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    Gioia Mia

    3.9 (437 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Roasted Oysters
    Diana H.

    Such a beautiful and elegant restaurant. And the food was amazing and the servers were very friendly. Can't wait to return to try more. A great date night place!

    Long Island duck breast
    Kristine N.

    Wow amazing. Got reservations for the Valentine's Day 4 course menu where we were able to choose from 3 different selections for each course. ambiance was very romantic with roses coming down from the ceiling, mood lighting, and live music. We chose the insalata radicchio, dressed oysters, duck egg raviolo, spicy rigatoni, bronzino, Long Island duck breast, and tiramisu sundae. I really wanted to try the tuna crudo and red velvet swiss roll cake but we got a late reservation so they were out :/ But everything was delicious! My bf doesn't like oysters but even he liked these ones! They didn't have that pungent sea flavor, and the zingy toppings were great with it. The raviolo was a giant ravioli with an oozing duck egg, and a rich brown buttery sauce. Delicious but very decadent. The rigatoni wasn't very spicy but the pasta was perfectly al dente (I'm still thinking about it days later) and the sauce balanced. The bronzino had excellent flavor and the veggies were paired perfectly. My bf doesn't like shiitake mushrooms but he didn't even notice and really enjoyed them. The duck breast was a little chewy in the middle pieces but the rest were super tender and the sweet sauce complimented it well. The tiramisu sundae was not too sweet and light. I liked that the ladyfinger added some crunch, but also I think the sundae would've been good affogato style. Oh and the bread! Amazing. So fluffy and soft yet chewy. Crust is light and crispy on the outside and was elevated by the toastiness of the sesame seeds.

    Banana S'mores
    Alex A.

    This is one of my fav places to dine in. They change thier menu every season. Good ambiance . BYOB. The service has always been really good and the food has remained consistently great. I haven't been here for a few months so i'm looking forward to trying some new dishes. If you want really good pasta then this place should be on your radar. Make your reservation because i highly recommend this restaurant.

    porcini ravioli, pan seared sea scallops, wild boar garganelli
    Henry W.

    Celebrated my birthday at Gioia Mia and had one of the best meals we've had in the entire state of NJ! From starters to dessert, every dish was delicious. Especially outstanding was the raw oysters, which was dressed with yuzu granitas. Service was attentive and the environment was cozy and classy. This is definitely one of our favorite places in NJ! Oh did I mention their bread? Wait till you taste it!

    Camille M.

    Amazing dining experience! Every dish was thoughtful and full of flavor. Thought it was very cool that you could order wine from a neighboring store and have it delivered to your table, major plus that they had half bottles.

    Charred Octopus
    Andrea R.

    From the warm, fresh bread to the final bite of dessert, every dish was a masterpiece. The chef's attention to flavor, presentation, and creativity shone through in every appetizer and entrée, making for an unforgettable dining experience. We will be back again soon to try other dishes!

    Eileen K.

    I can't even begin to explain how amazing the food was! I live in the city and was visiting a friend in West Orange and we decided to come try Gioia Mia, which came under new management and owner a year ago apparently. Let me tell you, the food was out of this world! I don't think I had a better dinner in my whole entire life. They are BYOB, which I didn't know, but they have a liquor store down the street that delivered my wine in less than 5 minutes of calling it in!!! The dinner starts with a homemade focaccia that was amazing. We also decided to step out of our shells and ordered the chicken liver mousse. When I tell you my friend would never even think about eating liver, she absolutely loved it!!! It was such a perfect pair with the strawberry rhubarb! The asparagus tabbouleh salad is also something I would have never thought would be in the same dish, and it was delicious! The scallop tiradito - oh my god. The flavors in that was perfection!!!! We then had agnolotti, malfadine, and cavatelli. The cavatelli and malfadine were on point!!! Agnolotti was also very good but out of the 3, it was my least favorite comparing how flavorful everything else was. And to end, we had a hanger steak and the pan seared scallops. The scallops were amazing!!!! And the steak was literally cooked soooooo well and how it was coated in au poivre couldn't be more perfect. What a culinary dining experience this was. Can't wait to come back again!!!!

    Sharm S.

    Love this new addition to Montclair! Had the pleasure of dining there this evening and was very happy to find both vegetarian and non-veg options. The peach salad was delicious as well as the oysters, gnocchi and squid ink pasta. Love that the menu isn't too large but has more than enough options. Service was excellent. Try this one out for date night!

    Half Dozen East Coast Oysters
    John B.

