Verana easily climbs into my top Italian restaurant choices! My meal was amazing from start to finish. Foremost, the restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere with lots of greenery and elegant lighting. Our waiter provided top tier service throughout the night. The appetizers we ordered were perfect shareable bites and so delicious. The homemade focaccia was light and crispy. Perfectly toasted! This comes at the start of your meal for all of the tables. I loved the fried calamari, burrata and prosciutto, and the pear salad. I was most intrigued with the mussel flatbread appetizer. It was topped with a light buttery sauce and garlic. Very good! The meatballs were also a standout for me. In addition to an amazing start to my meal, I loved the cocktail options. From various spritz choices to Negronis, you can tell the cocktail menu was carefully crafted. Verana is known for the best chicken parmigiana. Not only did this dish deliver, but the portion size was unreal. Some of my dining party finished it. However, I have amazing leftovers for today. You have an option to get a side of homemade pasta. I went with the spaghetti. All pasta dishes are made from scratch. Other honorable mentions include the pasta normica and bolognese. Moving on to the sweet dessert options! The cappuccino's had a nice and bold coffee flavor. The pistachio gelato and apple tart were music to my ears! So fresh and really hits any sweet tooth. The tiramisu had a nice pairing of coffee flavor and cinnamon. My first dining experience at Verana will definitely not be my last. I can't stop talking about all of the incredible dishes that my family and I tried. Thank you Verana for an incredible meal! read more

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Really enjoyed the food and ambiance. Only negative was it was noisy - not so easy to talk. Started with a cocktail, was solid; had the tuna appetizer and a pasta with truffle/mushrooms. both were fresh and delicious. Had the apple dessert, and really enjoyed it as well. i'll definitely come back. read more

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Verana: "top 30? Restaurants in NJ" yep that checks out. It had amazing food, great service in that it made us feel welcomed and just good vibes all around. I remember the pasta and it was perfectly al dente. The drinks were well crafted also. We had their dessert and that was also decadent. I can't wait to go back! I will likely update this review because while I don't completely remember what I had I remember how I felt when I was there. Thank you Verana! read more

Upscale ambience with reasonable prices. The food was incredible, in particular the chicken parmigiana but even down to the complimentary bread. The service was also great, staff were very friendly. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Nice place. Upscale feel, nice cocktails and wine selections, very attentive service. Small, focused menu with interesting specials. Nice place for a date night. A bit pricey but the overall experience makes that sting a bit less. The fresh, warm focaccia loaf for the table, with whipped ricotta, is excellent! Appetizers for us tonight consisted of the Shrimp Oreganata (good but wish the shrimp were larger), the octopus (fantastic - super tender) and the fresh salad with grilled pear in a hazelnut vinaigrette was also really good! Entrees included their signature Chicken Parm - pounded very thin and the sauce is terrific. and halibut, delicious, and a pasta special. Nice selections of dessert as well and piping hot coffee - more Cafe con Leche than Americano IMO. Again, very nice spot to impress your loved one or celebrate a special occasion in a more intimate setting. read more

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This is has to be one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Northern New Jersey. It's so nice inside and gorgeous. The service is impeccable. The drinks are delicious and the food is amazing. Definitely one of the best duck entrées I've ever had. It was crispy and so flavorful and so tender the chicken Parm is definitely a must order as well. The desserts are gorgeous and I love the homemade pasta. Definitely a great place for any celebration. read more

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Went once in 11/24 and still thinking about that chicken parm. It's so great when you can go to a restaurant and it's so obvious the entire staff are dedicated to giving you a top tier experience. Friendly and informed wait staff and a chef with a kitchen that's sending out 5 star dishes and you can taste the difference. Ambience is so pretty too. read more

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Verana is the total package. The various foods served to our group of four was praised by each of us. The service was excellent. Courses were well timed and the waiter's recommendations were appreciated. As for Ambiance, Verana is beautiful restaurant that rates extremely high compared to other better restaurants in the area. read more

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The experience at Verana was amazing. From the greeting at the door to the service at the bar where we enjoyed our meal. Our server Malcom was attentive but not overly aggressive. Starting with their homemade bread and cheesey spread, to the fabulous gem salad that was dressed perfectly. The star of the show though was the chicken parm that was thin and crispy and not too saucy. This might possibly be THE BEST chicken parm ever! Wine list was amazing along with the after dinner drink. This deserves more than five stars for sure! read more

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ive been dying to try this place and finally got the chance to give it a try. the ambiance is great and the service is excellent. I wish the menu were a bit more diverse but the food is very good. had the duck and it was fantastic though I wish it was served with a starch. this place is pricey overall but worth it. likely would come back again. read more

