This establishment isn't just a restaurant; it's a delightful journey back to the heart of…read moretraditional Italian cooking, steeped in the rich heritage of Newark, NJ. The pizza is limited to a square pie, cut into small squares. Very thin, very crunchy, quite flavorful. This restaurant is mid sized with about 15 tables, seems to be able to accommodate very easily small and large groups. Also BYOB. Beyond their pizza, the full Italian menu pretty complete., very reasonable pricing. An inexpensive night out for a group of four. Conveniently located just behind the Red Roof Inn, it's an accessible hidden gem. Also plenty of parking. Very casual dining, in an old-school setting. I also noticed they are have a back room equipped for large parties. They also take reservations on busy nights.

Very good pizza and pastas. With a lot of Italian options in the area, Michael Angelo's is one of…read morethe better ones.

Was fully packed on Wednesday eve, make reservations! We waited for 30mins to be seated…read more Relaxed rustic ambiance loved the atmosphere , we had Big Red Pizza, Pesto Chicken Pizza, roasted wings, focaccia bread. Everything was great, I like the chili oil in Big red. Nice place to hang out with friends and family. Will definitely come again!

Great family friendly spot. We were in and out on a Sunday…read morenight. Great beer list with some top notch local breweries. There was a typo on price and our server changed it right away on our check. Pizza good use a few more minutes in the oven but overall good flavor. Pastas served al dente. Our little one loved her pie from the kids menu. Will return especially after a costco run or after a movie in the area.

We found Luigino's Parmigiano while looking for a local BYOB for an easy Saturday date night, and…read moreit turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, with both indoor and outdoor dining, but they were expecting us for our reservation and seated us right away. The front-of-house staff was warm, friendly and even remembered my husband from when he called to make the reservation. The food was the standout. I ordered the short rib, which arrived with quite the presentation, a huge bone topped with incredibly tender, shaved short rib and mixed vegetables. It was delicious and the portion was enormous. I shared some with my husband at dinner, took the rest home, and we still managed to turn the leftovers into an omelet a couple of days later! My husband ordered the double-thick pork chop and loved it. We also shared the fried shrimp and calamari appetizer, and both the marinara and aioli were excellent. One small area for improvement would be helping the younger waitstaff become a little more comfortable guiding guests through the menu. When we asked for recommendations and what dishes the restaurant was especially known for, it took a little prompting before we got to Parmigiano. Our server was perfectly nice. It just would have elevated the experience to have someone confidently say, "This is what we do exceptionally well, and here's what I recommend." Overall, though, we had exactly the kind of evening we needed. We brought a bottle of wine, relaxed, talked, enjoyed the atmosphere and genuinely felt like we had gotten away for a while. Our bill came in at the $100 range, and we left completely satisfied. Great food, generous portions, a welcoming atmosphere and excellent value. We'll absolutely return.

Come hungry. Portion sizes are almost comical, especially the excellent chicken parm and eggplant…read moreParmigiana. Table for 6 mid week lunch. Decor offers a taste of Italy and adds to the charm. Started with a few apps and a chicken parm for the table to share. The Carciofi alla Giudia, the classic Jewish-Roman deep fried artichokes were beautifully presented. A good bit firmer than you'd find in Rome but were still well enjoyed and recommended. Tonno salad with fresh seared tuna was plentiful and packed with flavor. Speaking of flavor the porchetta sandwich was rich and delicious. Really this is closer to a bbq pork than authentic porchetta but still recommended. The star of the show is the chicken parm and eggplant parm. The eggplant was delicate, thinly sliced melt in your mouth. Luckily you get a huge plate. Chicken parm is also excellent and HUGE. While there is $10 plate fee if sharing a main they are fine if you order several items and share all. Very generous with their shaved Parmesan if requested. Prices on the higher side but not all that bad considering the quantity. This feels more like the type of place you come to with a large group than as a couple. Unless of course you are very hungry. Service is excellent.

It was our first time at this particular Calandra's. The decor was classy and the lighting was…read morepretty. The waiter was a little on the grumpy side and not pleasant. It definitely felt as if he didn't want to be bothered being there. The food was delicious. Each dish came out hot and the portion sizes were good. Each of our entrees were extremely flavorful and different. We would definitely try it again with hopes the service is a little friendlier next time.

Last year I missed out on the Cucina Calandra Grinch/Christmas experience and I vowed to not let…read morethat happen this year. As soon as I saw that reservations were live, I immediately made mine! I had a Thursday dinner reservation that I eventually needed to cancel and remake for a lunch reservation. Didn't love that I had to go for lunch but oh well. Our reservation was for Noon which meant that they were just opening up for the day and boy were they busy! There were a ton of people coming in for lunch. Getting situated and to our table took a few because of the overwhelming amount of reservations. I booked our table in the Lounge area rather than the dining room and glad I did as it seems to be more festive! Food-wise we ate the Pollo Parm Pizza and the Hot Calamari. Both were good but nothing spectacular. We ordered festive drinks which were $18 each -- a little high but I get it. We skipped on dessert and got dessert drinks instead - I had the Tiramisu Martini which was delightful!

