Being it's a couple of days before Christmas, my partner and I were in the mood to see some…read moreChristmas displays without the hassle of long lines or costly charge. Luckily I was contacted by one of our friends yesterday about this location as she took her family. The town of Lyndhurst in NJ is only a few miles south of our home. Located on Forest Avenue, these 3 homes were decked out with their Christmas displays as the lines of cars full of spectators trying to get that great photo. We parked a couple of blocks away and walked as well as other onlookers. Tonight's crowd was manageable where social distancing was apparent as everyone wore masks. There was one home in the middle of the three was all covered with lights even on the roof. At that same house, there's a small donation box to assist these homeowners' expenses. If you are in this area around this time, we highly recommend it.

I was there this weekend for a birthday party. We had approximately 50 guests. I say that to…read morehighlight that cooking for that many people at once certainly adds to the difficulty in getting it "just right". The other side of the restaurant also had lunch guests as well, I am looking forward to returning here very soon, The ambiance and food was outstanding! We were served "family style." We started with the most delicious rice balls. Next came the tastiest meatballs with ricotta cheese. They also did an amazing job on the fried mozzarella sticks. These were just the appetizers. I couldn't get enough of the salad especially the dressing. Delicious! The main course of chicken parmigiana (melted in your mouth) risotto with corn and sausage and then penne with vodka sauce was awesome! Definitely a "return to" type of restaurant.

Highlights: Fried Calamari and meatball appetizers were great!…read more Mid-lights: The vodka chicken parm with rigatoni was good, but the chicken was a little too soft/soggy. Also the portions were a little small. Lowlights: The restaurant was a little understaffed, wait times for water, to take our order, to get our food was extremely long. 4 dishes ordered and dinner was 2.5 hours... Overall the food was good but pricey for what it was.

Oh yeah this is a place that you must try!…read more First of all it's not a lot of food so if you're the type of person who likes to eat a lot you might not be very satisfied here. But definitely a type of delicate dish that you would enjoy in every bite. The chef has different menus throughout the season and every single one has something unique and amazing to check. The homemade pasta with truffles was out of this world so delicious like everything else we try. Our waitress was so sweet and very knowledgeable in every dish she recommended. The atmosphere very nice but the only problem i found was that there's only one bathroom for a single person so that was inconvenient but besides that We love it!!

Go here for the homemade French fry potatoes, the passion fruit mango mocktail, the side salad, and…read morean Instagram-worthy photo in front of the stunning floral display at the entrance. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, and the oversized florals surrounding the main entry make for a gorgeous photo backdrop. The food was also beautifully presented and clearly fresh. The passion fruit mango mocktail was delicious and gorgeous, the side salad was simple but incredibly flavorful, and the homemade French fry potatoes were hands-down the star of the meal. They were so good that we ordered extra sides for the table because we were all still hungry after our mains, We visited on Mother's Day with a party of eight and left feeling underwhelmed overall. My mother-in-law struggled to find anything on the menu that appealed to her and ultimately ordered the beet pasta, which she found disappointing. Several of the entrees lacked the wow factor we expected, especially at this price point. When you're spending $235 on a steak, you expect a memorable dining experience. Instead, the most talked-about items at our table were the fries, the mocktail, and the salad. Many of us were still hungry by the end of the meal, which made the final bill even harder to swallow--especially considering we didn't order alcohol. We skipped dessert at Fiorentini and headed up the street to Charlie's instead, where we enjoyed delicious ice cream at a much more reasonable price. The service was friendly, the ingredients seemed fresh, and the presentation was beautiful. We really wanted to love it, but for us the overall value just wasn't there. Another annoyance was there's only 1 rest room and a mom went in to breast feed her child and 3 of us waited in line for 30 minutes.

Everything here was beyond wonderful!…read more We ordered the Spaghetti (housemade) Carbonara (the real way - no cream), stuffed Pork Chop, and Espresso Short Ribs! Decor was beautiful. The service was top-notch (great job Gio!)! Run, don't walk, to Paisano's!

What can I say? Absolutely fantastic service, the waiter was…read moretop notch, and the food was amazing. I've lived in Rutherford my whole life essentially and never been to Paisano's before but only heard good things about it. Have to say everything I have heard held up. The Gaucho steak was perfect and absolutely recommend as well as the Pappardelle.