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The first thing you notice when stepping into this restaurant is how it is decorated with impeccable attention to detail. Even the outside courtyard is perfection. Enjoyed a fantastic meal. Out of our group, the most well liked choices were the Bolognese, duck cooked medium and the chicken Parmesan. Evidently it is rated number 3 in the state. It is the largest piece of chicken breast pounded thin I've ever seen. Even though it was so thin, it was not dry, and the sauce was not too heavy. We did not order any appetizers as we knew they would be bringing out complementary bread. Two huge pieces of crispy loaves soft on the inside and this amazing crust. It is also served with what I believe is a whipped ricotta salted to perfection. They had 4 desserts on the menu that night and we tried 3 of them. All amazing and something for every palette- warm open faced apple tart, chocolate molten cake and blueberry napoleon. There's also a lavish cocktail menu with carefully crafted drinks. They put a unique spin on something familiar. And even with the food and the beverages if there's something that you wish to substitute or change out, they are more than accommodating. Now the prices are not for the faint of heart so be prepared to pay. Our waiter was very thorough and kept checking on us with his delightful Italian accent. Fantastic restaurant and delicious food. read more

Verana - Duck - Italian Near Me - Norwood, New Jersey

The ambiance is as bright as the staff and the food is delightful. Don't pass up the desserts.

This restaurant was one of the ones that we couldn't wait to get to once we found it. The outside of the building is so pretty. It has a nice little patio for summer nights or warm days. Inside was on the darker side, but when we sat down not sure if it was intentional but it got even darker, which made it incredibly difficult to see the menu and see what you're eating (and I'm not even being dramatic). The service was top tier. Our waitress knew all the ins and out of the menu. She had Italian accent which really made everything feel authentic like we were in Italy. The water service was a little lacking felt like we had to hunt them down for more water. The food was incredible! I don't think I've ever loved a places food. Everything tasted amazing. Literally speechless. But if you're a later diner and use uber be very patient because it was incredibly difficult to find an uber at 1030pm & once we did it was over $100 to get back to Nutley. read more

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What should have been a wonderful experience ended up being anything but. After being seated and looking over the menu we gave our waiter our appetizer orders. At the same time the waiter stated that the chef was getting "antsy" and wanted to know our entree orders. We told him that this was a birthday celebration and didn't want to rush. Things went downhill from there. We watched other diners be seated and get bread and appetizers. We waited 45 minutes for our appetizers and bread. Once we finished our appetizers and our meals arrived about 20 minutes after we finished our appetizers we needed to ask 3 times for grated cheese. It never came, but our bill did while we still eating. When the manager was informed, he made no effort to make it right, especially since he knew it was my daughter's special birthday. read more

Verana 530 Livingston St. Norwood, NJ 07648 Bread Oysters East Coast Insalata Romanella Pollo Allá Parmigiana Cappelletti Al Funghi Gelato Sundae As soon as I stepped inside and saw their beautiful interior, my instincts told me I was going to be in for a treat! The bread was definitely on the top tier. Freshly made in house, this starter was lightly toasted on the outside and warm & spongy on the inside. The burrata cream with olive oil was an excellent spread. One of the happy hour specials are $1 oysters. I was initially hesitant to try them as I never really had chilled seafood before. All it took was one sample and I was hooked! I ordered an entire plate and slurped them down! They especially tasted excellent with the cocktail, horse radish, and mignonette sauces! The pollo allá parmigiana was gigantic as it covered the entire plate. The chicken had a thin texture with the perfect amount of breading. The only minor drawback was the upcharge for the spaghetti al pomodoro because this main course does not include a side dish. But as soon as the plate arrived, it won't even matter because the pasta and sauce was freshly made and it sent my taste buds to heaven! Don't be fooled by any pasta containing the name "funghi." All you will find in this succulent cappelletti al funghi are braised mushroom filled ravioli smothered in creamy mushroom truffle sauce. If you are yearning for Italian ice cream, the gelato sundae will fulfill your needs. The chocolate ice cream was covered with hazelnut pieces, caramel syrup, whipped cream with a large wafer cookie in the middle. The sight alone was so beautiful I could have stared at that dessert all night! It was a perfect dining experience. The food is top quality and the servers and management are very cordial. You won't regret it and you'll probably return in a heartbeat. #verana #norwoodnj #italiancuisine #oysterseastcoast #insalataromanella #polloparmigiana #chickenparmesan #funghi #gelato #gelatosundae read more

