hands down the best food in Montclair. i have been here several times and each time its always great. i have been trying to work through the menu, but its hard not to order the lasagna, its just that good. it is always busy but never cramped or crowded. being byob is great and there is a liquor store not far away. highly recommended read more

My friend Eddie and his husband Nico invited me to have dinner with them and I'm so glad they did! They spoke to me about this place a few days ago and told me how amazing it was! They were not lying! We had the Antipasto Misti! And the appetizer size Orechiette to start. As my main dish I had the Skirt steak medium rare! It was amazing! So flavorful! I enjoyed every bite. The mashed potatoes with the infused caramelized onions was wow, amazing. You know how you always save a little bit of your favorite part of the dish for your last bite, well that's what I did with the mashed potatoes. Overall everything was amazing! Our server Jackie was so nice, super friendly. The owner Caroline was so nice! She was there to greet us and she was there checking in on us at our table and was the last person we saw! The environment was nice and warm, friendly, and cozy. I will definitely come back! I have already recommended it to two friends! read more

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It was a Monday dinner with friends. It was recommended by a friend who arranged the dinner. The food, service, and ambiance were all thumbs up. We didn't have a single complaint. read more

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We had a terrific meal Saturday here. A warm greeting, great server, prompt but not rushed service. The lemony dressing on my carpaccio brightened the silky meat, offset by thin sliced celery. Arancini were proper and correct. My veal stew special was perfect for a winter night, and the veal milanese tender with a well dressed arugula salad. Yes, it can be a bit tight space wise, but not too bad. The only minor disappointment-the rolls were just above 'meh'. La Rocca will be in our rotation. read more

La Rocca Osteria - Terrific carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures :( However, let me tell you, everything was fresh and delicious. All of their desserts are homemade - what a great! There were 4 of us, but I'll pick one dish from each category to prime you. Octopus appetizer, lasagna and molten pistachio cake!!! Just do it! Haha. My friend's ribeye looked super juicy too. BYOB & very friendly service. They were super busy but we didn't feel rushed out. Well done guys!! read more

Came by for a Sunday evening date night with my fiancé. We had a reservation but had to wait a bit to be seated. The inside of the restaurant had a nice ambiance, low light with candles. The interior is on the smaller side so I can imagine how it will feel if the restaurant is packed. We ordered an array of dishes. We had the arincini, beef cheek ravioli from the specials menu, steak with Gorgonzola, and carbonara or cacio Pepe (forgot which one). We enjoyed our meal but my favorite was the ravioli. It had such a warm, comforting feel. My least favorite was probably the steak. I didn't enjoy the sides it came with. Overall, we had a great date night and looking forward to coming back! read more

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We arrived at 3:50pm, they didn't unlock door until 3:58. We get it, you don't open until 4 but you see you have numerous people waiting, you'd think they'd open the door 10 minutes early. The staff was very friendly and professional. We ordered appetizers and entrees. See pics. Every single person wanted to lick their plates, every single appetizer and entree was delicious! Talking just about my ribeye steak, it was cooked perfectly and full of flavor! Must get the coconut and pineapple dessert!! Cannot express this enough!! Delicious!! Definitely recommend! read more

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My family and I were visiting from Albuquerque and have a lovely meal here for our last night in Montclair. Every single dish that came out of the restaurant was fabulous, fresh and delicious. Their house marinated olives were a table favorite, as well as the spectacular Ribeye and pastas. The owner Robert was very friendly and checked on our table to make sure we were enjoying our meal. Every single staff member was working their butt off and made our evening seamless & excellent. We will definitely come back when we are in New Jersey! read more

La Rocca Osteria - Pistachio lava cake, tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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We've been there before, but last night was a disappointment. The zucchini flowers were too deeply fried and the entrees were unimaginative. Desserts also were run of the mill. Not happy. Too bad; it used to be creative. read more

The food here was amazing. It's a BYOB with no corking fee. The lavender lemonade was refreshing. My eggplant was not greasy or over cooked. My lamb chops were to die for. Awesome spot and I can't wait to return. Make reservations because it was packed for a late Sunday night. There is some noise because everyone is chatting it up and enjoying their meal. read more

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Had my daughter's engagement party! I can't say enough of how all went smoothly. Relatives & family including children! The catered menu was superb & kids had their separate pasta menu! Service, ambiance was excellent!! A huge shout out to Ava and Stephanie! Brian, Jackie and more of which I did not get their names! Robert, thank you for giving me my choice on the menu! Great place we have dined, catering this party was also excellent as there dinners!! Highly recommend! read more

La Rocca Osteria - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

We had never heard of this place but received a gift card to go. The food was delicious! We can't wait to go back and try more items. read more

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Absolutely amazing food. Been there twice and haven't ordered a bad thing. Wonderful service, even though they're busy almost every night they don't rush you or make you feel like they need the table. Highly recommend for both an intimate dinner or a gathering of friends. read more

