Amazing deli and pasta shop with charm and ambience of the old days when Sicilian delis like these…read morewere the norm across America's urban scene. Nestled in an old world-like, half Sicilian half Albanian neighborhood, right across from the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Montevergine, the entire experience took us pleasantly back in time ... salumeria along the wall, aged provolone hanging from rope, and just about every handmade delicacy you could imagine.....and some new ones we hadn't seen before... Then there's .... the bread..... the bread.... Nowhere in America is there bread like this. This is the real deal (NOT the chain supermarkets--you know who you are) that offer supposedly "Italian" or "French" bread with marshmallow softness attributed to all the preservatives and polysorbate 80. No Signore, this bread contains all the goodness of that crispy crunchy exterior with pure angelic cloud interior that melts in your mouth! Bread this good can be eaten as dessert... (if there aren't any cannolis around).... Yeah they got those here too... We couldn't decide, and we were running late so we ended up grabbing a loaf of semolina bread just in from the oven and a container of Sicilian olives (with pits! Don't waste my time with pitted olives that taste like salted cardboard). Could say more but why? Veni e guarda (look and see for yourself)... Highly recommended. We'll be back! Ce' vediamo dopo.

Fun Fact: Lodi is the home to two Italian-American institutions worth celebrating... Mr. Anzalone…read more(who turns 70 in June of 2025!) and Vitamia (nipping at his heels with about 60 years of being in the biz). I've made my way here now a few times and for whatever reason - Siri will only get me to the general area but just won't 'accept' Vitamia's specific/actual address. (I know I've 'arrived' when I see the crisscrossing of American and Italian flags at the start-and-end of the blocks denoting a very little Little Italy portion of the town.) And don't get me started on how jacked the entire length of Harrison Avenue is - causing my poor car's suspension and axle to suffer - or how much gas I usually waste when continually circling the block looking for a (legal) parking spot. Crankiness aside... for a small 'basic' deli they sure do pack a punch. An incredible selection of legit (crunchy) breads, a slew of prepared platters and meals in the refrigerated cases, all sorts of goodies hanging from hooks and then there's the freezer with an absurd amount of specialty ravioli, tortellini, tortelloni, mezzelune, cappelletti, gigante, agnolotti, fagottini... Two guys behind the counter (casually speaking Italian to each other) are able to keep up with all the foot traffic (that never seems to let up) and a few guys manning the ovens in the back that are continually refilling the metal bins by the cash register. (With 800 days of Duolingo under my belt I was tempted to try, "È delizioso. Mi dai la ricetta?" when leaving but flaked out and just went with, "Grazie mille!" which... fell flat.) Parking (as mentioned before) stinks. For every item I've tried and loved (stuffed breads, stuffed pastas) there's been a few that were major disappointments, unfortunately. Their pricing is a tad too rough on my wallet. On a prior visit I dropped over $80 and I made a mental not to not do that again. Most recent visit? Over $100. So, yeah... that's not good. (And just in case you give a hoot - Glenn Anzalone is better known by his stage name of 'Danzig'. Now go and crank some early Misfits songs and thank me later!)

07/25/2026 The Mrs. and I came here for our anniversary (33)…read moreand everything was very good as was the vibe in the place. Outdoor seating available, but large windows, which were open last night. We were seated promptly at a window seat and Diana came by pretty quickly to take our order. You have to try their Focaccia bread. They do a little something special that makes it so crispy outside, but fluffy and buttery on the inside. My wife ordered the "The Clam Jam" (beer-braised littlenecks, Calabrian chili, house sausage and Espelette Butter). She love the dish, as did I the one clam she allowed. I ordered the Hamachi Crudo (Organic cherry ponzu, lime, jalapeño, shiro dashi, pistachio gremolata and red onion.) This is a very fancy ceviche, with cherries and all the fixins' which I would gladly order again... My wife's entrée was the Goffle Road farm half chicken (crispy fingerling potatoes, herb butter & roast chicken jus). Gotta say, they Lula's does a great job with this chicken. I stop by Goffle Road farm and the chicken is superior to pretty much anything else, but this came out with such a light crispy skin and so juicy and tender. Excellent! My entrée was the Elite Prime Grass-Fed Coulotte steak (Pomme puree, crispy sunchokes & black garlic jus.) The steak was done to perfection and the potatoes puree were so very creamy and good. No dessert tonight... just a couple cups of coffee and a little walk around Ridgewood. Busy place! Lula is a BYO!

