Absurdly good. This place has been a staple in the area for a long time, and they really make the…read moremost of their space. The strip mall itself isn't anything special, but the surrounding area is beautiful , and once you're inside, the restaurant feels warm and inviting. The food is fantastic, and the variety on the menu is impressive. The chef clearly knows what they're doing because every single dish we tried was genuinely delicious. It's the kind of spot where you can't go wrong: date night, dinner with friends, or anything in between. We brought our own bottle and had a great time. Our waiter was super knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. The staff even joked around with me when I forgot my to‑go bag, and yes, I absolutely took it home because the food is that good. I also appreciate that they don't act like offering takeout is beneath them; even the takeout bag was nice. I honestly wish my meals were this good every night. I hope everyone who works here is paid well and enjoys what they do, because they're running the place exactly how a restaurant should be run. It feels like a true community staple somewhere that transports you a bit and makes the whole experience feel special. Lovely all around.

Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people…read moreabout--because then you'll have a harder time getting a table. Luca's Ristorante is a hidden gem that proves you should never judge a restaurant by its parking lot. Not long after we were seated, we were greeted by Luca -- a Luca and not the Luca. Still he was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about his restaurant, taking the time to walk us through the menu and checking in throughout the meal without ever hovering. Luca's has a partial liquor license, offering a modest wine selection but is otherwise being BYOB. As we were told with a smile, they're much more interested in what's ON your plate than what's IN your glass. We started with two excellent appetizers. The arancini, already a family favorite, were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and disappeared from the table faster than anyone was willing to admit. The Polpette, Luca's signature meatballs with pine nuts and raisins, certainly earned the praise they've received from NJ.com as some of the best in the state. Even if raisins in meatballs sound unusual, trust the process. The restaurant proudly calls itself "A Taste of Ischia," the beautiful volcanic island in the Bay of Naples, and the seafood absolutely lives up to that promise. My squid ink pasta with octopus (the Polypus) was outstanding, with perfectly tender octopus and beautifully balanced flavors. The scallops were buttery, sweet, and cooked to perfection, while the Ischia -- loaded with mussels, clams, and calamari -- was every seafood lover's dream. The rest of the menu proved just as impressive. The Pappardelle, featuring burrata and a rich Bolognese sauce, was a huge hit, while the Romolo, a comforting combination of chicken, pasta, bacon, and sauce, was another winner that had no leftovers to speak of. If you somehow still have room after dinner, Luca's offers a nice assortment of gelato. But do yourself one favor: don't leave without ordering a cappuccino. Rich, foamy, and expertly made, it's the perfect finale to a memorable meal. If you find yourself in Somerset, just a few turns off Routes 287 or 1, make the stop. You'll be greeted by a wonderful staff, treated to outstanding food, and very likely leave wondering how a restaurant this good has been hiding in a strip mall all along.

The Italian food here feels cozy and homemade. The owner also came out to play the piano for my…read moredad's bday and sing classic Italian songs. Service: the owner and his wife serve the restaurant. They're both so friendly and welcoming. At times the service can be a bit slow since it's mostly the two of them are serving the dining area Risotto with sausage- this was on the specials menu! Huge portion and the risotto was creamy, buttery with fragrant truffle Caserecce alla norma- aldente pasta, fresh eggplant flavor Bruschetta- simple with fresh basil, tomatoes and crusty bread

TLDR: tasty food, wonderful atmosphere, and exceptional hosts, though a bit pricey…read more Da Filippo Autentica Cucina Italiana is a cozy space decorated with traditional Italian flare centered around a piano. Upon entering, each guest is warmly greeted by the host / waitress as family and seated. Each table is served house made bread before the meal. The special of the night, pork rolls stuffed with herbs and cheese was hearty and wonderfully cooked. The plate was delicious, but at around $40 it was a bit pricey for the portion. There was a birthday while our party was dining and the owner led the restaurant in singing a birthday song accompanied by piano and followed it up by playing some classic Italian songs afterwards. The service was wonderful and each guest was personally greeted and thanked upon leaving the restaurant. It's clear that the restaurant is well loved by locals and the owner. If I was celebrating an occasion area I would likely come by.

Fabulous food, staff and service! We held a party here…read morerecently for 50 people and it was great! Everyone raved about the antipasto and different dishes. Beautiful ambiance and very attentive staff. Highly recommend!

Very good, very nice ambience, friendly waiters, and the food was exceptionally good. I will be…read moreback!

