My family and I come here all the time. Each time it gets better! The drinks are always amazing along with the customer service. The dinners and apps are always cooked as you order and made so so fresh!! I love Monica's!! read more

Was pleasantly surprised by this little place near the train station in Pompton Lakes. It's a little tricky to get into and the parking lot has meters but don't let that discourage you. It is a quaint little place with very cute Italian decor. All of the food we had was delicious. We started with the house salad, then rigatoni bolognese, and I had the grilled salmon as an entree. I really liked the portions and everything tasted great. read more

I've eaten here twice now (two years between visits) and both times found it completely underwhelming. Our table agreed the calamari appetizer couldn't be described without a comparison to rubber bands. The salad for the table was completely pedestrian and the entrees I've had here (eggplant and the ravioli of the day) were again just mediocre at best. The service was great and the location is nice - quaint little Italian place - but the bottom line is that the food just wasn't that good. As others have pointed out, the place is not particularly cheap so there's really no excuse. Life is too short for mediocre Italian and you have plenty of other options in North Jersey. read more

Wow i wont be coming back again thats for sure and i have not even gotten food yet. All the 4 star reviews have got to be kidding or they have such low standards a dumpster meal must be 3.5 stars. First impression is this. " i walked in went up stairs for a birthday party, floor sticky railing sticky smell of mildew. Next i went to my seat to find my glass with lipstick on it two different colors my kids glasses just as dirty. My iced T smells like a dead fish. I expect to get sick from my meal. I am actually there writing this review now. Wishing i was at lucky's Yup place sucks my guts rocked and my wife's stomach is rocked. Glad we had to eat here ugh so gross!! Not clean not fresh not safe not again. read more

Monica's Cafe Restaurant - Love the dirty tables. - Italian Near Me - Pompton Lakes, New Jersey

This is a restaurant with a very 'homey' feel. Parking can be tough, but I live right next door so I don't have to worry. There is a full service bar but the wine and beer selection is limited. However, the price for the drinks are very reasonable. My go to entree is the fusili arrabiata. The pasta sauce is so creamy and tasty. My girlfriend usually orders the lobster ravioli in the pesto cream sauce. I have also ordered the chicken saltimbocca before. That was delicious as well. FYI, when you order a pasta or entree, you always get a huge side salad to start the meal. Although the menu doesn't change, the things on the menu are reasonably priced and prepared well. read more

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My Grandmother and I went here for dinner tonight because we have never been and always drive passed. Our server, April, was new and was still in training. She was SO KIND! She got all of our drinks, stuffed mushrooms which were amazing, and cappilini primavera and lobster ravioli plus desserts out on time and perfectly. April was very attentive, patient, and was knowledgeable of the food items for just starting out. With the "food industry" lacking so many people who don't want to work, I was extremely impressed by April and the other servers working...including the bussers and the chefs. I will be back at Monica's!! GREAT EXPERIENCE! read more

I wish I had taken a photo. Ordered pasta pescatore first on the list of items is fresh crabmeat, then shrimp then clams and mushrooms. There was 0 crabmeat I mean 0 crabmeat. 4 shrimp and 4 SMALL claims. 1 shrimp was undercooked. When I mentioned it nicely he said that "crabmeat falls apart when you cook it. Wouldn't you put lump crabmeat on top. He continued to argue with me. I insisted that I did not want a discount I just wanted to let them know that they should change it. He told me that crab meat is very expensive. I said change the menu. Rude, arrogant, liar. Look at my reviews I don't post bad ones but this was unacceptable, the food to the attitude. We had 1 drink, a bottle of wine, 3 coffee drinks, 2 that were "special", 2 desserts and they offered nothing all ok but then don't argue. Veal was great, penne vodka was great, seafood dish lacked and whoever was there to deliver customer service needs to go back to training. Truly disappointed. Friends there are many many places hoping for your business. read more

We made a reservation at the last minute. Food and service was good. Although parking was a bit hassle.

