Enzo's is a hidden gem! Date night enjoyed with great food and incredible service. We had the…read moreCaesar salad, meatballs, Veal Milano, Parpadelle Funghi, and lemoncello marscapone cake for dessert. Perri the owner was so accommodating and so lovely... you feel like you're dining with family.

What a treat! My husband and I travel quite a bit, and we love finding little gems like Enzzo's…read more The food is out of this world. Perri was an absolute delight. She works the dining room like you're a guest in their home and takes such good care of everyone. BYOB is a fantastic little perk, too! We can't wait to come back and work our way through the whole menu!

Elegant and cozy Italian restaurant in the heart of Maplewood, boasting homemade pastas, pizzas and…read moretraditional Italian entrees. Service is warm and accommodating. Quality of food is top notch. Ordered a pasta dish with roasted eggplant, garlic and basil in a tomato based sauce. It was savory, and eggplant was very tender. I also tried some of the chicken parmigiana (crispy with perfectly cooked pounded chicken cutlet) and margherita pizza (thin crust and melt in your mouth cheese). Wonderful dining experience!

I attended a baby shower here over the weekend. I was immediately impressed by the simple elegance…read moreof the dining room. The staff gave ample time for my family and I to say our hello's before greeting us with drink options. Upon sitting down our server brought us fresh bread and butter with flakey sea salt on top. For appetizers we had The Ralph Piccolo Pizza, Ricotta Crostini, Cacio E Pepe Fries, and Prosciutto Di Parma. All were insanely incredible. Great flavor, crispy where it needed to be crispy, soft where it needed to be soft. For my entree, I had the Crest De Gallo Pasta. The pomodoro sauce was on the savory side. It was a set menu and I am vegetarian, it was my option. It was good! I would love to return to try the Spicy Vodka Sauce Rigatoni. I am a spice lover. For dessert I had the most wonderful, rich, smooth chocolate mousse. The dish was called The Chocolate Spuma. It came with crumbled pistachios and fresh raspberries on the side of it. The flavors and textures together were perfect. The staff were so kind, had great humor, and fabulous manners. They held themselves very professionally. The head server for the event and the manager were lovely. I just had to pull the manager to the side and compliment all. I live 1.5 hours away but I would gladly book a weekend trip up to Maplewood, just to eat here again.

Disco ball, bakery, pizza...what can go wrong? Absolutely nothing. As for the pizza, It's kinda all…read moreabout the dough, though the toppings were almost equally delicious. There may be a line but there's an outside area (on nice days) to accommodate the wait. There's also a happy face flag at the construction site next door - reassurance that the pizza will be alright.

No reservations, crushed stone parking lot in the back or parking upfront on the street. Service…read morewas pleasant, and they were also cleaning up broken glass when some kids dropped that. Service was ok - we had a big group of 10 so it was a bit to wait on getting a table (since no reservations, waited on enough space). The spicy marinara pasta was "mid" per my kiddo, and the margherita pizza was too salty. The food is sourced from a local farm coop who was handing out some samples if you wanted to get the boxes from them. Nice spot, felt a bit like a gastropub, but food could've been better.

This place is so good. Everyone we eat in or do take out, the food is fresh, tasty, and piping hot…read more Everything we had tonight was excellent. Did not remember to take pictures of the fried calamari and garlic bread, as we ate them all in a short time. Service was not bad. The kitchen/cook deserves all the praise. Highly recommend!

That pasta here is made fresh and is very tasty. You add your own toppings for an additional…read morecharge, but there are deals in place (buy 2 get 2 free). The owner was friendly. My penne pasta with fresh mozz and veggies was delicious but the garlic bread was forgettable. I also tried to eat there a 2nd time but the owner told me he couldn't cook for the next hour due to the fire department's order or something like that? I had to walk out and eat at a competitor's restaurant which was a letdown.

Service was great. Ambiance okay a little dark. Food and wine very disappointed!…read more way too much oil on branzino with not much flavor. The olive oil didn't seem like great quality. The broccolini was sautéd dripping in oil and tasted like vinegar. I sent it back and got steamed veggies. Worse tasting Chardonnay I've ever tasted. Very bitter and dark. I won't to again. I cook better.

