What a lovely experience in the heart of Kenilworth. The bartender was wonderful and very accommodating too! The bottom line, the food exquisite. Must try the artichoke. From older Jersey folks that know great Italian food. We were visiting family in NJ, from FL and found this place when completely unfamiliar in Kenilworth. The BEST Italian food since we left NJ!!! Thanks for the well missed treat! read more

The Restaurant had great reviews, and I decided to give it a try... I was not impressed at all... I decided to try the liver dish... it was completely tasteless, the spinach was soaked in oil and the potatoes were sucked dry... I was extremely disappointed. The picture looks great doesn't it? Unfortunately it didn't taste like anything... read more

Taormina Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

We had a fantastic night out. Our waiter Greg went above and beyond. We just moved to Kenilworth so this was our first true dinner out. I had the sole special and loved it. We are walkable to this establishment so we will totally be back. I liked that at 8pm there was a full bar and a lot of customers at tables. I read that as good signs. Thank you!! read more

Very disappointing! Being a restaurant manager for 16 years I wasn't impressed. Chef and owner... your customers put the money in your cash register, remember that! Never have I been to a restaurant where they don't allow substitutions. I couldn't eat potatoes and asked if I could get salad instead and was told no, the chef doesn't do substitutions. We ordered appetizers and were told we had to give our dinner order too because it was the weekend. Way to feel rushed for very pricey mediocre food! The waitress was nice but came over and put the check on the table before we were finished with dessert. Very tacky and unprofessional. Some big guy who I guess was the pleasant chef/owner came out and walked around the restaurant but never asked any table how everything was. Again ridiculous prices for just ok food and service. This was a one and done!! Customer service is key!!! read more

Sal's Favorite Cheesecake isn't that good at all. Too lemon-y, too dry. My Bronzino was nice and succulent thought and three of my friends enjoyed swordfish was delicious. read more

BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN THE STATE. I will say it again, BEST ITALIAN IN THE STATE and as good or better than NYC. Mrs. and I went there because we didn't like the food in "Boulevard" down the street. While driving passed this place, we saw this really Italian looking guy in a chef's jacket standing in front talking to someone. She said that guy looks old school let's try that place. We met him. He was Sal, the owner, who promised us a great meal and great service. Well Sal undersold his place. "Dream worthy" is the way to describe the food here. I ordered the fried mozzarella with marinara sauce. It was crisp and delicate and tasted great!!! First observation is the warm great smell coming from the wood oven in the dining room. My wife had the Hotsi Totsi spicy shrimp in red sauce. Just fantastic. we dipped a half loaf of hot fresh Italian bread into it. I then had the pasta in bolognese sauce. This was old school secret stuff!! You aren't supposed to eat stuff this good more than once in your life. She then had the risotto with lobster. She ate too much because the portions are not small. This is a meal in itself. We had perfect cappucino and dessert. What dessert? Only the best cheese cake there ever will be!!! That dessert. I previously drove to the Bronx NY to try a cheese cake I saw on the Food Channel. The Zagats guide listed that Bronx cheese cake as the "Nobel Prize" of cheese cakes. It was named S and S cheese cake. It took me 3.5 hours through traffic to get there. That was the best I ever had, until I tried Taormina's cheese cake. Taormina's is made with rich Moscarpone Cheese. It is made fresh on site. Sal should be in prison for creating this cheese cake. Agghhhh, unbelievable. Patrons order it by the hundreds during the holidays. I asked Sal why he didn't sell it online or in stores and he told me that he would not compromise the fresh taste and smell that it has. They have other desserts, but I cannot remember what they were. Thoughts of soft, creamy, vanilla flavored cheese cake flood my brain. They once had a special of sweet pear in tortellini with alfredo suace. That was super special. It's around once or twice a year. We never miss it. Also, the stuffed fried zuchini flowers are worth a 60 minute trip by them selves. The service here is unparalleled. You are greeted and cared for by real Italian speaking, professional staff. All around great Italian at reasonable prices. We can't say a bad word about this place if we tried. Lou and Kris , two thumbs up. PS How can we add a 6th star here? read more

This was a great find. We came here kind of late on a Sunday evening. We ordered a few pasta dishes and the one was gnocchi and that was pretty good but the rigatoni dish was phenomenal. We would have come back the following evening for that dish again if we could. Next time we will go earlier to try some dessert and after dinner drinks. read more