A pleasant surprise! Delicious appetizers and entrees. The baby clams were fresh and flavorful, pasta was cooked perfect. Sauces were fresh and homemade. Waitress very friendly and bus boy very efficient and friendly as well. Cozy, old school, NJ Italian ratmosphere. Said thank you to chef as we were leaving. We'll be back! P.S you'll have leftovers, and they are super tasty the day after! read more

We tried to come on a Friday night without reservations (hah!) and then the following thurs night- we only got lucky the 2nd time around bc someone canceled last minute. CALL AHEAD! It's so worth the food and quaint atmosphere. Full bar and wine bottles avail onsite. Lovely spot in downtown Pompton Lakes. Never been on the 2nd floor but looks nice from the street. read more

Great time here. The food and atmosphere was great. Menu was a bit limited, but they were very accommodating when someone in our party asked for a dish that was not on the menu. Our waitress was a little slow and a bit confused (we think she was new) but she was very nice. We really enjoyed our first visit and we will go back again. read more

Very consistent, good quality food. You can eat there, bu packaged take-out is a great option now as well, and we've ordered many times this way. The owners are very kind and accommodating people and Pompton Lakes is fortunate to have this upscale dining option, with reasonable prices, and delicious food in town! read more

Food was good. Sangria and dessert just as good. Atmosphere was nice. There's an upstairs and downstairs. Love that we had reservations and they took us at our reserve time. Kudos to that !!!! Definitely would go back. Portions a little small for the price so that's why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. Especially when ordering pasta No need to skimp on pasta. Overall experience was good. read more

I went to Monica's extremely hungry and left with leftovers! This place has a very cozy vibe to it and feels like a mom and pop type of shop. Service was a little slow but they made up for it by serving two types of bread and cheese while we waited. I started off with the Minestrone Soup which was served fairly quickly. The soup was really good and it was a large bowl. I ordered the chicken parmesan as my main entree. Right after I finished my soup, we were served a large salad to share which was fresh and seasoned well. After we wrapped up the salad, the main entrees came out. The chicken parmesan was served with penne with red sauce. The server grated fresh cheese upon request. The portion was huge! Chicken and pasta were cooked beautifully with an appropriate amount of cheese. The staff were friendly and given the portion sizes, priced well. Lastly, I forgot my leftovers and called about 20 minutes later. The staff were so friendly and held on to it for me to come back and pick it up. If you're in/near Butler and looking for a solid Italian option, I'd highly recommend it! read more

I try to post a 4 or 5 star rating for any establishment, anything less does not get my attention nor waste my time. Monica's, however deserves all the accolades I can speak of. I had the pleasure to be there this past Saturday evening with 3 of my dearest friends and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere was cozy and the restaurant was at full capacity. The servers were very pleasant and courteous, we were not rushed at any time. Now let's dive into the main fare , our dinner, it was fabulous from start to finish! Our wine was nicely chilled, the calamari and antipasto appetizer was delicious and our pasta meals , generous portions, were Like We were dining in Italy. After all that we still had to have the nutty Cappuccinos and gelato and the Tartuffe, all were divine! read more

My original visit was just OK, but subsequent visits have made me more of a fan. Good plentiful portions and reasonable pricing make this a go to for me. Last visit was Penne Vodka which was very much to my liking. Friendly attentive staff, and a good home like feel. read more

2.5 Stars. Not sure what the rage is, except maybe locals. Service was wonderful. Portions large. Complimentary table salad, bruschetta, bread included, rare these days. Meals- middle of the road. Sauce was definitely not made by someone of authentic Italian decent. Acidic and tart. Chunky. Manicotti was thick, crispy, which means they tried to heat it but it was still cold. Stuffing was ricotta and spinach. Rather than smooth and creamy, it was dry and crumbly. Probably premade and warmed. Extremely disappointed, though it does not say on the menu 'freshly made' or homemade' so I should've known better. Eggplant was thin and had a decent taste nothing to write home about. Chicken dishes were tender, and again, if it wasn't local I wouldn't go out of my way. Very disappointed, but glad I tried since I always pass it and haven't been there in over 15 years. Embarrassing when you bring people with you. Maybe lunch is good? Or maybe chef new chef. Better choices in the area. Travel to Kinnelon or to Boniellos in Riverdale read more

My wife and I both had surgeries 1 and 2 weeks before XMAS, and were unable to cook for our family. On short notice, we had Monica's cater the following menu: -Seafood Salad -Pure, delicious, and plentiful! -Veal Parmigiana- Tender and perfect! -Orecchiette with sausage, broccoli rabe, and beans- Maybe the biggest hit of all. -Chicken Franchese- Excellent sauce, flavorful. -Penne Vodka- Classic. I cant say enough about the quality and the value. I highly recommend them. They're also very kind and sweet people. Thank you, Monica! read more