NOTE: Basilico is primarily BYOB, but has started to offer a very limited assortment of wines…read more Basilico is established, well-regarded in the realm of reasonable-yet-up-scale Italian dining in the Essex/Union county area, and rightfully so. I recently visited to celebrate my mom's birthday on an early Saturday afternoon. The food was spot-on and the service was very attentive. The atmosphere is nothing too over-the-top, but classy. A solid 'occasion' destination. We were first treated to a bread basket with an assortment of fresh breads and focaccia, with a trio of dips/spreads (a tomato/red pepper-ish dip, butter, and a bean dip). So good, we had to get a second basket! Annnnd onto the apps - we (a party of 6, 2 of which were kids), we ordered/shared the: Tartare di Tonno (Wild tuna tartare with cucumber, homemade chips - $17.95) - amazing, very fresh and believe it had some sort of dijon mustard kick that really took it over the top Calamari Fritti (Fried calamari with marinara sauce - $15.95) - crispy and served with a nice marinara sauce. Polpo alla Griglia (Tender charred Spanish octopus, chick peas, julienne carrots, string beans, radish, parsley, lemon, extra virgin olive oil - $20.95) - the octopus was perfectly cooked, and the chickpeas/carrots, etc., added some delightful brightness to the dish. For my meal , I opted for the trout stuffed with crab meat, capers, roasted potatoes and broccoli. The trout with crab meat was delicious and a nice sized portion as well. For dessert, we all shared the: Apple Cobbler (Served warm with cinnamon ice cream - $13.50) - absolutely divine! Probably the best one of the lot. Baked Alaska (ce cream, almond pound cake and baked meringue - $13.50) - fiery presentation and all, this one did not disappoint! Tartufo Trio (A trio of chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut semifreddo - $13.50). All in all, Basicilo is a neighborhood Italian institution, and rightfully so. Definitely worth keeping in the rotation and considered for occasions.

Came to celebrate a birthday dinner here and it was DELICIOUS! Everyone in our group enjoyed their…read morefood. For appetizers, we ordered calamari, eggplant, and burrata. The eggplant was honestly some of the best I ever had. I appreciated that it was crispy and fresh, rather than soggy as it can be at most restaurants. Three of us went with the chicken parm, of course. It's a huge size with table side melted cheese. (Of course we took home leftovers). Kudos to the server for knowing at least one person would want to record it. I probably had three meals out of mine. My husband opted for the spicy vodka sauce, which he enjoyed, though next time he'd opt for extra peppers to make it spicier. We made a reservation which I highly recommend. Service was quick and friendly. It felt very cozy without feeling crammed. I look forward to returning.

I enjoyed my visit to Cara Mia. We came as a party of 9 for my friends birthday. Upon sitting, we…read morewere given a plate crostinis with bruschetta and cheese and thinly sliced fried zucchini. The zucchini was a bit soggy. The bread a bit soggy too. I got the spicy vodka chicken parm. For $36 it is a massive piece of chicken with a small amount of pasta, and absolutely worth the cost! They bring out the dish of hot melty sauce and cheese and pour it over the fresh cutlet. I enjoyed my entree. The cutlet had no yucky bits, and was breaded perfectly. I couldn't say enough good things about the spicy sauce, too. I loved the spice. The appetizers and desserts were also fantastic. The spicy garlic shrimp and calamari were good. And the tartufo my mom and I split for dessert was great, next time I'll get the tiramisu, my personal favorite. Fed me for 2 meals. Recommend a reservation as it's small and gets crowded. It was a bit warm inside on a Friday night.

Frequent visitor to boccone Host and chef (and of course…read morethe food) full of life and personality it's a wonderful restaurant Some part of menu is fixed but delicious and terrific like chicken fantasia and salmon Then specials like mango salad and a mushroom with cheese which is unforgettable and should be on the regular menu Bread pudding is a must too! Chef will accommodate for vegan and vegetarian too!

