Normally we love this place but New Year's Eve dinner was big fail. We had 915 reservations and weren't seated until 10 and that was after I had to chase down the hostess. When we first got there, she has said we would have to wait about 15 minutes. Multiple tables were empty but just not cleaned. When we finally sat, we waited and waited for service. The $89 a person pre set menu was extremely expensive for what you actually got. The salad was soggy and had to be made hours before we got it. The choices for entrees were meh with no classic Italian dishes (a la chicken parm, bolognese, etc). It was almost 1130 and we had still not gotten our entrees yet so we flagged down the waitress to ask if they could be taken to go so we could make it home for the ball drop. We were also given no bread while we waited 1.5 hour for our meal. The other huge fail was there was no "live jazz" when we were sat down. There was a piano player while we waited for our table but gone once we had sat down. False advertising! With tip, our bill was $244. Total and complete ripoff for what this actually was. AwfukWe won't be back here, sadly. They really needed someone running "front of house". The young hostess had no idea what she was doing and there didn't seem to be anyone from a management team there. Update! I had a phone call with the general manager to express how disappointed we were and all the items already noted. Was supposed to receive a call back about how they could potentially make it right as I always enforced how much we loved the place and were frequent customers. NEVER got a call back. Unreal and extremely disappointed in this establishment. read more

Great food! I had the shrimp & broccoli rabe ravioli with a kale salad to start. The flavors were outstanding. Everything they served was fresh. I love the window seating in the spring. An absolute gem. Dine here, you won't be disappointed. read more

I had a great dinner at Palazzo and started off focaccia bread with house made tomato sauce on top and olive oil then the amazing Calamari. For dinner I had the Pollo Mattone: Crispy free range Cornish hen cooked under a brick served with candied sweet potatoes & grilled zucchini, crispy onions and my date had the Duck: Crispy Long Island duck with an orange demi-glaze, sautéed spinach & mushroom risotto. The owner John and his staff are amazing and we had the best dinner. read more

Palazzo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

See all

Just had New Years Eve dinner here. The service was very very kind and welcoming except we felt incredibly rushed by our waitress. By the time we were on desert the couple next to us, who had been there when we got there, was still on appetizers. My boyfriend's steak was overdone and my seafood was among one of the worst seafood dishes I have ever had. It was EXTREMELY fishy to the point where the smell was nauseating and I love seafood and am tolerant of a lot. It was most likely old seafood (bleh) or not cooked properly whatsoever. It was a rather pricey NYE charge for the 3 course menu so this was disappointing because we were really excited and expected a lot more. Overall probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone in the future. Like I said though, service and management were overly kind. Such a shame that the food did not meet our expectations. read more

I had dinner at Palazzo's last evening with a friend for their birthday. Neither of us had been there before, but we will definitely be back. I really loved the friendly atmosphere, the warm greeting we received and how delicious the food was. The star was the appetizer, Calamari Balsamico. It was the best Calamari I have ever had. It was fried perfectly, and the flavor was amazing and extremely tender. The entrees were just as good. The Gnocchi was cooked to perfection and the Shrimp Scampi my friend had was also excellent. The California Carrot Cake for dessert was moist and not too sweet. Overall, it was a great dining experience and the service was excellent. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Another one star review: I had an experience that reflects the most heartless owner of a restaurant I have ever come across. It was Valentine's Day. I was feeling sick from the chemotherapy I had received the day before, but wanted a nice night out, even though I had very little appetite. Palazzo Restaurant had a fixed menu, which they did not disclose when we made our reservation. I asked the waitress and the manager if it might be okay to just have a cup of soup and a salad rather than the full multi-course menu and explained my circumstances. After consulting with the owner, they reported back that no concession or accommodation could or would be made. Surprised, we asked if there was a misunderstanding and were told no, they simply would not be flexible. At that point, I was stunned, in disbelief, so we left and dined elsewhere. I cannot imagine ever going back again. read more

9 May 2021- I would have given them 0 stars if I could have. They care much more about Uber eats or door dash than people sitting in the restaurant waiting for their meals. After waiting over an hour and 15 minutes just for our appetizers, we walked out. But saw them running packaged dinners out of that kitchen for delivery as we sat there waiting. If your kitchen can't produce dinners quick enough - YOU STOP TAKING ONLINE ORDERS AND SERVE YOUR SEATED GUESTS. They really didn't give a damn about their customers. There's plenty of other very nice restaurants in Montclair that will treat you with respect. Don't waste your time or money at this place. read more

