my wife and I have been loyal customers for over forty years and Julio never disappoints! The…read moreambience is nothing to get excited about but the food is consistently excellent.

The service and drinks were very good. Dinner was very blah. Clams Casino had no taste. The…read morechicken special I had was so bland. The veal bolognese was just a cutlet with cheese.

We dined at Gioia Mia for their Valentine's Day pre-fixe dinner and overall had a lovely experience…read morewith a few highs and a couple misses. The evening started strong with bread that tasted house-made! I even took the leftover back! It was warm, crispy on the outside, soft inside, and perfectly buttery. Such a simple thing, but it set the tone beautifully. For my courses, I had the tuna tartare to start, followed by the spicy rigatoni. The rigatoni wasn't actually spicy, but the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The real surprise of the night was the eggplant parmigiana. It genuinely did not feel like I was eating eggplant. That dish was so well done that my husband who normally avoids eggplant completely devoured my plate. It was such a great substitute for chicken parm and easily one of the highlights of the night. Dessert, unfortunately, is where things fell short. We tried the red velvet pound cake and the mint chip gelato entremet. The chocolate crunch layer on the gelato was extremely hard and honestly it felt like it had come straight from the freezer and hadn't had time to thaw. The mint gelato itself tasted very much like fresh herb mint, which wasn't quite what I was expecting. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. To me, it just leaned more herbal than classic mint chip. Also that pound cake was a bit dry and again hard like it was from the refrigerator. There was live music for Valentine's Day, which was a nice touch in theory, but it felt more like a performance than background ambiance (unless that's what they are trying to go for). The singer was belting songs (for example, Lady Gaga's Shallow - which for the record I love that song!) however when sang tonight we had to raise our voices to talk. Softer, more subtle background music would have made for a more intimate dinner experience. Still an overall good meal, I'd come back for the entrees.

A little late with this review. I hate when I have to post a negative review,I am noy interested in…read morehurting the workers or ownership. I believe they need to hear the truth so they can quickly fix things. I have been in the business so I understand how difficult it can be. The menu is absolutely terrible! There is maybe 5-6 Apps,Almost no salads,and maybe 7 entrees. I went on a Saturday night,the inside was very nice and clean. The best thing on this night was how comfortable I was at the table,we went with like 8 people.Most places in Montclair will squeeze you in on top of people. I thought the Meatball app was horrible,the mussels were ok I just don't like spicy . The Calamari was ok. Like I said they didn't have a choice of a small salad for dinner. Can I at least get a Cesar salad? My entree was the Eggplant,I give it a 2 out of 5 it was pesto infused with marinara,WHY? Also I could not even get a side of pasta with marinara with my dinner ,the only choice was Cavatelli.This is a Italian restaurant and no sides of pasta. Not that it was a issue but our entrees came out at least 30 mins after the apps. They were not even busy. I don't see this place lasting the summer the way they do business. All the great ratings are because of the last owner/chef. Like I said I don't mean to hurt the business,I am truly trying to help. Work needs to be done on the menu!The prices were high while the portions were small.

Went back for a second meal. Mauritzio and team provide a wonderful meal and experience. His wine…read morelist and knowledge of global options for wine and liquor is encyclopedic. You won't be disappointed having a meal here.

Ummm, wow. Went to the soft opening of Vette Saturday night and was literally blown away. Food and…read moreservice were both exquisite. This is a huge addition to Livingston's dining scene with a Michelin Star chef manning the kitchen. Pasta and sea bass were both amazing. The only downside was that we didn't save room for the tiramisu which was hand crafted by the chef table side. Add to that a full bar with a few curated craft brews and a killer wine list and ladies & gentleman, we have a winner. A big winner. My only suggestion is to visit them now because when they open for real the place will be jammed.

This is the type of joint I dream about. Old school NY/NJ red sauce Italian food and pizza. Today,…read moreI opted for the mana of the gods, pizza; one white, one plain cheese. Let me tell you, Guy's is pure pizza nirvana. A 16" crust that is perfectly crispy and has a nice chew. Sauce that accentuates the cheese layer above and pays tribute to the tasty crust below. And the cheese, with pull and snap that brings the pie together in a crescendo of pizza magic. And the white pie was equally as delicious with awesome hints of garlic punctuating through globs of perfectly seasoned ricotta. And the folks there are super nice, too. They even called me back the second the pie was out of the oven and held the door for me on my way out. This little hole in the wall is fire!!!

TAKEOUT REVIEW:…read more Normally I'm the food runner/procurer/fixer in our household. However, I've been sick this week so my husband has been taking charge. Last Thursday night, he ordered food from Guys for us. He placed the order over the phone - a large cheese pie and two eggplant parmesan dinners - and picked up at the restaurant. Fast forward 25 minutes later, he walks through our door carrying dinner in his arms. The eggplant parm entrees were packed neatly inside a Supreme Italiano Large Cannoli Shell box - and on top of this was a large pizza box with the cheese pie. We devoured the cheese pie first. The dough/crust was just the right balance of soft and chewy but also crisp. I was full from the pizza, so I just ate some of the entree that night and had the leftovers for lunch the next day. But of course I had to try the food while it was hot and made to order. My husband ate everything and marveled at how good everything was. I know the word unctuous can be polarizing when describing food, but it's what I first thought of after trying their eggplant parm. Here's a definition I found online that captures what I mean: "Within the culinary world, unctuous takes on a whole new dimension, enhancing the sensory experience of food. It refers to dishes that boast a lusciously smooth and velvety texture, often accompanied by a luxurious mouthfeel." Dude, it's like eating delicious eggplant parm clouds - heavenly, soft, fluffy, and flavorful! It's a great comfort-food meal to lift your spirit. FYI - each dinner came with a side of pasta, a small salad, and a cut of bread. Delicious food! Takeout will not disappoint!

