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My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant is tiny and as a result, tables are close together. The restaurant is dark and loud- I liked the music but they were playing a lot of hip hop which isn't typical of an Italian restaurant. We split the lupa pizza and it was delicious. We then moved onto entrees. I had scallops, my husband had gnocchi and we split Brussel sprouts. everything was good. My husbands gnocchi was a special ; it was good but was missing something in my opinion- and since it was $90, it was definitely a shame. My scallops were cooked well. For dessert we enjoyed espresso, which was good, and the brownie sundae. The brownie was not enjoyable, but the gelato was excellent. Our server, Anthony, was helpful in suggesting things to try. He was extremely patient and accommodating. We would definitely return for the pizza.
After apple picking at Battleview Orchards, my future daughter in law made reservations for party of 4 at La Lupa. Nicely decorated as we walked in. Cozy dinning area with extremely dim lighting. Our Server Fiona was great. Introduced us to the philosophy of La Lupa. Fresh made pasta. Light pizzas. She encouraged family style and sharing. She proceeded to tell us about the specials. We placed our orders. Calamari was good. My future daughter in law and I decided to order pizza and tortellini to share. Pizza was light, flavorful. Hot pepper oil was served on side at my request. Tortalini was tasty, rich cheesy sauce. Small portions- I had about 5-6 tortalinis. My husband ordered the JERSEY CORN CARAMELLE- tasty, but small portion. My son's entree the fresh fish of the day- halibut was the only entree size meal. The pastas were appetizer size or small plate size. I would expect double the amount of pasta for the price. Little deceiving when it was suggested family style to share- expecting entree size, not appetizer size entrees. Fiona read off the desserts- Brownie, warm cookie and a variety of gelatos. It was a bit noisy with the music and conversations, I didn't hear one of the dessert items. Coziness and darkness- table next to us on the left, knocked over the water bottle, landed on my son's foot. Bottle did not break- thankfully. I stood up to use the restroom, almost bumped into a Server. Servers were bumping into the tables. My eyes had to adjust to the light when we left. Maybe lower the music, increase the lighting and remove a table or 2 to get less cozy seating. Food was tasty and Fiona was awesome!!
I've never been here and have heard more and more recently about it, especially from social media. In the past when I've looked for a reservation, I couldn't ever find anything. We found one last minute a few days ago for a birthday celebration for tonight. The restaurant is BYOB. Upon walking in it's super dark and dimly lit. The music is also quite loud and the bass is well heard. It's a smaller spot and they definitely pack the tables in. There's also four seats overlooking where the pizza is made. I was surprised to see only one bathroom in the whole restaurant. The service was really good and the manager was very hands-on and helping out. We started with the Caesar which wasn't bad, the focaccia special, which was just ok, the rice balls, which I loved and the fried chicken, which was a little too peppery for me. Then we got the margarita pizza which I really liked, the spicy vodka, which was too spicy for me and the anolini de parma which I also liked. For dessert we got the deconstructed tiramisu, which also was just ok and the honey comb and Biscoff gelato was really good. I would've loved to try a steak but just couldn't pay $90-$200 for one at this time. The service was really good and I liked the ambience, but the food wasn't as superb as I thought it was going to be. I'll be willing to try again and try some other items considering the menu always changes.
Food and service are always so good. Our waiters's name was Kyle and he was amazing. How he remembers all the specials blows me away. Also love that they don't rush you and let you really enjoy your food. Great atmosphere and food is always on par. Music is a little loud, but there's always a great vibe.
