I was looking for a well rated Italian restaurant in Union County and Lupa Ristorante came up on many lists so I decided to check it out with friends. Lupa is located in a section of Berkely Heights that has seen a lot of recent construction, so it is very pretty and clean. You couldn't be blamed if you bypassed the restaurant. It is not very flashy looking and that is part of its charm. Be warned, there are not a lot of parking spaces behind the restaurant so you may wind up parking in the bank parking lot next to it (when the bank is closed of course). The staff at Lupa is super friendly and treats you like a regular even if this is your first time. The host was super nice, the waitress fantastic and the chef even came to our table to talk to us when we were done eating! The interior is very clean and modern looking. It's elegant and perfect for virtually any event including dates, anniversaries and family get togethers. We wound up sitting in the same area as the bar, which mostly has 2-4 seater tables and of course you can sit at the bar as well. The other side of the restaurant is where the larger tables are located. Here's a rundown of what we had: CLAMS ON TOAST Baby clams. crispy ham. thyme When I ordered this, I expected to see slices of toast with crispy ham and baby clams on top. Instead, it is two large pieces of wonderfully toasted bread with crispy ham on top. The actual clams sit in a *delicious* broth. Taken altogether these various components form a delicious bite. Be sure to dip that bread into the broth! SQUID INK SPAGHETTI lobster knuckles and claws. broccoli florets. grape tomatoes. Sherry Cream Sauce This dish has a wonderfully deep and earthy flavor. I've had squid ink pasta before and this was a wonderful example of it. The sauce was perfect and it was cooked beautifully. HANGER STEAK Truffled pomme frites. Chimichurri The steak was beautifully cooked (we had it medium rare) and the chimichurri sauce was great. However, the steak needed a bit more salt (and I'm not usually one to add salt to food). The pomme frites were wonderfully crispy and tasty. BROCCOLI RABE lemon. Kilos Broccoli rabe is a simple side dish but it is one of my favorites. It is also one that can easily be overcooked. These folks cooked it perfectly and it made for a fantastic side dish. My party and I loved our experience at Lupa and we all agreed we would happily return any time! read more

The best Italian restaurant in Union County. Why did I wait so long to try this place? We tried a lot of food and everything was fresh, well seasoned, and presented very well. I had the Dover sole and it was one of the best Dover soles I've had. Also extra credit for providing a proper fish knife and fork. Octopus had a spicy sauce that was excellent. I appreciated the fact that they don't over season their food like many restaurants do. Inside was modern and nice. I liked the rose on every table. Service was so very friendly without it being overbearing. The chef came out twice to say hello and check on us which I really appreciated. I highly recommend Lupa. read more

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1 star -- Overhyped for the price I went into Lupa expecting something special given the 4.9-star rating. I left feeling it didn't live up to the hype. The space is tiny and cramped, tables are packed so close together you're practically dining with strangers, and the noise level made conversation tough. I could barely hear the person sitting right next to me. The bigger issue was the food. At a place billing itself as authentic Italian, with a near-perfect rating, my partner's pasta came out undercooked. They did remake it, which I appreciate, but for a restaurant this hyped and this expensive, I expected some kind of gesture, a discount, a comped item, something to acknowledge the mistake. Instead it was just "I'm sorry, that never happens." A remake is the bare minimum; at this price point and reputation, I expected more. The service felt indifferent overall. We were clearly the youngest people in the room, and the attention we got reflected that. On the way out, the host didn't say goodbye or offer any further apology for the meal, just let us walk. And the prices are steep across the board, food, wine, and dessert all felt marked up well beyond what the experience justified. Bottom line: Lupa is coasting on a reputation it didn't earn the night I visited. For the prices they charge and the rating they carry, I expected far better. read more

Great food, excellent service. This is great modern Italian food with very good service. You are definitely going to pay for it....$500 for five people with drinks, apps, etc.. read more