As a proud Neapolitan, I'm extremely discerning when it comes to pizza. Finding authentic…read moreNeapolitan-style pizza in the United States feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Nothing quite compares to biting into a freshly made pie made with high-quality, imported ingredients--especially when enjoyed in the right atmosphere. The owner of Song E Napule, Ciro Iovine, clearly takes immense pride in his heritage, and it shows in every detail. From the vibrant decor honoring Diego Armando Maradona--a true legend and god-like figure to the people of Naples, still revered throughout the city--to the selection of ingredients imported straight from Italy, the commitment to authenticity is unmistakable. What truly sets this place apart, however, is the service. The staff doesn't just serve you--they welcome you like extended family. They greet you with genuine warmth, polished professionalism, and that unmistakable Italian hospitality that makes you feel at home. We laugh, we chat, sometimes hug, and we leave with full stomachs and even fuller hearts. Our sincerest thanks go to the owner for bringing such a genuine slice of Napoli to the New York area. The Rutherford, NJ location remains our favorite, thanks especially to the outstanding team: talented pizzaiolo Giampiero, whose skill and passion shine through every pizza; manager/host Omar, who we love like a younger brother. This last visit, servers Kevin and Aslihan were both exceptional. Spending time in the company of the staff at Song E Napule is always a joy. We truly feel blessed every time we walk out the door.

Amazing experience at Song' E Napule in Rutherford! The pizza was authentic Neapolitan style--soft,…read moreairy crust with fresh ingredients that really stand out. You can tell everything is made with quality and care. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is super friendly and attentive. Located right on Park Ave in Rutherford, this place is definitely one of the best spots for real Italian pizza in the area. Highly recommend if you're in Rutherford NJ and craving true Italian pizza!

I also went to sis restaurant down the street But went here…read moreand so glad I did It's a BYOB so saved me money The place was packed but service was great The food was fresh sgd fast and perfect I will be going here from now on I highly recommend

TLDR: a great Italian spot located in Lyndhurst serving affordable and fresh food. Highly recommend…read morecoming here for dinners, dates, events, etc. Came here on a Sunday night around 7 and it was busy. You could tell that this is THE spot for all the OG residents and you can tell that they are loyal to this place. I can see why as I was pleasantly surprised as to the quality of the food. The restaurant is very simple. It doesn't overwhelm you with too many decorations and really helps show how long it has been around. Not saying it dingy but saying that it shows its tenure in Lyndhurst (in a good way) Caesar salad: one order is big enough for two people. Salad is crisp, croutons are perfectly sized and dressing is light. You do not feel extremely thirsty or overwhelmed from the cheese here. 5/5 Calamari: although not crispy like other places (which is the way I like it) it was still very good. The calamari was fresh and not overly battered and it was a very generous portion. If you like your calamari extremely crispy, you will not like this place. If you like your calamari with a little batter, you will love this place: 4/5 Penne vodka: not to toot my own horn but I don't think their vodka sauce is as good as mine.... BUT still one of the better sauces I've had out at a restaurant. Once again, generous portions and fresh. 4/5 Filet mignon and shrimp (ordered medium rare): the filet mignon was extremely soft and tender. It came in an amazing gravy with a side of vegetables doused with a generous portion of garlic. I devoured everything, even the gravy and wished I had more. 5/5 Tiramisu: their tiramisu is on the sweeter side and you don't taste much coffee. If that's the way you like it, you will love it. I liked it regardless because it was on the house.

We still laugh about this one, which is a shame, as we absolutely hate leaving negative reviews. We…read moreknow many businesses have it hard right now, but the 1-star review I am leaving here is warranted. There's no other way to put it. Parking lot was relatively empty, which gave us pause. However, everybody has a slow night once in a while. We gave it a try anyway. I liked the decor. Somewhat rustic, somewhat traditional Italian. The seating area was a rather open space, which we also liked. Things went downhill from here. Waitress came over and asked if we'd like some garlic bread while we looked at the menu. Sure, sounds great, right? This bread will come into play later on in my review. Order drinks. The wife ordered wine, I ordered an old fashioned. My cocktail was poorly done. As we sat, a karaoke night began, and it is clear there are some regulars for this. Why karaoke night runs during dinner hours is beyond me. Took quite some time for the waitress to return to take appetizer orders. Those took a while to come out. Calamari was overdone and chewy. Karaoke night was still blaring in the background. Took quite a bit of time for our meals to arrive. Sadly, they were just unremarkable, and karaoke night was now in full tilt with the same four or five singers taking turns at this point while the restaurant remained relatively empty. We skip dessert, ask for bill, and it takes quite some time to come. The garlic bread I mentioned before is on there for $12.00! This was slick, I'll give them that. Overpriced, unremarkable food in an unenjoyable atmosphere. If you want true Italian, go to Bazzarrelli. Half the price, quadruple the quality.

