Matthew Z.

"All that glitters is not gold." While I had high expectations for this snazzy suburban Italian spot, to borrow from Shakespeare, that line pretty much sums up my experience at Sette. Last night, my wife, our friends, and I braved the chaos of Marlboro Main Street's jam-packed strip mall parking lot and finally found ourselves tucked into a cozy corner table amid the Saturday night bustle. Let me start with the positives: the service was outstanding. Any qualms I have about Sette don't reflect the hardworking and attentive staff. From the moment we sat down, our waitress seemed to read our minds--setting out wine glasses to let our red breathe and even providing sphere ice cups for the little BYOB cocktail bar we had going. Impressive touch. Now, onto the food. The menu spans the full Italian-American spectrum--Chicken Parm, Zuppa di Clams, and so on--while also dipping into some more adventurous territory with dishes like Churrasco with chimichurri and a Cookie Butter Tres Leches. Ambitious? Absolutely. But as soon as you glance at the prices, you realize Sette is aiming to play in the big leagues: appetizers in the $20s, pastas in the $30s, and mains climbing from the high $30s to the low $100s. And that's fine if the food can back it up. Unfortunately, it didn't. Here's what we ordered and how it fared: Tre-Color Pizza: Good crust, but the "three flavors" on top didn't taste like much of anything. Fritto di Mare: Probably the best bite of the night--crispy, well-fried seafood with a solid marinara. The zucchini, though, was forgettable. Zuppa di Clams: It's clams in marinara sauce. Nothing wrong, nothing memorable. House-Made Tagliatelle: Fresh Pasta typically takes 2 minutes or so to cook. Somehow they undercooked it. That takes skill, just not the good kind. Short Rib Paccheri: Properly al dente, but for a dish boasting short rib and 'nduja butter, it lacked punch just beef mush without flavor depth. Lobster Ravioli: $40 for six ravioli swimming in a cream sauce that tasted more like water than cream. Hard pass. Churrasco: At $49, we expected a tender, juicy skirt steak. Instead, we got a steak that was chewey, full of gristle, and not prime. The chimichurri, though, was bright and flavorful--maybe the best thing on the table. Crème Brûlée: Fine. Not bad, not great. Cookie Butter Tres Leches: A sleeper hit--moist, flavorful, and probably the one dish that should be a permanent menu item. While I'd typically call this a solid 3-star spot, the sky-high prices ($500+ without alcohol for six people) paired with middling food drop it to 2 stars in my book. If Sette really wants to stand out, they might consider leaning into the South American side of their menu--because the few dishes that shined all seemed to have their roots on that side of the Atlantic.

Richard H.

Nice spot. 2nd time there. Food is delicious. Had PEI mussels in a red sauce for our appetizer that were very good. Wife had Lamb lollipops that were perfectly cooked and delicious. I had the Pork chop which was equally great. Both dishes were meats from Pat Lafreida and perfect cuts of meat. Jonathan was our waiter and he was very attentive to our needs. The restaurant was busy on a Saturday night and packed, so it was a little loud in the main dining room. Last time we were in the back on the side which was a little quieter. Still a great experience. Prices aren't too bad unless you order the aged steaks which can get expensive. Highly recommend.

Roger A.

Listen, I love lively places with a good ambiance. It makes for a fun time. This places gives just that. The seating might get you a bit too intimate with your neighbors back though. The group had two pizzas, clams, spaghetti and a salad. The spaghetti was a bit watery and it was the only disappointment here. However, I am glad and disappointed that I need to get reservations to get good pizza like this. For a county packed with pizzarias they are all cookie cutters places that lack care and no one delivers the quality sette does. I'll definitely be back for their pizza!

Roxanne O.

Tried making a reservation online but the time I wanted wasn't available so I called in and was able to make the reservation. When we arrived, we were seated promptly on their side area. It's a cute setting but the seats are placed way too close to each other. My back was literally against a person's back at another table. We ordered and were given bread while we waited, which wasn't too long. Our dishes came out all at once, so there wasn't much room at the table. We ordered the mussel appetizer with red sauce, the Sette salad, a margherita pizza and a vegetable pizza, the spaghetti vongole with red sauce and a side of truffle fries. The seafood was fresh, the salad was large and the pizza was crisp. It did get a little soggy while sitting there and the margherita pie was slightly too salty. The sauce for the mussels was thick and full of garlic though the red sauce for the spaghetti was a little watery. Truffle fries were perfect.

Jennifer N.

I keep coming back to Sette in Marlboro because the hospitality is just that good--and the food keeps calling me back for more. This time, I was excited to check out their beautiful new outdoor patio and try some of their delicious summer specials, and once again, Sette did not disappoint. We kicked things off with the classic meatballs, followed by the summer-perfect cantaloupe, burrata, and prosciutto appetizer, which was chef's kiss. I'm now fully convinced that crispy prosciutto is the only way to eat prosciutto--total game changer. Next up was the hot honey 'roni pizza, which had the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. Their pizza is consistently outstanding. We also had the short rib, which was tender, hearty, and comforting, and the hanger steak special, served with spinach, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, and topped with a flavorful mushroom demi-glace--each bite was so satisfying. And of course, no meal is complete without dessert. The deconstructed Mille foglie made in house was as delicious as it was fun to eat, and the chocolate mousse was rich and indulgent. Any place whose motto is "feed me pizza and pour me wine" is absolutely my kind of spot--and I'm lucky to have this gem so close to home. Highly recommend you check it out and see why I keep going back again and again.

