Frequent visitor to boccone Host and chef (and of course the 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! read more

Oh my goodness, how come I did not eat at this restaurant until tonight? 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. read more

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Owner was very friendly and helpful. Altho if the specials are written on a piece of paper would be nice Most of the wait staffs look like they had a bad day, so that gave me a weird vibe walking in and sitting down. The table we sat on was very sticky. However, all the food we ordered came out fresh and hot. We were all very pleased. We will be back during the nextholiday. Lighting is very festive inside read more

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My dinner at Boccone South was nothing short of fantastic. I came in with my girlfriend around 5PM so it wasn't too busy but people slowly but surely started to trickle in. The owner came over and enthusiastically recited the specials for the night. Everything was delicious and the portions were generous. I think my favorite dish of the night was the Papardelle Funghi. The different kinds of mushrooms had an earthy flavor with different textures and the truffle cream sauce accentuated it well. The pasta was prepared perfectly too. It had just the right amount of bite to it and it soaked up the cream sauce well. The Ribeye Boccone was cooked to a perfect medium rare, as ordered. It was seasoned perfectly and it had all the flavors I look for in my steaks. The vegetables it was served with were fresh and the fries were actually really good too. I could go on about everything we ate, but I'll keep it brief. If you like Italian food I'd say Boccone South is a must-visit. Not only is the food superb, but the service is also phenomenal. If I lived closer I'd make several return visits. read more

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This was our first time at Boccone South and we found a real gem in Livingston NJ. The owner and the staff were wonderful and our meals were fantastic. Best meatball ever! I had Linguine and clams and excellent. We had the homemade bread pudding with cherry gelato. read more

This place is amazing...you can't go wrong...it's the best Italian restaurant in all northern nj!! It's a gem. The entrys were crazy good and at a very reasonable price! I can't say enough good things about this place .bring your own wine!! read more

Highly recommended. We had a party of 14 and every single thing from appetizers to entrees were presented like a work of art. Besides looking great the taste was phenomenal. Kudos the the chef! The ambiance is exactly what we were looking for. The owner (Silvio) couldn't have been more professional and courteous. Silvio definitely takes pride in his business and goes above and beyond to make sure the experience is what he would expect. Thank you Silvio and Staff. Vincenzo read more

Boccone South - Antipasto - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Not much to say that hasn't been said before. There are a lot of Italian restaurants in the area, and this is one of the best. It is tucked into a non-descript location on Rt-10, and although I know where it is, I have zipped by several times. The food is consistently great, and no matter how judiciously my wife and I order, we have never had enough room for dessert. It is BYOB, so bring your own libations. My only complaint is that it can get quite loud in the restaurant. They would do well to have some acoustic baffles or curtains to soften the noise. read more

So fresh, love the food, people, ambiance. 2nd visit in one week! The special salads are delicious, the fish, pasta, just come and eat! read more

Boccone South - Fried Calamari, so fresh. - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Food was just the best. The staff could not have been more lovely. I have been promising my family and friends we will all go as a special treat. Would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone. I am very critical about the food I eat in restaurants. Silvio has the best restaurant for great Italian food in this area. Don't wait-you won't be disappointed! read more

The food was amazing - really amazing! The food is all homemade and absolutely delicious. A must try! Owner is so engaging and cares about making diner an unforgettable experience. read more

I been here twice, Food and service are great... ambiance is great too, I recommend for anyone to try once.

Boccone is nestled in the plaza next to the ski shop on Route 10 and provides both indoor and outdoor seating. Although quite small, the indoor seating boasts a charming ambiance. All pastas were served hot and customizable with fresh pepper and cheese. Bonus points for all the pasta coming al dente, not many places can get this correct in my opinion. Each pasta was so flavorful, but the Strozzapreti and the Paperdelle Funghi were the ones that really impressed! We also order a calamari as an appetizer, but that fell short of expectations, arriving soggy rather than crispy. Despite this minor setback, the overall experience is still worth savoring for its cozy atmosphere and mouthwatering pasta offerings. read more

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WOW SILVIO IS AMAZING! Hands down the best pasta, service, dessert, and hospitality I have ever experienced. I felt like I was in Italy. Love this restaurant so much, I recommend it to all my friends! read more

Local Italian dining at its best here. Owner operator Silvio is the consummate host, turning out enjoyable dishes with the utmost hospitality. read more

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Been meaning to try this relatively new addition to Livingston's dining scene ever since they moved in. The building used to house Porto By Antonio, a fan favorite and before that, sandwich legend Cosi which I also loved. I had low expectations. Figured the food would be good but there are lots of decent choices in the area. What I didn't expect was that it would be excellent and friends, that it was. Had mussels and their shrimp special and was literally blown away. Service was attentive and extremely helpful. I know it's silly but I happen to love it when the server refers to the specials in first person singular. "Tonight I have a delicious......" Just need to warn you to stay the hell away from the bread or at least wait until your entree arrives because it's also spectacular. Warm welcome to the area. I'm sure you'll be missed in your old Short Hills location but their loss is fortunately our gain. Kudos! read more