La Rocca Osteria - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

This is a very popular BYOB in Montclair that was packed on the Thursday night that we visited. The interior is very pleasant, with nice comfortable seating. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming. For starters we ordered the Artichoke Salad and Tuna Tartar. I was excited about the Salad, because I am crazy about artichokes. It was okay, but nothing special. After a few bites, I was bored. The Tuna was nice and bright, but the barley was completely unnecessary. We both ordered specials for our entrees. I ordered the Spaghetti with Burrata and my husband had the Double Cut Pork Chop. My Spaghetti looked pretty underwhelming when it arrived. The burrata just looked like a small blob of mozzarella in the center. There was none of the creamy, lusciousness of a burrata. Also, the dish was oddly bland even though it contained anchovies. The Pork Chop was nicely prepared. It was juicy and flavorful, with delicious broccoli rabe and potatoes. We had the Stracciatella Gelato for dessert. The gelato wasn't great. It didn't have a nice creamy texture. I would pass. Honestly, there are so many quality Italian restaurants in the area that I'm not sure if I would go back. read more

Not enough good things to say about this place. First, the location. In the heart of Montclair but off the main drag so you get a real neighborhood feel. By the looks of it, this place is super popular with locals (and others I'm sure) and was full, inside and out. The owners (or manager) and staff were all super friendly. Our server was great and the manager was going around to tables, warmly welcoming (back) many guests. The food is incredible. Totally hard to choose what to eat so repeat visits are a must! The portions are huge. read more

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Great meal with great service! Food was so delicious. Definitely recommend the focaccia breads!! read more

La Rocca Osteria - Tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

One of the best meals we have had in awhile! The food was so delicious and stood out from just a good Italian restaurant. The skirt steak was fantastic, we were all fighting over trying some. The pastas were so fresh and seasoned perfectly. The calamari came in a fun "chip" bowl to enjoy. The service was good and the atmosphere was nice! The owner was friendly on our way out. The only hard part is parking in that area but well worth the meal! read more

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Always great! The pastas are fresh and made in house, the staff are efficient and friendly, and Robert (the owner) never raises prices. It's really the best value in Montclair! If you ever dined at Osteria Giotto, you will love La Rocca because it's the same place. I love the garlicky olives and bread that arrives after you sit. I love the home made pasta in a cherry tomato sauce with crab and shrimp. I love the lemony honey salad with apples and lettuces, I love the tuna tartare, and I love many of the desert options. And then you get the bill and it's so fair, you enjoy leaving a hefty tip! read more

They definitely pack people in but despite the mild claustrophobia and constant clamor you're in for a tremendous experience. 1. The food is delicious 2. The service is very cordial 3. It's actually a good value as a BYOB Highly recommend everyone to try it if you haven't. read more

Made reservations here on a Friday night and the place was packed. We arrived about 20 minutes early but were seated right away. It's small inside and the atmosphere was lively. It was a bit noisy but was a good atmosphere nonetheless. It is BYOB so we had a bottle of wine which the waitress tended to right away. We started with the Calamari which came out pretty quick. It was very good and was served in a potato chip bowl which was pretty neat. For mains we had the Tagliolini with lobster, shrimp, and crabmeat and the Tonnarelli Cacio Pepe. Both dishes were excellent, plenty of seafood in the first dish and the Cacio Pepe was perfect. For Dessert we went with the Olive oil cake and the Pistachio Molten. Both desserts were excellent. All in all this place was outstanding. Even though it was busy we weren't rushed and as the night went on the atmosphere got quieter. Great meal. read more

Amazing food and super friendly staff ! Highly recommend this place. Cute date night vibes! read more

La Rocca Osteria - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The food is so good! Love this place! The salmon is the best I've ever had. I'd skip the tiramisu thought, I've had way better. read more

La Rocca Osteria - Seafood special, gnocchi, ravioli, salmon - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

One of the Best Restaurants in town! And Best Italian! The service and the food are top notch and the reason we love coming. It is BYO - but you won't mind it and there's a great wine shop just around the corner. They'll even deliver. However, The noise level, inside was alot for us and we had a table of 7 near the back on a Wednesday to Celebrate my birthday and ordered up so much great food. BYO so brought a delicious Barbaresco and Prosecco! We loved the antipasto misto, arancini Di riso, grilled octopus and calamari fritti, which came in a delicious potato crisp basket we devoured! Daughter had the cacio Pepe (best ever, rated the 13yo food critic) and her twin had the tagliatelle bolognese (he inhaled it!). My mom had the spaghetti chitarra, husband had gnocchi bolognese, sister in law had the cavatelli with red pepper and ricotta, and my brother and I had the risotto special which had mixed seafood! EVERYTHING was So delicious. There are tables and heat lamps outside also. You can't miss here! Something for everyone. read more