My cousins were visiting from California and they asked my mom and I to find a place to eat. Boy, did we hit the winning number on this one. The food was outstanding and made to order. The folks running the show were also outstanding. I felt like I was at a relatives home and was treated very much like family. We were here on a Thursday night and the place was packed. They had to turn people away, so you should ALWAYS call ahead to make a reservation.....even if it is just two of you. If I could give them 10 stars, I would. Easily the best Italian cuisine for 10 miles in any direction. It is a high end restaurant, so be prepared to spend a few bucks. I promise, every penny is worth it. read more

Good Italian food but not quite great. It's a step up from Lorenzo's in West Paterson and a notch below Rosario's in Midland Park and Dom & Vinny's in Yonkers. That's the best way for me to describe it! read more

Short but sweet: service was excellent, food was excellent except for a horribly bland seafood entree that included lobster tail, calamari and scallops over pasta. Was completely lacking in flavor! read more

Service was the best I've had in years, they were so polite and nice which was a plus. Bread, bruschetta, and salad comes with your dinner so you got a lot for your money. We got the fried mozzarella to start and it was very tasty! My friend got the veal which she said was good and I got the salmon which was delicious and a good size portion of fish. It's more of an older generation place but was still a pleasant experience. They also have ten dollar off coupons sometimes! read more

I've been here twice so far and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The ambience is cozy, you are served an olive plate with provolone while you wait for your meal. Bread was delicious and the salad was served family- style with just enough of a vinaigrette. Just right. My first meal here consisted of Chicken Milanese... three paper-thin chicken cutlets breaded and fried over a mound of arugula, chopped tomato and onion (I could do without the onion on this dish, and shaved parmesan with a hint of balsamic reduction would make it perfect). This was served with 2 fresh, delicious potato croquettes. I also ordered the sauteed broccoli rabe with sweet garlic cloves which was cooked to perfection. On my second visit I ordered angel hair pasta with white clam sauce, and it was out of this world. I mentioned to the waitress that I was a garlic lover and the chef did not disappoint! I ordered a slice of cheesecake for dessert with a cappuccino which was the perfect finish to my meal. My friend ordered an eggplant dish which I tried; it was delicious and the ricotta tasted incredibly fresh. In cooler weather I intend to return and check out the outdoor dining area. The restaurant is right next to the parking lot, but the decor and cozy, private atmosphere provided by foliage surrounding the patio makes al fresco dining at Monica's very tempting. One of my favorite restaurants in the area. read more

Went on a sat night. Packed waited 10 minutes, jordana was our server( name reminds me of o a marvel super hero) brought us two glasses of a ni calif cab. Started with some fried calamri, probably one of the best ive had in a while. Light and delicious, marinara was great. Dinners came with family style salad. I had fettucine carbonara, veal parm. Both came out together and hot. The food wasvery well prepared , i loved my fettuccini jordana was a lot of fun , made the neal all the more spectacular. Order just about every dessert. The best was tiramisu and the chocolste bomba. All in all dinner was a surprise and will visit regularly. Try and get jordana as a server read more

Great dining experience. Food is fabulous, atmosphere delightful & waite staff friendly & well knowledgeable regarding the menu. Definitely a place where you can relax & enjoy your meal. read more

Good service. Limited wine menu. Food is good, portions generous. We love the mozzarella app. Lobster Ravioli is so good.

Food was pretty good here. I had their complimentary salad and it was good. The penne vodka was delish! Nice, quaint, clean establishment. Friendly staff. Parking isn't the greatest. read more

Good food. Salad was big and bread was fresh from the oven. Overall a bit over expensive. Cannoli was delicious but 7$ is way too overpriced for just one. read more

Just left this place. Or should I say walked out. Literally writing as we leave the restaurant.Arrived at 7:30 received our first drinks at 8:00. Then nothing t we walked out at 8;40. Would love to rate the food but we never got it. We walked out because of such poor service. Which was not our servers fault. She said finally that they were holding orders because the kitchen was backed up. This was not even communicated till 8:30 One server downstairs was very rude and when we said we were leaving she said " This isn't fast food you know" This really set me off. If we had stayed it would have been a three hour dinner. Imagine telling a customer who already is having a lousy dining experience a rude comment that essential ridiculed us. Shame. Can I give it negative 5 stars. I am very honest in my reviews and I can truly say this was one of the worst dining experiences my wife and I have ever had and then the comment from the waitress. She would not be employed by me especially in the service industry. Dissapointed never got to taste the food. read more

We just came upon this cute little Italian restaurant and what a great find! Loved it. Atmosphere, service attention all were superb. Food was amazing. There were so many items on the menu it was hard to decide. However, I am sure we will be back again and again to indulge on the rest of their menu. Everything was amazing. Great job Monica's! read more

