20 Best Italian Restaurants in Montclair

“Food was delicious despite the meat not being cooked as requested. The atmosphere & our server, Julian, were incredible! Julian found out at the end of our meal we had a celebration & went above and beyond to help us celebrate! Would definitely recommend & return (-:“

“Very fun social vibe, special Birthday ritual, food was excellent, I practically licked my plate, service was attentive and the manager very active.“

“Here’s my review that I’ve been meaning to leave for a while! Overall, I’m really happy this place opened in the neighborhood and we’ve already been back several times.

Location/atmosphere: Unbeatable. Such a great addition to the Walnut Street area, and I’m a huge fan of the fast casual setup. It makes eating out with kids SO much easier. The patio is also amazing and has quickly become one of those places you naturally gravitate toward with kids or on a beautiful day.

Food: Really great! We’ve enjoyed the pastas, salads and pizzas. The menu is very pork-heavy, and I do hope over time they consider adding a few more options that make the menu accessible to those who don’t eat pork, including Muslim and Jewish diners. That said, I understand the menu is very authentic to the specific region of Italy the owners are from, and I genuinely respect that they’ve stayed true to that rather than watering it down. Hopefully there’s a way to preserve that authenticity while adding a little more variety over time.

Accessibility: The patio is wonderful, but the main entrance has a step, which can make getting in with a stroller or wheelchair a tad stressful. There is a flat entrance along the side, as well as a side door, but both have generally been blocked off when we’ve visited. I’m sure there’s a reason, but I’d love to see that reconsidered, it would make the restaurant much more accessible and stroller-friendly!

Service: The wait staff are fantastic. Everyone we’ve interacted with has been incredibly kind, patient and genuinely great at what they do. My one piece of constructive feedback is regarding one of the owners (glasses/slicked-back hair). On a few visits, I’ve found his demeanor a little dismissive or unwelcoming, whether asking questions about the menu or dining with our extended family. It’s hard to pinpoint and certainly not enough to keep us from coming back, but there have been a few interactions where I’ve walked away feeling like we weren’t quite as warmly received as other customers. I’m mentioning it because everything else about this place makes us want to keep supporting it, and a little more warmth in those interactions would go a long way.

Overall, a really great neighborhood addition with delicious food, an amazing outdoor space and a wonderful staff. We’ll absolutely continue coming back!“

“Seasonal dishes fresh and beautifully presented! Friendly and helpful team with excellent dish recommendations :)“

“We enjoyed a gorgeous dinner at La Rocca Osteria, on the corner of Midland Avenue and Portland Place (a block south-east of Valley Road and a block north-east of Bloomfield Avenue), this week. The food was brilliant - fresh, flavorful and great portion sizes. I was thrilled with my choices of the buratta salad, crabmeat-stuffed lobster tail with mashed potatoes and a chocolate mousse cake. My fella demolished the mussels and clams in a white wine and garlic sauce, lasagne (he thought it was so delicious that he even bought a second portion to give to his dad) and cheesecake. I almost wish I’d taken photographs, but I was more interested in the experience than documenting it. The service was fantastic as well - friendly, calm, organized and reliable. Parking nearby wasn’t difficult either. It’s the second time we’ve eaten there; the first was on our first date. It was just as lovely then too.“

“Absolutely love this place! I’ve been going for about 4 years now and I love the food! Anytime we have guests visiting I always take them here for a unique experience!“

“The food was beyond amazing and the service was very attentive. I definitely will be going back to dine in. Special thanks to Apostle Louie for accommodating us and to Sami, our waiter, for making sure we were taken care of. YHWH Bless🙏🏾💪🏾❤️“

“My daughter and I were in the area for an appt. and we came across Tino’s and I have to admit this is by far THE BEST Pizza we have ever tasted in our life!!!!! If you have not gone there- please do!!! They have excellent food and will not disappoint. Cheers!!!!“

“Came for my birthday -first time there-everything was awesome -stuffed zucchini flowers, caprese salad . soft plolenta w/short rib ragu and pistascio gelato-soooo good, can't wait to return.“

“my first time here and everything was wonderful. food delicious“

“Going to the Hot Tuna concert last night at the Wellmont with my son and stopped in for pizza before the show. The pizza was out of this world! Great crust, toppings were all quality and the staff was great. The owner Joe was friendly and place was going.“

“Chicken Balsamico is the best. Add Penne Vodka and you are all set. Eggplant Rollstimi is another classic. Ask for the little rolls, Enzo bread, as the perfect addition!!'“

“Very fun social vibe, special Birthday ritual, food was excellent, I practically licked my plate, service was attentive and the manager very active.“

“Had dinner there for the second time on Saturday night! It was very memorable. The food was absolutely fantastic. I had the eggplant with the Barata for an appetizer. It was so delicious and so tasty and my main course was the homemade linguine with lump crab and corn. We also got the meatball which was spectacular and then I got the cheesecake dessert which was one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever eaten. I absolutely love love love this place. Can’t wait to go back and eat there again.“

“Everything delicious: Best Italian sub sandwich; eggplant parmigiana. Going years. No exaggeration“

“My husband and I dined here for a day-after Valentine's celebration. Our 7:00 reservation allowed us to be seated right away. The playlist was stellar. It was all the music I grew up listening to as a kid, and it made me feel at home. McKenzie was our server and she was incredibly professional, kind, and attentive. The menu has so many great choices, but the specials shouldn't be slept on either! Here's what we had: Appetizers: -Brussels sprouts salad with sliced apple, marinated feta, roasted squash, candied pecans, quinoa and tossed in a vinaigrette - Kabocha squash ravioli in a braised beef and peanut ragu, crispy eggplant and a peanut-green bean crumble. Entrées: -Flat iron steak in a mustard-sherry au poive sauce, carmelized onions, and potato churritos -Fresh cavatelli in an escargot sauce, shelled escargot, topped with a parsley butter crumb - Side of sautéed wild mushrooms with sage and citrus Dessert: -Orange and cardamom olive oil cake, assorted coffee and tea. The food was stunning. Every bite was a hit and truly made with love. Such thoughtful flavor combinations and interesting applications, all the while cooked perfectly. We had the opportunity to speak with Beverly, and we learned so much about her passions for the industry and the pride she has for the products she creates. We will certainly be back again and again!“

“Today I had a most delicious perfectly made submarine sandwich. I always said that a sub is only as good as the bread it’s made with. Like all construction projects the foundation has to be built well or the structure will crumble. Sparo’s bread was excellent and it only gets better Sparo’s has a variety of delicious fresh bread to choose from. I like when a place gives you choices right down to the smallest details. The meats and cheeses were high quality and sliced exactly the way I like it the produce and evoo & vinegar was outstanding. The construction of the sandwich was neat and put together with care. Eating this sub was a wonderful experience. I suspect I will be there often.“

“I’m biased because I grew up on it, but Dino’s Pizza is simply the best pizza in the world. Not kidding.“

“One of our favorite spots“

“I travel over 70 miles occasionally to re-visit the town I grew up in, Forest st., and always stop and eat here with my wife and family. The food here is beyond excellent, especially the pasta meals. Each time we took food back with us. One of the excellent items here is their red sauce…it actually rivals or is more tasting than any Italian restaurant I have eaten in over the years. The sub sandwich’s are packed and the bread is always fresh that we even take a couple back with us…the pizza is fantastic and made the way you want it. The brothers that own it purchased the pizzeria from the original owner when he retired, so they have been there and working for a long time…before that, this place was a dime store that we went to in the 50’s and 60’s as kids, so the location has been here for decades…try it you won’t be disappointed?“