Medium sized venue with two sides to indoor seating & outdoor seating right out front. Has an old Italian meets modern feel & look to the interior. Slightly dim, but well balanced lighting. There is limited street parking, but it sits directly across from a metered parking lot (free after 6pm). This place has a business casual vibe, so I wouldn't recommend dressing down. This place is BYOB!! Friendly staff, service speed is good. You get complimentary warm bread with oil. We had the Fettuccine Cara Mia, Tableside Chicken Parm (easily feed two people), & Lobster Ravioli (which was a special). Everything was absolutely EXCELLENT!! A funny moment when our server came to check on us and all 4 of us were done, lol. He found us with 4 empty plates and 4 full belly's. We also had an appetizer special (pictured), but I don't remember the name. Will 100% be back!! Grades: Special Appetizer: B+ Fettuccine Cara Mia: A+ Tableside Chicken Parm: A++ Lobster Ravioli: A++ read more

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I enjoyed my visit to Cara Mia. We came as a party of 9 for my friends birthday. Upon sitting, we were 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. read more

Cara Mia - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Absolutely way over hyped. Carpaccio was small and not very good for the price. Shrimp scampi was terrible. No garlic whatsoever and basically lemon and flour sauce. I didn't even eat most of it because tiny shrimp was very overcooked and spinach it was served with tasted like it was boiled in bad fish stock. I agree with the guy above who mentioned that the bread was stale and fried zucchini was lackluster at best. My husband got the much touted parm which tasted like the sauce was from a can of spaghetti o's. We didn't bother with dessert because I didn't feel that tartufo that likely came from Bindi was $16. Service was fine but air was not working and we were all crammed into a tiny little room which was so loud you couldn't hear the other person. I would not go back. read more

I have had this place on my list for a while and seen it on social media so we tried it the other day for my sister's birthday. Very loud inside and hard to hear and it wasn't packed. Staff were nice. A tad slow. I did not think the food was excellent. It was eh. I got the fettuccini cara Mia and as someone who almost only orders seafood I found this very fishy to me. I did not like the sauce or the crab or even the shrimp. The fried calamari was okay. I've had better. Mom liked her chicken pollard. The French onion soup was okay. The arugula salad was dry. The carbonara was very thick. Would not come back. Was disappointed because the reviews seemed great. read more

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Was here for a Valentine's Day dinner. Place was packed to the max. Couldn't hear my significant other speak to me from the other side of the table because of the noise level. The food was decent though. Not sure if I would come back read more

Cara Mia - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

As soon as they brought us the complimentary crumbly dry Aldi bread and old cold fried zucchini stuck together I knew we should leave. The recommended chicken Parmesan was so nasty! Chicken was thin and dry, sauce bland. And for the price, a major ripoff. The interior is also very dated inside, worn and tattered. I do not recommend. read more

Cara Mia - $35. Tiny portion, dry and bland! - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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Food is very very good. Loved everything about it. The chicken Parmesan, the rigatoni with spicy vodka, and they had a French onion soup special that was amazing!! Service was solid. Only complaint would be it was slower than I would have expected but food is amazing. Definitely a spot to visit read more

I haven't had an Italian meal in a while where every single dish was a hit with everyone. Cara Mia did just that. First off, it's BYOB which automatically gives it a ton of points in my book. For appetizers we ordered the tuna special and the mozzarella. For entrees we ordered the sole special, tableside chicken parm and shrimp scampi (added angel hair pasta). We also got the cookie cake for dessert. Everything was fantastic. For me personally the chicken parm and tuna special stood out but like I said, everything was delicious! Highly recommend this spot for any and all occasions. read more

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Everything about this restaurant is fantastic, delicious food, beautiful atmosphere ( gorgeously decorated for Christmas), amazing service, and you can't beat it's a BYOB. Amazing menu, don't miss the table side parmigiana entrees done perfectly... Make sure you call for a reservation definitely one hot spot all the locals know about. Highly recommend read more

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I love this classic BYOB Italian restaurant. It has all the fan favorites but the chicken Parm served tableside has to be one of my favorite chicken parm in New Jersey. The gnocchi were delicious and the pasta dish you can't go wrong. It's BYOB so enjoy. read more