Awfull. The waiter ( Paul maybe ) should not be a waiter. My wife ordered salmon that was overcooked, he did not asked if she would like something else. Instead he without a word took the dish, came back 5 minutes later with the one more overcooked salmon and charged for both. When we came, there were bread and olive oil on the table. Guest's sitting next to us were brought olives , cheese, bread salt and fresh pepper mill. When I asked why we were not offer the same, (Paul ) sarcastically answered ( it's not free) I don't expect anything for free, but he should have offered. Is salt & pepper also not free? I left for the first time ever without leaving a tip, and that says a lot. He just p....sed me off. Needless to say I won't be back, and we eat out 3-4 times a week, leaving at least 20% gratuity. read more

Yes, the food took very long and the decor is a bit outdated. However, the food is absolutely fresh and delicious! I had the rigatoni with sausage in a pink vodka sauce that was unbelievable. Best Italian around. Can't believe I didn't know of this hidden gem. read more

What can I say? Best Italian around here, full service bar, great service. Favorite Meal: Hotsy Totsy (Shrimp) Italian Frying Peppers (Just like Uncle Joe used to make) Pounded Veal Chop read more

Food was killer, and the service was excellent. Gramma commented that the meatball was the best she's ever had in a restaurant... high praise! Had the penne with vodka and sausage... vodka sauce was perfect, as was the pasta. Will be going back! read more

Amazing food and atmosphere! Sal is an awesome chef! Head here for dinner...you won't be disappointed!

This is a wonderful restaurant with top quality food and a pleasant local feel. Taormina has a warm neighborhood atmosphere and consistently excellent food. The owner, Sal Taormina, oversees not only the restaurant but the dishes that are served. His talent as a fine chef with a flair for "peasant Italian cuisine" make this an out of the ordinary restaurant find. My wife and I eat there often and we have taken many friends to dine there. Every one we have introduced to this restaurant has come away impressed read more

We were dining with friends 9/21/18. We ordered the lemon soul. There was a parasite in the fish. Waiter removed our plates from the table so the "chef" could inspect our meals. Neither management nor chef came over to our table. They were lucky they did not charge us for our dinners. And also the creme brûlée was like scrambled eggs. Disgusting. Never again will I go to this establishment read more

I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't try this place sooner. I love finding a great Italian place that's close to home, has an attentive staff, great Italian that's not typical, and ultra consistent. This place delivers on all fronts. Food is pretty remarkable overall. The specials are always varied and pretty interesting. Last time we were there, we had a thinly sliced suckling pig appetizer that was outrageous. Of all the main entrees I've had, never did any miss the mark. My only complaint is that I feel the portions could be a smidgen larger, but Wine list isn't too shabby either; nothing spectacular, but serviceable. Truthfully, I didn't expect the place to have a bar at all so having even a serviceable wine list is more than I expected. Taormina is honestly one of the better Italian restaurants I've been to in recent memory. If you are from the area and simply haven't stopped by for various reasons, it's worth your time and money to pay them a visit. read more

First time there. I took my wife kids and mom. Sunday night, not too busy. Fried calamari for an appetizer was very good. All the mains were very good. Pasta was fresh. Clams were good. We will be back. read more

Everything I ate there was delicious starting with FIGS stuffed with gorgonzola prosciutto wrapped around the FIG amazing had the filet mignon with gorgonzola cheese candied walnuts and a port wine reduction I'm telling you it was the best in her probably that I've ever eaten and I've eaten at a lot of places plus they had a bar other restaurants in the area don't have bars just bring your own bottle of wine I like the bar much better I think I'm having dinner there again tomorrow night read more

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Excellent sauces, delicious italian food. Veal chop out of this world. Fresh seafood, everything at this place is fanatastic its worth the 30 min drive its so good. Only one thing I didnt like was the chocolate lave cake its not moist that dessert needs to be perfected. Cheesecake excellent panna cotta excellent just all homemade. Lots of delious dinner options all amazing. Just needs to get s new chocolate dessert. Check this place out its worth the trip. Excellent service too. read more

The food here is as authentic as it gets. The Sicilian owner/chef, Sal, takes pride in each dish he serves. Went here with 10 friends and sat in the beautiful private room. Everything from the tender Veal Chop Parm to the al dente linguine with garlic/oil was cooked perfectly. Highly recommended this establishment. Will definitely be back. read more

