Surprisingly happy at my first outing here! A few friends and I came for lunch after hearing about how great it is several times. We were all pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed our lunches. It was reasonably priced and the portions were good sizes. The service was fantastic- our glasses were never empty and everyone was so friendly. I was with my 6 month old baby who dropped his toys several times on the floor; one of the waiters even went in the back and washed it off for me. We will definitely come back in the future for dinner. Highly recommend! read more

This review is based on Gourmet Cafe's lunch offerings. We ordered from them at work for the first time last week and people are still talking about how good the food was! First of all the salads are amazing! The Kathy salad was such a hit that two co workers actually stopped by the restaurant to pick up the same salad for dinner on their way home! Gourmet Cafe makes all of their dressings in house and they give you the perfect portion size leaving you full, not stuffed. For entrees the blackened salmon was perfectly cooked, and chicken marsala was incredible. Penne pasta with vodka sauce was decent, but not memorable. Roasted vegetables were good while blanched spinach could have used some seasoning. The staff was great to work with and delivered our order on time with plenty of plates, utensils and napkins. We look forward to having them again at work, and checking them out for dinner in the future. read more

Call ahead even for a table of two because this place seems to always be filled. Great variety of Italian dishes made to your liking and great service. Portions are just right if you don't fill up on the bread. Save room for dessert! BYOB read more

Excellent food that deserves higher prices and a better venue. I've been now 4x. Normally around the third visit I am getting a bit weary of the experience, but the food here keeps surprising me in a delicious way. As soon as I leave I'm thinking of what dish and what wine I can pair on my next visit. That's very rare. Seriously good. read more

Small restaurant (13 tables). Food was good but not great. I ordered Veal Francese. It was good, but the sauce was a little lackluster. Also ordered at the table was puttanesca and carbonara pasta. Both diners said it was "good." Service was great. We all said we'd go back but would never be home and thinking of this restaurant. read more

I don't get it. The food was just okay. The risotto croquettes and accompanying sauce had no flavor. The service wasn't the greatest either. Leaving us for extended periods of time with no waiter. read more

Note: BYOB We found ourselves in the area at dinner time and decided to eat here based on the 4-star ratings on Yelp. If you don't live in the area or depend on sites like Yelp, you aren't going go here. In a strip mall, it looks like a deli and it looked closed. Not the kind of place you drive by and say "oh let's go there." Once inside we were very pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. Upon arrival at 5:30 on a Tuesday evening we were surprised to learn that every one of the 50+ seats in this cozy, relaxed room were already reserved. The hostess was very accommodating and squeezed us into a table that had a slightly later reservation arrival time. My wife and I shared a Filet Of Sole and a Scallops with an orange soy glaze. Both were served with fresh vegetables that were perfectly done. Perhaps it was the Yelp reviews that raised our expectations to a level that the food just didn't quite reach, but we found them to be good, but only good! We shared a bread pudding, a desert we have tried many places. Here again it was good; moist and tasty but it didn't bring on any OMGs. While this review may not sound like it, we did enjoy our visit. Without question the highlight was out interaction with our Hostess/OrderTaker who really contributed to our dining experience. Unfortunately, we learned that after 7 years of working there while attending school, the night of our visit was going to be her last night there. Based upon our observation of her interaction with the regulars, the restaurant will definitely suffer from her from her departure. Thinking that all of the four-star reviews written by past diners can't be wrong, when back in the area again, we will give the Gourmet Café another try. read more

Enjoy any item on the menu. It is all fresh and flavorful. Service is excellent. Third time in a month and each visit is consistently yummy. read more

I found this restaurant on Yelp - just looking to try a new place. I'm so glad I did!! This place is awesome!! Food and atmosphere was great! We had salmon over spinach and a nice house salad. Still talking about the Godiva gelato!! And it's BYOB!! The owner could not have been more welcoming to us! Going back again next week with other friends to try something else!! read more

Simply the best... There is no other place that has the quality of food than Gourmet Cafe. Prices are very reasonable and service is always great. Try to make a reservation so you don't get disappointed. read more

Excellent!!! The food here is a amazing. The chef prepares all the meals from scratch, and the service was very good! I enjoyed the chicken piccata very much! The food was worth the wait! A reservation is a good idea for the next time for sure! Go try the food you won't be sorry! read more

Gourmet Cafe - Chicken piccata was excellent - Italian Near Me - Parsippany, New Jersey

I've only been here once, but it must have been an off-night I didn't enjoy the food - my meal was just okay (especially for the price). Also, they don't serve alcohol - it's BYOB. Also, we had multiple servers, all with different rhythms - one simply interrupted us when we were in the middle of an intimate conversation. The ambiance is more light and fun, so maybe we chose the wrong setting to have a more private conversation. We didn't have reservations (we went on a whim), but they squeezed us in anyway - that was very much appreciated! Maybe I'll give it one more shot, since it seems everyone else here loves it. read more

