It's a nice and elegant restaurant. The food and service however were under performed. Clams on half shell tasted so bad. I wonder if it was fresh at all. Grilled octopus with mango salad was good. Refreshing from the mango. Chilean sea bass on risotto was a bit salty. I needed a lot of water. I feel the whole team can do better on paying attention to customers. Our waiter didn't come back to take the entree order until my husband reminded him. Empty plates were on our table for a while before they picked it up. Bread was done , no asking if we want more or take it away. And I could see them chatting all together at the side. It made me decide not to have dessert. read more

I made a Sunday lunch reservation to celebrate birthday of a family member. Upon arrival, we were only the second party in the dining floor. The space looked modern, with wonderful decors and interior. They also had shaded outdoor seating, hightop tables and a huge bar as well. We started the lunch with blackened Octopus with mango salad (appetizer special of the day), that was a really good dish. The clams casino was an interesting, baked top on a citrusy sauce. For entree, we ordered the Chilean Sea bass, that had a very well cooked filet, but the risotto didn't taste good to me. I got had the Branzino that had extra crispy grilled skin, but the fish itself survived from being dry. The kale was good and mash potato was decent. My daughter liked her penne pasta with butter and cheese. We wanted to get some mocktails, but they were out of virgin mojito, per the server. Not sure how was that possible!!! The disappointing part of the lunch was the mediocre service. Even though I mentioned it was a birthday celebration in the reservation, no one bothered to wish or ask us if we were celebrating anything. Our server only had to attend our table, yet he only came by three times, once to ask us about water, then to take our order, and once after our appetizers were served. Half of the time he invisible and rest of the time he was just hanging out by the register area stairs, chit chatting with other staff members. We refilled our own water and had to grab other stuff members to get extra plates and utensils. I was super annoyed to pay premium price only to experience a diner like service. I didn't even bother to order the Zeppole from the dessert menu. I paid the check and we walked out as quickly as we could. read more

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The pizza gear is amazing. Service was great and quick. They also have a large menu to choose from. We got pepperoni and mushroom pizza which were both really good. I'd definitely recommend this place to others. read more

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This place is stunning! We came for Valentine's Day and every dish was incredible. My boyfriend got the Chicken Martini and I got the bolognese which was one of the best I've had. Food came out quick and the place was huge and felt so fancy. Our only qualms were the waitress was a little stiff and kinda just had the vibe of let's get this over with. Also, we had a 5:30 reservation we made well in advance and were placed in the "Speakeasy" room which is really more suited just for drinks. The table was so small it was hard to have our plates and drinks on it. A little pricey but the food was worth it. We'll be coming back for a date night for sure! read more

Forte Ristorante - bolognese - Pizza Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

We gathered for a family holiday dinner at Forte's new Hackensack location and had a wonderful experience. Valet parking was a huge plus since street parking is limited. The restaurant was beautifully decorated for the holidays, creating a festive and inviting atmosphere. There's also a full bar with seating if you prefer to dine there. We ordered several dishes, and every single one was outstanding: * Lasagna - house-made pasta layered with rich Bolognese and béchamel * Chicken Martini - Parmesan and panko-crusted chicken in a lemon butter white wine sauce, served with sliced potatoes and escarole * Shrimp Risotto - pan-seared shrimp with morel mushrooms, asparagus, and truffle * Short Rib Special with risotto * Chicken Saltimbocca - prosciutto, sage, mozzarella, spinach, and chicken jus * Spicy Rigatoni Vodka with Grilled Chicken - house-made rigatoni in a perfectly spicy vodka sauce All of the meals arrived hot, flavorful, and absolutely mouthwatering. For dessert, we shared a charcuterie-style platter that included crème brûlée, New York cheesecake, Sicilian cannoli, tiramisu, and zeppoli--an excellent way to end the meal. Our server, Franklin, was fantastic--attentive, friendly, and always checking in for refills or just to chat and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Highly recommend Forte. Everything from the food to the service was very well done. Thank you for a great night! read more

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Celebrated my moms birthday here tonight and had such an incredible experiences. We ordered the hot antipasto for 2, stuffed artichoke,& mozz en carrozza to start and WOW. Delicious. My husband ordered the chicken saltimbocca, I got the chicken martini, and my mom got the osso bucco. All of us were silent for the entirety of the meal cause we didn't want to stop enjoying each bite. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Love the the old black and white photos around the resturant. 10/10 experience & can't wait to come back! read more

