A+ what an amazing find I had such an excellent dinner this past Saturday , the service was top notch the food is timed perfect and the atmosphere is great . It is definitely a awesome place for a romantic dinner. read more

Was super excited to try a restaurant in Montclair. A friend and I decided to try Laboratorio. They were great with the fact that we were running behind schedule and had no problem adjusting our seating. The service was great. The server dumped a load of information on us from their tasting tapas menu to recommendations on their main menu. My friend and I decided to split a salad and get our own entrees. We were told they are known for their steaks. So that is what I ordered. I love steaks and order them often. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. Here is why... I ordered my steak medium rare. I believe you ruin the steak if you over cook it. My steak seemed more medium in the middle and well done on the ends. It was a thick piece so I understand it's harder to cook it the right. In saying that, $30 for the entrée, I expected better. I also felt besides it not being cooked as requested, it was just not a good quality piece of meat. I ate about a quarter of the steak (the middle) and took the rest home for my dog to not wastes my $30 plate. The carrots and mashed potatoes were good, nothing special. The sauce was needed with how flavorless the steak was. My friend ordered the trout. I did get a bite and it was well cooked and very tasty even with her holding the butter and prosciutto. I recommend the trout. For the appetizer we ordered the warm Mutz and tomato salad. They were kind enough to split the dish for us on separate plates. The pesto was the best part of the plate. The tomatoes were a couple of cherry tomatoes with two slices of warm mutz on the side. Nothing to write home about. I do feel the need to mention the bread they served. It was my favorite part. Especially dipping it into the pesto sauce. This restaurant is BYOB which we liked as well. read more

My daughter wanted to bring her friends here to celebrate her birthday. We are outside in the back. The set was very nice and once again the food was delicious. I normally don't order pasta, but tried their special. It was homemade and the cream sauce was very light. Everyone loved their food and once again the service was great. read more

My sister and my best friend chose Labratorio Kitchen for my baby shower and it was held there yesterday. It couldn't have been more perfect. Aside from all of the beautiful baby shower elements that my "party planners" added to make the day special - the food, ambiance and service were all fantastic. I had the goat cheese salad to start, followed by shared appetizers of fig and gorgonzola crostini, chorizo and a great shrimp dish. For my main, I had the filet mignon. All were absolutely delicious! Being pregnant, I couldn't have my steak cooked as I normally prefer (medium rare), but it was perfectly cooked at medium and I enjoyed every bite! To add to executing great food and a beautiful atmosphere, my sister and BF told me that the experience of working with the chef/owner James was such a pleasure from beginning to end and that he couldn't have been more accommodating. I honestly can't speak highly enough about the restaurant and the experience. My husband and I recently moved to Montclair and we will definitely be adding Labratorio Kitchen to the top of our list of favorite restaurants in the area. If you haven't been here, I would recommend checking it out for dinner or an event!! read more

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Amazing experience. I took my wife here this past Saturday for a pre-Valentine's Day dinner and I was very impressed with everything. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made a few good recommendations. The veal and beef meatball is a must try as an appetizer and the Strip Steak is by far one of the best I've had in a very long time. My wife had the scallops and has been talking about how good they were all week. Place is BYOB which is another plus so I had one of my favorite wines to pair with an amazing meal. A place like this right here locally in Montclair is a godsend I can't believe I'm just now finding out about it! I don't write yelp reviews too often but I had to for this place, if you're in the area it is a must try. We will most definitely be back to visit soon, keep up the good work!! read more

I took my husband here to celebrate his birthday. It was awsome. We had tha shrimp arrabiata as an appetizer, there was a salad with radishes on the special menu we had it and it was great. I had the potato leek soup and my huband had the homemade linguini. He was very pleased with his meal. We also had the pear tart and pecan pie. We were extremely happy with the atmosphere and our server alex. We will definitely be dining here again. read more

I cannot say enough about my experience. The food was amazing. Every dish exceeded our expectations. Absolutely delicious. The owner and staff were so accommodating and attentive. I told them I have celiac. They made all our dishes gluten free. I highly recommend LK. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Hands down my new favorite place! read more