I've eaten her about a dozen times and everything I had was cooked to perfection same for my girlfriend highly recommended and I can't wait to go again. read more

I read all the reviews for this restaurant and I was intrigued to see if the food was that good. The atmosphere was elegant and clean. With the nice weather, the outdoor seating was perfect. The server was pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered the Calamari Fritti as an appetizer. It was good. For my main dish I had the Vitello Sorrentina. The cheese was hard and the two pieces of Veal and eggplant were very small with little taste. There was way to much oil in the plate and the potatoes were very dry. No vegetables were served with the dish. For the price this dish was not worth it at all. My girlfriend ordered the liver dish and was not impressed either. read more

The food here never disappoints. For appetizers we shared the meatballs, hotsy totsy shrimp, and the speidini. All yummy. Also yummy were the veal saltimbocca, gnocchi, and the lobster and shrimp ravioli. Excellent service (we got takeout). We will be back! read more

I love this place. Everything I've had so far tastes homemade, but better. I wish I had gone in sooner.

Two different bartenders same yummy cosmo. It's the best I've had Octopus is tricky. However the last two times it's been delicious. Not chewy at all! Hotsy totsy shrimp can be done gf which is a nice touch Sauce is yummy as well read more

GREAT FOOD. SPEcials are top notch. Amazed at the consistency of serving great food. Love the pasta, fish and steak. Do not miss the vea chop special. read more

We arrived at restaurant at 5:30 Pm on a Saturday night and we received our bill by 6: 20 Pm. We had an appetizer calamari and we split a salad. Our main course was a sea food pasta. The main meal was $32.00 per person. McDonald's gives you more time to eat a burger than they allowed us to eat a salad, appetizer and a main course and coffee. About 10 minutes before we were finished are appetizer and salad our main course came out. But the server brought them back into kitchen. When we were ready for them, about 10 minutes later, the meals came out. The waiter asked if our main course was ok and I told him some parts of the meal were cold but we would make the most of it. When the bill came I was charged for everything that was served. And I would of paid for the entire bill but I felt I had to let the management know what happened. A woman manager came up to us with such an attitude that I was told that restaurants charge for the entire amount of a meal if you eat half the food. ( she lectured me, before I had a chance to say anything) both my wife and I only ate about half our main course. I told her I didn't like her attitude but she didn't take to kindly to that remark. The food had a nice flavor , but cold, the waiter was professional, but apparently the management wants your business but wants to turn the table in less than an hour and won't take responsibility for their errors. So if you want a bill in excess of $100.00 and eat in less than hour this is the restaurant for you. But don't complain the management is not professional enough to handle criticism. Bottom line for me was if they acknowledged their mistake by not charging me for coffee. I would of paid the bill and left. And I wouldnt had to endure the unprofessionalism of their management. read more

Service was slow and subpar, borderline rude regardless that the restaurant wasn't close to being at full capacity. We had to wait to be seated, wait some more for menus after asking twice. No cocktail or kids menu which was disappointing, food was mediocre at best. Our waiter was some random guy in a casual shirt with no personality. Go elsewhere unless you want to greatly overpay for meh quality. I'd never return or recommend. read more

Excellent, authentic Italian food. Stuffed artichoke appetizer special was delish. It should be part of the regular menu. Carbonara was creamy and pasta was al dente. Nice atmosphere. The wood burning brick oven in the center of the dining room provided nice warmth and ambiance. Service was attentive. The chef owner is loud and short tempered as others have pointed out, but I guess it's his way of ensuring food and service meet his standards. It was also entertaining, too, to hear him screaming in the kitchen and to watch the wait staff try to escape his wrath. Although I prefer BYOB places, Taormina had a good wine list with excellent choices in the $20-$30 range. Food was also reasonably priced and portions were generous. This restaurant is a gem in quiet Kennilworth. read more

I used to like this charming resteraunt until I showed up on Mothers Day and a mistake was made with my reservation. Instead of it being handled in a business like manner the owner came out and accused me of lying and yelled at me then kicked me out for defending myself in front of my wife and family. Although good food why would anyone should take abuse for anything. Sal the owner should be ashamed of himself and his staff should be embarrassed if they aren't too scared if him. read more