I honestly tried to gate-keep this one... but I can't! :) This place is truly a hidden gem. My husband and I have been coming here for the past two years (not as often as we'd like!), and every visit has been nothing short of wonderful. The food and the overall experience are consistently excellent. It's definitely some of the best pasta I've had in New Jersey, especially so close to our town. The menu is extensive with amazing dishes, but some personal favorites are the wagyu meatballs, the pappardelle, and the squid ink spaghetti- Lupa never disappoints!!! And don't even get me started on the desserts- yum! We'll absolutely keep coming back for more! read more

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We love Lupa and have been coming for several years. The food is outstanding and the service is very attentive. However recently they changed the brands of liquor available from premium name brands to " no names". We suggest you return to the premiums. read more

Another trip to lupa and always impressed with our experience. Would like to hear some Italian music in the background to make the atmosphere better . Had the shrimp scampi the best around and had the chicken dish this time solid meal . read more

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What a gem! Lupa Ristorante has such lovely vibe, the food is amazing and the employees are all so warm and accommodating. It really feels like dining at someone's home. Last week, I had the pleasure of dining here with some friends for our monthly night out and to celebrate a friend's upcoming birthday. Everything was perfect from start to finish. My friend is gluten-free and had no trouble finding something on the menu. Each of the pasta options can be substituted with gluten-free pasta so she had many options to choose from. I was looking forward to trying the Squid Ink pasta and I must say that it didn't disappoint. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and is super creamy. I loved the addition of lobster and shrimp - yum! read more

Lupa Ristorante - Squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

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Lupa in Berkeley Heights is one of those places that never disappoints. The vibe is warm and welcoming, the service is friendly without being over the top, and the food is just plain good. The eggplant parmesan deserves a special shoutout--it's easily one of the best around. Perfectly cooked, not heavy or soggy, with great flavor in every bite. You can tell real care goes into the dishes here. read more

Legitimately a top restaurant in NJ for me. First off, service is friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Second, we ordered a Toro crudo appetizer, beet salad, carrot something, and lamb chops. All were fantastic. For entrees our table ordered both pasta dishes and 2 fish dishes. Every bite perfect. We then shared a few gelatos. It's rare to go to a place that's an A+. This is it. read more

Amazing food and staff! We can not wait to get back here. The staff was exceptional and the menu extremely unique. Everything we tried from the ravioli to the pastas and meatballs was just outstanding. You have to try this spot if you love unique bites and Italian food. read more

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Had an amazing experience at Lupa ristorante tonight. We were seated right away and the ambiance of the restaurant is nice and cozy. The waiter was sweet and informative and let us know that all of the pasta is fresh and homemade. We ordered the mushroom bruschetta, a salad, and meatballs for appetizer which were all delicious. I ordered the spinach ravioli and my fiance ordered a spaghetti dish both were great. We even ordered the almond cake which was moist and fresh. I will definitely be back because there are so many other things i would like to try. What a great place!!! read more

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First brunch visit, surely not the last. Lupa never disappoints on food, service and overall quality. read more

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Went to this Italian restaurant for the first time with my family and loved it! Great selection of appetizers and pasta dishes, definitely a great comfort food option. read more

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Went here last night with my wife for date night. First of all beware their parking lot is small and can't accommodate all their patrons. Was very awkward with cars going in and then being forced to back out onto busy street. There is parking in the street. We got there early and had a drink at the bar. Beautiful bar area. The bartender made a good drink, but with only one bartender, he seemed to be bit overwhelmed and took a while to take our order and serve us. Went to tell check-in we were ready for our table , but they were running behind and said it would be at least a 20 plus minute wait. They were able to accommodate us at a high top in bar area, but would have been nice to fine in main dining area. We shared a flat bread pizza for an appetizer which was very good. For mains my wife had the eggplant parmigiana. She said it was delicious and a generous portion. I had their black squid spaghetti with lobster in a cream sauce. Very rich and delicious as well. Service was terrific and the owners son Luca did check in on us and thanked us for dining at high top. Food and service is terrific , they just need to fix the things mentioned earlier. A solid 4 1/2. We will return. read more