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We were in town to see a play at the Paper Mill Playhouse and found this nice little Italian BYOB just a stones throw away from the theatre. I first have to say that this would have been a 5 star review if it was based on the food alone, however some other factors dropped this down a notch. Let's begin with the positives first and that's the food. We started with the Garlic Shrimp for our appetizer. While we did enjoy this, tasted good, it was rather unspectacular. For our mains, when I saw they offered a table side served Chicken Parmigiana, well it was a must get and it definitely lived up to expectations. I ordered mine with a spicy vodka sauce which was delicious, not too spicy. The chicken was pounded thin and cooked perfectly. All around a great dish. My wife ordered the Linguine Vongole made with garlic, white wine, tomatoes and little neck clams. My wife orders this dish a lot and she said this was one of the best she's had. For dessert we had a delicious Limoncello Cake with strawberries and whipped cream. The cake was light, moist, lemony and delicious. To wrap up I'll mention why I dropped my review a star. First of all we had an early reservation so we were one of the first to arrive. There were a couple of nice tables at the window which were for 4 so we understood when we were seated at a table for 2 more towards the middle of the restaurant. However we noticed a little later other couples of 2 were seated at the nice window spots. Off to a bad start right there. Not only this, there was a small group of 3 standing in the middle of the dining room speaking loudly with one of them telling them and the whole restaurant about their surgical procedures, not good, just so rude. What's even worse is I think he may have been the owner or manager. As for the decor inside, kind of blah, nothing fancy, kind of expected more at a restaurant in Milburn right by the theatre. The service was the real annoying part. Our initial waitress and I'll say initial because we didn't see her again till the end, was ok, not overly friendly, explained the specials, we placed our orders and like I said, we hardly saw her. After her, there was a parade of servers who brought and picked up our food, often hovering waiting for us to finish which is just so annoying. The whole time we felt like we were rushed. Just so unprofessional. Like I said, if this was just about the food, we'd definitely be back, but everything else makes this visit a one and done for us. read more

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I finally had a reason to stop at Cara Mia after driving by so many times, and I'm glad I did. I especially enjoyed reading on their website what appears to be their mission and dedication to their craft--it made me even more excited to visit. I came for the olive oil cake, which was beautifully presented. For my taste, I would have preferred a light dusting of powdered sugar rather than a heavier sweet icing, as it would have allowed the cake itself to shine. The cake was also a bit drier than I expected. That said, I loved the warm atmosphere the owners have created. It feels like the perfect place to gather with friends, enjoy a dessert, and linger over a good conversation. There were plenty of tempting options, and I'll definitely be back to try something else--perhaps the red velvet cake next time. read more

IG has been telling me to try this place for some time, and finally we had the chance. I cannot express how lovely of an experience this was. One of my son's absolute favorite things to eat is chicken Parmesan, so we came here to celebrate his birthday. This meal was everything. Every bite, every plate, the service, the festive holiday decor... just perfection all around. We ordered various dishes and shared them family style, happy faces all around. This place is BYOB, which is an extra bonus and a perfect location for a pre-theater meal. Cannot wait to go back. read more

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I have been to Cara Mia many times. I have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions here. My oldest son even had his wedding reception here. For the first time I had an unpleasant evening. My friends cappuccino tasted burnt and was sent back. We were charged for an item we didn't order and while finishing up our coffees, we were told the next reservation was waiting and we needed to leave. I can certainly understand the need to have seatings at popular restaurants. But it would have been nice to be told that when making the reservation. I mentioned this to the hostess (I believe she is the owner) and she just argued with me, insisting that I had been told when I confirmed the reservation. She was wrong. If I had been told, I wouldn't have complained. Next time Cara Mia owners, think about how you speak to the customers who drop hundreds of dollars to dine at your establishment. read more

Very average food. Waitress recommended the salmon. It was so fishy and dry. They used a lot of sour sauce. Tried Chicken Mello. That was average. It tasted really salty in my opinion from the Parmesan cheese. Used a sour lemon sauce. Much too salty. I asked for sauce on the side and they served it with the sauce on top. I asked they change it but they only just scrapped the sauce off the chicken. I don't get how they didn't just make a new batch. Comes with bruschetta and cold zucchini as complimentary. Lackluster food and off service. Locals adore this place. read more

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Still the best! The table side spicy vodka chicken parm is ridiculously good. Aside from the instagram-worthy presentation, the table side saucing means a crispy cutlet while you eat it. So. So. So. Good. And they still treat you like family. There's a reason it's always busy at Cara Mia! read more