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2/14/25 Fine dining without the pretentiousness. Everyone was so friendly and greeted us with warm welcoming smiles. The outside is simple modern, the inside is warm, classic but not old fashion. Flowers/plants hanging from the ceiling makes it feel like we are dining near a vineyard, so cute. Taina was attentive. She went through the specials of the day and asked about allergies. She patiently and knowledgeably explained what had dairy and help determine what dishes could be adjusted. Amore Milo has mezcal, it was very smoky Cocomero so good without and with the bourbon Calamari from the specials was delicious, the marinara was amazing Chilean Seabass from the specials was melt in your mouth goodness Veal Chop from the specials was so tender and flavorful Melanzane Fritte (Eggplant) accommodated me by putting the cheese on the side so hubby can enjoy it the way it was meant to be eaten, while I had no dairy experience which was still absolutely delicious, I could have eaten this as a main entree Blueberry Neapolitan was crispy had a light and airy filling with a perfectly balanced sweet and tart blueberry compote (I will never give up dairy in desserts! I'll suffer the consequences later for a good dessert. Lol) All in all we had a lovely meal. Definitely a must visit, special occasion or not. read more

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Came here for an anniversary dinner. Upscale elegant, traditional Italian restaurant vibe. As soon as we walked in the host wished us a happy anniversary and gave us a special menu that had "happy anniversary" written across the top. Our waiter was friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, and explained all the options in great detail. Food was excellently prepared and delicious. The pasta was fresh, made in house, and came with a delectable truffle sauce. The duck was cooked perfectly to medium rare and came with accompaniment of delicious seared mushrooms. The tiramisu was expensive at $22 but was HUGE - can easily be shared between 2 or more people. Overall we had a great evening here and would recommend for a special occasion. read more

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The food was superb. The service very good. The decor, lovely. The noise level- OFF THE CHARTS LOUD! It was so loud we decided to not have dessert or coffee to finish our meal. Would I dine there again? I think so if I could sit outside, otherwise, no. Such a shame. read more

Cannot say enough about this place. Best chicken parm EVER. Drinks are phenomenal. Ambience is gorgeous, perfect for date night. Fresh pasta dishes were on point. Staff was so professional and attentive. Best Italian spot in north Jersey! read more

The food is consistently good; however, the service leaves much to be desired. I had dinner there last Friday with my family, beginning with a small appetizer followed by the main course. While I was still eating my main course--and quite literally still chewing--our waitress came by and asked whether she could clear the table. Before I had an opportunity to respond, she began clearing the table and moving us toward the dessert order. What I find difficult to understand is the rush, particularly given that the restaurant was approximately 70% empty at 7:00 p.m. on a Friday evening. This is no longer the overbooked dining destination it once was, so the experience felt unnecessarily hurried and inattentive. read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in NJ!!! I can't wait to go back, it's a beautiful place. read more

Verana - Italian Near Me - Norwood, New Jersey

Food was terrific but poor & arrogant service ruined our experience recently. Definitely a huge disappointment. More of a takeout type of restaurant since they don't know how to properly serve. read more

This place has a ton of hype around their Chicken Parm, calling it the best in NJ. Quite honestly I have had better Chicken Parms but it was still great! Service was excellent. We also had the Rigatoni with the prosciutto and sausage which was my favorite dish. We shared a Shrimp in a Lobster sauce appetizer which had a interesting flavor that I wouldn't order again. The burrata was also great and was the first time Ive seen someone put strawberry jam on it to give it a mix of a sweet flavor. Overall the expierence and ambiance was great! Definitely check this spot out for a date night with white table cloth services and a small but great menu selection. 4 stars because it was chicken parm was overhyped IMO and shrimp dish didn't taste well. Otherwise service and ambiance is 5/5. read more

This is our go to restaurant in the area. Always fresh, delicious food with top notch ingredients. The service is friendly and they seem to always remember our favorites. Really feels like you are at a top nyc restaurant with more reasonable prices. read more

Third time here and still amazing! We all ordered the chicken parm with added spaghetti bc we are obsessed. We shared TAGLIATELLE ALLA PAPALINA (proscuitto, egg, cream, parmigiano) and the side dish MELANZANE FRITTE (Italian spiced fried eggplant, mozzarella fonduta). Desserts: Tiramisu and warm Apple pastry w gelato. Had the reposada tequila drink and Cabernet wine! Service was great and ambience nice. It was a Tuesday so not loud or crowded! I am def going back when they mark down the Parms to $25 (which we missed by 1 day, dammit!) All good. Fun Yum times! And the Foccacio bread is FREE! So good with the ricotta whip! read more