I cannot say enough, good things about this restaurant. It completely exceeded all of me and my…read morehusband's expectations both in food, service and atmosphere. The hospitality was incredible. We went there for my birthday. All the staff knew it was my birthday and they also knew that I was eight months pregnant and wanted to make sure that I was comfortable. The food was exceptional. The wait staff was so nice and provided recommendations while not pushing any one dish. We got the focaccia, softshell crab, Peking duck and chicken liver for appetizers. The softshell crab was the best I've ever had, and I would come back to this restaurant for this alone. The Peking duck was juicy and tender with the most incredible slaw type salad underneath it. The focaccia with the butter was also phenomenal, the owner actually brought it out to us and we had a nice conversation with him and you can tell he just poured his heart and soul into this restaurant. The focaccia is definitely not an appetizer to be overlooked just because it is bread. While I couldn't have any of the chicken liver mousse, it looked stunning, and my husband said that it was incredible and so light and fluffy, and it was a massive portion. I look forward to when we come back when I'm not pregnant and I can eat it. For dinner I got the Arctic char, and my husband got the pork. The Arctic char was unbelievable. It was piping hot and literally just melted in my mouth with each bite and the side that came with it was a mix of asparagus, mushrooms, farro and I don't know what else, but it was fantastic if I could have that side on its own as well, I would order more. My husband's pork was crispy and delicious with another incredible slaw topping, and it was so massive he has to take home like a third of it for dessert. We had the lemon meringue tart for dessert, which was also incredible and so refreshing for a dessert. All of the food was outrageously fresh and just outstanding. This restaurant is our new favorite place and on the way out we even made a reservation for three weeks from now to come back. This is probably the best restaurant that I've eaten at in Ridgewood hands down and I'm so glad that they are in the area. The restaurant adds a new vibe with food that is so phenomenal to match. I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area as a MUST try. Of course me and my husband will be going back in a few weeks and we can't wait.

- Nice little pizzeria that shares its space (and menu) with an affiliated restaurant, with plenty…read moreof tables available if you want to dine in - Fairly busy on a Friday evening during the dinner rush, but the service was very friendly and impressively quick - You can grab pizza by the slice at the counter for a fast, casual meal - The pizza was very good, with a thin yet sturdy crust, well-seasoned sauce, and flavorful toppings; the beet salad was fresh and generously portioned, served with a tasty honey mustard dressing on the side--the grilled chicken was well seasoned and stayed juicy; the kids' rigatoni Bolognese was especially meaty with plenty of sauce - One small note: complimentary water is available, but was served straight from the kitchen sink

THE FOOD ---------------…read more+ Carnivore, Vodka Chicken Parm, Pepperoni, Buffalo Chicken, Drunken Grandma Pizza Slices - All of these reheated slices were excellent!!!! Relatively thin, crust wasn't overly thick, GREAT flavor (especially the Buffalo Chicken) and good crunch. I can't imagine how good the pizza would have been if we had ordered a whole, fresh pie instead of eating reheated slices. + Beet Salad with Grilled Chicken - Fantasticccccc salad. Lots of sliced beets and sliced grilled chicken. The honey mustard dressing was the perfect dressing for this salad. + Kids Rigatoni Bolognese - Very good bolognese. There was plenty of meat sauce and it was very tasty. Our kids absolutely loved it. + Menu consist of not only a variety of pizza, but also a nice selection of appetizers, strombolis, calzones, sandwiches and pastas. THE SERVICE ------------------- + Excellent all around service. ++++ Every employee was super friendly and asked if we needed help as we were figuring out what to order. ++++ Waiters came by multiple times to check up on us. THE SURROUNDINGS ------------------------------- + Spacious interior with lots of tables and chairs. + The restaurant is connected to Al Dente, which is a pasta restaurant next door. It seems both restaurants operate as a single restaurant even though they both have their own names. + Private parking lot is shared with other businesses and it gets bussssy on summer weekends. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS ------------------------------------- = Dine-in customers steadily streamed in and out on a July Friday evening at 6 PM, but business was reallllllly booming for takeout as many customers came in to pick up orders of pies.

