Came here on a friend's recommendation and the food is delicious! We order barratta mozzarella appetizer and it's a creamy mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and whatever basil dressing and we paired it with the complimentary Italian bread and butter. Yummy, it is delicious. For entree, I have the breaded chicken with penne vodka pasta and the sauce is so creamy cheesy and yes, very delicious. I had the sangria mocktail since I don't drink alcohol and the drink tastes really good. For dessert, we shared the chocolate smashbox. It's hard dark chocolate on the outside with vanilla ice cream inside and berry drizzle. They called it smashbox because it comes with a small cute metal hammer where you need to smash the top and side of dessert. Overall, everything I had was wonderful. Service is great and I'd definitely would come back again to try other food on the menu. Tip: Parking is available off street and in there is a small parking lot in the back of the restaurant. Reservations can be made online. Menu and daily specials is updated on their website. They have party catered menu and a party sectioned area enough to occupy 30 plus people. read more

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Most tender porkchop I've had in my life. I would come back just for the porkchop. Mozzerella appetizer was ok, nothing worthy of taking away a star. The mozz had to come to room temp to be a little more gooey and needed a touch of salt and pepper. Amazing service, our waiter was awesome. Ambiance is very relaxing and lower lit Italian dining. This place has "soul" which my Father would say cannot be bought or taken. This is my first time dining here and it feels... well comfy with warm food. I will be coming back. Parking is a bit of a fiasco, but hey that's life. Just giving a heads up to anyone venturing to this establishment. My family and I will be returning. The owners must be very proud, I imagine family owned, but cannot confirm. Thank you. read more

Taormina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

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Almost perfection! A quaint, clean sharp restaurant with a beautiful bar --the service was polite and hard-working. The food was fresh and gourmet --Cavatelli in Bolognese was exquisite as were the clams with breadcrumbs. The veal chop was absolutely excellent. It would've got five stars, except for the fact that for the price the servings are a tad on the smaller side, but it will not stop me from returning .this place is a keeper! read more

Food and service was very good, definitely going back, went there to celebrate my wife's birthday, our server was very good. read more

Taormina Restaurant - Tiramisu and cappuccino - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

Had some really delicious food here in a very nice setting with friendly service that for the most part was efficient. For starters we ordered the Hotsy Totsy Shrimp, fried calamari, and the Italiana Salad. All very fresh and tasty. Only issue is we asked for the Hotsy Totsy in a sweet sauce but it came out in a spicy sauce. Our main courses were all wonderful. We had the Pork Chop, Chicken Scarpariello and I believe a Lemon Sole Special. Will definitely go back. read more

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Went on a Saturday night around 8pm. Place was pretty busy. Good sign. Was seated on time. We ordered a drink and a glass of wine. Both were good. Shared the baked calms. They call it something else. It was really good. I had the chicken saltimbocca. Not how its normally served. But it was very good. Also had the special pasta. Wild boar and fettuccine. Felt they missed on that. Thought the meat would be shredded in a red sauce. It didn't taste bad. Just could have been better. Anyway. The place had a nice comfortable vibe. Service was attentive. Prices were fair. I would recommend read more

Taormina Restaurant - Chicken saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

Lovely family restaurant with adequate parking in back. Great food and very authentic cuisine.

Best Italian food in the area. Nice ambiance and good service and a lot of good options to choose from on the menu. Everything is made high quality and fresh read more

this is a beautiful restaurant with outstanding service, delicious food, a hands-on proprietor and the sort of authenticity you seldom see in an Italian restaurant these days. I don't give very many restaurants five stars. I cannot honestly find a flaw in their service, their wine list, or their food that should cost them a single star. read more

About as good as Italian food gets in this area. Hadn't been in a while and forgot how nice - spacious (!), handsome, comfortable. Some outdoor space as well. Tons of staff so good service. Good bar area. This is ideal place for a family gathering, a little older so not young kids unless well behaved. Big menu all the traditional but also creative options, including the cocktails. read more

it was amazing and you get so much food for your money. service was excellent. Highly recommend.

