon and lamb, excellent taste, gelatos was good. Both great service and food. Staff are very professional and the owner Mr. Al is very accommodating. Keep up the good work. read more

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We dined here for the first time last week with friends, it was cold and windy, this was by far THE BEST COVID OUTDOOR SEATING I've ever been to during the pandemic!!!! You are under a large tent and it felt warmer than sitting indoors. I had to remove my coat. Even great if it rains. A+ A+ on the outdoor seating. The mozzarella salad was delicious, linguine with filet mignon tips mouthwatering, after this pregnancy can't wait to try the oysters! Also loved the chicken tenders that my son ordered, the best I've had haha, they were basically chicken cutlets with fries. The bread was stale however, and the gnocchi was too starchy, not chewy enough. Coming back again next week!! Please keep up the awesome outdoor seating throughout the winter!!! read more

A native of Siena, Driola Kaloshi brings an authentic taste of Tuscany to Millburn Township. Her preparation quality, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail in designing the cuisine and menu brings me back to the summer I spent in Pisa many years ago. She is joined by her husband and partner Agron, whose maitre d' skill exceeds what I have witnessed in several NYC restaurants with two or more stars to their name. Pesce, carne, pasta, torta di limoncello, gelato ... you cannot go wrong with any selection. If you want a bona fide Italian dining experience without the nine hour flight, search no more and make your reservation at Le Pergola now; your expectations will be exceeded. read more

This is our go to spot for special occasions. The owners and staff and warm hearted wonderful people who always treat us like family. The food is delicious and we will continue to come back! Eggplant lasagna is a stand out! read more

I had the fettuccine which was delicious and which I recommend! The staff were kind, patient & helpful. Would definitely come back!

La Pergola is my favorite Italian restaurant, hands down. They're incredibly attentive and inventive with their menu options. The shrimp linguine is my go to. The pasta is freshly made and it just melts in your mouth, as if you picked the fish fresh from the sea yourself. Everything I've ever gotten from La Pergola I loved. I will never stop coming here. read more

Had a wonderful lunch with my publisher at La Pergola yesterday, 3 hours! What a fantastic way to spend a Friday afternoon; good conversation, great food and a nice bottle of chianti. The food, as usual, didn't disappoint. Started with a bright heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad, linguini w/clams than a second of a perfectly cooked branzino (Mike and I split it). We finished with a cooling tartufo and a coffee. Of course, the food is always the star of the show but what made this more memorable was the personal attention we received from Chef Driola Kaloshi (chef/owner). Not only did she spend a fair amount of time with us to explain the specials, she gave us a personal tour of the kitchen! We got to see how the magic happens, as folks in the back of the house were busily making sauces and pasta, and getting ready for the dinner service. It was so cool to see all the stations, the mise en place, the walk-in and the burners (there's quite a bit, totally envious). We even got to pick our own branzino!! When I asked where Chef Agron Kaloshi (co-owner and husband) was, she told us he was at the market checking out what was fresh and that could be served during the dinner service. ABFAB! This is what it takes to run a top notch kitchen! Love this place. read more

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We were visting from NYC and decided to go to dinner in NJ. One of the best restaurants I have ever been too in my life..... Last night we went 8/9/16. Food was amazing. We went at 530pm Two waiters were great, I had the filet and my fiancé had Salmon was to the best ever....... Fried Calamari was the freshest ever. We will return for sure....... read more

La Pergola - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Superior service as well as quality dishes. The ambiance is extremely elegant and they also offer an upscale outside dining experience. They offer variety of delicious homemade desserts. read more

My wife and I have been to La Pergola twice - Valentine's Day 2020 and last week and have been knocked out by the food and service both times. I've had the lasagna and chicken parmigiana and both dishes were absolutely delicious. We discovered the beautiful outdoor garden behind the restaurant last week and plan to dine outside from now on (weather permitting). Highly recommended! read more