My wife and I went for "date night" with a gift certificate we had gotten for a present a while back. I had been to Taormina on occasion before they expanded and got their liquor license and thought it was good but did not remember it being exceptional. The idea of it not being BYOB turned me off and I didn't go for years after. But this recent experience was really excellent and the wine list has some very good and reasonable bottles on it. I had the grilled octopus appetizer which was enormous and perfectly cooked. Really enjoyed it with the crusty Italian bread they serve. My wife got a salad that was also a meal in itself. I am a big fan of lamb shank and they had a special for the night that I selected. One of the best I ever had. Meat fell off the bone and the sauce and risotto served with it were perfect compliments. My wife got a fish special and she said it was also excellent. I did not try any of her entrée as I was too happy working on my delicious lamb. The Oregon Pinot Noir we selected was like $25 and very good so the beverage portion of the bill was not a killer. I found the atmosphere to be perfect. Smaller tables of 2-6 and not the big parties some places pack in so it was relaxing and not loud. Nice lighting and warm. Living in Cranford we used to drive a pretty good distance to go to some of our favorite Italian restaurants. Now with rediscovering Taormina we have a great place minutes away in Kenilworth. read more

I like this place, it's nice and quiet with a giant brick oven in the center of the restaurant to keep the place warm and where they heat the bread they serve when you arrive. Parking isn't that great since it's on the street. It's better to call in first to get a reservation. You'll notice that the crowd is a little older but it's a place to go if you want to talk, definitely a first date place. I recommend having the sea food, it wont be same day fresh but done well. The salmon was good and mussels for appetizer was what I had. It'll probably cost you 40 bucks for a good dinner per person. read more

We try to be loyal to this restaurant because they are local and the food is good. But the service and attitude of the management makes loyalty quite a challenge. (You'll find similar complaints on the Yahoo rating site and others.) Tonight, we went to Taormina for a special holiday dinner. We were bothered by smokers. We asked our waiter if he could stop the smokers and in return we were truly abused by the smoker for about ten minutes ... right in front of waiters and bus boys who silently watched ... bombarded with obscenities ... told to "go find another cause like adopting a dog" ... told we were "liberals infringing on the smoker's civil rights" ... Geez! When we asked for the management, we told "no one heard anything" and that the smokers were using scented "smokeless cigarettes" which are legal The management said there was nothing they could do -- including giving a simple apology for tolerating one customer abusing another. Yikes! We were regular customers of Taormina but enough is enough. We'll not return. read more

Ist visit here this past Valentine's Day; when I asked about the menu I was told it would not be pre-fixe just a modified version. As it turned out it was the regular menu + so maybe I will see this more sensible approach with other restaurants in the future rather than the confined price gouged methods I've seen in the past. With all the piles of snow parking was tight but luckily someone pulled out as we entered the lot in the back(there are about 5 spaces in front but on the boulevard it's very hard to find parking unless on off night/Sunday. Reservations were honored(I made them a month in advance so wasn't expecting anything less). The host? was dressed like a cook so that was interesting. The decor didnt see outdated to me(maybe it was updated or maybe I'm not paranoid from watching too many episodes of restaurant makeover shows). Bread standard with olive oil for dipping--no butter but I would hope it would be provided if asked for. Starters were thin sliced pork loin(small pieces of bone so not sure maybe shoulder?) & creamy mozarella & prosciutto. Pork was very tasty, mozarella good--prosciutto bland. Drinks were choc martini(I like them with dinner not as dessert) & cosmo--both good & strong. Entrees were braised beef over cavatelli--very tasty & moist, jumbo shrimp with garlic, white wine sauce(fresh but virtually tasteless) & togo chicken scarpiello--good. The two meat entrees came with delicious croquette(notice no "S"--kind of cheap to just give 1 as a side) Desserts were choc lava cake & vanilla creal with rasp gelato. The gelato was the only item with any taste--presentation was nice but flavor not which is disappointing considering these didnt look brought in. I had cappucino very hot but barely stronger than diner quality. Our server Brad was very personable--maybe a bit too much. When I was inquiring about getting a wine/drink list a glass item fell off the open shelved area which clearly annoyed him & he seemed flustered for awhile as he brought back another dinner menu & service was erratic the rest of the evening(had to flag him down at least 2 times) so if you get him you may want to give him a chance(although the place was never more than 3/4 full considering it was Valentine's & there were plenty of servers but everytime I noticed Brad he was running around like a chicken w/o a head). Overall I would say it was a slightly above average experience; this seems like a place where it's hit/miss depending on your taste but for 2 drinks, 2 appys, 3 entrees, 2 desserts & 1 cap w/tax & tip $170 is a bit high to "experiment" at least for my bank account. For a better experience try La Griglia a few blocks down the boulevard across from the A&P have been there several times & always a 4 - 5 star experience. I prefer to give a detailed rating as opposed to just saying I liked it or I didn't. For me I rate a restaurant in 4 categories in order of importance: Food Service Value Décor/ambience/misc If you're wondering why this is the order for me I rather have great food & so-so service than the other way around. You can always plan around a slower evening to make it just as enjoyable but not around mediocre food whether it's fast or slow paced. My 3rd item I call value instead of price because based on the taste & serving portion of the item compared to similar items at other restaurants tells me if it's a good value. For instance the best steak I've ever had to date runs about $44 but besides being delicious(a way to tell is it stands on its own w/o adding any sauces) it is boneless & about 24oz so you get two good meals. Food(2.0), service(1.5), value(1.0) & décor/ambience/misc(0.5) I then take the # stars for each category & multiply by the # in parentheses then divide by 5 to get my final rating. If the final average is exactly 1/2 I'll round up or down depending on other reviews. So my calculations are as follows: FOOD 3.5 x 2 = 7 SERVICE 2 x 1.5 = 3 VALUE 2.5 x 1 = 2.5 AMBIENCE/OTHER 4 x .5 = 2 Total pts 14.5 divided by 5 = 2.9 which rounds to 3 read more