    One of the best places I've eaten at. Inside was small, cozy, and not overdone for being a semi classy restaurant. When dining out, I find myself enjoying places like Fascino which have small menu selections since I know the chef can focus on just a few high quality dishes. We opted to order a bunch of plates for the table to share. The squid ink pasta w/ shrimp, focaccia bread, romaine lettuce, and oysters as starters. The past was handmade and went well with the shrimp. It didn't taste too fishy and had a little bit of heat in it. The focaccia bread was so flavorful I didn't find the need to dip in olive oil. The oysters came ice cold and had just the right amount of saltiness to them. The hangar steak was one of the best I've had anywhere. Every plate that my table ordered was absolutely delicious.

    David John A.

    Really wonderful Italian restaurant in the Montclair area. Service was on point, decor is modern but very warm lightning; gave a cozy family feeling. Food was excellent, we had gnocchi, squid ink pappardelle, crudo, charred octopus and dessert! Each dish was tremendous, looking forward to going back. Also, byob ftw!

    Ricotta Gnocchi

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    Ryan D.

    thanks for this review! come check out our Sunday brunch!

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    Nice atmosphere, good service and excellent food. And busy for a Sunday evening so the word is out.

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    1 year ago

    Really enjoyed our meal tonight! Food was delicious, service was great- it was our first time and we plan to go back.

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    Ryan D.

    Hi Paulina, so happy you enjoyed everything! Come back soon!

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Gioia Mia

    Are they BYOB?

    Yes, its BYOB, stores are nearby if needed

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    Luigino's Parmigiana - Castellane with pork ragu.

    Luigino's Parmigiana

    4.6(266 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    We found Luigino's Parmigiano while looking for a local BYOB for an easy Saturday date night, and…read moreit turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, with both indoor and outdoor dining, but they were expecting us for our reservation and seated us right away. The front-of-house staff was warm, friendly and even remembered my husband from when he called to make the reservation. The food was the standout. I ordered the short rib, which arrived with quite the presentation, a huge bone topped with incredibly tender, shaved short rib and mixed vegetables. It was delicious and the portion was enormous. I shared some with my husband at dinner, took the rest home, and we still managed to turn the leftovers into an omelet a couple of days later! My husband ordered the double-thick pork chop and loved it. We also shared the fried shrimp and calamari appetizer, and both the marinara and aioli were excellent. One small area for improvement would be helping the younger waitstaff become a little more comfortable guiding guests through the menu. When we asked for recommendations and what dishes the restaurant was especially known for, it took a little prompting before we got to Parmigiano. Our server was perfectly nice. It just would have elevated the experience to have someone confidently say, "This is what we do exceptionally well, and here's what I recommend." Overall, though, we had exactly the kind of evening we needed. We brought a bottle of wine, relaxed, talked, enjoyed the atmosphere and genuinely felt like we had gotten away for a while. Our bill came in at the $100 range, and we left completely satisfied. Great food, generous portions, a welcoming atmosphere and excellent value. We'll absolutely return.

    Come hungry. Portion sizes are almost comical, especially the excellent chicken parm and eggplant…read moreParmigiana. Table for 6 mid week lunch. Decor offers a taste of Italy and adds to the charm. Started with a few apps and a chicken parm for the table to share. The Carciofi alla Giudia, the classic Jewish-Roman deep fried artichokes were beautifully presented. A good bit firmer than you'd find in Rome but were still well enjoyed and recommended. Tonno salad with fresh seared tuna was plentiful and packed with flavor. Speaking of flavor the porchetta sandwich was rich and delicious. Really this is closer to a bbq pork than authentic porchetta but still recommended. The star of the show is the chicken parm and eggplant parm. The eggplant was delicate, thinly sliced melt in your mouth. Luckily you get a huge plate. Chicken parm is also excellent and HUGE. While there is $10 plate fee if sharing a main they are fine if you order several items and share all. Very generous with their shaved Parmesan if requested. Prices on the higher side but not all that bad considering the quantity. This feels more like the type of place you come to with a large group than as a couple. Unless of course you are very hungry. Service is excellent.

    Photos
    Luigino's Parmigiana - Dining room

    Dining room

    Luigino's Parmigiana - Tonno salad

    Tonno salad

    Luigino's Parmigiana - Carciofi alla Giudia

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    Carciofi alla Giudia

    Laboratorio Kitchen - Chicken Parmesan

    Laboratorio Kitchen

    4.3(514 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    THEE Best around! Their pastas are made fresh and in house. Whatever it is that you order is…read moresucculent and Devine - a religious experience! Staff is amazingly attentive, professional and super friendly. I like that the Chef makes an occasional appearance making it a personable experience. Prices are up there but money well spent.

