It may sound crazy, but I have yet to find a really good pasta spot in NJ. NYC, no problem, but I…read moredon't always want to cross the river. I think I finally found a spot where I can confidently get good pasta AND dessert. My partner and I stopped in this week, and we were immediately met with cool, industrial-style decor and a BOMB playlist. The staff was super friendly and helped a lot with specials and recommendations, as it was our first time. For drinks, we started with a Fig & Melon cocktail and their Old Fashioned. Both were great, but I think the old-fashioned wins over the Fig & Melon. It's smoky and sweet, while the F&M was citrusy and refreshing. To start, we ordered the Mozzarella Sticks Di Bar Mutz with Mutz Hot Honey & Sour Milk. Personally, I am tired of hot honey on everything, haha, so this wasn't for me. If they served it on the side first vs drizzled on top, I probably would have enjoyed it more, as the mozz sticks alone were delicious. The breading was more like a garlic bread than the traditional coating. It also comes with extra hot honey on the side. For our mains, we shared the Spicy Rig and Trottole. Again, both are really good, but the Trottole was the CLEAR winner. The short rib was rich, and the overall dish was perfect for the savory lover like me. The Spicy Rig was lighter, and the bite of pasta with basil was excellent. For dessert, we ordered the mile high espresso martini, affogato martini, which had ice cream they make in-house, and the Samoas cheesecake. Every single thing was delicious! It's a good problem to have when you're dining somewhere, and you're battling it out for who has the best dish. Can't wait to come back and bring friends!

It was really hard to get a normal time reservation at this spot. But we managed to snag a bar top…read moretable And when we got there, we realized why it was so hard.The only have like 6 real tables at the restaurant. Vibes are cool. I like the open concept kitchen and the music was definitely on point. However , the food was mostly disappointing , I would say. The mozzarella delicious. Butter cake delicious. But all three pastas that we ordered were definitely not worth the price. I was really excited for the spicy rigatoni that I got and I asked the guy how spicy it was. And he said, 2 out of 10, but when I got it, it was definitely 0 out of 10 spicy. He said too many people complained about the spice level. So they dumbed it down, but it just tasted like tomato sauce with no spice at all. Unfortunate. There were a couple of other appetizers or things on the menu I would be willing to try, but I won't be running back to this spot anytime soon. Especially since it was a good distance away from me.

Osteria Crescendo was an exceptional dining experience from beginning to end. The restaurant is…read morebeautifully decorated, and the service was absolutely stellar. We chose the seven-course tasting menu, and every dish was both beautifully presented and delicious. The chef personally came out with each course to explain the history behind the dish and where the ingredients were sourced. His enthusiasm and passion for every offering made the experience feel especially memorable. A truly special meal with outstanding food, thoughtful presentation, and impeccable service. Highly recommend!

The setting is nice, attempting a classy feel. The staff is friendly. The drinks are better than…read moreaverage. The octopus appetizer is very good, although I wasn't enamored of the sauce provided. The ravioli was good and tasty. Overall a good experience.

What a vibe. Co workers took me here for my last day to celebrate and went to the second floor…read morelounge that was beautiful! The restaurant was very modern with outdoor seating and valet parking. I got there at 530pm and the place was already so busy! Second floor lounge was so nice. Very nice ambiance with a full bar of top shelf liquor! We took up a section of the lounge area and ordered some shareables which were delicious. We got pizza, fries, calamari, and a charcuterie board. It was nice just sitting there and shooting the shit with friends. By the time it was 730pm, the place was packed. Lots of people go up there for a quick drink before their tables are ready. We left around that time and shockingly, there weren't a crowd of people waiting for tables downstairs, which I thought was nice- our food came out quick so I'm thinking their service is on point I'd love to come back here for a sit down dinner in their main dining hall! Food was good, service was great, drinks were delicious, and ambiance was relaxing!

Last Saturday, I attended a special occasion celebration at ORA FreeStyle Italian in Oradell. This…read moreevent was held on the second floor of the restaurant. Everything was amazing and memorable - from the ambiance and décor to the delicious feast prepared and presented. I absolutely love that second floor space! This was my first time at ORA, but I had heard good things about it prior to this event. In terms of parking, there is valet parking or street parking. To get to the second floor, you'll see a staircase to ascend as soon as you enter the main entrance on the ground floor. There is also elevator access, which I noticed later). At the top of the stairs, you'll see a corridor where there is a coat room closet and and two single-occupant bathrooms. From this corridor, you'll also see the entrances to three different rooms. First, there is the lounge area, which is my favorite spot of the second floor. The lounge area is GORGEOUS; the interior decoration and seating areas, the full bar, and whole layout and look - very chic and great for pictures. Then there is a classic dining room set up in the room towards the back. Connected to this dining set-up room, but separated by frosted glass doors, is another room with stylish circular booths flanking both sides of the room. Then, connected to this booth room is an enclave where food was set up for appetizers, entrée buffet, and dessert/coffee/tea. There was a cocktail/appetizer hour with fresh meats and cheeses, dips, vegetable crudité, breads and taralli (one of my favorite crackers to nosh on). Also floating about the room, waitstaff offered guests appetizers like hot honey grilled cheese bites, chicken parmesan balls, and truffle fries (served in cute mini cones with ketchup in the bottom). For this party, entrées were served buffet-style. Of course, I sampled a little bit of everything because that is what I do. That day, the buffet included: ORA Chopped Salad, Little Gem, Fusilli al Pomodoro, Chicken Marsala, Eggplant Rollatini, Herb Crusted Roasted Salmon, and - on the sides - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes, and Market Roasted Vegetables. My favorite entrée was the Chicken Marsala. ORA also makes a really good Eggplant Rollatini, which I know for sure my vegetarian husband would have devoured had he been there. At the end of the buffet credenza, a wait staffer asked guests if they'd like freshly ground pepper, which was really nice. In fact, all the staff working at the party were friendly, attentive, and professional, which added to the positive vibes and overall experience that day. That makes so much of a difference, and that day ORA showed that they do a party right. At the end of the food service, there was cake, coffee, and tea. I liked their coffee - strong and smooth, a perfect way to round off the feast of a meal that you'll enjoy at ORA FreeStyle Italian!