Hat off to Sal Taormina, proprietor & chef, who has developed curbside take out and delivery in an effort to keep his ristorante and staff afloat. Telephone ordering is easy and you select your time for pick. There is also delivery within a 4 miles radius. Unlike many other emergency inspired curbside restaurants Sal offers an extensive menu plus daily specials...so in line w his sense of hospitality. We were able to choose what we would have chosen in house....and bread was gratefully included. Selections were prepared exactly the same way, no skimping. Kudos to Sal and good luck to Taormina's. Btw, driving home with the foods, the car was suffused w aromas that I hadn't experienced since lockdown began...an extra added treat. read more

I'm rating this place against my better judgement - it's one of the areas best kept secrets. Great homemade pastas, a fully stocked bar, attentive service. Oh, and yummy desserts. What more can you ask for? read more

Ate here twice. Both times very, very good. Had a Parmesan crusted chicken, pollo martini. Exceptional. The pear salad was also terrific. Service is good. Ambiance is nice. Would probably give this place 4.5, but rounded up for the food. read more

went there on a Tuesday night. Taormina came highly recommended from a family member and I have to say I was extremely impressed. The service was outstanding and the chef made his presence known. I indulged on the filet mignon and I am still dreaming about it! It was very tender and very flavorful. Had an espresso martini for dessert which was outstanding! I wish I knew how good it was sooner. Never thought much of the place judging it from the outside but WOW! read more

One of my favorite places to eat, can always be counted on for being amazing! Artichoke is one of my favorite things!, soups are amazing, pasta Delish as well as the ricotta that is served with it. I am 100% Italian and I can always count on this place for an authentic taste. The quality of meats etc in this place is exquisite. Favorite dish is the braciola, artichoke, and hot pepper appetizer. Def a must try!! read more

This is a wonderful place to meet friends for dinner. Tables are spaced well so that conversation is possible and the food is delicious. Our waiter was attentive and concerned with the quality of our experience. We are already planning our next visit. read more

We have lived in Kenilworth for 3 years, and have frequented Taormina regularly on and off. We had enjoyed dining outdoors a few times this summer, but tonight will have been the last time. We ordered salads, entrees, several drinks, and dessert. We asked for some penne with tomato sauce for our 18-month old, for which we were charged $14 when the bill came. We were also charged $7 for a side of spinach that was supposed to be a substitution for another side. In all fairness, the latter may have been miscommunication. However, when the waiter said that he would speak to the owner about both concerns, we expected a little bit better than the response that "the owner said he would review the prices...[for the future]". Our bill was over $200, and they couldn't comp us a lousy $7 or so. My husband's family owns a restaurant, and this is not how you do business and maintain clientele. Maybe if you're a regular at this place, you'll be treated better. Otherwise, don't bother. The food isn't that great. read more