    Laboratorio Kitchen was a BYOB Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Montclair. It was a…read morestunning space with sleek, modern furniture and walls adorned with vibrant, colorful artwork. The service was impeccable from the moment we arrived until the second that we left. From a food perspective, our meal initiated with a basket of some of the best rolls I had ever had. They were large, fluffy, and doughy with a hint of crispiness from a light toasting. We then shared the Veal and Beef Meatball, which was gigantic but still managed to have the ideal texture. It was also beautifully seasoned and served in what the chef called his "grandma's plum tomato sauce", which was divine! The sauce was thick and hearty, so when that was paired with pecorino cheese and basil oil, it really made for a fabulous dish. I even cut off a small piece to put inside my roll with a spoonful of sauce - chef's kiss! After that, we enjoyed some of the house-made pasta dishes, tasting each in a family-style format. The Squid Ink Bucatini was tossed with scallops, shrimp, and jumbo lump crab in a seafood tomato sauce. I did not love the briny finish to the sauce or that some of the scallops were chewy. The Tagliatelle with Duck Bolognese, tomatoes, and carrots was good, but I prefer my pomodoro sauce without the addition of a "light cream". Lastly, the special Spaghetti came with lobster, crab, and peas in vodka sauce. That one was definitely my favorite. While I do not love peas, the sauce was rich and flavorful. Across these last two dishes, I thought the pasta was a tad overcooked and could have been more al dente; the bucatini consistency was more inline with my preferences. Overall, I thought the food at Laboratorio Kitchen was above average, but that the service and atmosphere helped elevate the place. I would definitely consider going back to try some of their other dishes.

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    Laboratorio Kitchen
    Laboratorio Kitchen
    Laboratorio Kitchen - Heirloom tomatoes with ricotta cheese, aged Balsamic, and olive oil

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    Heirloom tomatoes with ricotta cheese, aged Balsamic, and olive oil

    Brick + Dough

    Brick + Dough

    4.3(210 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Had dinner here a few weeks ago and WOW Montclair really is not giving up its title for best food…read morecity anytime soon. We're still slowly working our way through local spots, and Brick + Dough was highly recommended to us. We started with garlic knots, bread, and fries, and honestly... 10/10 across the board. Everything was SO good. The fries especially are still living rent free in my head. We then split three pizzas, all of which were seriously incredible. The perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and crust, just absolutely nailed. We ended the night with cookies and ice cream, and I can confidently say this place will be seeing me again very, very soon. It might even end up replacing our current go-to pizza spot...

    We came here for a dinner date with some friends and their dog. They were able to accommodate us…read moreoutside to be able to have the dog with us, which was very nice as we always look for outdoor spaces to be able to bring our furry friends. The service was nice, especially because even though we were the only table sitting outside, they were consistently coming out to make sure we were doing OK and had everything we needed. We ordered some garlic knots, which were good, it just seemed a little bit pricey to charge for the marinara sauce separately, which was not really outstanding nor something special, so I would recommend you skip it. We also ordered the chicken vodka Parm pie which was very good. The chicken was very crispy and the pizza was still delicious the next day when we had the leftovers. One of her friends is allergic to gluten, so it was very nice that they were able to accommodate for her. I do wanna point out that we have been to many places that offer gluten-free options and this is the first one I've been to that does charge you extra to make a gluten-free. In terms of price, it is very similar to the other places in Montclair but they do provide very good service and the ambience both outside and inside is very nice.

    Photos
    Brick + Dough - Let's go

    Let's go

    Brick + Dough
    Brick + Dough - Mikes

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    Mikes

    Sapori Ristorante - Pasta Mix

    Sapori Ristorante

    3.9(73 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Went here for a birthday dinner and the ambiance was very nice and festive…read more For appetizers, we got the goat cheese with nuts and prosciutto, the burrata, and the calamari. The calamari was by far the best. It was crispy and thick and seasoned well and the sauces were delicious. There were some fried onions in it that were flavorful too. The goat cheese was okay, it felt like the flavors did not all go together. The burrata was very fresh and the starter bread is great too. For dinner we got the pork shank which I think was a special, the mushroom ravioli, the eggplant pasta with red sauce and the branzino special with veggies and a sauce. The mushroom ravioli tasted a little like mush to me and I was not a fan of the mushroom flavor. The eggplant pasta was delicious and it came with burrata that melted nicely into the pasta. The pork shank was tender and delicious. The branzino was the star for sure, it was flavorful and delicate and paired well with the sauce and the veggies. For dessert we got the pistachio tartufo and the tiramisu. I didn't think the tiramisu was very special but it wasn't bad. The tartufo was okay. It tasted like a pistachio chocolate ball inside of pistachio ice cream. It was also incredibly small for the price. Our waiter was fantastic!!! Great person who made our experience extremely special. I don't know if I would come back, maybe for the calamari and a drink. Some of the food is amazing and some is not that great.