I'm really suprised by the low rated reviews and the complaints about the bread. I was here a few months ago and the bread was great! It was a Saturday night and the place was hopping. We wouldn't have been seated without a reservation, not to mention by the window, if it wasn't for the fact that my two friends are regulars here. Friendly service, BYOB, and great portions. I even had left overs to take home! We got the calamari with balsamic to start and it was sooooo delicious. Both of my friends got the short ribs with risotto which was tender and tasty. I ordered a pasta special. We shared tiramisu for dessert and I was too stuffed to have more than two or three bites. They have live music while you dine too! Came again for lunch and sat outside had a great meal four cheese spinach raviolis with vodka sauce and an arugula salad delish!!!! It was the perfect amount of food. The live band playing down the block was awesome too - great atmosphere. read more

Attempted to make a reservation for Christmas Eve. Had a Restauarnt.com certificate. Jill, the hostess advised me that my $50 certificate would NOT be accepted due to the fact that it was "a holiday".... no one told me Christmas Eve. was a holiday.... had to check wikepedia on that one. Asked to speak to the owner, JOHN GIGLIO.... who happens to also be the Chef.... (check the 1 star reviews on him)... John tells me, "no exceptions, this is our policy".... I had explained to him that there was NO mention of non acceptance of Restaurant.com certificates in the disclosure satement on the Restaurant.com website. I had a $50 certificate I wished to use... had to spend miniumin of $100... no problem... was going to spend at least $400 or more/ group of 4-6 people. Bottom line JONH GILIO/OWNER, after I requested he "re-consider" my request responded by saying... "ahhhh yeah, ahhhhhh I'll think about it"... then hung up on me. Note, that I have visited this establishment perhaps 5 or 6 times... all positive experiences.... I will NEVER visit PALAZZO ever again, and I urge others not to waste there time going there. #1 rule: the customer is always right... treat the customer with dignity and RESPECT. WAKE UP JOHN GIGLIO.... you are losing customers..... take 3 hours and read all of your 1 and 2 star reviews on social media Sir.... and do busineess the proper way.... rahter than just raking in the CASH and not thinking about US.... The people that KEEP YOU IN BUSINNESS. To follow: reviews to be posted on Trip Advisor, Google and Restaurant.com. read more

A few weekends ago my favorite neighbor and I had decided to get something to eat at a new (to us) spot in the neighborhood. After being foiled by too much of a wait at Fin and Salute down the block, I suggested Palazzo. We had walked by a couple weeks prior and looked in Palazzo and reviewed their menu outside, but went to Raymond's instead due to a lack of appetite on her part and Palazzo's $6 add'l charge for sharing an entree. Palazzo was a great idea, and a great experience. Genius I am. One thing that stood out here was the excellent service. From the greeter to our guy (who was really great,) to the backup/clean up team. Excellent service. We walked in and were lucky to snag a table for two that seemed to be waiting for us. Yesss. We started with a decently priced bottle of wine off their wine list, and some tasty bread with oil and pepper. Next we had appetizers; her a salad of some sort, arugula if i recall correctly, and I had black ravioli filled with lump crabmeat and cheeses with a shrimp and saffron broth with a garnish of spinach. Need I say bangin'!? She had the Chilean Sea Bass special and I had the veal. I really wish I had ordered one of the other fish dishes on the menu, as I love fish, but I took a shot with the veal because I haven't had veal in a while - I found it a bit underwhelming though. I chalk that more up to me not being such a fan of veal, though it seemed to not be seasoned; but maybe it wasn't supposed to be, as it was nicely accompanied by sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and artichoke hearts. However, the Chilean sea bass was quite impressive on all accounts. We were a bit full, as the portions weren't lacking, but we had to have dessert. We always have dessert. She had the tiramisu which was quite tasty. I had a really tough time deciding between the caramel apple tart and the bread pudding - but caramel won out, and I was so glad it did. It was amazing, made with granny smith apples layered with cream cheese, brown sugar, caramel and spices, sidled by vanilla gelato. I was worried the caramel would be used too sparingly for my taste, but it absolutely was not. Including a 20% tip we put on, we split a bill for a buck fifty. For the quality of the place, meal, service, experience, it was definitely worth it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot! There was live music here this night as well. I didn't even realize because I had my back to the man playing the piano and assumed the music was coming through the Bose speakers I saw high on the wall (I thought, "this is pretty good surround sound!") Then my friend pointed out the piano at the end of the meal. Pretty much right behind the greeter as you enter the restaurant. How did I miss that? Very nice touch indeed. read more