Boccone South - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Silvio and his team are top notch , this restaurant is hidden in plain sight on RT 10 in the same complex as the ski shop. there is ample parking, neatly tucked next to a dentistry but don't be fooled. tho the restaurant is in a quaint and unassuming location, the food is well worth seeking out! I enjoyed the reduction sauce served alongside the pork, with a nice briny version of vegetable ratatouille and mashed potatoes. the penne pasta and and meatballs were tender and delicious. the mussels were fresh - my favorite was the salad by far. plum, hint of apple cider vinaigrette, what a lovely meal! service was quick and efficient but never rushed , felt like what every meal should be - homey & make you want to come back for more! p.s. don't sleep on dessert! save your calorie counting for another day! read more

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Silvio is great and wants to make sure you have a great time and a pleasurable dining experience. Our party came in with a wheelchair and he was more than willing to move tables around to accommodate our group, even without a reservation. On top of that our food was excellent. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. I have a gluten allergy and they were able to serve me with ease. I got the penne vongole and was able to swap out for gluten free pasta without a problem. We also got to experience the eggplant rolatini and the homemade bread pudding on the house. My mom and stepdad are Italian and I will definitely be coming back with them in the near future. The home cooking, the atmosphere and the vanilla & cherry gelato (with bits) sold us for another visit. read more

Unassuming Italian restaurant tucked off Rte. 10 and easy to miss, but worth every reason to stop by for a meal. We had an early Saturday dinner, so seating was no issue, but the phone line was constantly ringing with new reservations so it seemed apparent that the kitchen would get busy as the evening went on. The restaurant is BYOB, so maybe stop at the nearby Bottle King to grab a wine or two before your meal. The host was personable and well-versed, and we ended up getting the recommended butternut squash and ricotta with shrimp special that was absolutely delectable. We also ordered the linguini vongole, which came with a generous helping of clams, and the spicy mussels as an appetizer. The fra diavolo sauce on the mussels is some of the best I've had, and the warm and crispy bread was the perfect complement to make sure none of the sauce went to waste. Certainly one of the better Italian restaurants in the area, and I look forward to coming back. read more

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Just celebrated a couple of birthdays at Boccone's and it was perfect! We were warmly greeted by Silvio upon our arrival. Our table was already set up for our party of 12. We ordered several appetizers and they were all delicious: calamari, goat cheese salad, octopus special, crab cakes (huge) and mozzarella in carrozza. All arrived perfectly cooked. We were equally impressed with our entrees: Carbonara, scampi, fruit to di mare, vongole, pork chop (special of the day), and pappardelle funghi. Everything was perfectly seasoned and portion sizes were surprisingly large. Will definitely go back for not only the food but to feel transported to a trattoria in Italy! Thank you to Silvio and his team! read more

Silvio never disappoints! Staff & service always friendly & attentive, cozy & comfortable. Feels like eating at nonnas. I've never had a meal that wasn't absolutely delicious! Portion size are always generous! Make sure to try his bread pudding! Outstanding! read more

Food was delicious! Everything was so fresh and you could taste the difference. Service was exceptional as well! Very attentive, and their Italian accents added to the ambiance. read more

My wife and I had an amazing dinner at Boccone South. Every dish was delicious but pappardelle funghi and the bread pudding were truly outstanding. The service and ambience - top notch. We'll surely be back. read more

So this restaurant was in Milburn/Short Hill and moved to Livingston now. The waiter and owner are nice but the service felt rushed. The food was just ok when we went. The fried calamari was rubbery and not cooked well at all. The fried mozzarella appetizer was also not cooked properly. The cheese wasn't even melted on the inside it was gold and solid. The carbonara needs work. It wasn't traditionally done with the normal guanciale, instead it was made with a prosciutto or ham. The bolognese was pretty good but I prefer without mushrooms. Not sure we will be back, but feel like they deserve another shot. read more

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I'll make it simple for you. Do you want to go to Italy? Do you wish you could eat in Italy without the flight, jet lag, and potentially questionable AirBnB?! This is it! Just head to Boccone and you'll be truly transported. Listen carefully to the specials... they've never failed and are rotated frequently. The gnocchi is perfect, the carbonara is come lo faceva la mamma... they even poach the garlic in balsamic for the (on the house) pane con olio. I could go on and on, but seriously, there's no need to. This is Italian-Italian. Like Italy. Not American-Italian. This isn't your spaghetti and meatballs, sausage and peppers, pizza, baked ziti joint. Nothing wrong with those and we have some of the BEST of those in our town (home of the 8.9, iykyk)... this is taking a trip back to Rome or Florence... this is stopping by a small family restaurant in Montepuciano... this is that place a local sent you to, that went above and beyond. The owner pours his heart and soul into the menu, the execution of the dishes, and the happiness of his customers. Oh! And did I mention it's BYOB?! read more