A cozy, yet vibrant and upbeat Italian restaurant with phenomenal food. My boyfriend and I went back for our second time this past weekend on Sunday at 4:30pm. I thought it would be quieter but was still jam packed. The restaurant reminds me of a restaurant in the city - it's very skinny and long - which doesn't leave a lot of space between tables. I mean we sat at the same table twice, and on my side I'm closed in tightly at a wooden booth. In order to go to the bathroom my boyfriend has to pull the table out. There was a plant close to my head as well as the staff working directly and above behind me. This is all completely fine it just naturally gives a congested feeling. The interior is super dark which is cool with dim lighting and nice ambience around however it does make it slightly harder to see the food. The table next to us is only a few inches away and the tables along the booth side in general are packed tight. With all of the customers the inside gets SERIOUSLY LOUD. They interestingly play music that is like rap/hip-hop loudly which is cool - again reminding me of a place in the Lower East Side or something but it makes it hard to hear the person you're dining with/communicate. The staff here is EXTREMELY NICE. And so so super attentive. There will be not a minute your water glass isn't refilled. They are kind and elaborate with their menu and special dishes - explaining each detail. Our waiter let us know all the dishes are recipes created by the chef's mother. The manager checked on us often. It was the first time we tried the pizza. We had the margherita and it was thin and SO delicious. I let the waiter know I like spicy, so he gave me their insanely delicious side of red peppers and oil you can add to your meals (def ask for it!) The brussel sprouts are delicious and come with a huge portion. One of the waiters has asked me if I wanted to leave it on the table for dinner and I said yes. After I got back from the bathroom, I believe someone else asked my boyfriend so they wrapped it up. I didn't realize the wrapped food is put in a bag behind you on the top part of the wooden booth. So when I asked a waiter where they went he thought we never got them and brought more. (I asked quickly and probably should've waited to ask our own server) however the waiter and manager were so kind to let us have the second portion of Brussels for free. THANK YOU!!! The Sunchoke pasta special is AMAZING. I loved the sides of the halibut. I thought the fish itself was ok. Wish they had scallops - maybe need to come back when it gets warmer. I also def want to try the crudo app when retuning - looks amazing! For dessert we had a delectable warm brownie with cinnamon gelato assortment and they added a candle for my boyfriend's bday! They have a ton of gelato options which is cool. I saw someone else order the cauliflower app and that looked amazing as well. Overall it's a fun spot just not the best place if you're looking to quietly unwind. It's more of an upbeat date spot with cool atmosphere, music and delicious meals. They have one bathroom in the back that is multi-sex. I highly recommend making a reservation. It's also BYOB! Last thing but don't forget to miss the turn into the strip mall the restaurant resides in bc comes up quick.
My expectations for La Lupa were already high, and this dining experience exceeded my expectations in every single way. The menu was overwhelming because I literally wanted to try everything. There are lots of apps, pastas, pizzas, meats and fishes plus some daily specials. We started with the pulpo which was divine. A huge portion with so much fresh octopus, tomatoes and olives in the most flavorful oil. Next up was the bucatini amatriciana which was coated in the creamiest tomato sauce with lots of smoky pancetta. They have a few cuts of steak that you can order in a small or a large and these are grilled on a yakitori grill. We tried the skirt wagyu and it was literally one of the best steaks I've ever had. Crispy on the outside and buttery and cooked to medium perfection on the inside. A small was more than enough for two of us, especially with an app and a pasta. The brussel sprouts side was the perfect accompaniment and were crispy, sweet and covered in parm. A bowl of brussels was massive - enough for an entire table. No room for dessert but everything looked amazing. Service was also great! It's a bit of a slow dining experience but I liked how they bring things out course by course and give you time to savor every dish. Made me feel like I was eating in Italy. Prices are definitely high but everything is so quality and portions are quite large, so it's really worth every penny. The ambiance is super romantic, small and dimly lit. Perfect for a date night! A few other things to note - BYO, so don't forget a bottle. Reservations are a must, but they seemed to have them available for most nights after 8 if you don't mind a bit of a later dinner. We also sat at the chef's counter and really liked it. It was fun to see the food get cooked and felt more spacious than some of the tight two tops. I want to try literally everything else on the menu. Cannot wait to come back.
Normally i don't do a one time visit and review. However, this is a place my wife found on TIKTOK. We were in the area meaning south jersey. We took a shot. Hit up a wine bottle on the way to restaurant as it is B.Y.O.B . We got there and the place is quaint. There was a wait not long but something they need to get a bit better at accommodating the customers with reservations. Again not terrible but a nit picking thing for me. Now The place although a small venue is done very nice. The set up kind of has a NYC vibe and the place was hopping. The acoustics are loud but we sat at the bar which was a perfect spot. The place is tight with tables ( NYC ). Now the food. We tried the Margherita pizza and i was craving pizza for weeks. It is a neopolitan style that my wife isn't totally onboard with. She loves the NYC style pizza however we have it a shot. Well a home run. The ingredients are fresh with nothing but the best were used. My wife loved the pizza. Also to accompany the pizza they give a small serving of Calabrian chili's. I truly loved the pizza. Next up I ordered the ANOLINI DI PARMA traditional meat filling, pork jus, parmigiano fonduta, aged balsamico di modena. Once again nothing but the best ingredients used. Was delicious we used that as a side dish to the 22 oz steak we ordered and split. The steak was cooked to perfection. Many places either have it over cooked or under cooked. Not this place. Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly and delicious. The service was very good. Chad was accommodating and always checking in. However, the owner took customer service to another level. Dan visited every person in his restaurant over and over. He ensured that everyone is good and explained each dish and their search for perfection. My words not his. All in all these guys from Manalapan crushed it. Very enjoyable evening food service and an owner who made it a great evening. Next visit if they crush it again, it will be a 5. We are looking forward to it. Lastly, all customers were definitely satisfied with everything at La Lupa.