Al Dente Fresh Pasta Co. 301 Center Ave…read more Westwood, NJ 07675 Eggplant Siciliana Using the kiosk, you have the option to choose your own pasta, sauces, and toppings or simple order a specialty plate. I always leave it to the professionals and I'm glad I did because the penne, marinara sauce and toppings were spot on! This was my first time mixing fried eggplant and prosciutto. #aldentefreshpastaco #eggplantsiciliana

Pasta is certainly a weeknight dinner hero. Quick pasta recipes are easy and inexpensive to throw…read moretogether, so dinner can be ready in a flash. While each pasta shape has a unique cooking time, just about every package instructs one to cook the noodles until they reach the "desired consistency"/"al dente." This phrase literally translates from Italian to mean "to the tooth." It describes the texture of cooked pasta when it's tender but firm and chewy when one bites into it. Located on Center Avenue in Westwood, my colleague and I had the opportunity as first-timers at Al Dente Pasta Fresh Pasta Co. for lunch. Upon entering their casual and friendly vibe, we were greeted by the staff and had the place to ourselves in their dining area with an open kitchen. Their menu features a fantastic variety of appetizers, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. The star of this establishment has to be the fresh homemade pasta dishes made from Caputo Semola flour imported straight from Italy, accompanying the amazing sauces, each crafted with care and creativity. We decided on their Pasta Bar--Spicy Chili Vodka Cavatelli with Chicken Cutlet and Bolognese Pappardelle. Each came with fresh focaccia bread. The food arrived, and one can taste the difference of freshness. It was absolutely delicious using the high-quality ingredients. The portion was just right as well as the price. Our server, Hunter, was friendly and accommodating. We even had a chance to make small talk with the owner; Joe connected next door at the sister location, Luciano's, for pizza and garlic knots. It's Old World charm with a modern twist, and we can't wait for a repeat performance.

Chicken cutlets are fire!!!!!! Sandwiches are outstanding! Great selection of cheese and fresh…read morebread.

Jerry's is a very reliable source for well priced Italian deli, prepared and packaged foods…read more In particular, it has a GREAT cheese section that rivals any cheese specialty store. Most importantly it has a fromager - cheesemonger on staff! That means you can ask about your pairings and sample anything with a cheese expert. And the fromager here is fantastic. She's been there a very long time and she knows her stuff. Plus the prices can't be beat. The prepared food is very good, fresh and reasonably priced. They have a bakery section that has fresh items and they are all very good. There is also a great selection of packaged foods - sauces, condiments, pastas, etc. They also have a great gift and candy section. Perfumes. Worth the trip. Always.

Good home made pasta, different kinds from ravioli to fettuccine every one fresh and delicious I…read morehighly recommend this store they have been in business along time

Wonderful pasta. Great service. Easy street parking. Imported Italian specialty productsread more

Simply extraordinary pasta. We bought two (frozen) containers of ravioli -- one porcini and one…read morebutternut squash. We haven't eaten the latter yet, but the former was delicious. Friendly and helpful service.

I've been coming here for years; there are a few new faces. They have the best fresh pasta, most…read morecut to order. There's ravioli. I can't make manicotti as good as theirs at home for the cost. There's a small section with groceries. They always have creative window displays. Service is helpful and can be informative.