Awesome service & great atmosphere! The filet was amazing!!! Definitely suggest the chocolate layer…read morecake for dessert!

Such a wonderful spot for date night! Our server Jordan was friendly and attentive. The food was…read moredelicious... both our apps & entrees were top notch!

Wow! My latest meal here was a 6 out of 5…read more Friendly, attentive service throughout the evening. We began with the seafood salad...a delicious mix of tender squid, scungilli, octopus, and shrimp over lightly dressed arugula. It was a beautiful portion and paired perfectly with their warm focaccia and garlic infused olive oil. Then came the complimentary salads before the best grilled lamb chops entrée I've had in years. Outstanding. A full rack of tender, flavorful, juicy baby rib chops served with broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes. OMG. While devouring this meal, I was a bit without words. Did I mention it was a full rack?! We also enjoyed a bottle of their house Cabernet with dinner. Very smooth and a solid table wine for the price. It paired beautifully with the lamb, and the other entree we got...homemade fresh pasta with short rib ragu. Wow... that really was the best entrée I've had anywhere in a long time, and it puts Bosfa in my top three restaurants. P.S. Sign up for their rewards program!

this place is JUST ok. I didn't even know it was there until I saw it on yelp and decided to check…read moreit out. ambiance is...different. it's recently renovated and everything is in shades of black and white. it lacks the cozy comfy atmosphere of an Italian restaurant. the environment feels a bit sterile. a few of the tables are plastic folding tables covered in table clothes. chairs are mismatched but cleverly covered to make them all look the same. food was just ok. portions were HUGE. i literally carryed a giant bag of leftovers of out the place. i can eat....and i couldn't believe the size of these dishes. drinks were delicious! staff was super friendly but the food came out a bit slow. the experience was overall average and I'm not sure if I would go back.

Not my vibe! We got here around 8:30 and was able to be seated for a table for two. We got sat, had…read moreto wait a bit for menus. Waitress finally came over and we ordered the arancini, which was on special. Waitress took the menu to check if that was on there because she seemed confused when I ordered it. The arancini were for sure frozen and refried. Just not good and bland. The bread was the best part tbh but I'm not sure about whatever the dipping sauce was. I'd rather just butter. My bf was disappointed with the cheese raviolis - they were not hearty at all. The chicken parm was okay. I didn't love the red sauce and hate that the penne was drowning in sauce, just not much to break up the flavor of it. There was a guy playing guitar and the overall atmosphere of this place is just not there. Ceiling tiles are dirty, bathroom was dirty and not well maintained. I can see the Restaurant Depot sized box of cannoli shells. If you're craving Italian, go anywhere else.

We did take out! Very good! We love the owners of this restaurant, they are great to the…read moreneighborhood! We had Chicken piccata and Rigitoni Bolognese! I loved the Bolognese. Nice size portions. Both DELICIOUS! Was happy to see folks sitting outside!

This is Roman pizza, not flatbread! There are many different varities of pizza other than boring NJ…read morepizza with Sysco ingredients. Here, the dough is fermented for days and it is made from Italian wheat, rice and spelt flour (like a proper, authentic Pinsa Romana, Google it!) instead of unhealthy bleached, bromated flour found at 75- to 90-percent of most pizza restaurants in North Jersey. The quality of the toppings is also considerably better, which is why Mercato's pizzas are more expensive. Is the extra effort and expense worth it? I think so. I can taste the difference and I appreciate the crunchy exterior, soft inside textures and not feeling bloated after having a few slices like I do when I have a cheaper generic NJ pizza. I also prefer it over Neapolitan style pizza, unless it's pizza from Alta Irpinia (which also ain't cheap but so. Damn. Good.). If you're looking for run of the mill, cheap family feedbag pizza, go elsewhere. But if you can appreciate the finer things, Mercato is a good choice for a genuine, authentic Italian variety of pizza that's very hard to find around here, even in Manhattan too.

