I had the salmon with a mango sauce I think it was and it was delicious. It came with watercress salad and mashed potatoes and I loved it so much I need to come back and get it again. It was super flavorful and I was very pleased and satisfied. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very pleasant too. It's a family owned restaurant and the owners were both there and were very nice and attentive. read more

NOVELLI: NICE! Novelli's, formerly La Gardenia on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne NJ is such a great place. The Barelli's are in their 7th year there with hopefully many more to follow. I classify the food as classic northern Italian with an eclectic spin. Their specials are diverse offering such menu items as Roast Duck with Fig Sauce among many others that you normally would not find in an Italian Restaurant. The ambiance is not traditional either. Don't expect this to be the place Billy Joel sings about. Elegant and classy, yet comfortable and relaxed. Two dining areas, one much larger than the other, with nice fireplaces in each give the place a nice glow. Cocktails, may seem a bit pricy, but are large and potent. Cosmos and classic gin martinis are clearly a favorite. An excellent wine selection is available as well. All the food is fresh, delicious and beautifully presented, though portions are not large at all. You may not have room for one of their delectable desserts, but you probably will not have use for a "doggie bag" either. If you like pasta, their homemade gnocchi with cream pesto is so good you may want to lick the plate clean... but use a piece of crusty bread instead! Some of my favorite items include: Oysters au Gratin Chicken Piedmontese, Breast Stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and served in a Pink Sauce with Diced Prosciutto and Mushrooms Filet Mignon au Poivre, Two Medallions Sauteed with Green Peppercorns and Dijon Mustard, served with a Brandy Demi Glaze Sauce Novelli's is truly a fine dining experience. read more

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Ate dinner here on a Saturday night a few weeks ago. Place was hopping! We got a table in the bar area which was so nice and lively. The other side of the restaurant is strictly tables and seems much too quiet. The wait staff are old school which you don't see that much anymore, very attentive. I had a delicious fennel salad and equally delicious bread that was brought to the table. My cosmo was made to perfection - right amount of all ingredients. For my dinner, I had the rack of lamb, which were some of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend this place! read more

We went there last week for outdoor dining. It was wonderful. Very attentive and the chef was kind enough to make something that wasn't on the menu for me. Enjoyable evening out. read more

Always love to go to this place. All dishes are amazing. Fish is the best here. Very good service. The host and or hostess always make you feel they know you ! Good crowd. Good drinks. And close to home. If you are looking to get dressed up and not having to go to far this is the place. read more

Awesome food and service. I had the Branzino and a soup. Both of them tasted super good. I will go back again

Dined here recently for the first time in a very long time. The food was delicious starting with the very tender calamari appetizer. I had the risotto with steak and the risotto was amazing. My companion enjoyed his dinner as well. Portions are decent. Prices are fairly high. The downsides were walking through the outdoor smoking section to enter, the noise inside and valet parking when I could have practically reached out and touched my car. The tables are fairly close together. I would definitely try it again. A man who may have been the owner was walking around the dining room asking patrons if everything was ok. That's a nice touch. I also loved my martini. read more

Fabulous food excellent portion sizes. Comfy atmosphere and friendly staff,I had come here right after my friend passed away and my server was very kind and attentive without being invasive & I appreciated the service and attention to detail read more

Was in last Saturday. They were full. I called for a table for six last minute and they squeezed us in. Very attentive staff

Our server Mario was amazing and food was phenomenal. We ordered rack of lamb and blueberry blue duck breast expecting smallPortions and were pleasantly surprised by the large proportions. The restaurant starts you out with bread, olives, and a delicious crumbled Parmesan. read more

Finally the decline. Seems like it always happens. Party of 7 last night. 150 dollars a person and the food was actually gross. Octopus was dry and disgusting. The shrimp appetizer special had 1 shrimp. Like give me a break man. My NY strip was one of the worst cuts I've ever had. Pasta was tasteless. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