My experience at Lupa was immaculate. It is a nicer, slightly fancy place but not pretentious at all. The service was unbelievable; so attentive and warm. I had a wonderful birthday dinner here. They made a great Negroni to start and I enjoyed it alongside complimentary focaccia bread. For starters, my sister and I split the octopus and artichokes. We really loved the octopus and the artichokes were pretty good. The sauce on them was amazing though. Our favorite dish was the fennel fettuccini-- it was incredible. The pasta was handmade and the sauce was creamy and flavorful without being too heavy. Definitely a standout dish! We also ordered the short rib which we enjoyed but wished the brothy sauce was a little more of a creamy one. However, it was tender and good. Would have preferred a proper potato or mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce instead of the gnocchi, but it was still good. We ended with the bread pudding which was yummy! Overall this place is truly great and one of the better dinners I've had in awhile for sure! read more

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Service was warm and friendly, food fresh, delicious...the artichoke heart flowers were amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed our night out; our waitress was a delight, our palettes satisfied with each bite and our bellies full when we left, relaxed and happy. We will definitely be back!! read more

We dined today at Lupa's for our 29th anniversary. The food was fantastic. My husband uses a wheelchair which developed a mechanical issue on our way inside. The bartender saw our struggle and came outside and fixed the wheelchair. Now that's service!! We arrived around 12:30 and were offered the brunch menu, but told we could also order from the lunch and dinner menu. We shared the tuna tartar on rice cake which was perhaps the best Ive ever eaten. I then had the lamb braciole sandwich and my husband had the eggs Benedict. They do have a bar - so we indulged in bellinis. A nice day! read more

Lupa Ristorante - Lamb sandwich - Italian Near Me - Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

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Overall good food and ambiance at this spot! The food was all delicious but i have to say the pasta was overcooked. I got the pasta arrabiata and it was al dente. The bolognese fettucini and fusilli were both well done! Loved the fig spread w/burrata, delish!! Escargots delish too. read more

My yelp brother Edward put me on to this local family owned & run ristorante. Everything was excellent. Lasagna will make you cry. 5.0 / 5.0. The escargots were very good. Had them many times overseas and compete. 4.0 / 5.0. The fettuccine bolognese was superb. 5.0 / 5.0. 'Nduja was so good. 5.0 / 5.0. Will be back. Support small & local businesses! read more

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Wow! We had a wonderful meal/ experience at Lupa. Great beer and cocktail selection. Started with one of the mussle appetizers (forget the name) but the mussels were delicious, served with toasted bread for dipping. Mmmm. My mom had the clams with linguini, which is one of her favorite dishes, and she said it was exceptional. My wife had the mushroom raviolis, which were good. I had the pork chop, which was amazing. Juicy and tasty. I relished every bite. The atmosphere is nice and comfortable. The service was perfect. Way above average. The bar area looks cozy. Would love to go back and eat at the bar. Parking was not good. Maybe I should have done some research before, but going in blind was frustrating. I'm not familiar with Berkley Heights, but they seem to have a parking problem. read more

Last Friday (19-Sep) my wife and I went to Lupa to try the new tapas menu which had initiated earlier that week. Tapas can be ordered from 3p-5p, Mon-Fri. The tapas menu has 10 items and 7 cocktail suggestions, although you can order off the full bar menu too. You can think of the tapas as an Italian/Spanish fusion approach. We decided to try 3 items (toro crudo, lubina citrica con hinojo, and scallop & gooseberry aguachile). Chef came out and informed us that the scallop choice was not available as he did not like the selection available that morning at the market. Perfect and professional, as expected. We then substituted with bocadillo di calamari. My wife ordered a regular cocktail as a mocktail which they were happy to do and I had a glass of rose. The three plates came out together. The first two items are basically a tuna crudo and a sea bass crudo and the third a fried calamari on a ciabatta roll with citrus aioli and pickled sweet onions. Both crudo dishes were excellent, made with impeccably fresh fish. The calamari was very good but the ciabatta rolls were a bit too bready for us. We conveyed all of this information back to chef and told him that we would be back. We may have been the first actual couple to order from the tapas menu as the staff were as interested in what was coming out of the kitchen as we were. We recommend trying the tapas menu at Lupa. The tapas were creative, well thought out, and extremely well prepared. read more