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This is still one of our favorite NJ spots. We love the food it is always consistent and delicious. The Staff is always super nice. The Gnocchi, panzella, lasagna, veal Milanese, and more are always delicious. Enjoy read more

(1) lasagna was okay - 3/5 (2) pasta with seafood was served luke warm at best 3/5 (3) crostini/brussells sprouts app was highlight 4/5 (4) service was odd, didn't seem very enthusiastic in recommending anything on the menu (5) very close quarters -not going back - Laboratorio was a much better experience for overlapping cuisine read more

Beautiful place! Food was beautifully presented and tasty! Jam packed so I recommend reservations. Parking is difficult in this area so I suggest showing up a bit earlier. No signage of name, but we quickly figured it out. Bread is $5 after first basket on house. Had a tiny mixup on order as we ordered veal bolognese and was served veal Milanese. It was truly not a huge deal, but waiter got a little frustrated as he felt it was necessary to come back and say he confirmed order. However his accent and loud ambiance inhibited us from hearing him properly. They rectified immediately though! Hostess, possibly owner, came around to ensure everyone was happy. It is a bit tight though in there so if you don't like having another table 6" away from you this may not be your spot. Dessert was outstanding! I would return, but maybe earlier in week versus weekend. BYOB a bonus! read more

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Hands down the best local Italian spot! The food and service are always incredible! BYOB, cozy location with fantastic service. Make sure to make a reservation because they always fill up. Everything on the menu is fantastic, but my personal favorite is the lasagna! Perfection! read more

Great food options and BYOB spot! Somewhat on the nosier side but fun Ambiance could be great for a date night read more

Food and ambiance was phenomenal. Service was slow, so I had to knock a start off for that. Pictured is Stracciatella gelato with candied walnuts and fresh fruit and a flowerless chocolate brownie and sweet corn risotto with rock shrimp. The pesto on top of the risotto added a nice touch. All their gelato is house made. I will be going back. read more

La Rocca Osteria - Stracciatella gelato with candied walnuts and fresh fruit and a flowerless chocolate brownie - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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My all time favorite Italian restaurant. I've been going here since it was Giotto years ago. My favorite gnocchi and ceasar salad. That's saying something when there are a million Italian restaurants in NJ. Definitely worth a try! read more

Nestled on Midland Ave., a quiet side street off Bloomfield Ave. Where scenes from the Sopranos were shot sits a nice gem. I had a great experience eating here. Everything, from the mood, and service, to the food was great. After we were seated outside, our son sat while we went to grab wine--a 2-minute walk. This place is BYOB. My wife has been here many times with her girls and has loved it every time. After watching their Instagram posts for months, I had to bite that night. The food was amazing! This is what we had: Mediterranean Sea Bass Crudo (10/10): Delicious thin slices of sea bass. Jalapeno, shallot, white balsamic and oil, tomato, chives. I need it again. Tuna Tartare (10/10): Cubes of tuna, spicy mayo, crustini, and balsamic glaze. Amazing and fresh. Arancini di Riso (10/10): Round goodness filled with smoked provolone and nduja. Impressed. Lasagna (10/10): My son ordered this. He let me take a bite and I was kind of jealous he got it. We all loved it. Sella di Agnello in Crosta (10/10): Perfectly medium rare Colorado lamb chops. So tender and seasoned the way it is supposed to be. Fazzoletti (10/10): Ricotta-filled ravioli in the most rich sage-butter sauce. My wife could not stop talking about it. Tagliolini ai Crostacei di Mare (10/10): My wife ordered this for me, and wow is all I can say. Lobster, crab, and shrimp--The Holy Trinity. The cherry tomato sauce had the right acidity and the seafood was cooked to perfection. Our waiter was amazing, we talked about his goals and dreams. It was cool to have a passionate waiter that cares about their patrons. This is a rarity nowadays. I will be back that's for sure. Beautiful night. read more

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I really didn't want to leave this review because this not-so-secret gem of restaurant would be outted! Just kidding, the hype at La Rocca is real and well deserved! I have been here twice to celebrate a birthday and every dining experience has been top notch. Lovely attentive staff, friendly hostesses, and delicious home made pasta for the win. It's like coming home: welcoming and guaranteed good time. The risotto was also delicious, lasagna, pork chop was perfectly seared and hearty. The freshest fig & La Rocca salad (while not pictured, highly recommend) but truly believe you can't go wrong with anything from the menu. This local spot is perfect for a date night, birthday celebration, or family get together. Indoor and outdoor seating - romantic and a touch familiar. Just BYOB & leave plenty of room for dessert! Don't say I didn't warn you! ;) read more