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I came here with a group of 5. We ordered a bunch of different appetizers at a table after spending about an hour at the bar. We then ordered dinner. Everything came out great and cooked properly. read more

I came here for my friends's birthday dinner. I must say everything was delicious. We order appetizers it was I believe, mozzarella tomatoes, and artichoke. I believe it was. It was pretty good. I also had the spicy Rigatoni Vodka was delicious it was not too spicy. The birthday girl had the short ribs which was delicious as well and we finished it with dessert tiramisu very good and tasted fresh. We also enjoyed cocktails. I believe I had a pear martini which was very good and strong, my friend had the margarita which she enjoyed as well. I will definitely recommend this place and will be returning. read more

Don't worry about parking; just pull your car right up to the door and your car will be valeted. Upon entering Forte, you can go to the right and utilize their coat check, or keep on walking to your right and make your way to the bar. Beautiful ambience at the bar. Inviting, great cocktails, and exceptional service. If you walk through the front door and walk straight, you'll be greeted by the host, and she'll take you to your table. Carlos Landi was our server and his service was 5-star, simply impeccable. Not only did he go over everything on the menu with us and tell us the specials, he let us chat after our meal and didn't rush us out. Overall 5/5 and we all will be back!! Delicious! read more

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Forte is an Italian restaurant with valet parking, and from the outside, it's a bit misleading. Before you even walk in, you'll see a dress code posted, setting the tone for the evening. The service was just okay--our server did the bare minimum to check in on our table. The crowd? Mostly big Italian guys, with the bar area vibing to '70s hits and freestyle music. The best part? Watching groups of moms dancing and letting loose--it definitely adds to the entertainment. Food: Our table of four started with stuffed artichokes, mini meatballs, and burrata. Solid appetizers but nothing extraordinary. We should have changed the spongy meatballs for the crab cakes. For the mains: Salmon with polenta and grilled asparagus - Not bad, but honestly, you could make better salmon at home. Veal Parm - Easily the standout dish. Rich, flavorful, and worth ordering. Shrimp with squid ink linguini - I can't comment on this one because I personally can't stand squid ink. The smell alone is enough to tell me all I need to know about this bitter dish. Chilean Sea Bass with Parmesan Risotto - Tasty, but at $50, it wasn't exactly a game-changer. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu and crème brûlée--both were delicious and ended the meal on a high note. A little disappointed I just found out restaurants no longer torch the crème brǔlee at the table. Overall, Forte is a fun spot for large groups. The food is decent but overpriced for what it is--you're really paying for the atmosphere. If you're looking for a place where you can eat, drink, and dance, this could be your spot. Just don't go in expecting mind-blowing Italian cuisine. Would I return? Maybe--with the right group of people read more

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I love going to Forte indulging on their delicious specials this time. I had the Chilean Seabass, which was to die for fell apart like butter meat very well cooked and nice portion. My friend had the lobster ravioli, which were also delicious and the vodka sauces definitely a treat. The wine is awesome. I had the Cabernet service is nice. We sat at the bar although ambience is a little serious and older, the food is worth the visit get ready to spend around $100 per person and the perk is the valet parking. You don't have to worry about your car and walk distances or start looking for parking. read more

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Visited Forte on a Friday with reservations for two. There is valet service in front of the restaurant which is convenient. Once we entered the restaurant we were greeted and directed to the coat check. Thereafter we were given the option of the main dining area or the speakeasy. We chose the speakeasy. The speakeasy is very nicely decorated and has a dark speakeasy vibe. The server was friendly. We ordered the beat salad as our appetizer, which was very good. It came with what seemed to be a fried cheese on top which complimented the flavors of the dressing. Next, we ordered entrees. I ordered the spicy rigatoni with blackened chicken and my sister ordered the chicken francese. Both dishes were very good. I took the remainder of my dish home and it was good even as left overs. For dessert, I ordered the chocolate mousse and my sister ordered the crème brûlée. I wasn't much of a fan of the chocolate mousse, but I did eat it. They lost a star because the speakeasy area has a door that leads to the residential building/restroom which would bring in a cold draft of air every time someone opened it. Also, our server was slow. It seemed she disappeared for a while as we waited for the dessert menu. Overall good food. They have a DJ on Fridays. Customers are diverse and it seems to be mainly a 40+ crowd. read more

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Nice atmosphere. Great service. Food was just ok! My husband hated the chicken parm sandwich. I wish it was more reasonably priced because we live down the block. Not sure if we'll be back b read more