The food here was great but the service was absolutely terrible. I had a dinner reservation for two people at 6:45pm. I walked in and was not greeted or sat by a host. The other person in my party had not been helped or offered anything to drink. I had to flag down a waiter and ask for drink options that are not byob. After doing and placing the food order - the staff disappeared again. I did not see them until the food was coming out. After dinner we sat for another half hour with empty cups waiting to be offered the dessert menu. When it was not offered we requested it and then after ordering we were informed that they did not have some of the options. No biggie- but something that could have been mentioned proactively. After running our card- the staff disappeared yet again and we saw ourselves out. Without as much as a goodbye from the staff. All in all - as guests we felt ignored and underserved. read more

We made reservations for outdoor seating over a week in advance and I also called to confirm the day of, since this was a special occassion. Once we reached there, the hostess said, there is a wait, without even bothering to ask what my name was, or what time my reservation was for. Looks like they were taking walk ins, and a reservation is a way to get you there and get you to agree to sit indoors. They tried to get us to sit in an area which felt like literally sitting in the parking lot (very different from the garden area pictured). When we said we were looking for a table in the garden section, the waiter muttered, that can take 2-3 hours. We left, and were extremely disappointed with the rude behavior of the staff and how unprofessional they are with reservations. Avoid under all circumstances. It can ruin a special evening. read more

Best Italian resto in Millburn. Thank you Diola and Al for always making us feel at home. Thank you Kailyn( or Caitlyn) and Roberto for all your help and assistance. This is our go-to place in Millburn. Love the outdoor setting! read more

La Pergola was one of the better meals we have had in a while! We made a reservation on a late Saturday night, although the place was filled we sat within 10 minutes. The staff could not have been any better! I got the pork chops with sausage peppers and onions, which was to die for. My girlfriend ended up getting the crusted chicken. Although we said no to dessert they ended up giving us a slice of cake on the house just because! What a wonderful place and we will 100% be back again! read more

La Pergola - Pork chops with sausage onions and peppers so good! - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Good place and pretty good ambience. but i felt its little pricey. We went on valentines day so obviously it was fixed menu but as per the taste and total no of options available i felt it was little over charged. We also did not know that no drinks will be there and you need to get our own wine. read more

Terrible service. Asked waiter to put outdoor heater on. He complied. Maitre de came and shut it down. Took over 39 min for them to turn it back on as we sat there shivering. Food was terrible- Parmesan crusted chicken breast with salad. Tough chicken, greasy, inedible. Sent food back. Maitre de came over and said he "tasted my chicken" and there was nothing wrong with it ". Really you are tasting my chicken during COVID. You lying moron. NEVER AGAIN. ALSO TOOK 30 minutes to get our check. I guess that was our punishment read more

Service was beyond terrible and management couldn't care. Waited more than 75 minutes for the main course. Two of the 4 dishes were cold. Will not return because of the attitude of the manager read more

Nice atmosphere and good wait staff. I can only speak for my meal. The pear salad was just ok. The chicken parm was rubbery and tough. I also think serving it on a wooden cutting board is rather bizarre and probably not hygienic. The board was so large it took up too much space on the table and everyone else at my table had plates. I think they are trying to be unique with the board but it just does not work. read more

I've lived in the area for a while, never tried the place until Valentines Day this year. Wish I hadn't. Service was abominable. My wife and I waited 20 minutes for a menu, another half hour for someone to take our order. Servers were burnt out and borderline rude. We were locked into an $85 3-course prefix with uninspired offerings. Food was middling, but that opinion is probably somewhat tainted by the overall poor service. Bumping up to 2 stars because the desserts were pretty good. We don't go out much (work in the city, kids at home), and it's sad that our Valentines Day date night was spoiled by this restaurant's failure to accommodate -- though they notably did not fail to charge us $85 a piece for a basic salad, piece of fish and a dessert. read more

Had a lovely dinner with friends at La Pergola. The place was a lot livelier than usual - and although it adds to the level of noise - it added a perfect energy which we haven't really experienced before. Overall the food was delicious with nice portions yet I was surprised with finding rosemary a bit prevalent which is not my taste and would prefer that this is mentioned in the menu descriptions. The service started quite nicely but then got a bit spotty. Our app dishes were not removed before entrees served so I think the timing can be better adjusted. Overall - we'd return and glad it's doing well. read more