Went on a Monday night ... yes Monday and it was packed! Thank goodness I am a planner and made reservations. It depends on the crowd for the noise level since it's quaint. The food is top quality and very fresh. Service is very good and the hostess quite pleasant. Prices are comparable to other restaurants in the area and the portions are large. It's a BYOB! I've been here several times and it never disappoints. Parking is across the street and a liquor store next door. It's a win/win choice. read more

Excellent dinner for our party of four. The chicken parm is excellent and finished table side. Great deserts as well. BYOB! Only complaint is it is a bit tight and can get busy from the theater. read more

We made a reservation for 7 on a busy Friday night. It had a super cozy atmosphere that made me feel like I was in a small town. Service was excellent, and I appreciated the gesture of complimentary bruschetta and zucchini chips. Appetizers were great -- we got tuna tartare and calamari in balsamic -- tasty even if not the most traditional. We also shared fettuccine Cara Mia and porcini ravioli which tasted homemade. The sauces were rich, even if the noodles themselves were cooked just short of al dente. I was a little disappointed in the red snapper, which the waiter recommended when I asked for veal or seafood options. It was under-seasoned and had a strong 'fishy' taste -- it might have been either a little old or just not the best fillet. The broccoli rabe was a bit overpowered by the olives on the side as well. read more

Cara Mia - Tuna Tartare - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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I celebrated my 30th birthday at Cara Mia with a group, and what should have been a beautiful night turned into one of the most uncomfortable dining experiences I've ever had. From the beginning, the service felt rushed and unwelcoming. The situation escalated when the restaurant attempted to charge us for 22 guests, even though only 15 people were actually present and dining. We remained respectful and paid in full for the 15 guests who attended, which is fair and standard. The owner's behavior was the most alarming part of the night. She spoke to me and my guests in an extremely hostile and aggressive tone. At one point, she said to me, "Do you know what type of establishment you're in?"--which felt deeply inappropriate and, given the circumstances, came across as discriminatory. We were the only Black group in the restaurant, and the way we were treated made us feel singled out and unwelcome. It genuinely felt like we were being reminded that we did not belong there. To make matters worse, the police were called under the false claim that there was a physical altercation. There was no physical conflict--just a disagreement about being charged for people who did not show up. The police ultimately allowed us to leave after confirming there was no altercation and that we had paid our bill in full, which we have proof of. No one should have to feel disrespected, targeted, or uncomfortable while celebrating a milestone moment. Based on this experience, I would strongly urge others--especially Black diners--to think twice before choosing this establishment for a celebration. I hope this business reflects on how they treat their guests moving forward, because this experience was unacceptable. read more

Cara mia is located on the outside of Millburn's busy center. There's a parking lot across the street but it filled up on the Thursday evening we came for dinner. We found a parking spot on the street about a block from Cara Mia. We wanted to see a show at Paper Mill Playhouse and arrived at 6 pm. It was just enough time to finish a quick meal and make it in time for the show. I would recommend a 5:30 pm reservation for a 7:30 pm show to not feel rushed. The wait staff was welcoming and our waiter was prepared with specials, but the room was loud, so it was difficult to hear him. We liked the complementary bread, fried zucchini and brucheta. The caesar salad was delicious and they split it in half for my wife and me. It wasn't loaded with dressing and was of a decent size. For the main course, the whole wheat penne primavera was good. The sauce aligned well with the meal. The chicken parm meal was just OK. Nothing spectacular. I LOVED the fact they didn't hit us with a surcharge for using a debit card. Overall, the meal and service were good. read more

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Table side chicken parm lived up to hype. Was excellent. Had a pasta with crab meat was delicious. Great service as well.

Been to Cara Mia many times ... All their dishes are amazing... The staff is top notch too. Great group of people, excellent food and very reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Food is 5 stars. Service was good but slow but it is sooooo loud. The tables are jammed in so if you are looking for a relaxing dinner avoid this place. read more

A homey Italian restaurant in the middle of Millburn that boasts rustic Italian food at huge portions. Service was very friendly and accommodating. We got warm bread (herbed and plain) shortly after ordering. It went well with the olive oil and pepper supplied to each table. Shortly after another complimentary dish came in (very surprised). It was a plate of bruschetta and fried eggplant disks. The bruschetta had fresh olive oil and tomatoes on crisp bread topped with a cheese cube. The fried eggplant was paper thin and delicate but still crispy. Very nice start. I got the linguini vongole. The white clam sauce was made of olive oil, garlic, white wine, chopped tomatoes and tender small clams. The noodles were cooked perfectly. The dish was filling and well portioned. My companion like his whole wheat penne primavera (tomato sauce with veggies). The chocolate cake did dessert was a perfect ending to a perfect evening. read more