The ambiance is the drawing factor here. My food I felt was mediocre. We tried 3 appetizers: - the artichokes were decent - the tuna special was average - the meat and cheese board was a large serving and was average as well For our main meals, we had the Wagyu skirt steak. It came out cold, so that was a bit of a bummer. The taste was good, however. We also had the saltimbocca chicken which was tasty. Overall, in my opinion, for the price, you can find much better in the area. I enjoyed the experience, however, between the ambiance and the service.
1 year ago
3 years ago
This is hands down my fav restaurant. I bring my friends and family here on different occasions just so they can experience the deliciousness too! I'm always more than satisfied. This time in particular we got everything in the photos below. Everything 10/10. We had to wait awhile for the table and the staff were kind enough to give us complimentary appetizers as we waited. That's how you run a business! I highly highly recommend any steak from them if you're a meat lover because THE BEST IVE EVA HAD! Make sure you make a reservation, they have limited seating. If you're a Karen and you don't like a tighter/darker atmosphere then unfortunately you will be missing out. Go go go! read more
Phenomenal. Absolutely worth the time to make a reservation and return again and again to try the rest of the rotating seasonal menu. Made a reservation on OpenTable, which lately has been hard to get, and still waited for 20 mins after our reservation due to the limited seating. It's byob, and they were more than accommodating to bring glasses and ice so we could have a drink while we waited in the hallway. Ultimately sat at the high top, which we actually preferred due to the close proximity of tables and the traffic of waitress walking by. Normal noise level, or quiet fine dining. More like a large Italian family gathering in a dining room, with less yelling. Everything on the menu sounded amazing. We tried many apps and specials and had two favorite pasta specials that were amazing. Carbonara 8/10. Hard to find a good one in the region, and it's in my top 3. Squid ink pasta blew me away. Best I've ever had. Highly recommend. And don't forget. BYOB. read more
BEST Italian Food I have had in a long, long time. Tasted so authentic and fresh. A good friend of my husband's has been raving about this place and comes very frequently. We finally got a chance to try it out and now I cannot wait to go back! Reservations are a must on busy nights! The place was PACKED. Food: We ordered the roasted squash tortellini, roasted Brussel sprouts, and the roman gnocchi. I believe I was told their menu changes maybe seasonally. Pictures attached do not do this food justice. I think the pasta was my favorite! Service: No complaints. Quick service, kind waiters and waitresses. Ambiance: Cozy - perfect spot for a nice date night or catching up with old friends. Just don't forget the reservations! read more
3 years ago
You won't be disappointed at this charming Trattoria. The ingredients are the freshest and top notch. You can't go wrong with the carbonara the pizza any of the steaks or appetizers trust me this meal was 10 out of 10. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
My friend and I came recently-- ordered legit half the menu, had 5 of their appetizers alone and had to order one of them twice mid meal bc we we're still thinking about it. Everything we ate was delicious and unique. Major props to the chef for creativity and surprising us with such great food. Staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. Very cozy and intimate feel. Love a dim lit dinner feel! I enjoyed the throwbacks from early 2000's hip hop as well. Feels like I'm in an awesome hole in the wall in Manhattan! We were the last ones out at 1am hence an empty space Cannot wait to go again! Side note: I see people commenting on their portion sizes. This is a very tapas style menu so it's great for the expectations of sharing. I personally loved it, yes pricey but they are getting the best sourced products. I could definetly do without the hot honey fried chicken as an app especially when ordering so much, (only bc fried food fills me up so fast.) the chicken was yummy either way. I'm not much of an artichoke girl but man did these guys CHANGE my mind! That app was INCREDIBLE in addition to the Brussel sprouts and their play on tuna tartare. Just so good, I'm still thinking about that food! read more
2 years ago
My boyfriend and I went on Tuesday night to celebrate our anniversary. We sat at the chefs table and had a great experience. Our waiter Justin was so friendly and helpful with making choices. The food was delicious and we loved the rice ball! We've gone once before, but definitely coming more often! read more
1 year ago
Wow. La lupa is a small restaurant with an awesome vibe and amazing food. We had to wait a bit for our reservation but it was definitely worth it. Clam pizza (with red pepper to pair), octopus, fried chicken, porter house, halibut, carbonara pasta and a stuffed pasta.. It was amazing. Every dish had its own twist. It is definitely a restaurant to try. Waiter and manager were so apologetic of the wait and they where super nice during our whole meal. Was not disappointed hopefully we can get another reservation soon. read more