Tonight my husband and I went to Laboratorio Kitchen for the first time. Very pretty restaurant. We were warmly greeted by Alex who escorted us to our table and was also our server. He was super nice and very attentive the whole evening. The presentation of the food was colorful and thoughtful. The portion size was large, we took a lot home with us. Most importantly, it was absolutely delicious. The chef is extremely talented. The flavors were balanced, and creative. Overall it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We will definitely be back, there's so much more we want to try. read more

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Had a lovely time here on a couple's date night. Everything was delicious although the entrees were a little on the salty side, they gave nice generous portions. My only complaint is the somewhat rigid hours of the restaurant. We were there on a Saturday night around 8:30 p.m. and I'd say our main course came around 9:30. Well apparently the restaurant officially closes at 10:00 p.m. So by 10:30 the lights were up, music was off, and we were told (politely) that they were closed. In retrospect this explained why our waiter only offered dessert after we specifically asked for it. If this is the case, maybe they shouldn't seat larger parties after 8:00? read more

Phenomenal. Food is so tasty. We had the ravioli appetizer, mushrooms risotto and scallops. All were worthy of 5*. Can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Will definitely return! read more

What a great evening! We dined with my in-laws while visiting the area. Every dish was terrific! The Veal and Beef Meatball starter ($13) was the size of a small meat loaf - big enough for two. But, it was still cooked all the way through. The Fig and Gorgonzola Crostini ($11) could easily also have been shared. The cheese was just the right balance of mildness and "bite" from the veining. The pastas were indeed fresh - each of us had a different variety - and the gravies were very well prepared - "homestyle," if pressed to describe it. I would like to see them add either an Alfredo or a white wine sauce. Be aware, it is BYOB, so arrive a few minutes before and make a stop. We went to Amanti Vino, a short walk away. The waitstaff was terrific, and they acknowledged my F-I-L's birthday with a nice complimentary dessert. After dinner, we strolled around Downtown Montclair on a nice late summer evening. One of the nicer evening we've enjoyed this summer, thanks in large part to Laboratorio Kitchen! read more

My husband and I went here last night for our anniversary dinner with our 2yr old. The food was amazing and service impeccable. Alex was great. It's BYOB which we didn't know but they have a relationship with the wine store next door and they give you a wine list you can pick what you want and they will deliver the wine to you within 2 minutes. You also get a 10% discount on the wine because of their relationship. The food was amazing from the bread to the shrimp creole and the organic chicken and mash small plates. I had the steak my husband had the rack of lamb and we both enjoyed our dishes. I tried the chocolate lava cake for dessert and I didn't care for it but they immediately took it back and replaced it with the pear tart that was amazing. We will definitely be back. Great find close to home! read more

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This was an amazing experience. We came here for my friends birthday and had such Ana awesome time. It's BYOB which is awesome. The servers are attentive and Alex was a great and attentive server!! Everything about this place is amazing! We ordered the shrimp ararabiatta and salad which were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the shrimp and Risotto! Highly recommend :) read more

I never write reviews on Yelp, but I made an exception this time. I recently moved from NYC to the area and I've been looking for new places to try. After doing some research, my fiance and I decided to celebrate our 3 year anniversary there last night. The ambiance, service, and food all exceeded our expectation. They offer 3 tapas dishes for $20 from Tuesday to Thursday - we took advantage of this deal and got the organic chicken, warm brie/prosciutto crostini, and the shrimp to share. They were phenomenal (actually better than my favorite tapas places in NYC)! We each got a pasta dish and the portions were so big (also very delicious) we had to pack half of it to go. They also surprised us with a tres leche cake to celebrate our anniversary - so sweet!! Thank you for making our anniversary so memorable! We can't wait to return again and plan to take our family/friends there next time! read more

Excellent service, food was extraordinary. Very reasonably priced especially with that BYOB component. We will be back!!

Service was great! Loved the food, very flavorful. The staff was so kind, I got there later than my reservation which was the last reservation of the night and they still served us to their best! Very good experience here. Food, staff, atmosphere, all of it was perfect! read more

Amazing place and super friendly staff! Food is delicious. Had the tres leches cake for desert... simply delicious!!