The food here was very good. The night we first tried La Pergola my wife and I took take out. We had a special appetizer seafood salad that was one of the best I have ever had. The seafood was cooked perfectly and very tender. (I did add a little fresh lemon and salt) but all the ingredients were very fresh. We then tried the fussilli with broccoli rabe and sausage. The pasta was homemade, the broccoli rabe was cooked perfect and there was the person amount of garlic. We also tried the chicken Saltimbocca which was very good. I recommend this restaurant. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in NJ. My favorites are the spinach pasta with cream sauce, any of the soups (asparagus, mushroom or the extra delicious butternut squash), and the limoncello cake. Incredible!! Don't go here and not get pasta, you'll be missing out. Also the owners are super cute, the wife is the chef and the husband is the host. read more

Had dinner last night and could not have been happier. Although it was a drizzly evening, the covered patio with heat lamp was very comfortable. The food was outstanding. They accommodated all of our dietary requests and made the evening festive and pleasant. I highly recommend La Pergola for any special occasion. read more

I celebrated a friend's birthday here for lunch. Cute place. We sat outside, which was just a bit too cold to do so. Service was good as they brought us heating stations to warm us up. The food was above average, however, I was not happy with the lack of selection. There were no hot apps, only salads or raw bar items. Being that we LOVE to share different apps, I would say that was the only real downside. read more

I travel from New York City to dine here with a group of my friends . The garden is absolutely beautiful so comfortable and private ,tucked way from the street The waiters are so polite and helpful The food is amazing ...from the homemade pasta * try the lasagna and the black linguini The desserts worth the calorie Can't wait to go back .. read more

My wife and I decided to travel out of our usual comfort zone to La Pergola, about a 30 minute drive. The restaurant does not have a lot but we were lucky to get a spot on the street, right next to the restaurant. When we walked in there were few guests inside but that changed until it was quite full by about 7:30 pm on a Saturday. The restaurant is a little tight but with a nice ambiance.We split the Buffalo mozzarella cheese appetizer which was very good. My wife ordered the chicken rollatini which she said was missing something initially. The generous addition of grated cheese from the waited improved its overall taste very well. I had the lasagne bolognese which was excellent from the start but also enhanced by the ample addition of grated cheese. Service was efficient and we were served quickly. We will be back, I just wish it was a little closer to home in which case we would be regular customers. read more

This has to be the worst restaurant I ever had the displeasure of going too. I waited 3 days to write this so I could have a clear head before I wrote it. Ok so we arrived at 7.45 for our reservation and were seated on time. This is where the good news ends. We ordered our Apps by 8pm and it was an hour and ten minutes before they arrived. I asked to speak to what I assume was the manager and he said they are doing their best, no apology no explanation as to why we had to wait 70 minutes for our Apps, 3 salads, mussels and zucchini sticks. The Apps were average at best. So at this stage the night was already ruined but we wanted to wait for our main course, which by the way still wasn't out after an hour and fifty minutes later. We had enough at this stage and a member of the group went to speak to the so called manager and got the same abrupt reply "we are doing our best". We offered to pay for what we had and he said if your leaving it's free... We were all dumbfounded on the journey home at the lack of communication from the staff at this place. There are better options in Millburn like CaraMia down the street, ask for Rob he's the best in the business. So my fellow yelpers don't not waste your time on this place, it's terrible. read more