We had another amazing meal at Taormina. Contrary to the off base review from Richard F, the food, drinks and service are always top notch. Indeed, each item that comes to the table is always impeccably done and served with pride. Without any hesitation whatsoever, I can say that if you love Italian food, you should go to Taormina in Kenilworth. read more

Fantastic!!!! The food is delicious, the service is welcoming, efficient and smooth. ive been there several times and my meal is delicious each and every time. There isn't a wait for your food. Service is on point! Drinks are plentiful and it serves a s a perfect spot for date night/mom night/special occasions/business dinner - you name it! read more

Alright, I'm going to do a handy-dandy little breakdown of my family's and my own experience at Taormina tonight. **you do seem to need a reservation right now in order to be seated and not seated in the sun** Outdoor dining: Taormina is located right next to a somewhat busy four-lane highway so it can get kind of loud. They have nifty little tents set up that mostly block out the sun, but they could benefit from some fans out there. Service: Our waiter Sergio was polite and efficient. He, as well as all the servers, wore a mask and gloves. There was one gentleman though who did not wear his mask over his nose and that was a bit off-putting. Food: I ordered the Salmone (salmon, but make it fancy). Honestly, I wasn't very impressed with the flavor profile. It was good for summer that it was a lighter salmon dish -- with tangy balsamic glaze, arugula, mandarin oranges, and fennel -- but I felt that there was nothing that really tied it all together. I ended up ordering more balsamic glaze just to try to make it interesting. I had hoped for more for a dish over $25. Drinks: We weren't handed a cocktail menu, which I thought was a bit odd. I had a vodka cranberry and while it was yummy and nicely sweet, it seemed to be pretty light on the alcohol. Extras: They automatically bring bread and water to the table. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience but nothing stood out as good either. It might be that you need to have a strictly Italian dish to really enjoy your time here! read more

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Would have given a 5 star review if it were not for the obnoxious waiter we had! The food was outstanding. The service was good except for this odd waiter. The bill came and we paid by their gift card. He racked on a credit card fee. When we questioned the charge he said it was a fee for using the card! Really. Your restaurant's gift card is not a credit card. He insisted and not wanting to cause a scene we left. But again the food was excellent read more

Stopped in on the Thursday night for dinner very friendly service the atmosphere is nice the weight staff was attentive had a great meal and some good wine the house Pinot Grigio was delicious as was the house Pinot noir I had the raviolis in a cream sauce that was so delicious we will definitely be back the bread and olive oil on the table was a nice treat as well they have a nice party room to read more

Taormina Restaurant - Homemade raviolis and a cream sauce very good - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

Amazing restaurant! They accommodated a work event and were able to accommodate late stragglers as people continued to join us. The wine selection was excellent we had a bottle of Jean Luc rose And the food was simply amazing. We ordered a bunch of small dishes and appetizers, tripe, polpo , endive salad, lobster ravioli, fried calamari, just to name a few. The service was exceptional and the red sauces that accompanied the dishes were outstanding. Hard to find good Italian food in the area this was very authentic!!! read more

Taormina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

This is one of the absolute best Italian restaurant in Union County! Service is good and the food is amazing!

Stayed in North Jersey pre-NYC Marathon (#hack easy drop Staten Island). Took group of 6 out for pre-race meal - Go carbs! Picked it blind, and we had the best time, even got a jar of the Hotsy Totsy spicy marinara to go. Kenilworth has quaint village vibes. We ate early 6p and dining room felt a little open, but by the time we left, the Irish in me would say "the craic was good.". Our party of six had 1 alcohol drink (I liked it) a few apps, and even an extra plated dish. Total before tip was $300. That's plenty reasonable in my book. Some people like to reserve 5 stars for perfection, and for what we wanted this night, it was perfect. read more

Stopped in while staying in the area and was so pleasantly surprised by this wonderful and thoughtful little family restaurant...the food was delicious and the service was wonderful. I do not live in the area but I will be back for sure ... there was love and pride in everything and that goes a long way with me! I suggest you stop in and pay them a visit read more

I love the food here but the service is a little slow. I don't think they have enough servers!