Forte Ristorante - Pizza Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I've been to this place a few times now for different events, and their food is delicious. The service of the employees is wonderful. Also the ambiance is great. Everyone should go to this place at least once. read more

1. THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON TAKEOUT - ONLY! [The have a seperate pizzeria/takeout restaurant] This place was formerly "PICCO TAVERN". As Forte when it first opened the pizza was NOTHING to "write home about". As with ALL places when they first open up you have to give them time to "work out the kinks" in regards to a set pizza maker/head cook/staff. NOW the Pizza [ANY style/topping] is one of the 3 best in Bergen County! What we have tried that they make geat are: Meatball Parmigiana Heros, Cobb Salad, Zuppa Di Clams [entree, NOTE...was a bit salty], Rigatoni Vodka [entree], Zuppa Di Mussels [appetizer]. 2. BAR/RESTAURANT: In regards to coming in after work and having a drink in the formal sit down restaurant/bar, my wife was not impressed by the "specialty" cocktails this place made when they first opened up and they NEVER EVER have a "Happy Hour", which is ridiculous! ALL the former bartenders from Picco are gone. We have never eaten there [asides from the prices being ridiclous, as MANY others say in their reviews!] for if we want an evening out for sit down restauaurant quality, excellent Italian food, we go to Paesano [one of our other reviews]. Phillip & Lisa read more

Both this new location in Hackensack, and the old location in Caldwell are fantastic. I'm glad to see the business is doing well and opening up more locations, it's not hard to understand why they're doing well. The food is superb and the staff is professional and pay close attention to detail and servicing. I love the new decorative design and location in Hackensack. It's classier and a little more high end, however it's still affordable and a great time for a casual night out or a family dinner. read more

I just had the best burger and fries ever! I would love to know their secret. I cannot believe how tasty the burger was, and the service was perfect. I will be back. read more

Very nice atmosphere. We had artichoke with lemon which was very good. My wife had veal martini and I had the bucatini. The dinner was excellent. The dessert was lacking as the tartufo was a small portion. Othe places give you more. I know when you order a glass of wine it's subjective, but the glasses were well under a half. read more

Had the most amazing Golden Saints and Sinners Party here on March 02, 2024! Atmosphere: I was given the tour of the penthouse and was already sold out by the elegant interiors. The winding staircase added to its charm and having the outdoor patio available for my hookah station and the covered patio for the buffet service was outstanding. The staff were extra attentive and the events manager gave us creative freedom to decorate the place as we envisioned and boy how that place turned out! We asked to decorate early and we were even offered coffees,teas, espressos and cappuccinos while decorating! The events manager, sent out to iron our black tablecloths and the staff followed specific instructions on how we had wanted the tables arranged and tea lights lit! And to top it all off, they allowed us to do aftercare the next day! Kudos to Mike Cifone and team! you all Drinks: It was a blur that night but I at least had an old fashioned, an espresso martini and a couple of others which were top shelf stuff and enjoyed very well that they should be illegal! Most if not all of my guests really enjoyed the open bar! Food: I was too busy to eat that night but I had the taste of the buffet and finished everything on my plate. Can't exactly recall what I had but I had dined there before and remembered the food and service to be superb! read more

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The food is absolutely delicious, with great menu choices. Our waiter Yianni was amazing! I cannot say enough about the food, service, atmosphere and price point. We went back the next week! read more

Food and service was perfect Yianni our server was so accommodating my wife was spot cleaning a stain on her shirt and he came over with club soda without us asking will definitely come back read more

Everything went well! We sat at a bar top table at 6pm on Saturday night. We didn't have reservations but would highly recommend because at 6pm The bar was full and by 6:30 the restaurant was very busy. The servers were attentive, she even let me taste two of the red wines before I ordered a glass. I had the super Tuscan red and it was delicious, fruit forward and full bodied(if you haven't had one before ). The stuffed artichoke was tremendous, plenty of stuffing and it is topped with a sauce that is so delicious, I just wish they cleaned out the artichoke heart. The chicken scarpiello was delicious but spicy and the breaded eggplant over arugula was so good, the stewed grapes tomatoes that come with it were so sweet. We didn't feel Rushed and enjoyed our Saturday night dinner. We will go back to try other items on the menu. All the food coming out looked very good. read more

Forte Ristorante - Stuffed artichoke - Pizza Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