Went to Novelli Restaurant on Saturday 10/2/21 along with 5 other people , we all had meals that were good, but the Filet Mignon steak I had ordered was actually a Strip Sirloin. I don't know if the waiter had not understood me, but the steak order was not the Filet Mignon. I decided to eat the Sirloin, but it was like and old shoe .....tough as hell! When I commented to the manager that the steak was tough , and that I would tell my friends about this ......he replied "Go Tell Your Friends!" Definitely not what I would expect from a manager who wants his business to remain open! I must admit that the mashed potatoes and spinach were excellent as were all the other meals in my party and the deserts. read more

5 Stars doesn't even give Novelli the proper rating! It's more like 10 plus!! We had a Baby Shower on January 19th. The food and service is both outstanding and spectacular. Richie, our Maitre d', is priceless. His attention to detail and his willingness to help went above and beyond! Novelli is a place for fine Italian dining and your next gathering or party should be there! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Nice restaurant with excellent service. They gave us complimentary bread, olives n cheese. Pretty good wine list. For appetizer me and my date split a fried calamari. Yeah i know. That's like the standard but she's not a "foodie" anyway it was cooked perfectly. For dinner i had a delicious short rib with pumpkin risotto. My date had a penne a la vodka jesus christ. Anyway she loved it. We split a pistachio gelato. That was okay it tasted more minty than pistachio. Total came out $130 and i forgot we did get a bottle of wine as well. Not bad. Menu looked good. I will definately come here again..........maybe with someone else lol read more

As many of the other reviews say, this place is top notch. The food is excellent, one item not to miss is the Octopus appetizer which is a always a crowd favorite. This time I opted for the Veal Oso Bucco with Risotto special and enjoyed every last bite. The staff is always great with impecable service. On one of my other recent visits, they really went above and beyond. They were able to move our table on a very crowded and freezing Saturday night to a nice cozy seat by the fireplace. The wine selection is good at every price point and they make a mean Negroni. read more

My fiancé took me here for a birthday. The food does seem over the top but it's worth the price.

Excellent first experience here. This restaurant is perfect for a date night. Went here for a valentines dinner , the restaurant was jam packed but it was worth our reservation wait. I took into consideration and that normally weekends aren't like this. The restaurant itself is beautiful, the ambiance is stunning. The food was outstanding. I ordered the burrata & tuna tartar and it was superb! For dinner I had the homemade gnocchi with braised pork, I could eat that every night! Service and valet were spot on. I will definitely be back. read more

Had Saturday reservations for 7pm. Was told when I got there only outdoor was available. In 85 degree heat with fans running in the back ground, like Newark airport. With no choice, we sat at the table. Next to us was a table of 4 parents, with their young kids at another table. So we sat at the our kiddy table in 85 degree heat, with the sounds of an airport and unsponsored kindergarten play. When u pay hundreds of $ for an adult evening, you should get the curtesy of what the seating arrangement is. How fast management forgets about service and responsibility to their patrons.. read more

Wonderful old-school ambiance without being stuffy or pretentious. Service was warm & friendly. Food simply delish. Go hungry & get the pork chop! read more

This place is absolutely one of our favorites! After being here s few times now I truly can say the food and service is exceptional. I had the grilled pork chop this evening and it was very tender and a thick cut, bourbon pepper glaze was incredible. Great atmosphere too will be back! read more

Hate to do this but must leave a negative review for Novelli. We have been coming here for years and I made reservations in advance for my mom's 83rd birthday. We were seated and around 20 minutes later a huge party was set up immediately next to us. The noise level was absurd and it was obvious we were an afterthought. The people were standing next to us in some sort of a "cocktail hour" for a long time, then they sat down and started making speeches. I can understand wanting to make money but this was ridiculous. Very very sad to see such a great establishment start to trend downward. read more

Not many places to choose from in the area but Novelli's was very nice. More of a romantic spot, I came here for a business dinner and it was akward as it was so dim, with candles and a fireplace. The food was good and I'm glad the waiter suggested I get the fish as a filet other than a whole fish as I didn't want to pick bones out of my teeth infront of my client. It got packed pretty quickly so its defnitely the place to go in the area. read more