Oh my goodness, how come I did not eat at this restaurant until tonight?…read more We were greeted by Nick. Then Silvio the owner came by to give us all the specials for tonight. We ordered the portobello mushroom with balsamic vinegar and goat cheese, veal chop, black ink linguine with sea scallops and baby shrimp, and bread pudding. Everything was so delicious! Service was top notch. Price was reasonable given how delicious the food was. We will be back! Highly recommend.

My husband and I went to Eataly inside the Mall at Short Hills last Friday night…read more We parked our car in the open lot close to Morris Turnpike, so we entered the mall through the Eataly Restaurant side. We mostly browsed the marketplace. Everything is well merchandised. You may end up spending time looking around at the different Italian foods and specialty grocery items. We later grabbed a slice of pizza and a lemon soda for dinner. The guy working the pizzeria counter was friendly. The pizza was delicious! There are various types of seating towards the front by Eataly's interior mall entranceway. We picked a small two-seater table. Looking forward to next time when I will try their gelato and pastries :)

I always used to watch Lydia's cooking show, even when her mother dressed only in black! Decades…read moreago. I remain in awe of the empire she and her family have built. Love being able to go to Eataly now in Short Hills Mall. Finally tried a big square of the pizza inspired by Cacio E Pepe. Mangia! So good. Busy server warms it up. Nice tables.' Also bought some decadent chocolates, two bottles of wine, and a cool mocktail for the evening. Easy one stop luxury food shopping! Love it!

Hands down, one of the best Italian restaurants in New Jersey…read more From the moment you walk into Fiorino, you feel genuinely welcomed. Everyone greets you with a smile, and there's a warmth to the hospitality that makes you feel less like a customer and more like family. This past Friday night, I had one of the best dinners and overall dining experiences I've had in a very long time. Mentor has done an outstanding job creating something truly special here. The service, food, wine, atmosphere, and hospitality all come together seamlessly. The ambiance is cozy, intimate, and full of energy. The dining room always seems to be buzzing, and you immediately understand why. The cocktails are always a hit, but the wines... oh, the wines! There are some incredible bottles to discover, along with an excellent selection by the glass. If you appreciate wine, this is definitely a place where you can have some fun exploring. Every dish that hit our table was spectacular. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, from the pasta to the entrées and all the little details in between. There wasn't a single miss the entire evening. And now I apparently need to come back for the "Happy Meal" . As someone who works in the hospitality industry, experiences like this mean a little more to me. When you dine somewhere where the food hits, the drinks hit, the service hits, and the hospitality feels genuine, it reminds you exactly why you fell in love with this industry in the first place. Thank you, Mentor, and thank you to the entire Fiorino team for an unforgettable night. I can't wait to come back. -- Jeffrey Umaña @jeffrey.umana

Great authentic Italian spot! The menu features a lot of fresh, daily specials and an impressive…read moreselection of seafood dishes. We especially loved the shrimp risotto, it was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The pasta fagioli soup was also excellent and tasted very homemade and comforting. This place is clearly a local favorite because it gets extremely busy, so I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. Would definitely go back!

Chatham location opened in 1995 with other locations in Tribeca and Montville, NJ. It's in a 1740s…read morefarmhouse offering Northern Italian style dishes. I first heard about it from a friend and nearly missed it because the place looks like a private home on Main Street. I love that they offer a 4 course prix fixe menu for $72 which really differentiates itself & offers genuine authentic Italian meals without the Italian American twist so many places lean on. The service was also amazing. AMAZING spot for a family dinner or to impress the parents.

We had a great dining experience! Our server, Gus, was extremely attentive, pleasant, and…read moreknowledgeable. He gave us excellent recommendations throughout each course, and everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The wine selection was also very good and complemented the meal perfectly. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. The only hiccup was the parking situation. Valet was extremely busy, although the attendant was friendly and doing his best to keep things moving. I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to park yourself, as space is very limited. Overall, great food, great service, and a wonderful experience. I would definitely return!