The food was good; we got the chef special, the beef ravioli, was really good (10/10), then the carbonara with a side of chicken (7/10); my appetizer was mozzarella en carroza (100/00 amazing) and the dessert tiramisu (9/10). About the service 6/10; the server and host were amazing, but I felt I little disappointed with the valet parking, he was rude. read more

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A sunday afternoon meeting. the food and service was really good. The patio area was spacious with pleasant greenery adding an intimate touch. I haven't gone inside yet but i am sure if just as nice. read more

Our first time to Forte in Hackensack. When you walk in, you notice their outdoor seating setup on a patio with lights decorating the area. Walking in you are embraced with a majestic stairwell leading to upstairs dining only for parties. Very impressive. To the right you see a beautiful bar that has top notch liquor. Seated in the main dining room, you are greeted with a waitress who attends to all your needs. The food was delicious along with a creative presentation. The only negative: very loud where you cannot have a good conversation. read more

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10/21/23 Forte Hackensack opened recently so of course we had to go after a great meal at the Caldwell location :) Peartini was good, can smell and taste the pear Grilled Octopus made slightly differently than the Caldwell location but still yummy! Trippa was spicy! Very good, hubby ate it as an entree with bread lol Shrimp Risotto with Morel Mushrooms, the mushrooms were different, 1st time having them and it was a good 1st :). Love this risotto! Our vegetarian friend got some type of breaded eggplant with burrata which was so good I might get it next time! The side of Broccoli Rabe was delicious! Crème Brûlée OMG so good!!! There were other menu items I was thinking about so definitely need to go back! Service was top notch! Water was filled instantly, plates cleared as soon as we were done. They were like ninjas! LOL Make reservations on the weekends because it gets booked up fast! We had to take a 5pm Saturday reservation to get in. read more

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LOUD, loud place .. even though I called in my reservation & specifically asked for a table by the wall or corner because I have serious hearing loss from an injury.. they sat us in the middle of the room between a table of 10 b-day party & table of 8.. when I asked if she saw my notes she said she did but they were busy & people before us requested the table.. In a professional situation you say, "sorry that table is reserved". but with kids in professional settings that have not been taught how to act professionally thats what yoiu get. To make it worse the food was very sub par, bland & lacked any originality & the presentation was worse then many diners in Hackensack. all in all this place is way to expensive to be presenting ;like this. read more

I honestly could give this a one star but I won't. Forte used to be my favorite Italian restaurant in the entire Bergen county but these day I'm very disappointed with their food. I'm a chef so for me to say that it's not an easy critic. I order from this place every weekend. Either something is missing from what the description says on the menu or the food is always salty. Like my order today! I called so mangy time to complain but nothing changed. I will probably take a break. Very sadly! read more

What a hidden gem! The restaurant and bar are gorgeous inside and out, excellent service, nice sized portions... just a total yum!! I can't wait to go back. We tried: 2 Apps - Trippa was perfectly prepared and a lovely portion. Stuffed long hot peppers were perfectly balanced with spice and flavor. We loved them both! I had veal with broccoli rabe which was prepared so beautifully. I would have preferred the veal not breaded but it was super tasty and the caper and fresh tomato sauce on the side was perfection. I ate every last drop of it! My friend loved the Tartufo and the Italian cheesecake was light with a nice citrus flavor. A huge portion - happy to have leftovers! read more

I have neen patronizing Forte's retaurants in Caldwell and Randolph for years, and with good reason. As a longstanding devotee, I looked forward to checking out the new location in Hackensack which, unlike the others, has a liquor license and a bar. This place was a tremendous disappointment. First, the two things that always set the original Fortes apart in my view were the unpretentious, casual atmospheres and commodious, authentically Italian-American cuisine. This place is anything but "unpretentious" The atmosphere trades glitz for the intimacy and comfort of Caldwell and Randolph... a vast serving room high on design but devoid of warmth and inundated by pulsating, loud music seems to aim for a Manhattan vibe...more club than restaurant. The service was polite but painfully slow and the menu, nominally similar to the originals, was poorly executed. No pizza ("Forte's first claim to fame) here by the way, though it is advertised prominently in the garish sign. I ordered the tripe alla romana, one of my go-tos. It was delivered cold. The hot antipasto featured rubbery stuffed mushrooms, under-cooked squid rings (nope; not the true "calamari" we expected and a half decent eggplant rollatini that had a pre-frozen feel to it. Summary. Atmosphere: Pretentious and obnoxious Service: Polite but the bare minimum with lots of untrained staff Food: Mediocre, lacking freshness and seasoning that makes the other locations great Conclusion. This location is a fake cash grab. Skip it. read more