2 years ago
We arrived for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and despite the restaurant being a bit busy, we were seated and treated with exceptional service! The owner and staff were super personable, the vibe was immaculate, and the food was certainly some of the best we've had in the area- if not the state. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
My favorite restaurant hands down! My cousin and I found out about this place shortly after they opened & I go back almost monthly since! I drive an hour just to eat here! Reservations are required so keep that in mind. I always make a reservation a month in advance. The food is incredible, the ambiance is perfect, the music is awesome & the staff is friendly. I've never had a dish I didn't like & love how they often rotate their menu. So every time I go there's something new to try! The fried chicken, rice balls, zucchini flowers, jersey corn pasta, scamorza pie are all incredible dishes. From the apps to dessert it's always A+++ I highly recommend making your way to La lupa! I can't wait to go tonight :) read more
3 years ago
This gem of a place always gets it right. You walk in and they make you feel like family. From being greeted at the door, to the staff being so friendly and just really know the menu and really care. The chef and kitchen just make the food warm your heart. The food is fantastic, always fresh. We will always recommend La lupa. You will not be disappointed. Its decor is beautiful the chefs counter is cozy. This restaurant is run by very hard working young people who take pride in every aspect of their restaurant. read more
Hands down one of the best new restaurants in NJ. From start to finish the service was impeccable and the vibe is perfect for a family dinner or date night. We tried everything we could on the menu and decided to schedule out consistent visits here for the next 10 weeks (thats as far as they would let us schedule). read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
The food is soo good! Small plates but full of flavor. It's a more intimate setting and hard to get a reservation so keep that in mind but they play old school hip hop which sets the mood nicely and fills the place with energy. It's also byob so make sure you bring a bottle otherwise you only have water to drink. read more
Every time I come here I am so impressed and the food never fails to be amazing. The service was prompt and all of our needs were taken care of. It's a bit loud in the restaurant since it is small but I am not turned away because of how delicious the food always is. This was my fourth visit and I will be back again soon! read more
4 years ago
I'm sorry but this place was just ok for me. The food is good but very small portions for the price you're paying. The place is way too cramped. We were table of four and seated next to the booth at the end corner of the restaurant. There was a chair right up against our table. I literally had a woman seated inches away from my right side and was looking at her back the entire time. It was a party of 6 or 7 seated there and it was way too tight. It was not a pleasurable dining experience. We wanted to sample various menu item so we shared the margarita pizza, calzones beet salad, broccoli rabe and calamari. The pizza was underwhelming very over cooked. The calzone was good but I thought it was very small and doughy. The grilled Broccoli Rabe lacked flavor and was bitter. The calamari was very tender but again not very much of it. The only plus for me was the fact it's a byob. Space is too close for my comfort. read more
3 years ago
Had an awesome dining experience at La Lupa last Friday night! It was my first time dining with them, but I had heard rave reviews from friends so I had to see what the hype was about for myself. Although the restaurant is small, they create a nice, homey ambiance and provide excellent customer service the whole way through. A great perk is that this restaurant is BYOB. Our waiter brought out a decanter for our wine and served it to us throughout our meal, whenever our glasses were slightly empty. For an appetizer, we got the Tuscan Fried Chicken. Excellent! Crunchy outside with a tender, juicy inside. Not too hot even though it has hot honey on it. Next, we ordered 2 pasta dishes. Both appeared to be seasonal for summer. The Spaghetti Alla Chitarra was light with a nice amount of crab and squash inside. Pasta was very fresh. The Jersey Corn Caramelle was delicious! Best dish of the night. The corn was fresh (like from a local farmer) and the pasta was so sweet and yummy. Highly recommend! After our pastas, we shared the Snake River Farms Skirt Steak. The steak was offered in 2 sizes - I believe 12 oz. and 24 oz. The 12 oz. size was perfect for 2 to share with the other items we got to eat throughout the night. We also got a side of cacio e Pepe potatoes. Both delicious! The steak was extremely tender and had great flavor. The potatoes were crispy. Finally, for dessert we enjoyed cappuccino and a caramel brownie with vanilla gelato. A great ending to a fantastic evening! Thank you for the wonderful first visit! We will definitely be back. read more
3 years ago
Best food and consumer service ! Staff is amazing and food is definitely worth a try ! Great for parties and date nights 1000000/10 try!!! read more