Boccone South - Ossobuco special - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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Strong 4.5 stars that I am rounding up. Came on a Friday night and they had plenty of seating. Very family-run, small business oriented feel to it. Service was friendly and timely. The menu was extensive with lots of options. 1. Clam linguini - Pasta al dente. Sauce a tiny bit on the salty side but delicious nonetheless. Enough clams for a meal. 2. Cannoli - Crunchy, sweet, delicious! Overall, an authentic Italian place for a good dinner or take out. They are BYOB as well. Will definitely be back! read more

Boccone South - Clam linguini - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Everything is delicious. From apps to pasta to veal it is all great. Silvio the owner is priceless. Takes you in like family and is always around helping and doing. Best restaurant in NJ read more

Charming restaurant with excellent food and service. The owner was very friendly and informative. Six of us ordered family style w 4 apps, 5 main courses and 3 desert. Every dish had its own distinctive taste and was perfectly balanced. We had no leftovers! Will def go back when we are back in the area. read more

Absolutely amazing spot! The food was delicious--especially the pasta and seafood--and everything tasted super fresh. The owner was incredibly nice and made us feel really welcome. You can tell he cares a lot about the experience. Highly recommend if you're looking for great Italian food and a warm, friendly vibe! read more

Our meal was delicious. Service was excellent. Very comfortable environment. The owner is involved in everything

TLDR; if you want bad salty food, have half a bottle of wine spilled on you, ruining all your clothes and bags, belittled and assaulted by the waiter, this is the place for you. Never in my life have I received such terrible service. I came here with my friends and our kids. The waiter is rude and unprofessional. The waiter said an off putting comment to my wife about her bag: "is that a mommy bag?" The waiter spilled wine on me and all over our things. I asked for the manager and the waiter said he was the manager and wouldn't compensate or credit anything. After asking around, we figured out who the real manager was and he comp'ed my meal and gave some apps and dessert. The manager asked my wife in a snarky tone, you get credit, smile! The waiter asked our table who made the reservations and my friend said that he did. The waiter complained that we have too many kids here. At the very end, the waiter came up to me to "apologize" and pinched my cheek like I'm a little kid! I'm livid!!! read more

Good luck finding a better dessert than the signature bread pudding... I mean anywhere... The owner Silvio is the man. Food is great... Nice atmosphere. Highly recommend. read more

A star arrived in Livingston , a one intimate dining area and a fresco with genuine home cooking from various Italian regions with a host who welcomes everybody, presents amazing specials and service A patient told me about this gastronomic discovery around the corner for my office in Walnut Street and forever I will be a regular pilgrim to this -for NJ - unheard of delight. Also open as early as 430 pm beat the crowds. Maestro Silvio, grazie , tu doctore read more

Boccone South - Italian Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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Wow. Anyone looking for that quintessential north jersey Italian cuisine needs to come here. BYOB so you know either they know how to cook or fuggedaboutit. For appetizer we had the Cesar salad and the clams oreganata. The clams were the best I have had. Instead of compacting the bread crumb into the clams these were made almost like a stuffed artichoke style with a nice broth. The Cesar salad was also really nice - if a restaurant can't make a basic Cesar salad they probably cant produce anything else worth writing about. We tried the pappardelle with fungi, rigatoni with sausage and veal saltimbocca - all great. Service was excellent and there is ample parking. Definitely coming back. read more

We had the most wonderful meal ! Everything from the salad to the specials to the main dishes were all well thought out and delicious . Silvio, the owner, could not have been more welcoming and charming ! We will be back with our friends ! read more

Phenomenal food. We eat out a lot and 65% of the time it is Italian. Our in laws are our fellow "foodies" and they definitely know good food. We ate here Tuesday night and we all agreed it was fabulous. I had the cacio e Pepe which was the best I've ever had. My wife had a chicken dish (Pollo Fantasia) that she said was spectacular (I wouldn't know - she wouldn't share). The appetizers were also exceptional and the ambiance & atmosphere were amazing. The owner was welcoming, charming and attentive. I would highly highly recommend Boccone South. We would rank this as one of the top five italian restaurants in North Jersey. We will be going back - repeatedly. read more

Every single pasta here is delicious! Perfectly al dente and definitely freshly made. Portions are great, and service is amazing! read more

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I went to this restaurant in the past and had an amazing experience. I just went in and asked for a table and the staff was incredibly rude. They were not accommodating at all. They asked if I made a reservation and we looked around the empty restaurant and told them no. The server said next time you can call for a reservation. Do not go there. I'm not sure if it is under new management. read more

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Incredible linguine vongole pasta - one of the best I've ever had! Spaghetti and meatballs was delicious as well, but meatballs were spongy. Service was great, everyone was really friendly. Will definitely be back! read more

Amazing Food!! BYOB if you would like wine with dinner. Don't let the location in a strip mall fool you this place is amazing - every dish was perfect and delicious. Staff was attentive and Sylvio the owner was as gracious as could be. We were in NJ/Nyc for the week and this was the best meal we had on the trip. Worth searching out if in the area. read more