Attention attention. Before anything else is mentioned, the Nutella pie is the dessert to get. Eat…read moreit no matter what. We've kept this place on our radar for a while and finally made a reservation. I wasn't sure what the strategy should be. Instead of multiple pasta plates the waiter told us to each get an appetizer and a pasta plate. I enjoyed the fried eggplant and the cacio e Pepe. Quick question if anyone is reading this. Why are there four Imperia pasta machine boxes? How much pasta can each machine crank out before it needs to be tossed?

A few friends and I celebrated a birthday dinner here, and overall, we had a great experience! The…read moretables are very close together, which makes the atmosphere quite intimate -- perfect for a cozy night out. We started our evening with the eggplant appetizer. We tried two of the specials: the orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, which was absolutely delicious, and the chicken saltimbocca, which was fantastic -- by far the best dish of the night. We also had the cacio e pepe pasta, which unfortunately missed the mark. It was extremely undercooked -- even hard to cut with a butter knife -- so that was a bit disappointing. That said, everything else was wonderful! The desserts were outstanding -- their tartufo is unique and not like others I've had, and the Nutella ricotta pie was my absolute favorite. Very rich, very sweet, and a generous portion. Despite the pasta hiccup, we really enjoyed our meal and would absolutely come back again! Oddly they don't have a cappuccino maker and no regular coffee-just espresso I believe.

Lots of prepackaged cooked foods. We got some ravioli filled with. Sheep's milk. Some prosciutto…read morealthough the staff was upset about the order as they had cleaned the machine. They were open for another hour. They have sfogliatelli from cannoli plus in Brooklyn. The frozen raw ones also. They also have tartufo. Lots of Italian imported items and pasta made with Italian flour. Veggies were not in top condition. Checkout I gave the phone number to use and he said he couldn't find it so he charged me full price for all the sale stuff. Not cool!

I highly recommend Uncle Giuseppe's in Ramsey for catering! We recently ordered food for a party,…read moreand everything was absolutely delicious. The portions were generous, the prices were very reasonable, and they even included so many unexpected extras, which was such a nice surprise. Since I'm local, I chose to pick up the order, and the entire process was easy and convenient. Everything was prepared perfectly and ready for our party. Our guests loved the food, and there was plenty for everyone. Between the quality of the food, generous portions, great prices, and excellent service, I couldn't have been happier with our experience. I will definitely use Uncle Giuseppe's for future parties and highly recommend them to anyone looking for great catering!

Had another wonderful dinner! Vegetable soup was on the menu and while it was made with chicken…read morestock, the owner, Luigi, said no problem! I can make it with vegetable stock! It was delicious as was the rest of the meal. They are extremely accommodating with offering foods to fit your diet and you don't have to feel awkward requesting something or tweaking something on the menu. The food is freshly made to order and worth the visit!

We came across this place on Google while searching for Italian food in the Bergen County area and…read morestumbled across a upon a true neighborhood gem. The menu isn't massive, but they cover every category with extreme precision and do it really well. Seafood, pasta, veal, chicken, and all the classic appetizers you can think of from stuffed artichokes, zucchini blossoms, and house-made burrata. The ambiance is old-school Italian in the best way: timeless, romantic, and cozy. It works just as well for an intimate date night as it does for a small group dinner. Bonus points for being BYOB. We ordered the veal marsala and the seafood pomodoro. The veal was pounded to perfection and swimming in a ridiculously addictive sauce. The seafood pasta was cooked perfectly and loaded with fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels and you can taste the quality and care put in the food. Meals are served with a salad to start, and you can expect to spend around $35 per entrée, which feels more than fair for the quality. We were genuinely impressed and were treated with a lot of attention throughout the meal. The concept of the restaurant being run by two italian twins was honestly so sweet. Highly recommend if you're looking for classic Italian done right without trekking into the city.