5-stars don't come easily but when a restaurant has food this good AND does the right thing when they make an honest mistake (read the last paragraph), I'll happily and highly recommend them. Laboratorio is a very cool space smartly decorated with intimate lighting and, as mentioned in another post, beautiful glassware. Our party of four was seated immediately upon our arrival and our wine was opened as soon as we settled into the comfortable seating. Fresh french bread and butter (both cold, though) were quickly delivered to our table. All 4 menu appetizers sounded delicious...so we ordered them all, and were glad we did. Both the chorizo al diablo and PEI mussels were major hits with lots of tasty sauce and broth for dipping. The cilantro oil gave a beautiful addition to the crabcake which was packed with fresh crab and large enough to share. The fig and gorgonzola crostini was good, but not exceptional. The ingredients were fresh and the flavors were there but the fig was (overly?) chilled and the toasted crostini wasn't warm. My wife unquestionably won the entree round with the Local Mushroom Risotto. Perfectly cooked and the crab, chorizo and crispy spinach were an amazing combination. I also highly recommend the scallops which were expertly cooked, seasoned to perfection and accompanied by a delicious chick pea and kale ragu. Our friend was very happy with the Lamb Chops (3 to a plate). There was one blemish on what was otherwise a fantastic dinner experience. One of our friends ordered the Dry Rubbed Filet Mignon (medium) but when our orders arrived was mistakenly given lamb chops. The head waiter, Max, immediately recognized the error, offered an apology and hustled to the kitchen to get the filet started. The filet arrived shortly thereafter though in their rush to get the order out, hadn't cooked it to medium as it was dark red through the middle. We kindly requested they take it back to cook it to the proper temperature. The rest of our party had finished our meals when Chef James personally delivered the plate, sincerely apologized AND GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO TAKE THE DISH AND OUR COFFEE & ESPRESSOS OFF OUR BILL. It was a classy, much appreciated move. We all know mistakes can happen, it's how you go about rectifying them that distinguishes your character. Thank you, James, you're a good dude. Best of luck and thanks for dinner! read more

Came here for a family dinner and it was outstanding. Meal, service, and overall atmosphere were all nothing short of perfection. Ordered the scallops in some sort of puree, and I must say I don't think I've had any fresher seafood in Jersey to this day. They were full of flavor and cooked wonderfully. Had a bite or two of one of the pasta dishes which also proved to be amazing. To top it all off, the pricing was surprisingly reasonable! read more

Excellent food matched by superb Service. For those of you that eat Halal, Goffle road chicken and Australian lamb is a great addition to a stellar menu filled with plenty of seafood options. The ravioli was my favorite. read more

This is long...but you need to know that I never do reviews. I think that everyone's experience is different but I had to share this. We had a family dinner here and the only word that I can use to describe our experience is OUTSTANDING!! Just some background info...We have shellfish, tree nut, and an assortment of allergies and our group is very picky, but James and his staff (Marc was out waiter) were wonderful. our group was 12 people and we needed an extra space for a walker and it was done. We ran out of the wine and they had a menu of the store on the corner if we wanted to go and grab some more. For a group of 12...everything was perfect. From the Lamb meatball appetizer to the sea bass. Marc laughed with us, told us about the wonderful specials, and with all of our reseating and moving at the table, each order was beyond wonderful. Now for James....HE WAS TRULY AMAZING. I had family that called to ensure that the facilities were suitable for her walker and he was great. even when some of them got lost (had the wrong number), he was great. He called and confirmed with me, met us at the door and made sure that everything was perfect coming out. This is his restaurant, his baby, and you can see that he takes pride in what he has created. He put his heart and soul into each dish and it shows. The menu has a variety and the the finale......DESSERT!! THE PECAN PIE WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD. He put all of his love into that pie. Ambiance was calming (even though our group made it look like a party). We had a 430 reservation (and they open at 4pm) and we were able to mingle and talk and even just sit and relax after dinner was over. I will be going back and he and I will be become fast friends. This is a little hidden gem in Montclair NJ that if you have the chance to go you must make the special trip. He treated everyone one at our party and all of the other guests like VIP. Park across the street and make sure you go hungry. and don't forget to BYOB!! PS. When I get married, I am calling James. read more