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Amazing from the food to the service! The food was amazing, but what really made us say wow was the service. From the hostess to the waiter who made us feel like family. To start we had the artichoke soup which I had never had before, and it was amazing. We also ordered the Calamari Balsamico which was a bit sweet and different but good. For the entree we shared the Fettuccine Cara Mia and Grilled NY strip. Both delicious and loved the fact they split the meal in two for us. For dessert we had the Strawberry Zabagilione and cheesecake. Couldn't ask for a better ending to an amazing meal. Cannot wait to go back. read more

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We visited Cara Mia restaurant this past Friday April 10 primarily to experience their "table side" parm dish. Tableside chicken/veal parm is an interactive dining experience where breaded chicken or veal cutlets are assembled, sauced, and cheesed on a rolling cart directly beside your table. This current restaurant trend offers a " show" at your table currently popular in NJ and NY. Your waiter arrives with a plate to melt mozzarella over crispy chicken using a torch or warm sauces, adding fresh basil, parmesan, and fresh-ground pepper. The meal is assembled live rather than in the kitchen, served with a side of pasta. This table side experience was worth the trip. The food it self was excellent! Their dessert options of various gelato dishes were great. My 4 star rating could have easily been a 5 + except for two reasons. First the restaurant is BYOB. Just a personal point of contention. Second the area parking is quite a challenge if not impossible. You actually need to add 30 to 45 minutes extra to your arrival time to accommodate this shortcoming. We will now need to find easier restaurant accommodations to enjoy the "table side" experience. read more

I love a place that offers a BYOB!! Even on a hot summer night, the staff ensured we were comfortable in their outdoor seating area. The salad was fresh and yummy, and the shrimp scampi was delicious. Although the gnocchi trio lacked a bit of flavor, the overall quality of the other dishes more than compensated for it. read more

Cara Mia - Cappuccino - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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Great find for the locals. Inside was nice for a date night. Great food choice options on the menu. Appreciate our server. I prefer my pasta on the soft side but great salmon. Can't wait to go back! read more

Always a good time here. The food is fresh and they have specials that will make your mouth water. It's BYOB and there is a wine and spirits store a few doors down. The ambiance is warm and inviting. Great for a date night, business lunch/dinner or a night out with the in-laws. The value for the portion size is good. Sometimes they have an offer on Groupon as well. Just remember to tip on the original cost of the food so the waiter doesn't take the hit. read more

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Fresh and delicious food! My parents have been coming here for a while and I decided to tag along one Sunday for dinner. The area is super cute but be warned the parking lot across the street fills up quickly especially if there's a play happening around the corner at the papermill playhouse. We started with the fried calamari and it was some of the best ive ever had. You can tell this is made fresh and the fish is extremely tender. The balsamic drizzle on top is wonderful. I had the salmon as my dinner. It was tasty and cooked perfectly. Portion was large and I took half home for lunch the next day. Can't wait to come back! read more

Cara Mia - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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First time here, great experience. Service was wonderful and the food was delicious. BYOB, which keeps the bill down a bit too read more

Everything about this place was great. Food, drinks and dj were awesome. Only took away a star because service was slow and it shouldn't have been. read more

Wonderful pre theater dinner at Cara Mia last night. We enjoyed the grilled bronzino and blackened red snapper with lots of broccoli rabe. Bruschetta and zucchini were a delicious complimentary start to our meals. Creme brulee was a perfect dessert with strawberries and creme. The service was excellent. They knew we had a show to attend so were quick with everything. I appreciated that so many people were working as a team to bring food or refill water that we never had to wait for "our" waiter. It's beautifully decorated for Christmas with hundreds of ornaments on the ceiling. read more

Had the absolutely best time here the other night! Stopped in for the first time and already planning to return back. The place itself was in a good location. Interior was warm and the staff was welcoming. To start, they provided bread and complimentary bruschetta with fried zucchini chips, which were divine. That in itself wants you coming back. So delicious! I had ordered stuffed mushroom ravioli which was heaven!!! So yummy. My boyfriend ordered a seafood dish which was also fantastic. The place is byob which is a huge plus in my book. There is a liquor store in walking distance if you want to purchase something. Staff was very informative and very pleasant. They made the experience great. Overall 11/10 for me. I will most definitely be returning back. read more

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Food was great, service was great & there was a nice ambiance. We will definitely be back.