Nestled in the idyllic town of Milburn, New Jersey you will find the BYOB northern Italian restaurant called La Pergola. The building is reminiscent to a restaurant located in Tuscany with a beige and tan exterior accented with rich mahogany browns. Three large round floor to ceiling windows adorned with beautiful draped curtains face the main street and gives you a glimpse inside the perfectly appointed restaurant. When you enter through the wooden double doors and step through the foyer you immediately enter the main dining room. The room is warmly lit and spacious - not so big that you feel lost but not so small that the tables are on top of one another. With ornate sconces on the walls and a beautiful chandelier the ambiance is very welcoming. Each table is covered with crisp white table cloths and a single flower. Simple but sophisticated. To be honest, I am nervous about this restaurant as some of the previous patrons left not so good reviews. Some of the complaints were around wait time to be seated, service and long waits for courses to be served. Fingers crossed. Arriving on time for my 7:30 PM reservation there was no wait as I was immediately shown to my table. Not too long after I sat down one of the many waiters who serviced my table came by, handed me the menu, expertly opened my bottle of wine and asked for my water preference - sparkling or tap. I chose tap. With my wine bottle open and water selection made the waiter left me to review the menu. Moments later a new waiter arrived and poured water into my glass. I briefly perused the menu but looked up to take in the restaurant's scene. It was "full" but not packed and there was a continual stream of people coming in to be seated. After looking around at the patrons I quickly notice that I am over-dressed. Most patrons are wearing jeans and tops - somewhere between business-casual and casual. I on the other hand was city chic - wearing a black dress and heels. Note to self. I turn my attention back to the menu which is laid out in a typical fashion for an Italian restaurant (antipasto, homemade pasta and entrée). The antipasto section is filled with a varying selection of salads ranging from Caesar to the house salad, seafood consisting of sautéed mussels, steamed little neck clams and lump crab meat, a classic buffalo mozzarella with basil, balsamic vinegar and tomatoes, varying prepared vegetables consisting of stuffed portabella mushrooms, stuffed artichoke and eggplant rollatini and ending with mushroom soup. For my antipasto course I am torn between the lump crab meat and stuffed portabella mushrooms but in the end I settle on the stuffed portabella mushrooms. Although the pasta section looked delicious, I decide to pass (this time) but there is more than plenty to choose from. Two selections of gnocchi - beet and another with broccoli rabe and hot and sweet sausages), spinach fettuccine, butternut squash ravioli, saffron tagliatelle, black linguine with shrimp, whole wheat fusilli, gluten free spaghetti, penne and the staple on many Italian menus Linguine con le Vongole (also known as linguine with clams). I move onto the entrée section of the menu and I am pleasantly surprised. There's a nice varying selection of meat (chicken, pork and veal) and seafood. As I scan the menu I know that I want something authentic Italian but not too heavy. I scan past the frutti di mare which looked good but I did not want to wrestle with a plate of shelled seafood in a red sauce. There is the typical grilled wild salmon but this one is served with organic spinach, lentils in garlic and olive oil. I eat a lot of salmon at home so I'm not going to order it at a restaurant - so I pass. Next up is pan seared wild tuna with roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, arugula with a champagne lemon dressing. Sounds nice but I'm not in the mood for tuna. I quickly breeze past the parmigiana-reggiano crusted chicken, pork chop giambotta and veal Milanese. All look delicious but I settled on the red snapper livorese with capers in a red sauce. In perfect timing a new waiter arrives at my table and asks for my order. As I rattle off my selections he feverishly writes in his little notepad and smiles. With order in hand he quickly departs. Everything I ordered was delicious and a nice portion size. Albeit weary from the other reviews of the restaurant I was left pleasantly surprised. The service was good, outside of the Indy 500 pit crew clearing of plates and there weren't long waits for courses to be served. It's a beautiful restaurant with very good food. I will be back and I will bring my friends because it was all in all a wonderful evening and I had an excellent experience. I give this restaurant 2 thumbs up! read more

Another wonderful dining experience! Opted to sit indoors, tables are spread far apart we felt very comfortable. Service was awesome and food was outstanding. Give the specials a try! The scallops with risotto was amazing. The gnocchi was tasty as well. I don't think you will be disappointed with anything you choose. There is a also a pretty outdoor garden available with lots of heaters going. read more

