Initial impression was not a great one and I have encountered dismissive attitudes in the past at this restaurant. Visited on a quiet Sunday at 5:00 and because there many reservations available online, we stopped by without one. Parking lot was empty so we were hopeful for a nice dinner. Surprisingly I was quickly dismissed by the hostess once I said our party of three did not have a reservation because they were completely booked. Her option was to wait and sit in the dining room way in the back. This did not sound appealing. It took me some convincing and time for her to finally get approval to accommodate us at a perfect table overlooking the lake in the first dining room. We were the only people in the dining room and when we left, there were just two other filled tables at 7:00. Not sure what rules the hostess was following! Now to the food. Oysters excellent, wedge much better at sister restaurant La GrigLia, meatballs and penne swimming in sauce and sloppy, potato crusted snapper was plain fried fish with limited sauce and pasta with seafood was good. This review could have been just ok but service was good, martinis were perfect and view was great. I am a frequent diner at the owners other restaurant LaGriglia and find their food to be so much better read more

this review is based on the Poor Attitudes of the two bartenders that were working at the bar for happy hour on Friday last night. when we first sat down, the two bartenders, a male and a female were talking to the hostess pretty much ignoring us we had to say, excuse me can we order a drink? They never even offered us a water with our drinks. We proceeded to order two drinks and happy hour meatballs right off the happy hour menu pointed to the meatballs and she proceeded to charge us the full dinner price instead of the happy hour price so be sure to check your bill as well... especially when you do go for happy hour. I could understand if the bar was jampacked. We were the only two people sitting at the bar... As for the food at dinner, everything was decent. I had the salmon the waitress at the table was lovely. read more

First, male bartender has to stop talking and dropping the "F" bomb. Just not appropriate. The house Pinot Grigio is awful. Available in liquor stores for $8/bottle. Need to step it up. (Ecco Domani, Santa Margierita, Cavit) Brocolli Rabe and Sausage used to be our favorite. Tonight, it was bland. Flavorless. Sausage tasted old and wasn't browned correctly. The Bolognese, which for year was supreme, the best, lacked flavor and tasted reheated. The cost will be met with indifference, if the food is good. read more

I went to the water and wine Restaurant for my birthday and I must say that the food was awesome. First we get our bread then our salads and then our main course and then desserts and I'm saying that the service was awesome. The staff was very attentive... ambience was quiet and the water and lake by the window. Add an extra touch to my evening. read more

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Beautiful establishment overlooking Watching Lake which made for great views while enjoying our dinner. The restaurant's parking is valet only which shaved off a few minutes once we got there. We made a reservation for 7:15 p and were seated immediately. Our server, Ally, was so sweet and checked in on us regularly. She has a fun personality and gave honest opinions when asked about the menu selections. In addition to our party of two, she had several other tables including a large party, but we never felt ignored or rushed. After consulting with our server, I chose the cajun fried calamari as my appetizer, seasoned with balsamic, garlic, cajun spices, tomatoes, and scallions. I love balsamic, so this was a nice surprise and a highlight of the night for me. I also ordered the boneless short ribs served with bourbon sweet mashed sweet potatoes, haricot verts (French green beans), and topped with a mushroom barolo demi-glace. A win! Grabbing a forkful of sweet potatoes with every bite of the short ribs made for a great combo. We had a hard out at 10 pm or I would've found a way to finish this meal but also had to leave room for dessert. As soon as Ally mentioned their crème brûlée, I knew that was what I was getting. So good. Lastly, I ordered the Graham's 10 Yr Tawny Port wine which was well balanced, very smooth, and so easy to just sip on. Great night. Highly recommend. read more

