This is one of those great restaurants that you only find out about through your local friends. We travel 1.5 hours from PA to get here to meet our longtime friends and have great food. Service has always been top notch, as if you knew the owner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Barbara Dul
Table side chicken parm is the way to go!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Martin Lindner
Mimi and Fabiola were warm, excellent servers that took care of all our requests promptly The food was delicious and huge portions Veal and chicken Marsala were outstanding and the tartufo and crème brûlée were perfect to finish an amazing meal I would highly recommend this fine restaurant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rebecca Ryan
The staff is so kind and attentive. It is some of the best Italian food I’ve had in NJ. The service is great. The ambiance is wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robert Louis
I was really looking forward to dining at Cara Mia to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, but unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing. We were served calamari with hair in it — completely unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone one that positions itself as upscale.
When we brought it to the attention of the host, all we received was a brief, insincere apology before they walked away without offering any solution or taking accountability. No manager came over, no offer to replace the dish or even to remove it from the bill. It felt like they just wanted to brush the issue under the rug.
A genuine apology and some basic customer service would have gone a long way. Sadly, based on this experience, I won’t be returning — and I wouldn’t recommend it to others either.
Call me, Maybe?
Worst (and saddest) pasta I have ever had! I asked for white sauce and instead they filled half of my pasta with olive oil. I was honestly so disgusted and too embarrassed to ask for a refund or replacement.
Edit: this was the leftovers I took home
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
NB
We has reserved another restaurant in the downtown Millburn area to meet friends for dinner, but when we arrived there, it was too crowded and noisy, so we chose to come to Cara Mia. Although we've lived in Millburn for many years, we've never been here and I was pleasantly surprised - the food was very good, with a nice menu selection and the atmosphere was nice. We were able to have a nice conversation with our friends without having to talk over other patrons' voices, the music was soft and in the background, the ambiance was nice and the food was very good.
Our friends enjoyed the tricolor salad, while we shared the endive salad. I'd have preferred a bit more dressing on the endive salad. We had 2 beef specials, the spaghetti carbonara and ravioli. To end our meal, we enjoyed the carrot cake and chocolate cake.
Our waitress wasn't very friendly, but she was attentive. BYOB - we will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Rodrigo DaSilva
Great restaurant! I have been there three times and every time was amazing. The place has a very cozy atmosphere, great food and service, and on top of that is BYOB which I love. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Burrata
Courtney
My friend & I wanted went for her birthday and this place end up being perfect! I normally don't pay attention to the specials but I had the waitress repeat it because I wanted to try something new. Best decision I made!!! This was so delicious! I had ordered one for my friend & a few weeks later got it delivered home! Wonderful service in house and delivery! Beautiful team! Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt Hughes
My girlfriend and I just stumbled upon this hidden gem in Millburn. The food was phenomenal. The service was so friendly, they gave us amazing treatment, and the dining room itself is beautiful. The bread is so nice, the butternut squash soup was delicious, and my pasta was perfect. I am very much looking forward to coming back and trying the desserts, which looked so good!
Great food and service . Perfect spot before going to Papermill Playhouse.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Artem Mordashov
Beautiful small restaurant with cozy environment, great managed, waiting stuff is great and the food is amazing. Ossobuco was very tasty. Cheese stuffed figs were delicious, subtle taste, melted in mouth. Calamari were great, texture was amazing. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Fairbanks
I used to LOVE coming here, however something has seriously changed recently. Rob the maitre'd is gone and the whole vibe is completely off. He was the life of that place and the owners must be seriously unwell if they let him go. I've sent so many people here because I knew that even if the food wasn't 100%, Rob would make them have an amazing time. It's really a shame when owners exploit the talent of their employees and don't treat them accordingly. I won't be back and I won't be sending anyone to Cara Mia again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Nicole Boodram
My husband & I had dinner date last evening.. what a delicious meal! The garlic shrimp by far are the best we have had! Salads were fresh and spot on! My husband got the fish special which was fresh and flavorful! I have the chicken special - was cooked perfectly and full of flavor! They catered to my husband’s dietary needs also! Thank you! Restaurant is quaint and reasonably priced! Staff was warm and friendly. Service was spot on! Can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Davison
Rob is awesome! Thanks for bringing back the bruschetta (commonly ordered as an appetizer), but Cara Mia serves it complimentary. Staff is well trained; thank you for memorizing every ingredient/food item on the menu!!!