Food is delicious. Staff are rude and disrespectful. I thought transitioning to take out only at this place would make it better, but even picking up food from them can be a hassle. Take your chances if you wish. read more

I ordered online 12:30 and they said will be available for pick at 1:00 when we get there, they claim they didn't received the order but money was deduct from my bank. It took another 45 minutes to pick up the chicken parm, it's okay as long as the food is good. Chicken parm is the worst, you can not eat it looks like they put vinegar very sour, I will not recommend this place. read more

I went two times in two weeks. The food was great! The staff was friendly and accommodating. The ambiance was was great as well. I definitely recommend making a stop to this hidden gem read more

Attended with a party of 10. They accommodated us with late reservations the Saturday night before Monday Valentines. The food, from apps to mains, was phenomenal. We ate way too much and took some home to boot. Appreciate the hostess, wait staff and manager engaging and taking care of us. read more

Went here for a delayed Valentine's dinner. Food and services was great. Also easy to park which is a plus in Montclair.

This Place has The Best Food and Service in Montclair Hands Down!!! Best of all, They Close at 12 Every Night!!! We took our time with our own Wine and Stayed all night! Such a Elegant and Intimate Place!! read more

Maybe it's just me, but I found that - taking everything else into consideration - the bread just killed it for me. The Three Mousketeers - a combo of swimp, veal, and chikn was insipid. I could have stood it, but the bread really killed for me. Gettin the picture here? Let me just shout it for you: THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR TASTELESS, SOFT, SPONGY, CRUSTLESS BREAD IN AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT! Got it? Now I know that somebody is going to say, "Hey! Whattaya what! The bread has a crust!" (Punchline from an old joke: "...by me, you're a crust and by you, you're a crust. But by a crust, you're no crust." I'll tell you the joke in the original if you want. Just ask.) Now, bread in Italy varies by region. The bread in Tuscany is, for me, lacking in a fighting crust. The bread in Piemonte has a crust that you can take home to mother - and a nice, high-gluten chewy inside. I prefer the battling crust and the only place I've found that around here is from Calandra's bakery. If you're from around here - either Newark (original bakery on Bloomfield Avenue), or Rt 46 in Fairfield - is the place to go. How did this turn into an exegesis on Italian bread? read more

A friend and I ordered the beet salad. It came undressed with flakes around the edges of the plate. They were very hot red pepper flakes and were not mentioned in the menu description. My friend is very allergic to red pepper. My mouth was so burning hot that I ate 3 peices of bread. The waitress apologized and brought another salad. We told her about my friend's allergy. She brought the same exact salad with the same burning red pepper. We left without paying. One mistake I can abide. The exact same mistake with possible illness involved is inexcusable. read more

Took my girlfriend here once. The food was excellent (I had the Pasta ala Nostra) and the portions were huge! The waitress knew everything about the menu and the wines. I'll definately be back. read more

Been to palazzo restaurant many times since 2001 . My favourite night is Saturday when the have the piano player. Crab cake is smooth and mouth watering . I usually get the special homemade pasta ie ravioli with Gorgonzola sauce is outstanding . Ravioli with sage sauce is really good . Deserts are very good also . I can't say enough Of good things . I find this restaurant very underrated. read more

Was extremely surprised at the reviews after eating at Palazzo's. Went there tonight with my husband and 8 yr old daughter because we had a restaurant.com certificate. Was immediately greeted at the door by a very friendly waitstaff. Waitress and waiters were very accommodating. Limited menu... But food was very good. Even made chicken fingers out of cutlets for my daughter (which was not on the menu) . Had the flatbread ( so, so) and the mushroom soup (was very good). Hubby had the veal franchise ( very tasty) and I had the mushroom and chicken ravioli (excellent ). Bread pudding was awesome!! No complaints! Excellent service! Will definitely go back. read more