4 years ago
GEM IN MANALAPAN! I've dined here lots of times already, and I absolutely love this restaurant! Not only do I love the food here, but I love the vibe it has here as well. It's unique from all the other restaurants in NJ. They play old school rap in the background, and I like it. I read other reviews that some people didn't like that, but I do. When you order they bring one dish at a time as this place is made for sharing. My favorite appetizers so far are the rice balls, the fried chicken, and the Roman Gnocchi. I also love the beet salad with strawberries and tangerines. My favorite pasta dishes are the rigatoni carbonara and the Jersey corn caramelle. All the pasta dishes are home made, and they are all FANTASTIC! When they first opened they made the pasta dishes too small, but now they are a good size. That turned me into a weekly customer because I love fresh pasta for dinner. The strip steak is OUTSTANDING! It's up there with the best steaks I ever had! It is priced at $95 which is kinda of high, but it is worth trying. The best side dish is the cacio e Pepe potatoes! They are AMAZING! They also make an excellent halibut as well. Everything here is amazing from appetizers, seafood, steak, and dessert. My favorite dessert is the chocolate chip cookie in a skillet. Tonight it was nice and thick with melty chocolate chips just how I like it. The olive oil cake can range from ok to excellent depending on the night. Some days it's moist, and some days it can be a bit overcooked. One of the best desserts they had was banana bread, but it hasn't been on lately. Hopefully, they will bring it back. They can use a few more dessert selections on the menu, and add a chocolate Gelato. Another thing I'd like to see on the menu is a filet mignon. The owners and waiters are all really nice here. They don't try to rush anyone out the door which is nice. They give everyone plenty of time to enjoy their food, and the company they are dining with. P.S. Make your next reservation before you leave! I HIGHLY recommend dining at La Lupa! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Came here again and it didn't disappoint. Everything from the atmosphere to the food quality is top notch. The clam pie is an absolute must! read more
Great food, amazing vibe. Fancy restaurant. Not your standard italian menu but a fusion version of it.Enough options for vegetarians as well. Its BYOB so no complaints. Only thing the pizza was a little underbaked and the crust was thick but the sauce was amazing. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
One of the best restaurants in the area! From the moment we stepped in to the moment we left I had a wonderful experience! It is a BYOB so bring the wine! My favorite was the tartare, still dreaming about it. They have a section where you can see the chef make the food while you eat which I love. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
This is my new fav restaurant and I can't wait to go back. In my opinion, it's one of the best places for Italian food in all of NJ-hands down. Everything we had was a 10/10, but I really loved the carbonara (because they do it perfectly) and the cacio pepe potatoes. It was all amazing, but those really stood out to me. Thanks, La Lupa! read more
I made reservations about 3 months ago for June. Let me tell you it was SO worth the wait! The restaurant is very small so i understand why it was so limited and a longer wait. The service was AMAZING. We had Chad as our waiter and he was the best. Very knowledgable on all the items, how they are cooked and his recommendations on how and what to order was superior! The entire staff was so nice and accommodating it almost did not feel like we were in a restaturant. Now the food, we did 3 courses for 5 people. 1 app (Frito Misto), 1 pasta (we had a special Parmigano sauce with mushrooms), 1 margherita pie, Cowboy Ribeye, Wagyu skirt steak, cacio pepe potatoes and grilled asparagus. Everything came out in a perfect flow and each unique dish was absolutely blissful with every bite. I was so blown away I made reservations for next month because I am going to need to try more items! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
My husband and I dined last night at Lupa for the first time and it was a fabulous meal from beginning to end! From the minute we walked in, we knew we were going to love this restaurant. It has a warm and inviting feel and is decorated so beautifully. The owners were very friendly and welcoming and checked on us throughout the evening. Our server William was attentive and helped us with our decisions when ordering. The skirt steak we had melted in our melts. It was seasoned nicely and cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed the clam pizza and pasta with clams and calamari. Our brownie dessert with gelato topped off our meal. We look forward to going back to La Lupa again soon...I just made another reservation! read more
4 years ago
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Ask the Community - La lupa
Are reservations a must i'm 1 person?
I would say yes, unless you come when they open at 4PM and sit at the bar area.
Does La Lupa do take out?
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La lupa - desserts - Updated July 2026
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