Ashley B.

I recently visited Sette, a wood fire bistro, for a Friday night dinner. We made a reservation in advance, just in case it was crowded. While the restaurant wasn't packed, there were a good number of tables already occupied. The holiday decorations created a cozy, romantic atmosphere perfect for a date night, and the live music was a lovely touch. The performers played Christmas songs and smooth jazz, adding to the festive vibe. However, the restaurant's small space makes it clear they're trying to optimize seating. This led to the tables being quite close together, which made navigating to our seats and the exit challenging--especially with bulky winter coats. This might not be as much of an issue in the warmer months, but it's worth noting for winter diners. In addition, the table arrangement left something to be desired. Most tables were angled toward the performers to give guests a great view of the live music. Unfortunately, our table (along with two others) wasn't angled, leaving my back to the performers the entire time. With a reservation, I would have hoped for a table with a better view. For appetizers, we ordered the fritto di mare and grilled octopus. The fritto di mare was excellent--the calamari was fresh and perfectly breaded, and I appreciated the extra care in deveining the shrimp. The marinara sauce was a standout, with a subtle hint of creamy cheese flavor that elevated the dish. The grilled octopus, however, was a bit of a letdown. While it was tender and had a nice charcoal flavor, it was slightly overcooked, leaving the outer skin with a slimy texture from the collagen. It was served on a bed of heirloom pumpkin purée with grilled blood oranges. While the purée was creamy and buttery, it didn't taste like pumpkin, and the flavors of the dish didn't blend harmoniously. It felt like each component was competing rather than complementing. For our entrée, we really wanted to try the pizza, as that is what Sette advertises itself for. We chose the arugula pizza, expecting the thin, crispy, yet chewy crust that wood-fired pizzas are known for. Unfortunately, the pizza was a major letdown. The crust was soggy and sopping with liquid and moisture. I'm not sure if it was the toppings or the preparation, but it didn't live up to the expectations of a wood-fired pizza. I'm unsure if these missteps are due to Sette recently opening and still finding its groove or if this is just how it is. I do plan to return in the summer once they've been running for a few months. Hopefully, with more time under their belt, the experience will improve, and I'll give another pizza a try to see if the outcome is different. Overall, Sette offers a cozy ambiance with thoughtful touches like live music and festive decor. While some dishes stood out, there were several areas that left room for improvement.

Amanda P.

I was truly impressed with my experience at Sette! We came on a Saturday night and honestly I am shocked they were not more packed. We made a reservation in advance and were seated right away. They do a have a bit of a large menu so there is truly something for everyone. We opted for a pizza for the table and the truffle ricotta, they were both crowd pleasers. The whipped truffle ricotta was a great portion; the focaccia was light and airy and the ricotta had just the right amount of truffle that it was not overpowering. The pizza dough was also light, and they did not skimp out on the toppings. As for entrees, we all opted for a pasta dish and everyone loved theirs. The carbonara was creamy, and had the perfect hints of salt from the crispy guanciale. As for dessert, the cookie butter tiramisu is a must try. I really liked how they had such a large range even for the dessert menu. Our waitress was kind and attentive, she was sure to make note of the specials for the night and made us feel welcome during our first time dining here. To note, this place is BYOB, they do serve select wines and they have a menu of mocktails. Our waitress let us know that you can also bring your own liquor that you can add to your mocktails! We brought a bottle of wine and were not charged a corkage fee which was nice. Overall, I would highly recommend Sette for your next date night, family outing, or girls date!

Melanie B.

This a a BYOB restaurant specializing in their homemade brick oven pizza and pastas. The staff was very accommodating and attentive. Although it was a very busy night, they did not rush us as we wanted to enjoy a three course meal of appetizers entrée and dessert. Highly recommend for a date night or family outing.

Patricia Z.

Wow! Everything was fantastic. The place is situated near Cuzins. Ample parking. Its byob. There was music and the decor and vibe were great! Our server Meredith was fantastic and the food was excellent. We opened with the meatballs and a vodka pie. Would definitely recommend!

Karen G.

Great food. Love the branzino fish. I will be back again definitely . I come on weekdays, so it wasn't so cramped.

M J W.

Lovely new restaurant in Marlboro. Sette is tastefully decorated and looks beautiful for the holidays. Service was excellent & attentive. Our server Taylor was polite and well versed on the menu. She recommended the TreDimensione Pizza (3 kinds) which was terrific. Spaghetti Vongole with white sauce was good. Lovely night with good food and relaxing vibe. I loved the playlist! Will go back.