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Just WOW! What a great experience from the moment I drove into the parking lot! The gentlemen working valet were very friendly and kind which immediately brightened my mood. Upon entering, the hostess immediately took us to our table. The restaurant is cozy & so beautiful. The windows looking out really set the mood and make the ambiance feel luxurious. Now, for the food! We ordered the burrata with honey glazed figs as an appetizer & the chicken gianbotta & filet mignon for our entrees. All 3 items were absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. For drinks, we had the Spring Bliss Sangria & Plum Role - both were strong and yummy. The star of the show for me was the dessert. We ordered the Water & Wine "Fricassée" which is an assortment of sorbets and mixed berries & oh my goodness. It was BEYOND delicious!! So refreshing & tasty. Definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. 10/10 recommend trying it out! Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to our server Jackie. She was so personable, pleasant and attentive the entire time. She definitely added to our awesome experience. I'll 100% be back! read more

Water & Wine - Water & Wine "Fricassée" assorted sorbets and mixed berries - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

I've been here a few times for corporate functions, and the place never disappoints. Great cocktails, a large menu that will satisfy everyone, and, choose the right table and you'll have a beautiful view of the lake. Certainly a special occasion restaurant with flair. Valet parking, relaxing vibe, and attentive service. Highly recommended! read more

Food, service and ambiance are all great! The one star subtracted is from the valet parking. It was honestly unnecessary lol for someone who hates having a stranger get into my car. ANYWAY we got a great table by the window around 12pm. It was a holiday work lunch, so there are about 12 of us. Some of us had to sit by window having the sun shining right on them. I suggest the restaurant to think about the placement of the dining table. Server was great and super attentive. The view of the lake is so nice! I would def come back to try different item on the menu! read more

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This has to be one of the best restaurants in the area. Intimate fine dining experience with great views of Watchung Lake. I liked how the tables were adequately spaced apart and you weren't sitting on top of the table next to you. First, service is impeccable. I was shocked at how fast the appetizers came out. I was never left with an empty water cup and the servers/ food runners were so attentive. Next, the food tasted incredible. For appetizers, I got the kale salad and balsamic fried Calamari. Entrees, I ordered the NY strip steak and the Zuppa di Pesce over pasta. Great portions and presentation. read more

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I've been wanting to try it here for some time and was sooo happy we finally did. We came for a valentines dinner and the service and food was amazing. Got the buffalo mozzarella to start, halibut and venison entrees. So tasty. The view also didn't disappoint. I honestly felt like I was "out of town" even though it's less than 30 mins from our house:). I've already recommended it to my friends. We will Be back. Next time we will hire a babysitter so we can hang a bit longer:) read more

Water & Wine - The staff gave out roses for our valentines dinner. It really made the night special. Thank you! - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

What a lovely dinner experience at The Water & Wine Restaurant ! Beautiful views overlooking the Watchung Lake! The service was top notch! Our Server Bill was exemplary! He was very knowledgeable about the menu, answered our questions and made recommendations! Thank you Bill!! The entire team was attentive, poured our drinks, checked in on us, cleaned the crumbs off the table. Truly a fine dining experience! High compliments to the Chef and Kitchen Brigade!!! Delicious cuisine! We ordered from the Specials and regular menu. Every dish was well prepared and presented! My favorite was the crab cake appetizer! And crème brûlée!! Looking forward to returning. We made reservations. The restaurant quickly filled up so recommend making reservations. Parking- only valet parking on site on a Friday night. After dinner, we took a little stroll to The Watchun Lake Park and saw the water damn. It was a great night! read more

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Impeccable service, jaw dropping natural ambiance, and delicious food - very hard to find all three, feeling grateful I now know this place. My family and I went here on a Tuesday evening, booking our reservation for 7pm earlier that day through open table. Our table was right by the window that overlooks the lake - it was breathtaking, especially seeing the lake from the time we began our dinner to when we ended and the sun had set. The service was fantastic - David our server, was honest, polite, and thorough. We never felt rushed nor judged. The food - absolutely phenomenal. We ordered 2 mocktails - the spice lavender (my favorite) and the jalapeño mockarita (least favorite - too citric for me). Appetizers were the special caprese pasta (think a large pinwheeled shaped ravioli) and the Cajun calamari (next time ask for more Cajun). For dinner, the pescatore pasta, stuffed chicken breast, and short ribs. I didn't try the pescatore pasta but it looked yummy, but hard to find the lobster in it. The short ribs I tried from my dad and it was good and hearty - our server told us it's the most ordered. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast and LOVED IT! I'd get it again, the garlic basil stuffing was fabulous with the side of escarole so flavorful. The portions were well sized that we had leftovers. For dessert we shared a classic creme brûlée - which was massive and enough for three of us to share. Also, let's not forget the complementary bread - it was an assortment that was so delicious, especially the fennel breadsticks. read more