I would probably rate 4.2 or 4.3 stars if it was an option. Very good local Italian spot with a nice sized bar. Dining room area is nice and upscale but still feels comfortable like you are eating at home! I had one of the chicken specials (forget what it was called) which was served with hot cherry peppers, sausage, and potatoes which was delicious. Everyone else at the table was happy with their food. Service was great. Main courses did take a bit of time to come out but we didn't mind because it gave us some time to chat. The menu does say that everything is made to order so completely understand having to wait for quality and freshness! I will definitely be back to try the pork chop read more

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Pleasantly surprised! Interior felt totally updated (better than the vibe we got from website) and the food was delicious! Great service as well from the bartender who made. A terrific mango martinis to the wait staff who were pleasant and very attentive. We thought the portions were the perfect size. We will happily return! read more

First off if i could give this god forsaken place neg 0 stars I would. We have been coming to this restaurant for couple of years now some hits some misses. Now, the owner sal is a self-righteous he can do no wrong character. If the steak or pork chops come out over or undercooked he'll simply say there's nothing wrong with it and thats it must be our fault. First off in the land of the restaurant business the customer is always right- within reason. I've been to hundreds of restaurants throughout my long time alive and i know quality when I see and taste it. Fast forward, food was sent back and the son (Chris) had the audacity to come out with the food and try to convince me that something must be wrong with me, and that the food is cooked perfectly. Guess what chris! The food was as tough as a Michelin tire! And not cooked the way it was ordered! He continued to explain how his father the great chef- Sal! would be upset if it was sent back. Really? Upset? Wow! So know its the customers fault. I said thats the way it has to be. Later the owner came out to the table and explained in a rude and extremely unprofessional manner, that every time we come there we complain. Not the case buddy! Sorry. Maybe out of 100 times we complained perhaps 7 times. Then aside from that, the bartnder alex doesn't like to fill up the martini glass all the way, 3/4 to be exact. They charge 14.00 for it. Also, waited extra long for our dinner. Never ever will we are any of our family members be back to that God-Forsaken place. Theres hundreds of restaurants to choose from in the NJ area that will actually have consistency in their food quality as well as MGMT that actually treats the customer with respect. After all, the customer is who is paying the restaurants bills. Owner is absolutely a narcissist. Can do no wrong personality. Enter this restaurant at your own risk, just don't send any food back due to its lackluster taste, or it being overcooked. Try it and you'll see what kind of results come back to you. Good riddance to this kitchen/restaurant nightmare. read more

Restaurants like Taormina in Kenilworth, are one of the reasons I still live in NJ.! Not sure why it took us so many years to get here from Summit (only 8 miles away). Recommended by a friend who knows good Italian food. Walked in on a Friday night....typical Italian restaurant in regards to decor. Bar was full of locals....we were seated at a nice table for two in the dining room. Looked at the menu, and knew it had to be good. No chicken parm or baked ziti here......they have paccheri Bolognese (wide flat noodles from Campania) they have chitarra (a maccheroni from Abruzzo).....Pesce Spada (swordfish) and other Southern Italian dishes. My mouth was watering. I could go on and on. We shared spiedini alla romano. Fried bread w/ mozzarella, anchovy and caper sauce. Delish. Old school. I had the branzino, deboned and filleted tableside, with a squeeze of lemon and garlic herb oil for the top. Side of sauteed escarole and potatoes. Simple, fresh, fantastic. Homemade strozzapretti w/ sausage, rapini and white beans for the husband. So good. Desserts were excellent.....Cannoli; Pistacello Cake; and Nasto's Tartufo, which is my favorite memory of childhood (chocolate covered ice cream ball w/ a maraschino cherry inside). Nice wines by the glass, and fantastic server, Judy. A great find. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Overpriced and not worth the money. We ordered 2 pasta dishes and 1 appetizer and it came to $85. My pasta looked like it was covered in cheap shredded cheese that hadn't fully melted and the other pasta dish was full of grease. Ordered the fig appetizer and they did not mention the figs would be swimming in béchamel, which was pretty gross. read more

This is a North Jersey treasure. It's a family operated. Very respectful. It's been in business for over 40 years. Great pizza! Great family! read more

Had a very delicious meal tonight. Sal out did himself. Highly recommend this restaurant. Had a very delicious meal tonight. Sal out did himself. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Oh no, my latest favorite restaurant is getting 2 stars for dinner tonight. I'm hoping it was a one night thing.. maybe it was the cook, only tonight. Had what I usually get, the Carbonara. It was not good, no taste.. even worse the pasta was wayyyy over cooked. The side of pasta my friend had was wayyy over cooked as well. I am Sicilian, we dont eat pasta like that!!!! I will be back... with the thought that this was a one night issue. I'm hoping that's the case cause I enjoyed this place the 4 times I've been there. But not tonight. read more