I've been here 3x and every time it's been delicious! The burrata app is a MUST have and so is the papardelle short rib. We had a larger table last night and did not feel rushed at all. Highly recommend this place! read more

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OMG, this cacio e pepe! I'll be dreaming about this pasta for years to come. This was reminiscent of pasta that I ate in Italy, and it's definitely some of the best that I've found in the NJ / NYC area. Just the most perfectly cooked al dente noodles, flavorful sauce and all around perfection. The menu is large and you can also find a ton of rotating specials. We ordered a few small plates to start. The octopus was very tender - it had an interesting consistency - almost like chicken. The flavor was great though, very smokey and it came with a delicious aioli. The burrata was also standout with hints of earthy truffle. The mushroom toast was just okay and I didn't really love the flavor. The interior is very clean and modern. It almost felt a bit sterile and wasn't as 'vibey' as I'd have hoped. But you are really there for the pasta, so the vibes didn't matter too much. Service was also incredibly slow. Lunch took nearly two hours, so don't come in a rush. The pasta here is standout and for that alone I'd return. read more

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An incredible lunch from start to finish!! From the appetizers, through the entree and all the way to the espresso to finish. Our table shared a few different starters, but my favorite had to be the truffle burrata. It had a honey drizzle on top of some fig bits. It was sweet and salty and I could have eaten the whole plate. I also loved the octopus app. Not chewy at all but look out for the peppers that definitely have a little bit of a kick on the side. The sauce that it came in was so good, I insisted on keeping the plate just so I could keep dipping my bread in the aioli. And the last of the appetizers was the porcini mushroom bruschetta which was packed with garlic flavor and topped with soft buttery mushrooms. It was definitely tasty but nothing compared to the other two starters. As much as I love pasta (and this place looks just about as pasta perfect as you can get) I just wasn't craving it on this trip. I ended up ordering one of my favorites/go-tos, the salamon! It had a really nice sweet sort of glaze drizzled on top and had little roasted potatoes and charred broccolini on the side. They had a huge drink menu that I didn't try but so many of those cocktails looked spectacular. Come for some drinks and great food and I really don't think you will leave disappointed. OH! And Lupa's was just named #31 on Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in NJ in 2022, so that is pretty cool. read more

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Delicious food! We tried several appetizers and everything was perfect. The rosa martini is to die for. Seafood stew was a treat. read more

Lupa Ristorante - Seafood stew - Italian Near Me - Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

I am a foodie ! And a chef , so when I find a place and food that just leaves a mark , you tell people. Had the opportunity to eat at and meet Chef Adolfo tonight @ Lupa Ristorante If fresh HANDMADE pasta and real ingredients is what you want , do yourself a favor and get there. Amazing from start to finish. I honestly can't say enough good about this place and an owner that walks the floor and clearly enjoys & is proud of what he does. And he should be. read more

I was really excited to try Lupa after reading the reviews but I have to say we were very disappointed considering how much we spent. Out of 5 dishes, 2 apps, 2 entrees and dessert only 1 item was good and that was the grilled octopus. I followed my server's advice on the Halibut and for a 49 piece of fish it was small and tasted very bland and a little tough in some type of green sauce that had a weird taste. It was garnished with a few small potatoes and was served luke warm. My wife had the steak tartare which looked good but again had a very bland taste. She had the short rib with gnocchi and it was just ok for 50 bucks. The gnocchi had zero taste. We then wasted 14 on a slice of chocolate cake no bigger than a sliver and 2 7 dollar cappuccino's. Waste of a 300 dollar dinner. All the reviews must be fake or the people out here don't know wtf they are eating. Won't be going back. read more