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Came here for anniversary dinner with my husband, we both loved it!! We were sat right by the window with a nice snowy view in the background. Our food was incredible. My husband got the NY strip steak and I got the salmon, both were delicious! We also started with the Cajun calamari and burrata, which I was a huge fan of. Be sure to bring some cash to tip because they have valet parking. Overall we spent around $200 which included drinks, 2 appetizers, entrees, and dessert. Really not bad considering the great service and top notch food, we'll be back for sure! read more

Water & Wine - EspressNO Martini - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

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Had an amazing dining experience at this beautiful gem. The food was absolutely amazing and I was delighted to see they had vegan options, as well. It felt very welcoming upon entering and being seated. We were grateful to have had such a detailed and efficient waiter Dave, that made our dining experience even more memorable. We will definitely be revisiting! read more

Good, good vibes, off the lake and impeccable service. Took my son to celebrate his 40th Birthday. He had no complaints. read more

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Great service and a pleasant atmosphere. The food is delicious. Braised short rib,venison are my favorites. Calamari app is a nice start.Great options for beer and drinks. read more

My hubby had this Zuppa de Pesce. RoastedHe said it was so very delicious except for the calamari. He found it was over cooked and too chewy. Other than that, good. I had the Roasted Gnocchi with Italian vegetables. So good! We also had an antipasto. They also serve a cranberry walnut bread that delicious. Dessert was very good. We had a cannoli bread pudding and a strawberry mascarpone tiramisu to die for!! Our cocktails were also very good. The view overlooking the lake was very pretty, especially with the lightening streaking the sky! The wait staff was wonderful without being overbearing. The portions were large and we brought home enough for another meal! I would say prices were standard for an upscale dining establishment. We enjoyed ourselves and will return! read more

Water & Wine - Zuppa di Pesce - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

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Great service as always from Water and Wine. The back room over looking the pond is always nice and bright and enjoyable. The food did not disappoint and we will be back soon! read more

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Nice atmosphere. Service for such a fancy place little slow. The food not bad but overpriced and drinks as well. You can find lot of restaurants at the same price range with better food and drinks. read more

This is a very nice meal. Fancy but not pretentious. High quality with a nice water view. A cute drive into the town area.

I was excited to try this place for an outing with one of my sorority sisters. I was able to make reservations online and the restaurant called me to confirm the day before. When I arrived they had valet and he parked my car which at first I was a little uneasy about because of Covid but it was too late to say something. When my soror and I walked in we were greeted by what seemed like the manager and he sat us close to a nice view of the lake. They did have the outdoor seating option woth heaters We were served by an awesome waitress named Georgia. She was great and so attentive. For drinks I got the apple sangria which was ok and my soror got the scarf, which I had later and it was good. For our entrée, I got the prime rib with pappardelle and it was good just added a little salt to taste. My soror loved her shrimp penne vodka and it looked delicious. For my birthday Georgia sent us over sparkling Moscato on the house. We had such a great time and I will be back. read more

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Our friends brought us here for dinner and we enjoyed it very much. Delicious food and service was on point, even on a busy Friday night. Nice menu selection. Get the ice cream sandwich for dessert ! Will return soon. read more

Water & Wine - Ice cream sandwich is excellent - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