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This is a plea to keep the pasta Nerano on the menu. It was the best thing we ate, incredible. The drink list was well curated and my wife loved her octopus appetizer. It had sauce on it, different from some of the pics here. The chicken parm was a delicious try since I wasn't in the mood for branzino. Do yourself a favor and save room for the apple crostada dessert. It was easy to make a reservation online and our waiter gave wonderful recommendations. read more

Been to Verana multiple times. The restaurant always looks great. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable without being overbearing. I always enjoy the pasta dishes such as the Bolognese or Truffle pasta. read more

Absolutely lovely restaurant. We sat outside and it was just perfect. Their attention to detail showed complete professionalism. I ordered the Branzino which I have been skeptical about ordering since ordering it in Rome. But I did and it was beyond my expectations. Amanda and Gary watch over the restaurant like hawks. They both made it a point to stop at each table which was a nice, personal touch. The servers and entire staff were complete professionals. We will be back, for sure! Don't miss the blueberry Napoleon! read more

This is a beautiful restaurant that aspires to be an ultimate food destination....and I will say that the food is mostly superb. We started our adventure by splitting both the Burrata with peaches and the Insalata Romanelle. Two very excellent starters, and we finished every bite. My wife had heard from friends that the chicken parm was the best they had ever eaten, so that was her choice. She had never seen it prepared like this (very thinly pounded; it was the size of her plate) and she absolutely loved it. I had the duck breast which was very good and while I enjoyed it, it was nothing special and I don't know that I would get it again. We shared and really enjoyed their dessert special of nutella and espresso gelatos. I had ordered a bourbon on the rocks, and for $16 I was expecting more than a glass half full of ice that looked like they just waved a bottle of bourbon over it. I would say without the ice there was about 1/2 an inch of alcohol, not the standard amount of 2 ounces. I finished it in a few sips. Our waiter provided very good service, but while he was efficient it really seemed that he was just going through the motions. In a fine dining establishment (and especially with these prices) it's not unreasonable to expect a modicum of warmth and personality from your waiter; this gentleman had neither. The last thing I need to address was the level of noise in the dining room, which was off the charts. We had to lean in to be able to hear each other. It is so annoying to be in a fine dining establishment and yet due to the decibel level of your fellow patrons feel that you're at a Chuck e Cheese. Can't blame the restaurant, but it is what it is. All in all, the food was so good that we would go back to Verana, but never on a Saturday night. A weeknight in a smaller room would work much better for us. read more

2/14/25 Fine dining without the pretentiousness. Everyone was so friendly and greeted us with warm welcoming smiles. The outside is simple modern, the inside is warm, classic but not old fashion. Flowers/plants hanging from the ceiling makes it feel like we are dining near a vineyard, so cute. Tiana was attentive. She went through the specials of the day and asked about allergies. She patiently and knowledgeably explained what had dairy and help determine what dishes could be adjusted. Freddy, José & Anthony were super helpful in accommodating us. Amore Milo has mezcal, it was very smoky. Cocomero so good without and with the bourbon. Calamari from the specials was delicious, the marinara was amazing. Chilean Seabass from the specials was melt in your mouth goodness. Veal Chops from the specials was so tender and flavorful. Melanzane Fritte (Eggplant) accommodated my wife by putting the cheese on the side so she can enjoy it without the cheese on top (my wife is lactose intolerant), this appetizer was absolutely delicious, we could have eaten this as a main entree. Blueberry Neapolitan was crispy had a light and airy filling with a perfectly balanced sweet and tart blueberry compote. All in all we had a lovely meal. Definitely a must visit, special occasion or not. read more

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Wow, just wow! We and our friends dined here last night. It was a Friday night at 6:30 PM. The restaurant is located in the beautiful town of Norwood, New Jersey. It's easy to find, it's on a main road and the parking lot was more than adequate. When you walk into this beautifully decorated and elegant restaurant, you are warmly greeted by the staff, all smiles. There are a few different dining rooms, as this restaurant is quite big. The tables are nicely spaced apart, so you don't feel like you're on top of someone, the tables chairs and overall ambience is warm and upscale. They have a fantastic and eclectic menu for food, cocktails, and a very amazing wine list! The service was impeccable, possibly the best I've ever had in my entire life. Our server was Karla R. She was knowledgeable, polite, and it seems all of the staff are well trained, and use very consistent, serving techniques, like wiping the table from crumbs, excusing themselves, our server even apologized for interrupting a conversation and asked if she should come back, of course we didn't ask her to do that. Let's get to the food, simply amazing. My wife had the Caesar salad salad, my friends also had a salad which they loved, I had the eggplant tempura with the spicy honey chili sauce. It was incredible. I had the Capelletti pasta, which was so perfectly cooked and yet melted in your mouth. My wife had the spaghetti with the San Manzano tomatoes, my friend had the pasta with the sausage Ragu, everybody's food was exceptional. My wife and I shared the warm apple dessert alamode,, which was perfect and our friends had the chocolate cake which they said was exceptional. I highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely be back very soon! read more