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Normally, I would give four stars, because one of the dishes we had we sent back, but considering everything else we had was amazing, and it's Montclair -the home of mediocre gastronomy, they get five stars. The good news, the muscles and clams appetizer was awesome. Very flavorful and garlic. Perfect for dipping the bread. Also try the beef carpaccio. It's delicious. We ordered another one. They also do a very nice broccoli salad. If you're into that, but not really, my speed personally but my friend loved it. The Caesar salad not so much just your standard Romain from a bag topped with Parmesan. not very inventive or classic at all compared to places like Il Mulino. The spaghetti ala chitarra Overall would definitely recommend. The waitress said the veal meatballs were great, and the veal as well, but we didn't get to try. Those was out of this world delicious. If you like pasta with seafood in a red sauce, it's hard to beat. The tagliatelle Bolognese was very good. Not great, but good and the eggplant Parmesan was very good too. The only one that really missed the mark was the spinach ravioli Totally flavorless. Which is very surprising, considering everything else was so good. Overall would highly recommend. Try the veal meatballs too. read more

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My favorite restaurant in all of NJ!! I have been coming here for over 10 years and I always leave happy and full!! 11/10

First time dining at this this local restaurant in Montclair. First thing I noticed was how vintage the exterior of the restaurant building looks at night. Gives it an edgy old school feel, the interior is warm and inviting to share a meal. Food was so good, we ordered the tagliolini seafood and tagliatelle bolegenese dishes. Pasta is fresh and sauces were perfect. The pistachio molten was the strangest best thing I've had in a while- you have to try it. Service was good and food was out very quickly after ordering. We arrived for a late Saturday night dinner and it was BUZZING inside. The noise is relatively high but cant blame people for having a good time. The tables are somewhat close to each other but not uncomfortably close. Make a resy and BYOB! read more

La Rocca Osteria - Tagliolini seafood - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Food was great. Atmosphere was fun and lively. Service was fabulous. Would definitely go back. Sunday was good for street parking.

This place is amazing. We was introduced to this spot by our dear neighbors and we definitely love them more for this. This spot is amazing and the food is excellent - some much flavor. The service is one of a kind and very top notch. Even though the place stays packed, they have a good flow and manage to cater with ease. The ambient is super romantic and casual. I highly recommend this place. read more

La Rocca Osteria - Tangolini - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Always the best!!!! The wild boar ragu over polenta was unbelievable!!!! Every time we go here there is always something new that's better than the last time. read more

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Came here for date night the 2nd time as our 1at was less than forgettable food. 2nd time confirmed we will never come here again. Nothing to do with the wait staff. Solely the food. Lack of flavor and memorability. Not sure who is rating this place over 3 stars, but the chef needs to rethink his menu. We had the tuna tartar (on a bed of barley not even served with bread and tomatoes in it?)... very strange. Fig salad ... flavorless. And both Fresh pasta entrees were lame with no flavor. read more

Drove by while on my way to a different restaurant but the place was packed on a Monday night so we ended up walking over here instead! We got lucky getting a table with just a few minutes waiting (were told 20 min but then they called 5 minutes after we put our names down). Would recommend getting a reservation here. FOOD: My dad, my boyfriend, and I went family style on the following: - Parmigiana Soufflé, which was a delicious cheese soufflé served over a variety of sautéed mushrooms. This was my favorite dish of the evening! It's a special so not sure how long it will be around, but would highly recommend if you like mushrooms. - La Rocca Salad - Mixed greens, apple, walnut, pecorino, honey, lemon dressing. This was a decent salad and was a nice contrast to the soufflé, but I probably wouldn't order it again. I liked the dressing but I think the salad itself needed more crunch. - Straccetti - Also a special. Our waitress told us this was her favorite dish the restaurant has ever served and it sounded good so we decided to trust her. Glad we did! Flash seared, thinly cut filet, w/ arugula, tomato, shaved parmigiana, & balsamic reduction. Meat was tender, flavors worked really nicely together. - Cavatelli - the exact one we got it's not on the menu now just a few days later, but it had sausage, black truffle oil, and mushrooms. The pasta was clearly handmade. It was my boyfriend's favorite. The sauce was fabulous. DESSERT: We got the Almond Semifreddo and enjoyed it but wasn't a knock your socks off. Will likely try the Pistachio Molten next time, which is apparently quite popular even among people who don't like Pistachios. SERVICE: Excellent. We told them we were doing family style so they gave us small plates for sharing for our first course and then changed them for our second, and they gave serving utensils for each dish! Our waitress was great, busers also great. When we came in the poor hostess was being argued with by a customer about trying to be seated and she handled it beautifully, was calm, empathetic, and respectful. AMBIANCE: Very nice. Small candles on the tables, simple and tasteful decor, all wait staff all in black. Great for a nicer date! I was in a sundress but my boyfriend felt underdressed. OVERALL: A new favorite in the area for when I'm willing to spend a little more! Good for special occasions or a nicer date. Will be back for sure! read more

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