Food was just ok. Can't ruin penne vodka Appetizers of calamari and rice balls were good…read more Ambiance? If you like tacky If you enjoy eating under Trump banners hung all over the place. Owner said he doesn't care if people don't like it. I don't care who you voted for but I don't want to view political banners while I dine I don't care whose name is on them. Won't be coming back but I'm guessing he doesn't care

Before today, my review would've likely been glowing. The artwork in that's been associated with…read morethem in NYC is almost always spectacular and a welcome addition to the city-scape. Unfortunately I found out recently that they're actually quite shady and manipulative. They don't actually create or curate the art in Little Italy - they pretend to support it, plaster it on their social media, and try to profit from it. At the expense of the actual artists that create the art they're showcasing. They've gotten into legal action with artists over marketing rights for the art that they claim to "support", but essentially want to mooch off of and shake down for $$$. A lot of the gorgeous art, such as the Audrey Hepburn picture on Mulberry St, are examples that they claim to be big endorsers of - but have actually fought the artists over, to win sole rights to commercializing posters etc. They've tried to destroy murals & privately commissioned public art without consent or notification to the artists themselves. Again, mostly for the chance to bring in new art and profit from online sales of merchandise / picture rights. And they're more than happy to block/ban/remove you from any of their social media if you even think of leaving a vaguely negative comment (even a politely-worded one). A word to the wise: good, wholesome, community-minded organizations NEVER block or throttle people into silence because they might disagree with them. And they NEVER treat artists like they're disposable sources of income. This organization does not represent Little Italy in the slightest. Be very, very careful if you're ever asked to work with them. Better yet, stay clear of them altogether.

The L. I. S. A. Project NYC…read more I'm not sure about the politics of what's behind this organization. There appears to be some controversy in the Yelp Reviews. I'm just a huge fan of graffiti. I love the color it adds to the city. I love the smile it puts on my face. I like the happy feeling I get inside when I see it. I also like the legal authorization of the activity. For many years it was an offense to express yourself and your artistic talent in this manner. I'm glad Little Italy has embraced this organization and the art they promote. Please Visit Little Italy and keep your eyes open for the murals. They are here, there, and everywhere! I'm posting photos I've taken in the past couple years. I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to return!

"It's the best Italian food in Jersey!"…read more I was sitting in a Chinese restaurant next to a nice looking Italian family when I overhead them talking about Volares. I figured they ought to know, so tonight I'm at Volares trying the food. It turns out, they were right. The food here is incredible. I live in Manhattan, so I don't know if this is the best in Jersey... but it's got to be near the top. I loved everything I had, and the whole restaurant from the person who greeted and seated me to the waiter--everything was an experience that I appreciated and enjoyed. Volares is definitely the best Italian place I've been in Jersey. You've got to try the veal. Incredible! Bravo.

Had dinner here recently for the first time ; I could go 3.5 Stars…read more Nicely, simply decorated. Very friendly staff. Located on that odd street across from the train station but found street parking easy as it is not in the center of the business district. BYOB. The Food Apps-- The ( special) homemade chickpea soup was excellent. But the crab cake fell flat for me. Just OK. As for the fried calamari....I'm no stranger to this dish and I felt here the coating was just too thick & cornmeal-y if you know what I mean. The mussels in white wine sauce was very good. Entrees-- The Grilled Salmon; served w/ grilled zucchini, roasted potatoes & pesto was a disappointment. I usually never order farm raised salmon because it gets dry easy and this was the case here. Also the small roasted potatoes were dry and there was barely any pesto on it, I cannot recommend this dish. From what I've heard elsewhere, the pasta dishes are the "go to" here. Dessert-- How crazy that I had one of the best cappuccinos here ( if you like big, robust foam) And you must try to the house made cheesecake. Unlike any (heavy) Italian ricotta cheesecake I ever had, this version is very light and the consistency more like a solid flan. Excellent.