Amazing restaurant!!! I celebrated my 30th there and Laboratorio was very accommodating. Chef James is very nice and assisted me in creating the perfect prefixed menu for my party. Also our server Alex did a wonderful job. All of my guests loved the food and were amazed by the portion sizes for such a great deal. I'm a big portion size gal and if I feel you are not getting the right size for your money I won't go to that restaurant. Though, at Laboratorio you get your moneys worth. The highlights of our meal were the meatball, shrimp, ravioli, steak frites, salmon over watermelon, and the dolce de leche dessert. This was our first time dining here and it won't be our last. Laboratorio is definitely a must try restaurant in Montclair. read more

Food was good, but rushed by waiter to leave because they needed our table. Won't be returning.

My wife and I had such a wonderful experience. It was her birthday and they allowed me to take her flowers in advance to have them on the table before we showed up. The food and atmosphere was excellent. I will recommend Laboratorio Kitchen to all my family and friends. Love it!! Keep it the good customer service.. read more

I just heard about this restaurant and went this past Saturday night. My first impression after sitting down was that everything on the menu looked delicious. I was so torn with all of the options for a main course, but I decided to go with the Chorizo Al Diablo, which was the best starter that I tasted, and then the lamb for my main course. The lamb was wonderfully cooked and came with some nice mashed potatoes. I had a taste of the Ribeye as well which was good (just like all Ribeye Steaks), but the french fries that came with it stood out because they were warm and slightly crunchy. The chef must have just pulled them out of the frier, yet they were not too hot whatsoever. I was able to try the Wedge Salad and Tomato Salad which were both tasty. We opted not to get dessert, but enjoyed our meal thoroughly. I would come back here, but hopefully next time I am seated next to a table that isn't as rambunctious. I also hope to try the risotto or the scallops on my next visit. BTW it is BYO and the bill for three ran up to about 150 with tip. (50 a person) One recommendation I have is for the restaurant to possibly use some carpeting or put something on the walls to muffle the sound since it could get rather loud and conversations carried too easily. read more

Great for sharing - portions are on the smaller side. BYOB as like many of the places in Montclair. If dining in the winter, bring a jacket because when that door swings open, that wind gets you! My only complaint about this place is the set up - aesthetically speaking, it's always awkward when a place is wide open and not even a hostess stand or plant to separate the entry from the dining area. When the door opens, the whole dining room just looks at you. But the food was terrific! So I guess I can live with awkward set up. Few things that stood out: the burratta, the scallops and the arugula salad -- all great. read more

Went here for my birthday celebration last night based on all the reviews. I have to write my own review. Dinner was delicious! I ordered the scallops that melted in my mouth and came with a yummy squash puree. My hubby ordered the Chilean sea bass that I think he swallowed whole! And my son had the organic chicken what was also delicious. The food isn't in large portions so if you're hungry like we were, definiely order some apps & a sald to start with. They are decent portions, but don't think you'll be taking any leftover food home. I topped my birthday celebration with the tres leches dessert that was also yummy (this was a big portion!). Service was great, even when my son spilled a glass of water. The waiter was totally chilled about it. The place is small, but comfortable enough where even if you're sitting next to someone you still feel like you have your space. I have lived in the area for years and never really think of going to all the great restaurants near me. This one is truly worth the trip. It's BYOB as noted in all the reviews. I'm giving this place 5 stars, because everything about the night was perfect. read more

Good place, good service, good taste, my wife loves to come to this place, it's very cheap and good food

Great place to relax and enjoy consistently good food. The wait staff is knowledgeable about the menu and kitchen. The PEI Mussels appetizer was great way to start. I had the Idaho Rainbow Trout which was a filet with no bones and cooked to perfection. Everything else was really good. Laboratorio Kitchen has become our birthday and special dinner restaurant although we will be back also for the Tuesday-Thursday for the small plate tasting menu. You really have to try this place. BYOB+ read more

Food and service was very good ! The steak was tender and flavorful. BYOB is always a plus.