Went for the first time for my birthday with my family and had a very pleasant experience. Service was on point and food delish. Tuna mango avocado tower and calamari, quality bread and olive, tomato and cheese platter, rack of lamb, chicken, broccoli rabe sausage ravioli with portobello mushrooms, and spaghetti- each was delicious and well prepared. Great ambiance with soft lighting and candles on the table. Owner on site. Could tell there was definitely pride in ownership and pride in working there by the service staff. Will return again. read more

Novelli - A treat on the house to recognize my birthday along with singing from the restaurant team :) - Italian Near Me - Wayne, New Jersey

We decided to come here for Fathers day and it was the best choice! Even my mom who is a picky eater cleaned her plate! The service was amazing and everyone was very attentive! I will definitely be coming back. read more

I think this is my favorite restaurant in the entire state of NJ. From the decor, ambiance, service, and best of all - the very creative (and tasty) menu, this place is sure to please and impress anyone for any occasion. We always look forward dining (just wished we lived closer). Owned and run by husband and wife, Benny and Sima, they will very naturally make you feel like home and welcomed. Be sure to try their Smoked Salmon appetizer stuffed with REAL lump Crabmeat, and my favorite Veal Chop off their menu. Gnocchi was perfect. Next time I plan to have their fish, as I over heard other guests say things like "they are known for their fresh catch of the day"! read more

Great place for a celebration dinner. Wait staff is very good food is excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant.

we stopped by on the spur of the moment and got seated promptly......yeah....the food was very good, service was excellent and the ambiance was very good. The only draw back was the food took forever.......we didn't mind because we had a great table and were not in a hurry. We certainly will go back. read more

First the valet person is very aggressive, the tables and seating were too close together and not spacious. It seemed as if the windows and doors were open it was very cold in dinning area, we mentioned it to the staff they replied "OK". The server was not helpful did not welcome us did not recommend any specials or (limited) menu options, he was very pushy and more like rushing us, he wanted to take appetizer order and main course order at once. The food at least my meal (pasta/sauce) was not good or tasty at all, the other meals were rated as just OK. Server necer returned to ask if everything was ok, not even to refill water. Overall the place is just Ok seems like they rather be more of a fast food chain then what they sell themselves to be. I would not recommend or return. read more

First time here. Impressed. Valet. Well-stocked bar with prompt attention by bartender. Nicely appointed. Waiters cordial and professional. Liked the complimentary serving of very good bread, butter and a small cheese and olive plate. Calamari was very good. Pasta and chicken entrees were enjoyed. Cheesecake and poached pear in red wine desserts were excellent. We enjoyed dining at Novelli's and looking forward to our next visit. Likely the best Italian restaurant in area. read more

I have to agree on the COVID issue. We were there and the place was filled to capacity. Only concession they made was keeping the doors open. I was on the fence to begin with since their prices are so high and the food quality is not the same. This did it for me - I won't be back. read more

My wife and I went there for a last minute date night and were very happy with the food. We both got pasta dishes. She got the short rib and i got the cavatelli with sausage. The portions were just right and satisfied us both. It's definitely not cheap but good for a nice night out. read more

Outstanding food. First off their drinks are killer - great selection of top notch liquor and wine and they pour a drink as God intended. Their staff are second to none. They remember their repeat customers and provide first rate service. Food is off the charts. They have a great menu and a ton of specials that feature a wide variety of fish, meats and homemade pasta. The octopus appetizer is amazing as are the meatballs. Can't go wrong with any of their entrees but love the Chilean sea bass as well as their rack of lamb. Desert you must try the bananas foster done table side - a great show and an even better desert. read more