Alaskan Salmon dish was very good and tasted healthy which I love. The sauce wasn't too oily and the lentils were cooked perfectly. They took forever to bring us our bread which we asked for about 5 times and it ended up being really bad! Although they also brought out a pizza focaccia bread too and that was AMAZING. We ordered a delicious bottle of Malbec. My friend ordered the Chicken Valentina and I thought it was pretty good. The mashed potatoes were not good, but the grilled veggies were great. The atmosphere was pleasant - they had a piano playing in the background. I wouldn't jump to go back, but I wouldn't say no if someone asked. read more

See all

Raising to 5 stars after 2 more visits, as every single app and entree has been very good, substantial in size, reasonably priced, in a very nice atmosphere, with very friendly staff and BYO. Add the veal chop, chicken with zucchini, monkfish, caramel apple tart and pre-meal foccaccia to the recommended dishes list and praise for the staff being very agreeable to switching side dishes. Great proximity to Welmont Theatre, the movie theater and the Fullerton parking deck.. read more

First of all, lets just say that the picture for this place is from Halcyon, not from Pallazzo. I wasnt crazy impressed with this place, but I gave it an extra star for being the only place open on the 4th of july for dinner. We made reservations that weren't needed and got to sit down by the window in the front immediately. Dinner started with a bread basket that had bread in it that would have been great fresh, but unfortunately, it was kind of stale and cold. We got the calamari balsamico (or something similar sounding) for an appetizer. It was pretty good but maybe a bit too much balsamic. Dinner was alright, we didnt have any gripes really concerning the food. We had a slice of cheese cake for dessert that could have been a little bigger for the price, but it was very good. In montclair, the standard is good food in a nice place for a decent price, or maybe a a little more than decent. Palazzo does all of this. But that is the baseline in Montclair. To really be good, the service has to be good too. We were honestly 1 of 4 tables in the restaurant being served by 2 or 3 servers. Somehow, we could not get prompt service to save our lives. The cadence of dinner was very long. We sat down for dinner at 7:30 and didnt get out of there until 9:15, and not for lack of trying to get out of there to see the fireworks. We had to wait 10 minutes to get a dessert menu, and then another 10 to place the order, and then 15 MINUTES to get a slice of cheese cake. Unless they make it from scratch to order, I can't understand what the delay would be for that. In general I would categorize the service as inattentive. That's enough to scratch this place off my list. FYI, they have a new menu coming out soon, not sure what will stay or what will go. Oh, this place is BYOB, always good read more

Food is good but service is over doing it. Waiters, waitresses, hostess, manager all came over to ask if everything was ok? It's a nice touch until it becomes formulated and sounds scripted. My guess is the owner is sending the help on cue. Stop, already! read more

Lovely place! We went here because we had a gift certificate from restaurant.com, and we will definitely be back. The food tasted really fresh and was presented very well. We had the mozzarella tower (fresh tomato slices and mozzarella and risotto for appetizers. Both were great, especially the risotto. I would go back just for that. For entrees, we had the chicken sorrento and New York Strip steak, which was a special. The steak was cooked perfectly. The service was excellent. We were there on Sunday night so it wasn't very busy (but that hasn't stopped other places in the area from completely sucking), but everyone we encountered from the moment we walked in until we left was pleasant and helpful. Our server was on top of her stuff, for sure. This is great date night spot, so I wish they offered more half-bottles of wine, but it's not that big a deal. As others have said, it's nice they even have a liquor license (and had I known they let you bring your own bottle anyway, I definitely would have). All in all, a great place to eat and just a great place to be. Can't wait to go again and try other things on the menu. read more

I gave this restaurant another chance and ordered the short ribs over mushroom risotto which was on the chef's special which I always try to order because that's usually his best dish. I was not disappointed. The short ribs were delicious, juicy, and the mushroom risotto was something so delicious. read more

My family and I came here on a Friday night. It was a typical busy Montclair Friday evening; no parking anywhere and all the restaurants in the immediate area were PACKED so we thought "good thing we made a reservation!" Well we walk into palazzo and it's literally almost empty.... bad sign already. Once we were seated the smell of seafood was actually nauseating. I completely lost my appetite. I ended up ordering the pork Milanese which was very dry and had no flavor at all. My family got the chicken picelli, some sort of pasta dish with goat cheese and sundried tomato and the linguini with clam sauce and other types of seafood. Everyone said their dishes were ok. Service was fine but definitely not coming back. read more