Found ourselves needing a quick date night option on a Saturday with no reservations. The restaurant had an open table and happily held it for us till we arrived. The waitresses were super attentive and sweet. The place was packed which is always a good sign but when the food arrived, we could easily see why. The Parmesan crusted chicken was perfect and rave reviews in the veal parm. Splurged on the desserts and it was worth each calorie. The caramel bread pudding was the specialty and it was heavenly. The chef even came out at the end to check our happiness level which was high. Will definitely be back, with wine and more time to enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Thanks for the great experience read more

Gourmet Cafe is great for all occassions. Great lunch. Great Dinner. Great for groups. Great 1 on 1. Food is always fresh. Really some of the best Italian in the area. The wait staff is very professional and accomodating. And as everyone has already mentioned, the owner takes the time to make sure you are enjoying your experience. You can tell he is passionate about the place. I was very happy to have ventured into that strip mall. read more

Had a wonderful meal at this tucked away gem last night. Everyone in our group enjoyed the meal from orecchiette carbonara with tons of bacon to my chicken giambotta which was excellently prepared with my minor requested changes. The owner/chef Matt was warm and welcoming as was the entire staff. Be prepared with a reservation as the place was totally full until pretty late! read more

This place is amazing! A client of mine and I were in town from Los Angeles for a meeting at a company that has offices in the area. We had chicken piccata and the penne primavera. Both were insanely delicious. Matthew (the chef/owner) came over to our table and introduced himself. He has such pride in his work and such love for the restaurant he's built. He's there 7 days a week and has been for the past 10 years. It's no wonder they are full all the time. If you're in the area, this restaurant is not to be missed! read more

This is my favorite place to celebrate special moments because the food is so delicious. I also love their bread pudding.

Just enjoyed another fabulous meal tonight and we were able to eat inside which was a welcome change. Chef Matt and staff were excellent as always and never disappoint. Have been taking advantage of the curbside pick up but being able to dine there was a treat. If you haven't gone or tried it you're truly missing a hidden gem in Parsippany. Once again, my wife and I thank you Chef and staff. read more

Showed up on Saturday night at 8:30 without a reservation (it was a Hail Mary!). The person who approached us was genuinely annoyed and told us that he wouldn't be able to help us. I truly don't understand what the fuss is! The place looks like a diner and at least one of the waitstaff is surly. There are too many restaurants in the area to treat people like you don't want their business. Disappointing. read more

I have heard great reviews of this restaurant but hadn't been there. Tonight we went for a "girls night out" for a friend who really needed a night out. The waitress, Danielle, was amazing. Probably the best service I've had in quite some time. The food was so great. I wanted the special, spinach ravioli with portobello and red peppers but it came in Alfredo and I'm not a fan of that so I asked for vodka sauce, no push back and no problem they switched it, and it was FANTASTIC! The tilapia special with crab meat was amazing, and the other dish our table had was chicken giambotta..all so great. The chef came over to see how everything was and also gave us complimentary Apple Limoncello, so yummy! We had a great night, great food, great service....we will be back! read more

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I have been living in Parsippany all my life and I can't believe I've never been here! Went here on a last minute date night, made a reservation, and were not disappointed. The meals were amazing! I got the rigatoni with shrimp, crab meat & fresh mozzarella in their homemade sauce - subbed the rigatoni for angel hair - AMAZING! Huge portions, great service, my wine glass had a lipstick mark on it (not mine LOL) and I just asked for a swap - wasn't letting that kill my kid-free night vibe! We are definitely making this a regular on our list of places to go. read more

We there for lunch today This place is awful I ordered the park chop Gianbotta The chop was ok, they couldn't give me an old chop However it comes with mushrooms, peppers, sausage, hot peppers, and potatoes All f the above, except for the pork chop, was from someone's left over dinner...just dreadful We had to ask for bread. It was cheap sliced white bread from The supermarket!! The waiter threw the dishes for the bread on the table and reached across me to hand a dinner plate to the diner on my right!! Do not go to this restaurant read more

Gourmet Cafe is the best! The servers are always friendly and accommodating. From appetizers to deserts, they have it all. A nice mix of old school Italian with some modern flair. We have never left disappointed and would highly recommend it to others. read more

Gourmet café is a great!! The food, service is exceptional. Matt the chef / owner pays attention to all the details and makes you feel as a true VIP guest. My entire family truly love this restaurant and look forward to each visit. read more

Great food and bring your own liquor place . Place gets packed do make reservations . Owner is super nice and cares about his customers. I have been there for lunch and dinner and food was always good and fresh . read more

Another fantastic visit to Chef Matt Pierone's GOURMET CAFE. This hidden gem in Parsippany NJ never disappoints. This visit I was served a Linguini w/ shrimp & scallops in a delicious vodka sauce. My sister had the Linguini with white clam sauce that had no shortage of clams. Chef Matt never disappoints!!! read more