Went for lunch and busy, lucky we got a table. Everything food, service and price was great! Would recommend this restaurant without hesitation, but make reservation or you might not get in. read more

The six of us went Saturday afternoon a few minutes before opening, so we were the first there. The room was cozy and cute. Only about 12 tables. I understand they have another room upstairs but did not see it. From where we sat we could see the kitchen. For such a little restaurant they have ample staff! Service was very attentive. The toss salad was served family style, it was very fresh. The complimentary toasted baguette and cheese sticks was a nice touch. The baguette was very crunchy, all that 'crunch, crunch' around the table brings a smile to everybody's face! The bread came with butter patties and olive oil. The bread was fresh, but nothing spectacular. It was the only mediocre dish served. The rest of the food was delicious! Servings were large. Three of us had to take leftovers home! Mine was classic eggplant parmigiana, which was delicious even after I took it home and finished it at 10 pm in the evening! Every table was full by the time we left, which was about six. We had a wonderful time. Parking may be a problem, even at 4:30 in the afternoon the little lot was full. There were street parking so perhaps it was not too bad. I look forward to going back again! read more

This restaurant is as good as it gets, for sure. First restaurant I have found where my husband can order all the wonderful foods he likes and I can order gluten free delicious meals. It is a rare find to be able to eat pasta out and not have to worry about your food making you ill. They are the best! read more

Was really expecting great things after what I'd been told. Shrimp dish was messy. It looked like the ingredients were thrown together. Not impressed. Nice atmosphere and waitress was sweet. read more

This is probably the worst meal I've ever been served at a restaurant. For starters we were served bruschetta, simple, but yet somehow. The bread was burnt. That was followed by some calamari that we had ordered, I wouldn't say it was horrible but I wouldn't order it again. A little too tough for me. The free salad was fine. For my meal I got the mare something. It was pasta with seafood. This was the worst dish I've ever been served in a restaurant that I can remember. After waiting 55 minutes it finally came out and the restaurant wasn't even busy so that was unacceptable. I started by biting into one of the scallops. You know the fishy smell of bad seafood? That's how I would describe the taste. The first scallop I tried was tough and the second one was raw inside. The lobster was of a similar manner. Raw on one side yet somehow too tough to put a knife through on the other. The shrimp were over cooked but edible. What really got me was the pasta was so over cooked it was mushy. If I had the time to wait for another meal I would have sent it back. Instead I just left. There was a general consensus at my table that the seafood dishes were awfully cooked but the chicken ones seamed to be alright. Can't give this restaurant more than one star since most of the food was inedible. The chef might want to try a cooking class before serving up any more meals. read more

Our dear friends introduced us to this wonderful little restaurant. The food is delicious and the restaurant is both intimate and great for a romantic dinner. The waitstaff is both friendly and attentive. We've returned several times and have never been disappointed. In fact we even gave our son and his girlfriend a gift certificate to Monica's for Christmas. We highly recommend this restaurant for a relaxing and delicious meal. read more

3.5 stars. We almost did not go in to this place because the outside was a disaster. Note to management, the outside needs to reflect the quality of the great food and the good service. A good paint would work on the outisde. The interior was dark and old looking, not as bad as the outside but neither rise up to the delicious food. The Mare Mare was excellent with shrimp, lobster, and cappellini. We asked for a pink cream sauce which they immediately whipped up and it was outstanding. The bread they served was hard and not worth the calories. Everything else was excellent. Thanks for a great Italian meal. read more

We went here during short weekend in NJ. Took all the reviews off of yelp. When we got here there were a few people there and we were greeted immediately. We sat down and our waitress Brittany? Was very friendly and attentive. We were with our 7 yr old daughter and she immediately asked us if she was ready to order. We replied yes and she took her order and put it in. I can say that she was one of the best servers I've ever had on vacation because she just had a good personality and always asked if we needed anything and if the dinner was going well. The prices were good and the bread and salad family style was superb. If we are ever back we will return! The food was awesome ! I had shrimp broccoli sundries tomatoes w pasta .. Delicious ! My husband had the lobster raviolis with shrimp and crab meat in pesto sauce! So much food :)!!! We didn't get dessert bc there was no room! Yummy read more

Excellent food, excellent service. Price are a little high BUT you get a ton of food and it's fresh. My husband and I love this place.

Monica's has very good Italian food. Their red sauce is delicious. There is also a warm, cozy atmosphere. I have enjoyed it for many years now for both lunch and dinner. read more