VALET OR VIP? My recent visit to WATER & WINE was over before it began. They have a rigid "YOU MUST VALET YOUR CAR RULE" which MUST be adhered to...UNLESS YOU ARE A VIP!! (W&W-- this is not Taylor Swift Territory!!). After speaking with the valets, and then James the Manager, we were told to leave rather than have us park our own car, or be permitted to park in one of the coveted "VIP SPOTS" blocked off with cones near the entrance. This begs the question: Why would they need VIP spots if EVERYONE must adhere to their valet edict? We did leave. There are plenty of other restaurants without these stringent rules, where I may not be a VIP, but at least I'm not made to feel that way in such an obvious way. read more

This restaurant never disappoints. The staff, service, setting, ambience, food and drinks are all excellent. Great for a special occasion or just getting together with family or friends. Love their large Round tables that make seating comfortable and perfect for interacting with your company. All of the dishes were delicious, from the salads to the appetizers and dinner. Venison and Porter house steak cooked just right and tender. Enjoyed the halibut. Pasta with fennel sausage also tasty. read more

Water & Wine - Venison - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

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Our first time here. What a surprise it was when we walked in the door and was greeted by a friendly hostess and even friendlier bartenders. Even though our table was ready, the hostess let us enjoy our cocktails at the bar with no stress. Once we entered the dining room, it was an amazing experience from the moment we sat down till we were done. The food, the service, the ambience was on par!! The only thing that was a little annoying was the waiters trying to fit behind me to serve the other table but this can easily be fixed by giving a little more separation Between tables but nothing that negated the rest of what is great about this place. Bravo!! Can't wait to come back!! read more

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We really enjoyed a cute and cozy dinner here! It was decorated for Christmas already, which was nice to see and really added to the atmosphere. The menu is pretty large and the portions are massive- this is definitely a place where you could share an appetizer or entrée. The seasonal specials were excellent. I had the honeynut squash and caramelized fig salad, which was honestly one of the most delicious salads I've had in a long time, and the butternut squash ravioli as an entrée portion, although honestly I would have been fine with the appetizer size since the appetizer salad was pretty big! The wine list is huge, but mostly Italian wines (which makes sense as an Italian restaurant!). We liked the seasonal cocktails as well. I recommend asking for a table by a window- even though it was dark, the view of the lake was still pretty. read more

Service was good. Food was overpriced and adequate at best. Diner level quality. Never again.

Food is fabulous and service is really great! It's in a nice location, and the restaurant has a bar side with high top tables, and then a bit more formal restaurant side. read more

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Didn't want to give a 3 star, but sitting by a large party of more than 30 people with children running, playing and sitting on the floor near our table was not what we expected when making reservations at this restaurant!... the food and service was good, but the atmosphere was more like Chuck E Cheese. read more

Very nice meal, knowledgeable and attentive service, great flavor combinations and overall lovely atmosphere. Great spot for a special occasion dinner. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for some time. The ambiance and service were excellent . Where they dropped the ball, however was the food. We started with the crab-stuffed zucchini flower appetizer. It was indeed stuffed with crab, but the breading both in and around the zucchini flower overwhelmed every other flavor. I then moved on to the osso buco with risotto. The risotto was both dry and bland. The osso buco was well cooked and tender, but it too lacked a depth of flavor I was expecting. A disappointment, overall. read more

We came here based on positive reviews on Yelp, Google, and Open Table to celebrate milestone birthdays for 4 of the 7 folks in the group (75, 70, and two at 65). We were underwhelmed and disappointed, especially with the food. - Food: The highest marks for any dish might be 3 stars. Appetizers: The crab cocktail and the soft shell crab were bland, the stuffed zucchini blossoms tasted mostly of bread crumbs and were unattractive, and the raw oysters were served with an unfamiliar mignonette sauce that seemed to be olive oil. Entrees: The traditional pastas were overcooked and mushy, the duck breasts were under-seasoned and lacking the cherry sauce garnish, the scallops (only 4 per dish) were served with a brown sauce too heavy for this shellfish, the roasted gnocchi with vegetables was well-seasoned but the gnocchi themselves were like quenelles of mashed potatoes so mushy as well and not toothsome at all. Desserts: the biscotti tasted store-bought (like Stella Doro) but the crème anglaise was tasty, the cookies of the ice cream sandwich were huge and overwhelmed the taste of the dessert, the strawberry tiramisu was just okay. Apparently the coffee was excellent. So were the cranberry nut rolls and the breadsticks. - Service was fair. They did accommodate our request for separate checks for each couple and the one single. Absolutely no acknowledgment by the staff of this special evening even though the reservationists had included a note in their system. - Ambiance: The leaves of our table didn't open properly, as if the table was in poor condition, so that 2 of our guests had to push their plates several inches towards the center to prevent them from sliding onto their laps. Despite ample space between the tables, the place got very noisy. None of us felt a return visit would be worthwhile. read more