What brought me in was a coupon from restaurant .com. To see it from the outside is to see another bagel place, perhaps a pizza place, in yet another strip mall. Inside, it is quite a pleasant surprise, thank God. It's small, but nice, and you immediately know that you are in a restaurant that cares about you being there. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and given a choice of tables that were not yet reserved, which surprised me because it was a Monday night. But, it also told me that the food might be better than I had anticipated. I was right. OMG, I had no idea that less than a mile from my home there existed a restaurant this good that had escaped my notice. My S.O. started out with the Pignoli encrusted Sea Scallops with Eggplant Caponata and a balsamic reduction that was out of this world! I have not had Scallops that nicely done and that flavorful in I don't know how long. For dinner, I had the Linguine Shrimp and Scallops in Vodka sauce, (excellent), and my S.O. had the Italian spiced Salmon, which he raved about. The Chef/owner came out and talked to tables, though he barely gave us a nod and said absolutely nothing when I complemented him on the scallops. Oh well, I guess I could care less who he was either, lol. Chefs are busy, I didn't take it personally All I cared about was the food, which we will be back for and screw the coupon. I'm hoping for 5 stars next time when we try the rest of the dishes! xxxxxxxxx UPDATE-Done! We've been here several more times and have loved everything we have ordered. Service is great, food is oh so fresh. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Oh, yeah, this restaurant is a BYOB for those of you who imbibe! read more

I was on a business trip and was looking for a place for lunch.. a nice surprise, they have great food, relaxed atmosphere, and a very helpful staff. A definite place to go again the next time I am in town! read more

Celebrated my birthday this year with friends and family at Gourmet Cafe and really enjoyed a fabulous night!! Service was excellent and the atmosphere was so comfortable we stayed for hours. I started with the Parmesan Crusted Scallops with Balsamic Reduction Drizzle followed by Salmon with Lobster Special in a Champagne Pink Sauce. Both were impressive!! I was lucky enough to sample another incredible special called Apple Jack Chicken with Shallots. Definitely looking forward to my next visit already!! I truly recommend Gourmet Cafe to everyone for any occasion or just a night out!! read more

Excellent food and service! Nice, casual ambience inside. Loved the cavatelli with broccoli and sweet sausage. Pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and had tons of flavor. The orecchiette that my friend had was also cooked perfectly. The apple crumble a la mode was good, too. Service was friendly and attentive and they gave us a complimentary shot of homemade orange-cello as a digestif! Would definitely recommend this place and would definitely return here! read more

We've eaten here 2-3 times now. Food is always outstanding and with or without a Restaurant.com certificate a bargain. My only minor complaint is chef comes out and talks to every table ... if he knows you. He by passed us without so much as a nod while going to 5 other tables and chatting. Oh well, it really is about the food :) read more

Upon my first visit to this restaurant I felt very at home. The wait staff along with the chef/owner was very accommodating. The food was wonderful. I love my salad as well. This is a BYOB. read more

Went for birthday dinner with girlfriends. It was my first time. I couldn't believe how packed the place was. We got 3 appetizers, each better than the next. Mine was the fried polenta special-- I could have ordered another 2, they were so good! My dish was the veal Marsala. The veal was very tender and the Marsala sauce was very delicate and tasty. I did have to add more salt which I never do.. but I'm almost certain salt was completely omitted. That aside, still a great dish. It was served with freshly steamed veggies and sweet potatoes. We shared the chocolate decadence dessert and the gelato dessert-- heaven! The highlight was having the chef come out and share some homemade apple cinnamon liquor with us. He greeted our table warmly and chatted with us a bit. This personal touch puts this restaurant ahead of the rest. I will be back! PS- make a reservation. The place was packed the entire time we were there and we closed the place! read more

What an awesome restaurant. Amazing food every time and the staff is incredibly friendly. The owner Matt is always on the floor checking on everyone and he really makes you feel welcomed. I've never had a bad meal or experience here. You don't find restaurants like this very often!! read more

Such a hidden little gem! We've been twice, but are new to the area and will continue to come. The first time we came, it was very quiet-great service and delicious food. Then we came back with our three week old and they were super accommodating and attentive. Our waiter was awesome-took the time to listen to and suggest things for us. Nice that the owner would come over too! Thanks for feeding us yummy food and for letting us have a new parents night out!!! read more

Our favorite Italian restaurant. We don't get there enough but always bring a great bottle of wine to go with their phenomenal food.

My Aunt was in from Arizona and we were looking for a local place by me (Parsippany) for dinner. I found this via google and trusted the reviews, well, we showed up with no reservation but because my aunt was from out of town they scrambled to let us have a table that was reserved for 7pm. With only 45 minutes to order and eat we thought we'd feel rushed. We weren't and didn't, not only was the service swift and cordial but the food was to die for!! I have made a reservation for me and my best friend tomorrow night because I just have to share this diamond of a find. read more

This place is amazing! To start we had the seared shrimp and pignoli encrusted scallops. Both were phenomenal! For my entrée I had the filet of sole and my husband had the orange soy glazed salmon. Both dishes were amazing. For dessert I had the apple almond crisp which was so delightful. I love this place and can't wait to go back. read more

Tucked away in strip mall in Parsippany. Very good food and service. Been here several times and will continue to go back.

every time i've been there it never disappoints!! excellent foo-service-even the parking is not that bad benn going for about five years and don"t see myself stopping any time soon read more