This is one of those great restaurants that you only find out about through your local friends. We travel 1.5 hours from PA to get here to meet our longtime friends and have great food. Service has always been top notch, as if you knew the owner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Table side chicken parm is the way to go!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mimi and Fabiola were warm, excellent servers that took care of all our requests promptly
The food was delicious and huge portions
Veal and chicken Marsala were outstanding and the tartufo and crème brûlée were perfect to finish an amazing meal
I would highly recommend this fine restaurant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff is so kind and attentive. It is some of the best Italian food I’ve had in NJ. The service is great. The ambiance is wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was really looking forward to dining at Cara Mia to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, but unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing. We were served calamari with hair in it — completely unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone one that positions itself as upscale.
When we brought it to the attention of the host, all we received was a brief, insincere apology before they walked away without offering any solution or taking accountability. No manager came over, no offer to replace the dish or even to remove it from the bill. It felt like they just wanted to brush the issue under the rug.
A genuine apology and some basic customer service would have gone a long way. Sadly, based on this experience, I won’t be returning — and I wouldn’t recommend it to others either.
Worst (and saddest) pasta I have ever had! I asked for white sauce and instead they filled half of my pasta with olive oil. I was honestly so disgusted and too embarrassed to ask for a refund or replacement.
Edit: this was the leftovers I took home
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
We has reserved another restaurant in the downtown Millburn area to meet friends for dinner, but when we arrived there, it was too crowded and noisy, so we chose to come to Cara Mia. Although we've lived in Millburn for many years, we've never been here and I was pleasantly surprised - the food was very good, with a nice menu selection and the atmosphere was nice. We were able to have a nice conversation with our friends without having to talk over other patrons' voices, the music was soft and in the background, the ambiance was nice and the food was very good.
Our friends enjoyed the tricolor salad, while we shared the endive salad. I'd have preferred a bit more dressing on the endive salad. We had 2 beef specials, the spaghetti carbonara and ravioli. To end our meal, we enjoyed the carrot cake and chocolate cake.
Our waitress wasn't very friendly, but she was attentive. BYOB - we will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Great restaurant! I have been there three times and every time was amazing.
The place has a very cozy atmosphere, great food and service, and on top of that is BYOB which I love. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Burrata
My friend & I wanted went for her birthday and this place end up being perfect! I normally don't pay attention to the specials but I had the waitress repeat it because I wanted to try something new. Best decision I made!!! This was so delicious! I had ordered one for my friend & a few weeks later got it delivered home! Wonderful service in house and delivery! Beautiful team! Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My girlfriend and I just stumbled upon this hidden gem in Millburn. The food was phenomenal. The service was so friendly, they gave us amazing treatment, and the dining room itself is beautiful. The bread is so nice, the butternut squash soup was delicious, and my pasta was perfect. I am very much looking forward to coming back and trying the desserts, which looked so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and service . Perfect spot before going to Papermill Playhouse.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful small restaurant with cozy environment, great managed, waiting stuff is great and the food is amazing. Ossobuco was very tasty. Cheese stuffed figs were delicious, subtle taste, melted in mouth. Calamari were great, texture was amazing. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I used to LOVE coming here, however something has seriously changed recently. Rob the maitre'd is gone and the whole vibe is completely off. He was the life of that place and the owners must be seriously unwell if they let him go. I've sent so many people here because I knew that even if the food wasn't 100%, Rob would make them have an amazing time. It's really a shame when owners exploit the talent of their employees and don't treat them accordingly. I won't be back and I won't be sending anyone to Cara Mia again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
My husband & I had dinner date last evening.. what a delicious meal! The garlic shrimp by far are the best we have had! Salads were fresh and spot on! My husband got the fish special which was fresh and flavorful! I have the chicken special - was cooked perfectly and full of flavor! They catered to my husband’s dietary needs also! Thank you!
Restaurant is quaint and reasonably priced! Staff was warm and friendly. Service was spot on!
Can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rob is awesome! Thanks for bringing back the bruschetta (commonly ordered as an appetizer), but Cara Mia serves it complimentary. Staff is well trained; thank you for memorizing every ingredient/food item on the menu!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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