Great people the chef owner even comes out to greet you and great wines. Shrimp Scampi smothered in sauce but was tasty. Had to take back the veal chop, which they gladly did and replaced it with lasagna which was mediocre. My Dover Sole was also average at best. Really wanted to like this place since it's one of the favorites from one of my good friends. read more

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This is a nice small authentic Italian restaurant with an amazing menu and delicious drinks. My top Italian restaurant around. The ragu is a top seller and my favorite. read more

This is a great spot. Food is top tier with a good wine selection. I've never been disappointed by a dish we've had. Once we arrived without a reservation towards the end of the night and they refused to let us leave they were dedicated to making room for us. Not once did I feel rushed once we were sat. read more

Great food, great service, wonderful atmosphere, great wine and cocktails. Place has it all

Excellent food and service. Great experience had by all 8 in our party. My mom being from Italy raved about the quality and authenticity!!

Antonio at the bar is amazing! Great drinks!! And chef is just the best! Good salads and starters, Amazing pastas and great desserts. Highly recommended read more

We had a wonderful meal at Lupa Ristorante in Berkeley Heights, NJ One of the things I Iook for in a restaurant and ultimately it's Chef is passion on the plate. Passion abounds at Lupa Risorante. The meal starts with the most incredibly light homemade Focaccia served with a chilled Tomato sauce. Our starter was a Burrata, Sausage and Truffle paste on toast. I have a high tolerance for salt so I adjusted this dish to my flavor profile with a pinch of table salt. I do appreciate that the Chef seasons his food with a lighter touch. Our Secondi was a plate of Housemade Pasta Cacio e Pepe. A gorgeous Chew on the pasta hit the mark and a beautifully light Cacio e Pepe sauce made from Parmesan, Black Pepper and Pasta water. Our mains were a perfectly executed Loin of Cod with a light Breadcrumb and pistachio coating and....... We finally found an Eggplant Parmesan made in the style that I make at home with thin, delicate layers of eggplant, a silky cheese layer and a robust marinara. This is easily our favorite Eggplant Parmesan within a 20 mile radius of our universe. It is clear to us that Chef Adolfo Marisi cares deeply about his country and his craft. This is becoming increasingly rare and it is refreshing to have such devotion so close to home. Lupa Ristorante 449 Springfield Ave Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 (908) 464-6644 Www.luparistorante.com read more

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This is a lovely spot in New Jersey's Berkeley Heights. To begin, we ordered drinks named "beetle juice", "pear-fection" and "cucumber royalty." Each was fabulous! As a complimentary starter, we received bread and tomato sauce, which Was absolutely delightful! My partner got pork chops and I got eggplant parmigiana. We were both satisfied with our orders, and would be interested in trying more plates that fit our tastes. For dessert, we ordered the creme brûlée and we both agree that it was one of the best we have ever tried. Throughout our experience, we noted that the chef stopped to check-in on some tables, which signified to us that he rightfully holds such pride in his business and customers. We both left full and happy, and we would like to try more entrees! Drinks: 10/10 Service: 9/10 Entrees: 8/10 read more

Lupa Ristorante - Beetle juice, pear-fection, bread and tomato sauce - Italian Near Me - Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