Palazzone 1960 in Wayne is a wonderful spot if you're looking for high-quality Italian food (lunch)…read moreand pastries. It's a bit small for a dining in spot, but the team more than makes up for it; everyone is incredibly polite, welcoming, and happy to help. The food is fresh and truly outstanding. The bread alone will make you feel like you're in Europe, and the pastries are absolutely delectable and worth every penny. Everything travels well, too, making it a perfect stop for bringing food to a party or gathering. Definitely a go-to spot for quality and authenticity!

The tiramisu has the perfect coffee and sweetness blend! The ferre roche cake is to best along with…read morethe triple chocolate. The coffee is fresh and creamy.

We moved back to Jersey a year ago and could not find great pizza. We have finally found it!!!…read more Have been here twice already in a week. The smell of the wood fire as you walk in is amazing. And if you've forgotten a beverage - there's a liquor store across the parking lot!!! Mike is great to speak with as he preps the dough and everyone who comes in is a regular!

Hands down the BEST 00-Style Wood-Fired Pizza in New Jersey…read moreyou're anywhere near Fairfield, stop what you're doing and get to Double Zero Pizza. I'm honestly shocked this place isn't packed wall-to-wall every night -- this is the kind of pizza you expect to find in Naples . From the second you walk in, you know they take their craft seriously. Stacks of real wood, the authentic Pavesi Italian oven, and trays of perfectly risen dough balls -- it's the real deal. No shortcuts, no gimmicks. Just craftsmanship. I ordered two pies: White Pie with Mushrooms & Olives Incredible. The crust has that perfect leopard-spotted char, blistered just right, crispy on the outside but still soft and airy inside. The ricotta and mozzarella are super fresh, the mushrooms taste like they were sliced minutes before hitting the oven, and the olives add the perfect salty punch. Every bite tasted like it was straight out of a wood-fired pizza boutique. Classic Margherita One word: unreal. The sauce is bright and fresh, the cheese melts into little pools of heaven, and the basil actually survives the oven without turning bitter. Balanced, clean, and addictive. The crust is truly the star -- you can tell they use high-quality "00" flour and slow fermentation. Light, airy, not heavy at all. The kind of crust you want to eat all of, even the charred ends. The owner Mike clearly cares about every detail -- from the dough to the toppings to the oven temperature. This isn't "pizza shop pizza," this is artisanal, handcrafted, authentic wood-fired pizza done right. Prices are super fair for this quality. Cash-only but totally worth it. If you love real Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, put this place on your list immediately. Easily one of the best pies I've had in NJ -- maybe the best. I'll definitely be back .

You know what. I have never had a bad meal here…read more The food is always great. Fresh, yummy, delicious.

This is a lovely little find in a strip mall with plenty of parking. The food is good and well…read morepriced. Full bar and great takeout counter. Garlic knots are fabulous!!! My fiancé and I dined there recently early one evening. We had a male server who was a bit loud AND aggressive about placing our order. At the end of the meal (tip time) he came over and chatted us up. He asked me where I was from, as I have a slight southern accent. He then asked my partner the same thing. My partner referenced his religion rather than where he was from. The server then said 'oh, I'm cheap like you' then patted him on the back and chuckled. We both looked at each other and were like 'did he actually just say that'? We were stunned. I mean, seriously.... I guess we could have addressed it with management but we just wanted to leave. Everyone else has been lovely when we have eaten there. We won't be going back as often due to this person's behavior. So many other places in the area that we can go to without being insulted.

If you want authentic Italian cuisine this is the place to be. Food was fantastic, service also a…read moreplus. The owner is the chef, waiter and still found time to say hello to eveyone. The bad reviewer Donna P you won't be missed maybe try McDonald's!!

My wife and I have been wanting to try this place since we heard about it. Cute interior, service…read morewas tip top. The chef came out and greeted each table. Always appreciate that. My wife had the zucchini flowers and I had the arugula with shaved pears for appetizers. The zucchini flowers were delicious. My salad was good but it needed much more dressing. 90% of the leaves were dry. For mains my wife had the bronzino and I had the squid ink pasta with seafood. It had squid,octopus, shrimp, & crab. *sigh* I don't think the water my pasta was cooked in had any salt. For me that makes the pasta inedible. I was VERY disappointed. I don't know how a Sicilian cook can make that mistake. Little or no salt on any of the seafood either. For dessert I had a cannoli and my wife had the ricotta cheesecake. Both were delicious. Especially the cannoi! We brought home an order of the gnocchi with mushrooms and asparagus. My daughter loved it! I tried some and agree. It was delicious! We'll definitely come back. Hopefully next time they'll remember to salt the pasta water.