I've read some of the negative reviews and was mind-blown. This is my favorite restaurant in NJ: first you notice the ambiance. The candlelight on the tables & the lake outside is just beautiful. Next is the service: the waitstaff is amazing and attentive. They bring out a bread basket with mixed types of bread/breadsticks and butter, olives and oil to dip and it is all delicious! The cajun calamari appetizer is to die for, it is so tasty and flavorful. I usually get the garganelli pasta main course and it's so good that I never get anything else (truth be told, I put a few pieces of the calamari in it as well)! My husband loves the chicken milanese & chicken giambotta, both are good portions and he always takes home leftovers. The desserts are always beautifully presented, and taste delicious if you're not too full! The only negative is that it's forced-valet, when the parking lot is small. I really wouldn't mind walking a few steps to get my car myself. What I've noticed is that Water & Wine has remained consistent throughout the years, never skimping on the quality of the food, even during/after Covid. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but it's a nice treat with your partner or friends, and they've done a good job at not upping the prices too much. read more

Food was quite good and the service was stiff, but phenomenally efficient and attentive. Really nice place for a more old-school, traditional fine dining experience. I enjoyed a whole branzino grilled and served with olives, capers and vegetables perfectly cooked. Wine selection was excellent. Coffee was very smooth and actually served in a decent sized cup. read more

Hit or miss. Inconsistent. On a Tuesday I had a frozen red snapper. On a Thursday-weekend it's more fresh and not frozen. Avoid the halibut - texture was dry. Ordered Black Sea bass and it tasted fishy. Half of it. This was on a Saturday. Other days not fishy. read more

Water & Wine - Beef rib Pappardelle with Braised Short Rib - Italian Near Me - Watchung, New Jersey

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Special place for special times. Attentive staff. Delicious food and drinks 10/10. Beautiful setting on the lake. read more

Nice location, nice table service although too many people for a table, taking dishes away, refilling water etc. After all some of them were wearing stained aprons at 4 pm. As for food steak was overdone, other person got pasta only, while it was supposed to be short ribs with pasta, they quickly returned it back to the kitchen and sent back cut up steak on top of pasta. Ridiculous overall overpriced and overhyped read more

Ambiance is beautiful, on the water. Service is extremely well. Been here twice and got the same entree, it was better the first time but I still enjoyed it. The second time the potatoes were not cooked fully. Oysters were amazing. They only offer valet.. read more

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Took my husband there for Father's Day along with my daughter for her birthday. Our first time there and we were impressed. The food was amazing and the drinks were perfect. I'm sure they have mixologists vs. a bartender. Our server was very professional and friendly. I would highly recommend this place for a nice dinner or just stop by for a cocktail at the bar. read more

I want to love this place, but other than the view and it's location, there isn't much to love about it. Mandatory valet parking is a bit obnoxious considering they have a huge lot attached to the restaurant. The restaurant itself is very outdated and old inside. The rooms especially in the heat of summer has a very unsettling odor, not sure how that's acceptable. The food, so so. My swordfish entrée was fishy and under seasoned. The calamari although on the sweeter side was very good. The octopus was so so and the steak entrée my fiancé got was nothing to rave home about for the price. This location has so much potential but sadly lacks in decor and flavor. read more

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