Great place for a business lunch or for a romantic dinner. Decor is quite nice. White tablecloth service. Wait staff is older, attentive. Background music was set too low to notice. Prices at lunch are under $10 for most starters. The entrees included a good selection of chicken dishes and pastas for $10.00 - which came with soup or salad. Broccoli soup today was very good. I had the chicken Milanese - chicken was nicely cooked but the accompanying salad was heavy on chopped onion, cherry tomatoes, not much by the way of greens. Big portion. My guest had the chicken saltimboca which was quite nice. One of the better places for a business lunch in Wayne. It compares favorably with Aldo's. Novelli has a full bar which sets it apart. Definitely worth a try it you like Italian cuisine. read more

Wow! Fantastic resturant with outstanding food and service plus valet service. We had the lox appetizer and spinich salad to start, and that was delicious. My husband ordered the branzino which was brought out whole and deboned in front of us. We couldnt decide if it was better here or in Positano Italy which we originally thought was the best ever. I had the zuppa de pesce which was delicious and I wrapped half to go. We also ordered the peach dessert special which we split in half but couldn't finish. All in all, we will be coming back soon. read more

Service was top notch and food quality was great. Be sure to ask for a drink menu because they have some nifty cocktails. Gotta love a place that revives classics like Bananas Foster and does it right so save room for dessert. I will certainly return. read more

We have been here before COVID-19 and knew it was a great place so we tried it again. NJ does not have dine in open yet we did not know that till we arrived. I must say I wasn't thrilled with the idea of eating in a parking lot but Novello's had it right. They had a huge tent with lights a picket fence all around and baskets of flowers.. you felt like you were at an outdoor wedding. Now for the food it was exceptional as usual. They were pretty busy as the surrounding areas were without power. Tables were more than 6 ft apart and the staff was hustling. You never felt rushed or ignored. Even the owner was cleaning plates, serving coffee. As usual it was a wonderful experience and can't wait to go back. read more

I frequent this place for work dinners and although I have been in Northern NJ for only 18 mos, this is definitely my favorite Italian place. Food: Great selection, outstanding quality - high prices. Pasta is mostly homemade on the premises and the ravioli specials are always ... well - special. I had a duck filled spinach ravioli with a portabello and white wine sauce during my last visit.. it was unbelievably good. I have also had fish, veal and pork - all of which have been perfectly prepared. For appetizers, try the octopus! It sounds scary, but you will not regret the selection... 2nd choice would be the grilled calamari. Service: Good, but not best in class. Wait staff is very attentive and always has good recommendations, but I expect 'over the top' service when paying these types of prices. Atmosphere: Its a bit stuffy, but that's typical for a fine dining Italian restaurant in this area. The side dining room near the bar is comfortable and more intimate, while the larger dining room is more ornate and often feels cavernous and empty on a weekday evening. Bar: The bar is small and has a large TV at the one end, which is honestly a bit distracting. A fine place to gather with a small group, but if you have more than ~8 people, I would not recommend 'meeting at the bar' prior to dinner. No draft beers but a good wine list. Overall, a nice place for a formal dinner. A bit more than I like to spend, but usually well worth it. read more

Ate here for the first time for lunch on Tue Sept 17, 2019 for my husband's birthday. Service was great, Jamie was our server. If you go, you HAVE TO order the meat balls. They were the insanely delicious, the best I've ever had! read more

One of the Best Italian places I have ever been to. Pasta was freshly made and perfect Sauces were flavorful and amazing bite after bite Food 5 Service 4 Cleanliness 4 read more

Novelli is my family's local "special occasion" restaurant. It's practically the only fine dining experience left in Wayne; a town littered by ugly franchise restaurants, and a once-fine establishment up the street that's only a shell of itself. The waitstaff are older, and properly trained, as opposed to "Hey guyyyyys, my name is Kristyyyyy?" We come here enough that we're on friendly terms with the waiters and manager, which is a very nice touch (It's a shame that treating your customers like a friend is becoming a stand out factor in our society). We have never been disappointed with any of the dishes we've ordered. My only complaint is that I can't understand why the bartender serves a mixed drink in a wine glass, instead of a rocks glass. Nice pour, nonetheless. read more