Upscale atmosphere with quality food, fun drinks, and a wide variety of options. The penne vodka had a beautiful slight kick to it. Will be back! read more

Forte Ristorante - Pizza Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

5+ Stars Fairly new restaurant in this space by an experienced family with a place in South NJ. Use the valet parking as there is no street parking. Service is very good and attentive. Decor has been spruced up and very nice. Very cool bar area with small lounge. Good sized menu with excellent options with one special entree offered on a Saturday night. Not a " chicken parm\chicken Franchese\ chicken Marsala" type place. not fusion either; just great Italian dishes. Very good craft cocktails; wine list too. Prices these days are subjective. Go online & look. Prices here (IMO) were worth the dinner you will have. THE FOOD; I was actually here early this year for a private party where a few dishes were put out including some very good thin crust pizza. However the 2nd time back we had those dishes and more and everything was consistent; made with exceptional ingredients. good portions, prepared perfectly and just tasted Excellent.....so here we go.... Apps: Mussels in white wine sauce perfect. Their version of Spicy Rigatoni with vodka sauce had to be the best I've ever had. Their Eggplant Rollatini was huge. Perfectly, delicately fried, thin eggplant wrapped around a nice dollop of fresh ricotta cheese, topped with a nice amount of fresh mozzarella, and then smothered in a marinara\ vodka sauce. This is one of my favorite Italian dishes ANYWHERE. Entrees: -- Pappardelle pasta with porcini mushrooms, in a truffle crème sauce! -- Paccheri Bolognese made with Veal, Pork & Beef Ragu, & Whipped Burrata ! -- Veal Martini ( also avail with chicken) was "on the money". Two nice sized, thin, lightly breaded cutlets. Fried delicately to perfection, served in the most perfect lemon butter sauce I ever had. Served with some escarole and sliced, roasted potatoes. all 3 were Amazing. Good dessert list too. Maybe even have a pistachio martini which was very decadent. Forte is my new, local place for superb Italian food. Highly recommended. read more

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Enjoyable Italian restaurant in first Teo levels of luxury apartment building. Valet parking. Beautiful interior. Large dining area and bar. Upstairs is large room for events. Attached is pizzeria. Food was excellent and service prompt. Enjoyed my risotto with shrimp. Appetizer of rice balls good and dessert of zeppoles with chocolate syrup great. Enough for two to share. read more

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Beautiful atmosphere and outstanding service. Food was very good, but not outstanding.

Very rude hostess. At outset asked for another table due to high traffic loud area. Hostess said she could not accommodate because the other tables had reservations even though I called for a reservation also Even upon leaving many tables still not taken and the Food overrated. below average. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

Jenna, the event planner, was incredibly kind and helpful in organizing our reservation, making everything smooth and stress-free. Carlos, our waiter, provided outstanding service--friendly, attentive, and truly made us feel taken care of. The restaurant was beautiful and elegant, and the food was absolutely delicious. read more

After placing an order for delivery today at 5:34pm, we waited well past an hour for three items which order taker said would take 30-40 min. They are only one mile away. Called on status and manager said it should be delivered in a few minutes (5:46pm). Nope! At 5:54pm, I called to cancel since a woman first said driver was not answering his phone. Lie! Manager got on the phone and I requested again to cancel. Let just say he did not rebuttal or offer any type of apology or explanation since we know the order was not prepared. Give them another shot? Hell no!!! read more

I went there tonight with my best friend for a Christmas dinner. We did not have a reservation, but they accommodated us. The service was wonderful. The food was fantastic. It was very festive. The place was packed and bustling and obviously it's one of the destination places to dine in Bergen County. I can't wait to go back. What a pleasant surprise. With most of the restaurants no longer in an existence( like the Stony Hill Inn) , it's nice to know there's excellence in dining still thriving in the Hackensack area. read more

What I had at the bar was fine. But the long-haired bartender constantly ran through her fingers on hair while I was there. Then she made drinks. She didn't use tongs to grab limes. She used her bare hands without washing. YUK!!!! I would NOT get a drink she makes. If I have to, I will only go back to get a beer or wine. read more

I'd give 10 stars if possible! I travel to this area often and just discovered Forte. The food and service is impeccable. Kayla the bartender wowed us the first night. So charming and welcoming! We came back a second night and had equally as great an evening with our server, Devon. We saw Mike, the owner, a second time and he remembered us and treated us as if we were old friends. I will be coming back again and again! read more