Everything is amazing ! I live in Kenilworth, and my husband and I LOVE this place ! Everything, from the cocktails (which r very strong I had 1 cosmo & 2 sips of my 2nd & im drunk lol) to the service, to the taste of every app & entree I've had (along with the free pizza) are AMAZING! Also, the prices are fantastic! If you're looking for true Italian food & service, this is the place to be. Also, they are VERY friendly here - you get the real Italian feel. While awaiting our entrees in between appetizers, we always get a free slice of their pizza, (which is delicious). We have great conversation with the owner/staff, even though we aren't exactly "regulars", they make you feel as though you are, which is great! I highly recommend this place if you will be near Kenilworth, NJ -- also, make sure you get an appetizer, entree, & dessert! It's too good not to get! If you have to take food home with you, so be it! Not one bite is worth missing! read more

Taormina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

It's a shame what has happened to this place in the past year or two. Used to be the best Italian in the area, with amazing dishes, skilled waiters and a lovely atmosphere. No more. I don't know what happened (new management?) but now the place has bland cheap decor, wait staff who ask "are you still working on that?" and food that is really below par ... mushy fried calamari, tasteless veal, linguini I could have made better at home...it's so sad. read more

Way overpriced for what it is. Good service and very clean. Otherwise I ordered a pasta dish and it was only a tiny half portion at a full portion price. My friend ordered salmon which snelled and tasted fishy. Friendly staff. Wouldn't go back. read more

Amazing!!! We have been eating there for years and it is hands down the best, most authentic, absolutely delicious Sicilian food in New Jersey! Family owned, chef-owner cooks everything to perfection! Love, love, love! And the best martinis at the bar! read more

The best Italian restaurant we've been to since moving from CT. fantastic addition to Union County. LiverThe menu & food are first rate & the ambience is ideal & matches the quality of the food. Love, love the liver & onions. We were disappointed on finding out it was closed & hope it was just temporary, read more

I've been here many times. If you want home style Italian cooking come here. The owner is the chef the sauces is like my grandma from Italy cooked for me. I had the veal chop dishes, seafood dishes, pasta dishes you can't go wrong with what you choose! Highly recommend anything that comes in a sauce:). I tried all the desserts as well the Sal's homemade cheesecake is outrageous so is the new I believe it's called pingoli dessert the panna cotta is yummy the only dessert I wouldn't recommend is the chocolate cake and I love chocolate but this one needs to be replaced to maybe a lava cake or a chocolate cake with buttercream maybe this one is not good. The service is excellent and the menu is extensive lots of things to choose from which is also a plus. read more

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Great food at a reasonable price. Outdoor seating is limited but we had no trouble getting at table at 6:30!on a Wednesday. Staff is friendly. read more

First visit here not the last. Nice restaurant, good sized bar, tables aren't packed together, parking lot behind and food is delicious. Very nice menu, printed specials and a few extra specials. We shared 3 appys and 2 entrees all very delicious. Good service too. Loved it. read more

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Well this is a terrific spot in Kenilworth! The ambience is so dim & cool too! We started off with the meatballs & burrata appetizers. Then my friend got the fish special, the birthday boy had a steak, my boyfriend had the bolognese (which wasn't his favorite) and I had the homemade gnocchi which was great...especially with their homemade sauce! We all had different wines...all wonderful...can't go wrong there. For dessert we shared the chocolate box, the ice cream inside the dark chocolate was outrageous!!! I couldn't get enough! We all highly recommend trying Taormina! Xoxo read more

Very dissapointed! I ordered there spicy shrimp dish. When it was brought out to me it was a large bowl of pasta with 4 small shrimp. I mentioned to the waitress that I was not happy and that I wanted to speak to the manager. She then said she spoke to the manager and that he would come over or she would come back and let me know. I waited probably a good 6-7 minutes, no one came. I flagged down the waitress and asked what was going on. (I didn't eat any) She said I'm sorry it was out if her hands. I told her I didn't want it. She took it away. The manager finally came over after that. He asked if I wanted to order something different!! I said I didn't want anything and how can you $30 for 4 small shrimp and some pasta. He said that's how we do it here! Very poor customer service!! Will never return!! read more

What a lovely experience in the heart of Kenilworth. The bartender was wonderful and very accommodating too! The bottom line, the food exquisite. Must try the artichoke. From older Jersey folks that know great Italian food. We were visiting family in NJ, from FL and found this place when completely unfamiliar in Kenilworth. The BEST Italian food since we left NJ!!! Thanks for the well missed treat! read more