Ate here last night with another couple. It's a place we have gone to on and off for several years , but had not been to for a while. It's a BYOB which is nice. We shared a Tri color salad for starters and it was good. For mains my wife had the grilled salmon and enjoyed. I had a ravioli special served in a cream sauce with spinach and shrimp. Our friends had a fish special and veal dish. While everything was good, nothing was outstanding. Service was excellent. read more

My partner and I came for dinner before our showing at the Papermill Playhouse, and it made for a wonderful and romantic evening! Dinner was crowded for 5:30 on a Thursday evening, which we didn't expect, but that didn't stop the service from being wonderful! Our waitress was knowledgable and kind, and provided quick and efficient service! The bread was soft and herbed, we were presented with two bruschetta breads and some roasted zuchinni chip along with our bread which I loved. We shared the garlic shrimp appetizer, i had the side of parmesean risotto as my meal (and tasted my partner's food) and my partner had the strip steak au pivoire with a side of asparagus. It was very kind that they split the appetizer in half and brought it out on two separate plates for us, but I couldnt really taste many of the flavors mentioned on the menu with the garlic shrimp. The side of risotto was huge, and could easily be an entree if I asked for more parmesean on top. However the steak and the spinach/mashed potatoes that came with it were to die for. I ended up eating more than my fair share since it wasnt my entree, but I would go back just for that! It is BYOB, but there is a wine and liquor store two doors down. For dessert we had the strawberries with cold cream on top and I was in heaven. I would love to come back and try more of their menu, but I'm also hooked on everything we already tried! read more

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I'm so happy that I found this restaurant! I was randomly scrolling through Groupon and their restaurant came up! After checking out the reviews on Yelp I decided to make a reservation that same day! Cara Mia is BYOB so don't forget to grab your favorite bottle of wine! There's a small liquor store two doors down with a great variety of options. Lots of metered parking right across the street but it was free at the time of my reservation (8pm). As soon as we sat down we were greeted with delicious bread and bruschetta with zucchini chips. For my entree I decided to go with the Fettuccine Cara Mia which is crab meat, shrimp, scallions, and diced tomatoes in a pink vodka sauce. My boyfriend and I were both blown away by the flavor in the pasta! For dessert, we went with the chocolate cookie cake and that was also amazing! I can't wait to return to Cara Mia to try something else on the menu! If you're able to find the Groupon definitely purchase it! read more

Cara Mia - Fettucine Cara Mia - Jumbo Lump Crab Meat, Shrimp, Scallions, Diced Tomato, Chili Flakes, Garlic, Pink Vodka Sauce - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

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Cara Mia? No. More like, "Mammamia - FOOD POISONING!!" Over 36 hours of cramps, pain, sweat, and what ever else accompanies that misery. My friend and I came in for lunch. The place was recommended and after looking at the reviews, we were optimistic it was a good choice. We were the only customers there. Upon entering, the little walkway was messy and dirty, the mess continued into the main dining room. We were seated in the side room and that, at least, looked clean and ready for business. This is an old-style Italian restaurant. A place where updates are made once every blue moon - but regulars, for some odd reason, just love this joint. A little starter came to the table: cold, fried, chewy, oily zucchini and bruschetta. I regret tasting (2 pieces) of that zucchini. It was one of the worst foods I have ever tasted in a restaurant, ever. I don't know if it was days old, or fried in old oil and kept in fridge, or spoiled zucchini.... But I believe these 2 pieces got me severely sick. My friend did not eat any of the starter. My endive salad was uneventful and underwhelming. Completely bland to the eye and drenched in vinegar dressing. Eatable, but nothing to write home about. Hopefully the veggies were washed, or it could have been e-coli. Who knows? Service was fine, a bit slow (for only having 2 customers), but everyone seemed a bit unprofessional. I started feeling sick pretty immediately, within 1 hour of eating at Cara Mia. If the main restaurant was messy and dirty, I can't imagine what the kitchen, cold room and freezers look like. No, I wholeheartedly do not recommend this restaurant. read more

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