Came here on a week day for a late lunch with friends. We started off with a beet salad and rice…read moreballs in an alfredo sauce. Both were good. For our meals - I had chicken franchese (came with roasted baby carrots and mashed potatoes). my friends had chicken on the bone with brussel sprouts and I think potatoes (don't remember the name of the dish), and rigatoni short rib. Oh baby... the food was very good, lots of flavor, nice sized portions, and typically priced. We all took some of our meal home, it was that much. We didn't have dessert, but I had coffee (very bitter, took 2 sips and pushed it away) and one friend had an espresso (this was good). To be fair, our server offered to get me a fresh cup, but I declined. It's still a cute place and service was good (so sorry for forgetting her name!) I would definitely come back.

I really want to give this place five stars, but I've had mixed experiences in terms of service. I…read morehad Angela the first time I went here and she was excellent. She was friendly, but professional and knew the menu well. However, other times the service has been very short. The food is good! We really enjoyed the arancini in the cacio e pepe sauce. Absolutely delicious. The campanelle vodka is amazing too. The sauce is delicious and the pasta is perfect for the sauce. My mom got the house-made cavatelli which was more soup like and she didn't love it. Just personal preference here. We both enjoyed the cheesecake! We loved that they give pizza bread before the meal. We don't love that they only do slices of pizza for lunch if you want to dine-in. Their slices are $5.00 and in my humble opinion, not the best. My mom loved their pepperoni. I had their white and grandma. White was disappointing, grandma was decent, but nothing to write home about. In my review, I would have overlooked some things to give them five stars, but the service is really a mixed bag. One of the servers mansplained what a Sicilian slice was to me. Overall, would recommend but ask for Angela.

This is a local place we tend to go to because of the convenient location. Plenty of parking…read moreavailable in street and in back. This is a BYOB. They always serve complimentary bread and these very tasty marinated carrots. Food here is always good, but rarely great.

Sophia's is a BYOB Italian restaurant in Union county on Morris Ave. There's lots of parking in a…read moreback municipal lot as well as on street. The room is large and well laid out, the settings are white table cloth and a TV providing background music, sometimes a bit too loudly when the restaurant is emptier. It is very crowded, and hard to hear, on weekends and has live entertainment. Service is prompt and efficient. The food is good, but not very good or excellant. Part of this is the competition for Italian food in NJ, especially Essex County, is fierce. At the prices charged, normal range but not outrageously expensive, many other Italian restaurants with simply better food line up ahead of it. Portions are generous, including appetizers. Dishes they do exceptionally well - eggplant parm, Chicken Scarpariello, which is on the bone since that dish simply does not work boneless, the lamb ribs and the rigatoni with roasted eggplant & ricotta. But many others are solid but so much better is available at the same price.

The food and service was amazinggg!! The people were so sweet. The ambiance was . The food came out…read morequickly and was delicious . It was pretty cheap for such fresh food.

I honestly have no complaints about this restaurant. If I ever had to choose my last meal, I'd…read morehappily order it from this menu! Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Huge compliments to the chef and everyone in the kitchen for creating such an incredible dining experience. I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and order the salmon with a citrus sauce and radishes. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm so glad I took the chance. The bright citrus flavors paired perfectly with the salmon, and the radishes added just the right amount of freshness and texture. I wouldn't change a single thing about the dish. The pasta was just as impressive. The sauce was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. It tasted like something my grandmother would have made from scratch--fresh, homemade pasta cooked with love. It had that comforting, homemade quality that makes a meal unforgettable. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, and it was phenomenal. It wasn't overly sweet, which I really appreciated. The texture was incredibly light, smooth, and airy, practically melting in my mouth with every bite. The service was just as wonderful as the food. Our waitress was kind, attentive, and genuinely pleasant throughout the meal, making the experience feel even more welcoming. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, with a modern, elegant aesthetic that creates the perfect atmosphere for a special evening. It's an ideal spot for date night, but I actually dined alone and enjoyed every minute of it. The ambiance was so relaxing that I never felt out of place. This is the kind of restaurant you keep thinking about long after you've left. Between the exceptional food, warm service, and beautiful atmosphere, I'll definitely be back.

Got ourselves an early last minute reservation by calling the restaurant directly…read more Saw the Instagram reels about this place so really wanted to try it. There were four of us and we got the mixed appetizers which were really delicious. Really enjoyed the fact there was a selection to choose from. Truth be told I would have been happy and full with this appetisers and bread. Also ordered two pastas - the linguine and the rigatoni with eggplant. We also ordered a salad with baked cheese in the middle. That dish was also nice and different. Both were fab but we were so full we got half the rigatoni to go. Great addition to Bloomfield Ave. Glad I was able to try it out.

I was honestly stuck between giving this place 2 or 3 stars because there were definitely…read morepositives. The food was delicious, our waitress was kind and attentive, the seating was great, and the overall vibe was really enjoyable. I was genuinely excited to try this place. Unfortunately, while mixing my cacio e pepe, I found a hair in my food. I didn't make a huge scene about it, but finding hair in food is a major issue for me personally. The staff handled the situation professionally -- they remade my dish, didn't charge me for it, and both the manager and waitress personally apologized, which I appreciated. My lower rating is solely because of that experience. That said, I would still recommend this place because the food and service were otherwise very good. I just wanted to share my honest experience with others.