Decided to give this place a try even though they had a 3 rating. What a costly mistake that was. I had the flounder stuffed with crabmeat and asparagus and 'homemade' mash potatoes, to go. I opened the plastic dish and immediately regretted paying $25.00 for this dinner. The first thing I noticed was the huge serving of very white mashed potatoes. The menu claims homemade mashed potatoes but the color, texture and taste said No Way! The flounder was just average. I was very hungry but the food was a turnoff and most of it went in the trash. read more

Palazzo Restaurant - Flounder stuffed with asparagus and crabmeat with "homemade" mashed potatoes. I didnt enjoy this $25.00 dinner. - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Palazzo is a nice little place in Montclair to have dinner, typically for two. I had dinner there the other night with my fiancé, and everything from the staff, to timing, to quality of food was fantastic. I ordered the Palazzo salad for an appetizer, which was drizzled with an INCREDIBLE balsamic glaze -- creamy, thick, and delicious. My fiancée and I both ordered their homemade pasta dishes for the entree, which were also terrific. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was not soupy, but just the right texture. Along the way, the waiter and staff were very pleasant -- bringing us more bread, refilling waters and wines for us, etc.. That little stuff matters. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a nice, romantic dinner for two in Montclair. read more

I came to this place with my girlfriend for our 2 year anniversary. The place is very nicely decorated and cozy. It has a great vibe to it. We ordered the Zucchini Fritti to start. It was incredible! For our entrees she had the Fusilli Pesto and I had the Chilean Sea Bass over Risotto. Both dishes were OUT OF THIS WORLD. The Risotto is world class! I highly recommend this place to anyone. The service was incredible. Very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Great place to have a fantastic meal, or just a glass of wine. The staff is wonderful and the food perfect. It is great for a date or just hanging out by yourself . read more

Palazzo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

In the highly competitive BYOB Italian Montclair restaurant scene, Palazzo stands out. The food was top notch along with the attentive and friendly service. Pleasant live music on weekend nights adds to the comfortable atmosphere. read more

I come to Palazzo often and have always had a good experience. The food is delicious and they are very accommodating when it comes to making any changes to a dish. I usually make a reservation but even when it's a last minute decision to go out we always find a table here. Very friendly service and cozy environment. This place will remain one of my top go to restaurants in the area. Must try! read more

Ordered take out for Father's Day at their new Walnut Street location. We had been going to their old location for years and they have the most delicious food. So glad they have been able to stay open through all the Covid stuff. Well done! We ordered several meals and all of them were cooked perfectly. We will be back again, and again. read more

The best Italian food with a beautiful ambiance. Live music is scheduled for some evenings. The staff is absolutely phenomenal, pleasant, and provide quality service. Everything on the menu is delicious, you really can't go wrong. Enjoy!!! read more

We randomly stumbled upon this restaurant last night after a show. Surprisingly, the food was extremely good. We started off with the calamari balasmico, which was extremely delightful as it was a mix of fried calamari that wasn't greasy and chopped tomatoes drizzled with balsamic dressing. The portion was large enough for 2 people. As for my entree, I got the fusilli pasta dish with shrimp, mushrooms and spinach mixed with light marinara sauce topped with shredded mozzarella cheese. This dish was marvelous as well as overly portioned. My only compliant is that they gave me 4 small shrimp on the plate. Otherwise, I highly recommend visiting this restaurant as you will not be disappointed. read more

The service & atmosphere = outstanding! The food is tasty & traditional and the menu had several interesting specials. The Price Fix dinner is a great deal & the BYOB policy saves money. I've held a few large parties here & it worked out very well. Palazzo is an institution that has lasted years in a town known for excellent restaurants. I hope it remains ...! read more

See all

This is a great restaurant! We walked by Palazzo to pick up today and Samantha took great care of us. We ordered the calamari, bolognese pasta, and salmon with risotto and the presentation and taste of all the dishes was superb. I enjoyed how friendly and accommodating Samantha was to us, and I will definitely be back when the restaurant officially opens back up. read more

I have been here several times and it has always been good food and great service. Plus the atmosphere is perfect.