    The atmosphere was very nice. There was a violinist playing during dinner which made the ambiance…read moreeven better. I didn't have time to pick up a bottle of wine but the restaurant had a local store that delivered directly to our table, which was super convenient! My friend and I ordered appetizers and a main course. The food was plated nicely but was really underwhelming. I ordered the tuna tartar. The tuna was fresh but lacked flavor. It really just needed some salt or something. I also had the 14oz steak which was pretty good because it had some salt on it however the steak came out precut and did not look like a $58 steak. My friend hated both of her dishes. She had the burrata and the lasagna. She said they both lacked flavor. We paid over $200 for our meal and I was actually disappointed that I paid so much money for such mediocre food. I gave 3 stars for the atmosphere and service. Our server Julian was very nice and attentive.

    Photos
    Sapori Ristorante
    Sapori Ristorante - Branzino all'Acqua Pazza

    Branzino all'Acqua Pazza

    Sapori Ristorante - Inside aesthetic

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    Inside aesthetic

    pastaRAMEN - Wagyu skirt steak

    pastaRAMEN

    4.0(547 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    10/10, no notes!! I literally cannot wait to eat my…read moreleftovers today. We ordered quite a few items because we wanted the full experience after waiting so long to try this restaurant. WORTH ALLLL THE HYPE!! Speaking of hype, the vibes were good and the type of atmosphere that anyone would feel welcomed in. I saw dates going on and enjoying the tasting menu which is the perfect way to bond, groups of guy friends, families and then us, girls night out to catch up with my best friend. By the way- service was great, too. Friendly, fun & personable from everyone we encountered. Back to the food: *Calamari, super yum! *Caesar Salad, very yum!! Not your ordinary *Pescatarian Bestie ordered the Shrimp Scampi and enjoyed it! I ordered the Wagyu Short Rib Ramen and wowza, it's everything I hoped it would be and more. A generous portion of tented beef, I almost wish the ratio of ramen was higher though but seriously no complaints! I will be back, STAT!! Don't forget to bring your own vino cause it's BYOB

    Let's start by saying our server Matthew was incredible. He was observant, on top of everything,…read moreand had high awareness of the kitchen being behind and slow. We really didn't care about that as we were enjoying our wine and each other. Matthew alone 5 stars! This was our first time eating at pastaRAMEN and we had heard a lot of mixed reviews. The pictures on-line make it look like a fancy place so we did dress up. When we arrived we quickly realized it's not what they advertise and what's in the pictures as it's actually a small run down dive spot. The biggest attraction must be its BYOB as the line was out the door with people holding 2-3 bottles of wine and beer. We were really hopping for the food to be great! Unfortunately we were disappointed causing the 2 star review on food alone. The quality and freshness was poor and everything was soaked in multiple sauces. We had the Cucumber salad that should have been called the pickle salad as there were more pickles than cucumbers. Also the calamari which is hard to mess up but they somehow did with 3 different sweet sauces on it. Next we had the Ramen which they are known for and it had Fried Chicken in it??? It was frozen store bought chickens they warmed up. The last thing we ordered was the black cod, this could have caused us to get food poisoning!! One bit each and we both had to take a sip of wine quickly to get the taste out of our mouths. We couldn't even take a second bit. They did give us free dessert because everything took so long which was very nice but that was our great server Matthew. Dessert was good! Another side note the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting with pee on the floors and all over the toilet in both bathrooms. We did have a good night because we brought a very nice bottle of wine. Too bad they didn't give you real wine glasses. It was more of a plastic cup. I don't see us ever going back.

    Photos
    pastaRAMEN - Inside

    Inside

    pastaRAMEN - Delicious octopus skewers

    Delicious octopus skewers

    pastaRAMEN - Cacio e Pepe Gyoza

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    Cacio e Pepe Gyoza

    Bucco

    Bucco

    4.5(163 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Food was outstanding my wife and myself are foodies and this was one of the best restaurants we've…read morebeen to in a long time. Service was very attentive and pleasant. Will be back many times.

    Terrible experience. I went on a whim with a friend who wanted to try it out. What harm right? How…read morewrong I was! The food was just awful. The meat had a funny smell ;you know that funky smell you get with old meat? Yeah, there it was. The vegetables were limp and lifeless. The service was the worst of it. We waited forever for a seat only to have the menus tossed at us as that person walked away. When a waiter finally came by, it was very 'what do you want? Stop wasting my time' attitude. Forget about questions. No no no. If you arent a regular than sucks to be you. They Clearly had favorites based on intersctions with a nearby table. When i got my meal and brought uup the fact that I asked for an ingredient to be taken off (note, not substituted, just not on the dish), the server grabs my dish harshly and mutters a racial slur. I was furious but just wanted to get through the meal without further incident. I had already decided i would never come back and I would never recommend thiis place to anyone. It was just so unpleasant, you couldnt pay me to go again. If you dontgett food poisoning from their rancid ingredients, your mood will certainly decay within a matter of minutes by being there. Avoid this place!

    Photos
    Bucco - Yikes!

    Yikes!

    Bucco
    Bucco

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    Gioia Mia - italian - Updated August 2026

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