Had a really fine meal here this evening. We had a wonderful vegetarian plate and terrific risotto. They accommodate gluten free and vegetarian diets with finesse. To top it we also enjoyed excellent service read more

We got their curb side pick up a few times and their food has been fresh and delicious every time! Great local restaurant and great Value! Highly recommend! read more

Excellent spot. Went there for a date w my gf. Very intimate. Food was excellent. Had the shrimp arrabbiata (least favorite of the dishes; was deep fried, which was not expected), which was good not great. House-made Burrata w truffled tomatoes was phenomenal. The fusilli pasta was also excellent, boasting exceedingly fresh and light flavors...a very nostalgic dish that brought me back to time spent in southern Italy. Last was the special sea bass over black bean and red pepper purées, also wonderful. All in all, a great spot that I will definitely return to. read more

Everything was excellent. I really enjoyed my pasta special. It was homemade pasta with shrimp and chorizo. The sauce was sort of a creamy tomato. I really loved the dish. My wife had a strip steak. Service was top notch. No complaints or room for desert. read more

Best way to describe this is a good neighborhood restaurant. Good food and very friendly service. BYO a plus. Recommended.

Had dinner here recently with a few friends. Great service....good food. We shared the burratta appetizer. The bread was so good & fresh! I had the steak frits & my friends had the risotto & scallops. Shared the pecan pie desert. Everything was cooked well and we had a really nice evening. The decor & ambiance is very nice too. read more

My girlfriend and I were turned away tonight because the chef was unable to accommodate a garlic allergy. According to the host, the chef was in a bad mood and so was unapproachable. Mind you they claim to use "fresh" ingredients. They even had salads, which were apparently also unavailable. You have got to be kidding me. Any decent restaurant should be able to offer something. Glad we didn't wind up wasting our time or money. read more

Tried this place for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised. The ravioli with the lump crab was amazing. Also loved the scallops. Service was top notch and not stuffy at all. We really liked the atmosphere as well. Will definitely be back! read more

Excellent service and ambiance. BYOB. Easily made reservations on Open Table. Alex was our server, he was fantastic. Ordered the Fig & Gorgonzola crostini. It was very good, but had to be assembled, which made it a little messy. Entrees were the pappardelle and the steak. Both excellent choices, highly recommend. We will be back! read more

LK has become one of my favorite places for dinner. I have eaten here 3 times in the past 2 weeks and am very impressed with the food and service. The flavors are clean and simple. LK reminds me of Fascino when Fascino first opened; before it became over-rated, inconsistent, and doesn't live up to the hype (in my mind). I had the scallop entree twice and the salmon once. Both were delicious and beautiful. The scallops were served on top of a spinach polenta with morel mushrooms, crispy chanterelle pieces, and micro greens. I asked for the beurre blanc on the side, which was fabulous on the side, but for me would have unnecessarily complicated the dish. I like my salmon rare, which I had to ask for because they cook it medium, so make sure you specify temp if you like it less than medium. Otherwise, the dish was great. It was served with grilled watermelon, arugula greens and a vanilla-ish vinegrette. I've also had the crab cake appetizer, burrata salad, and spinach salad. They are all wonderful, but I recommend the dressing on the side. We split the spinach salad, which they divided before serving without us asking and was a nice touch, but had too much dressing for me. Oh and they serve nice, warm rolls, lightly encrusted in corn meal, with a big square of butter topped with sea salt. Great job, chef! The servers are young and conscientious without being overbearing. The three times I've been have been on weeknights (Wednesday-Friday) and it wasn't extremely crowded, so the servers timed out the meals as I've asked. The prices are consistent with, if not below, other Montclair restaurants in this category. Merit wine is a block away and if you tell them you're eating at LK, they will take 15% off of your bottle and I believe will also deliver to LK (though I haven't done this). Also there is municipal parking across the street, which only requires payment in the meters til 7. LK has had everything I look for in a weeknight dining experience - parking, wine, great food and great service. read more