Went here last minute on a Saturday night, surprisingly, they weren't busy and we opted to sit…read moreoutside. Our waitress Alyssa was really great and had some good recommendations. We went with 2 pasta dishes and two small pizzas. The pasta dishes were the Paccheri and the Spicy Vodka sauce and the pizzas were the Truffle Potato and the Diablo. We have gotten the paccheri before, it's a fan favorite with a good amount of lamb ragu and the spicy vodka sauce was tasty but not too spicy. The truffle potato pie was the star of the dinner--perfect amount of truffle and cream with charred potatoes. The diablo was very tasty as well, I love the smaller pepperoni cups and the sauce was tasty as well. Overall, a very good meal and doesn't break the bank! Definitely one of our go-tos!!

Bellissimo: Please Stop Rushing Us!…read more Bellissimo is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. I've probably eaten here close to 100 times over the last 15+ years, and I probably take my family here a couple times per month. The food is good, prices are fair and you absolutely can't beat their lunch special deal (soup, salad and your entree for a set price). However, I was somewhat annoyed after my last visit. It was our last lunch before sending my daughter off to college. We were eating our first course, the soup, when someone came over to anxiously clear off plates. Two people finished their soup, but another two were still eating at the table. This drives me nuts. I wish they'd just wait until everyone finishes a course before clearing. What happened next is what set me over the edge. People came out with our salads and one guy was trying to take my daughter's soup away while she was still eating it. After we stopped him, he then wanted to just squeeze it on the table beside her. Sheesh. I was so annoyed and didn't understand why they're rushing us. There were only 5 tables of customers there for lunch that day. What was the F'ing rush?! Our waiter, who has been there for years, blamed it on some new kitchen waiter they got. Regardless, it ruined the meal and we didn't even get the main courses yet. That general culture here of anxiously clearing plates away has always annoyed me. I wish they'd wait for everyone at the table to finish a course before clearing for the next one. I still love Bellissimo and will definitely be back. But please... let us eat!

Came in this weekend to celebrate a bday. Had a table for4,…read morekeep in mind unless you 5 or more there are no reservations. We srrived at 5:15pm and we waited 5 mins for a table. As usual we brought 2 bottle of red and 1 of white wine. They were nice to chill the white wine for us. We ordered the fries calamari with the tomato sauce. I ordered from the special menu the stuffed pork chop on the bone, wow mind blowing. Mushroom, roasted potatoes, a big old chop stuffed with Mozzarella cheese in a tomato ragu. Totally delicious, and so big i think all we needed was a side of pasta to make it a winning dish. I end up ordering a full order of linguini in clam sauce aling with the chop and the wife and I ate like royalty!. The meal was excellent, the waiter was nice to bring us a bday platter with fresh stiffed mini cannoli !

Wow, what a gem!!! Food was excellent, portions very…read moregenerous. Wait staff was wonderful, very attentive, especially Gabby! Pet peeve, ordering everything at once but they know how to send food out, timely and hot!!! I've eaten at quite a few Italian restaurants in Bergen County and I must say, this is the best... food is fresh and good portions. Thank You Jennifer and continued success. See you soon!

Saw an ad on social media for takeout Tuesday, 3 courses for 4 people for 50 bucks so figured I'd…read morehave to try it! Was not disappointed at all, first off 50 bucks for 4 people, where can you go and spend 50 bucks for 4 people? I spent 33 bucks at Wendy's the other day for me and my kid. So 50 bucks for 4 people for 3 courses in awesome! We got the ceasar salad, which was good and they gave us plenty of dressing and didn't skimp on the croutons or cheese. Next was rigatoni with oil and garlic and I gotta say I don't know what they did to the roasted garlic but it was amazing, like I was picking all the little pieces out of the pan it was so good. Then we got the sausage and peppers and if that wasn't enough they threw in meatballs with it as well. There was more than enough food for the 4 of us and we are big eaters. The sauce was so good and that fact that we eating at home I could soak up all the sauce in my bread without fear of being stared at by other patrons. We plan on ordering again and plan on going to dine in as well, the place looked newly remodeled and was quite cute inside. 5 out of 5!

Food and service were great Held a 15 people's reunion,…read moreeveryone enjoyed the food Nat was our waiter and we experienced excellent service

Pesto Italian Bistro (Located in Park Ridge Shopping Center)…read more168F Kinderkamack Rd. Park Ridge, NJ 07656 As soon as I entered this bistro, I was impressed with the nicely decorated interior that was adorned with lots of Italian themed wall art. The servers greeted me and made me feel right at home. Throughout the meal, they were very attentive and always refilled my water glass and cleared any excess plates. The CP entree also included complimentary rice balls and a house salad (not pictured), both of which tasted phenomenal. I couldn't say I was completely on par with the main course. The mozzarella cheese did not have a golden char. The cutlet was on the chewier side and something about the breading was off. However, the homemade sauce was the best part of the dish; it was thick and flavorful. Although I can't vouch for this CP, I was satisfied with their service and the other menu items I tried. For this reason, I'll definitely explore their other entrees except for the parm. #pestoitalianbistro #chickenparmreview #njchickenparmratings #parkridgenj