I dined here a week or so ago at the suggestion of my old friend, who had eaten at the place with his son and was very enthusiastic about the experience. I tend to take my friend's enthusiasms with a large grain of salt (as an example, he thinks the execrable Greg Gutfeld on Fox is the funniest, most caustically on-point social satirist since Lenny Bruce; the enlightened might not-so-kindly refer to my friend as a reactionary zombie, but...being he's my friend since high school, and has a fundamentally good heart...I'll just say he's "confused" and let it go at that. Anyway...back to the review...), but he was right about Lupa. Great food, great ambiance, great service. It's situated on Springfield Ave., the main artery in Berkeley Heights, and might be easy to miss if you're not looking out for it amidst the strip malls, "mini-malls," gas stations, delis, grocery stores, fast food joints, chain pharmacies, discount clothing stores, diners, Dunkin Donuts (there are now at least 6...count 'em!...6 Dunkin Donuts in a 10-mile square radius, and at least 2 Domino Pizzas), etc., etc., that dominate the main drag of this town. You can park on the street near Lupa (if you can find a spot), and there is limited parking in the back. Thankfully, my friend was driving, and we parked in the back. Inside, the walls are white (which, being myopic, I was grateful for, as it added an element of brightness to the room; I find too many restaurants go for the "dark cave" look), and there are black and white photos dominating the far wall, although, given I wasn't wearing glasses, I couldn't really make out what the subject matter was about. Tuscan villages, Italian seaports, Sicilian mountains, I imagined. At one point, my friend said, "There's a picture up there that looks like it could be Sophia Loren, but I know she never had blonde hair." Given that Loren was often the subject of my fevered adolescent fantasies, I replied, "No, she never did." "Could it be Sharon Tate?" "Why would Sharon Tate be on the wall of an Italian restaurant? She wasn't Italian." Intrigued in spite of myself, I walked over to the picture in question, eyeballed it up close, and walked back to tell him, "No, it's Brigitte Bardot." "She's not Italian. Why is she up on the wall of an Italian restaurant?" Touche. I had no answer for that one. A young, personable man (I'm assuming he was the owner, and unfortunately, I didn't get his name) came over to make sure we were comfortable and, following my Italian-American friend's lead, engaged him in conversation about Italy (Lupa's cuisine is based out of the Tuscany region). The young man's family is from Italy, and he visits there often. My friend has a tendency to babble on...and on...but the young man was able to enthusiastically engage my friend in conversation and then disengage without giving offense, evidently noticing me sitting there silently at the table, getting hungrier by the second (I'm Irish-German, but I've traveled through Italy, have close Italian relatives and friends, and love Italian culture, but I know better than to get in front of the runaway train of my friend's discourses when he starts talking on...and on...about any subject). Zoe was our server, and she was pleasant, friendly, efficient. We were brought a kind of bread and a kind of cold tomato puree (not sure what the name of it was), but both were fresh and delicious, bursting with flavor. I could have made a meal of just that. We were then brought a crumbly kind of toast (which my friend may have ordered as an appetizer) that also was exceedingly delicious. I can't remember what my friend ordered, but I had the Pappardelle with Pulled Short Rib, rosemary, mascarpone cheese, and tomato sauce. I'm not really a connoisseur of pasta, but the Pappardelle was obviously "home-made," and the dish was wonderfully tasteful, satisfying, and filling. Not that that stopped me from ordering 2 scoops of vanilla gelato. The chef, Adolfo Marisi, came out to see how we enjoyed the meal, and seemed gratified by our hearty, genuine enthusiasm. There was a minor kerfuffle when we received 1 check instead of the 2 separate ones we had asked for, but this issue was resolved painlessly, quickly and effectively. Prices aren't cheap, but...given the quality of the food...they are fair. I don't want to be too exuberant, but I haven't had Italian food this fresh or flavorful in a long time. Highly recommended. read more

I travel to the area and have gone back four times. Each time the food has been mediocre. Last time I was there it was super hot inside. I don't plan on going back. read more

WAY. Too. Loud. Very unenjoyable experience. I last wrote a review 2 years ago and gave 5 stars. This time around the food was still pretty good (not as good as the last time), but the fact that I could not hear the person next to me was rough. We went out for a birthday dinner - would not recommend this place for special occasions on a weekend night. Lunch time or when it is less crowded is better. FYI- they have about 2 tables for outdoor seating and do not currently have any heat lamps outside. read more

The food is high quality, served hot, and delicious. The staff is friendly and efficient. The dining room is a bit noisy but the acoustics are probably unfixable. We will be going back!! read more