Absolutely enjoyed all the dishes we ordered but my favorites were the duck secondi entree, the rigatoni with sausage, carpaccio di manzo, and the beet salad. Desserts were delicious too (fresh, light, and flavorful). Chris, our waiter, was an absolute delight. A contemporary style ambiance. The restaurant gets booked pretty quick so make sure to make a reservation. read more

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Not that this amazing restaurant needs any more great reviews or even a second review from me but I couldn't resist! We ate here last night on a Wednesday at 7pm and you would have thought it was a Friday or Saturday night! We got here early to have a few drinks at the bar before dinner. Boy did we get lucky only 2 spots open just for us. When you walk in from the parking lot and step inside you are transported to an elegant but yet lively Italian restaurant! All the cocktails are carefully made by very friendly, professional, and attentive bartenders! I started with the Mambo Italiano - Hendricks Gin, St Germain, Cucumber, Lemon Absolutely delish! My husband had a Tito's and club Now for the dinner! We started with the Insalata Romanella and the Calamari. Both we excellent in their own way. The sauce for the calamari was very tasty but the presentation of the lettuce for the salad was a work of art! Ps the bread and ricotta is superb Main course Cappelletti Ai Funghi - absolute perfection in every way, cooked perfect, just the right amount of sauce and truffle! The chicken parm was enormous but yet it wasn't overwhelming. It made you want to keep coming back for more and more. - must try We opted to get the side of pasta that was nothing short lick the bowl good! We did not save room for dessert but it looked amazing! We had rose and Cabernet with dinner that were the perfect pairing for us! The cosmo and espresso martini were both a great night cap after and amazing meal. Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

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wow, pleasantly surprised at how delicious this place was. i remember when this location was a taco bell, and the exterior a little bit still has that structure. but the reno, even from the prior restaurants that were here (not taco bell haha) is really well done. the only thing is, not great insulation so it does get a bit loud inside the dining room. the bread service (they call it foccacia but not quite...) comes out nice and warm. the pastas we had were all nice and delicious, i could have used a little more al dente, but not overcooked at all. the beet salad was delicious, as was the endive and radicchio salad. the chicken parm was so nice and thin and crispy, loved it. the eggplant tempura side was delicious, but got a little mushy. service was fine, no complaints. definitely would recommend you try this place. probably one of the best italian places in the neighborhood (and that's saying a lot!) read more

The food was amazing. The portions were very large and able to be shared. Even the drinks were tasty.

My friend and I went for dinner on Friday night, and the food was absolutely amazing. The service was good for most of the evening, and we were really enjoying ourselves. Unfortunately, the experience ended on a disappointing note. After we had already paid our bill, we were finishing our drinks when our waiter came over and rudely told us to wrap up our conversation because other guests were waiting for the table. We had only been there about an hour and a half, so it's not as though we had been lingering for hours, which made the interaction feel unnecessary and unprofessional. It was surprising given how great everything else had been. Amazing food, but how guests are treated at the end of their visit matters too! read more

This is an easy one. First time here, 5pm on a Friday evening, and we sat at the bar. Malcolm, the bartender, was absolutely amazing. Introduced himself, and the other 2 bartenders, was fun, and funny, and took great care of us. The restaurant , and bar are nicely decorated, and the food and drinks were fantastic. We had 2 items from the Happy Hour menu, polpettine (meatballs) and truffled Pecorino with honey. They were both large portions, and tasted great. We ordered Vagabondo cocktails, also from the Happy Hour menu, and they were perfectly prepared by Malcolm. We split an order of Chicken Parmagiana from the main menu, and it was the size of a dinner plate, and was delicious. The two of us couldn't finish it. Their tomato sauce is awesome. Can't wait to go back and try some other stuff. read more

First time was very pleasant great service very attentive food was enjoyable had lamb chops as main course , ambience very pretty I will highly recommend recommend I will be back read more

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If you're looking for an elevated Italian dining experience that blends refined red-sauce tradition with modern, thoughtfully executed dishes, this is it. I've dined here several times and have never had anything less than an excellent meal or experience. Be sure to make a reservation, and arrive a bit early -- the bar area is beautiful and the perfect place to begin your evening with a well-made cocktail. read more

What a great bday here tonight. I can't say enough how good the food was today. I have to say the veal parm I had tonight is just as good as Carbones. There I said it. Plus I don't have to drive to city to get it anymore read more

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