Went here for. Birthday dinner . I went here few years back and we loved the atmosphere before …read more This time , atmosphere wise it was average . As much as they have good interiors , they packed all crowd in the same large room even though there was so much space in the other area and hence the ambience was very average . Too noisy too. Service was top notch .. lots of parking available . Location wise it was super good . I just love the food here . Eggplant parm was top notch . Quantity was so much .2 persons can easily eat one plate of eggplant parm. Loved the cheese garlic bread . It was different . Their marinara sauce is the best ! Salad was also tooooooooooooo good ! Loved the flavor and aroma ! Cheese ziti was mid . It was ok .. they brought a small bday cookie with a candle and it was super awesome to see the service . Price wise not too expensive for the place . Great experience overall. 4 stars

We came to Maggiano's Little Italy in Bridgewater to celebrate a birthday with a group of about…read more15-20 people. We called ahead, and the restaurant gave us a quote and helped us set up a prix fixe family-style menu with several options for each course, which made everything easy for a large group. The service was excellent, especially considering the size of our party. The food came out smoothly, and the staff was attentive throughout the meal. On to the food - The bread was incredible warm, soft, and so good that I ended up taking some home. Food highlights: - The calamari was crispy, tender, and one of the best appetizers we had. - The salmon was another winner. - The chicken parmesan was soft, steak, and other entrees were all solid and everyone at the table seemed happy with their meals. The biggest surprise was dessert. I expected the tiramisu to be my favorite, and it was very good, but the standout was the warm apple crostata (apple dessert) served with vanilla ice cream. I totally ate more of that than i should. It was absolutely delicious and ended up being my favorite dessert of the night. Overall, Maggiano's did a fantastic job accommodating a large birthday celebration. I'd definitely return for another special occasion.

The food is absolutely delicious. We had a duck appetizer that was so unique and delicious. It was…read moresuch a pleasure to see a menu without all the same old choices. Our favorite part of the evening was our sweet server, Ashley. She was so personable, friendly, experienced and smart. She treated us like we were VIP's. We need more people like her in the world.

Came here on a Saturday night with two friends on our way back from a brewery up north. The…read morerestaurant was decorated with such beautiful and fun interiors. There were flowers everywhere and the overall atmosphere gave off homey European restaurant vibes. The wait staff also dressed very nicely. We got a bruschetta to share and I got the Italian sausage pasta while my friends got the short rib ravioli special and the eggplant parm. The dishes are so filling and flavorful. What stood out was the nice and the flowery presentation. The service was very friendly and fast. It's such a gem and I'm very glad we discovered this place. Will definitely come back to try more dishes as well as the drinks and desserts!

We had a great experience here. The food was good and very fairly priced for Italian cuisine. It's…read morenot a huge restaurant, but it has a cozy atmosphere with a nice ambiance. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and gave us great recommendations that didn't disappoint. It's also BYOB, which we absolutely love - it makes for an even better dining experience. Plus, there's a private lot, easy to park and will be back.

The Russo family did a phenomenal job hosting my Mom's 70th birthday party. They were so courteous…read moreand friendly on the phone with planning and answering any questions my family or me had. The food (drinks, appetizers, salad, main courses and desserts) were all so delicious! The staff was super friendly and efficient in delivering food and clearing out finished dishes. My mom and all her friends and family had a spectacular time. Highly recommend this place for a family dinner or your next event!

The food was excellent. The service and the prices were excellent. It was just an excellent time.read more

This restaurant has a ton of seating and was easily able to seat our large group. There isn't music…read moreso it was easy to hear and talk to everyone. It's great for small or large groups! The service is quick too, I felt like our food came out quickly for the size of our group. One thing to note is that this restaurant is BYOB. The food - it was okay. The eggplant rolatini was fine, although I think the eggplant was sliced a little thick for the dish. The lobster ravioli sauce was good, but the ravioli itself was extremely thick (the pasta part). It felt like more ravioli than lobster. I was really excited about the tri color pizza, it sounds so yummy with all the sauces! I was disappointed to see that the stripes however are all of the 3 sauces you get. So I felt it really lacked in sauce. What I think should have been done, is thick stripes of the sauce, cheese on top, and then the stripes for the plating. My sister got the pesto pizza and the also complained that there was a lack of sauce. Overall, I think this restaurant is okay. I'm not really sure I would be back as there are other pizza places in the area where I've had better pizza.

First and foremost Dolly made my birthday amazing. Amazing date night and family dinner spot. BYOB…read moreand valet so you don't have to go crazy trying to find parking(bring cash for tips). The appetizers like the meatballs are a must and they go perfect with the bread). The platter is a popular dish so expect a 45 min wait. Other than that great place to get good eats. Oh and go early if you're going on a weekend because it's a made house.

steak was phenomenal, pasta was cooked very well, and it didn't take too long. Service was great…read moreand so was the restaurant experience as a whole.