I brought friends from NYC to dinner at La Pergola as they have a wonderful outdoor space. It was cold and I asked the owner for a heat lamp, the restaurant was quiet with only 4 tables dining. There were many unused heat lamps so I didn't think it should be a problem. The OWNER store angrily yelled at me that I cannot have a headlamp because every time he gives a table one it cost him $56 and the customers don't pay him for the heat lamp or give a good tip so I couldn't have one. He then told me he was busy right now, gave me the hand and told me to go away. I was shocked! He never came back to the table to apologize and as we walked out ( a final chance to do the right thing) he just stood there. I will never ever eat there again, the owner is a loose cannon, and does not respect his customer. B read more

We had a wonderful evening at La Pergola celebrating the first day of school. The terrace is really lovely. At first we were worried that the menu could not accommodate our family's many allergies but the staff went above and beyond to make sure we all had something we loved - including GF pasta for me which was not mentioned on the menu. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The gnocchi in particular was amazing and my son said the lasagna bolognese was one of the best things he's ever eaten at a restaurant! read more

Food was fine. Service was lacking. Never had the same waiter, no one ever asked how we were doing or if we needed anything. If we wanted to order food we had to flag down a high school aged bus boy to fine someone or take our order. We won't be going back. read more

A perfect setting for a beautiful birthday celebration for my wife. The food was terrific, the service the same. We had 15 people there and they made it so easy to have just a beautiful night, thank you very much! read more

Hi this restaurant is SUBLIME in the true meaning of that word! Being Italian (part northern part napolitan) I would never order lasagna out. My grandmother always made it and so did my aunt both from Italy. But when you dine at this eatery not only order it but take 2 orders home you will not be disappointed and the only way you'll be disappointed if you don't take two of those orders home for the next day or two unbelievable. Gerald Benedetto read more

Hands down the best restaurant in Millburn, and still one of my favorite Italian restaurants EVER. I've lived in Manhattan for the last ten years, which as we all know has its fair share of quality Italian restaurants, and yet La Pergola is still one of my all-time favorites. Always love going back. The homemade pastas are absolutely superb. My family has gotten to know owners, Agron & Driola, over the years and have pretty much become an extension of our family. The kindest people you'll ever meet. If you haven't yet ordered from La Pergola, try that as well. Same restaurant quality but at home - can't beat that! We've ordered several times - the chicken parm & Limoncello cake were incredible. read more

Easter luncheon could not have been better!! We were warmly welcomed and seated at the center of the dining room which is never my preference, but our waiter and staff were so wonderful and accommodating and anticipated our every need. The food was excellent and we never felt rushed even thought it was a holiday. We will definitely be back!!! read more

There were plenty of seats available on a Friday evening at 7pm. The restaurant was elegant and dimly lit, giving the impression of an old-fashioned European hotel. After we sat down, the maître d' asked us if we had any time constraints. A waiter brought us olives, cheese, excellent focaccia, and an exquisitely grassy olive oil. There were plenty of vegetarian options. We ordered butternut squash ravioli and pappardelle with wild mushrooms. The food was glorious! The ravioli, which came in a sweet butter sauce reminiscent of good baklava, were sweet and soft and incredibly filling. So we saved these for dessert and focused on the pappardelle, which had a big, bright umami taste thanks to the mushrooms, parmesan, and tomatoes, and the pasta itself was soft and hearty. The bill came promptly, and they packed me some extra focaccia with our leftovers. read more

Two things in this update: 1. Typo in my earlier review, it's Agron, not Agnon. 2. I need a Yelp admin to tell me how to give 6 stars. Having now been here many more times since my earlier review, I look at the bad reviews on La Pergola and wish I could meet these people in person so I could slap some sense into them. You need to get to La Pergola! read more

Not what I was expecting. Thought it was going to be more of the same Essex County generic upscale Italian. Nothing of the sort. Beautifully decorated in neutral colors, the tables are far enough away from each other to allow for quiet conversation. Wait staff is professional and low key Owners are a very accommodating couple from Italy. They circulated the room, making sure everyone was happy. Food was excellent: pastas are all homemade, fish specials were well prepared (not overly dry as is often the case) Definitely be back here again, this is a great find, particularly for Millburn, where the reaction tends to be "not another Italian restaurant!" This one is worth it. read more