Bites Nearby

Montclair Restaurant Featured on Food Network

Restaurant Stakeout tries to save the reputation of Nauna's Bella Casa.

The Food Network's Restaurant Stakeout episode featuring Nauna's Bella Casa in Montclair debuts Wednesday. According to the reality show's website, the episode is called "When the Cat's Away." Here's the background: "Willie comes to the aid of Tom, proud owner of Nauna's Bella Casa, who's spent the past 24 years building his restaurant into an established Montclair, N.J., eatery. Now, the married 45-year-old owner is looking to take a step back from his demanding business to start a family. Tom's enlisted Willie to help him figure out what his staff is doing when he's not around that's costing him customers, so he can salvage his restaurant's reputation before it's too late." The Nauna's episode will air this week on: What do you think of …

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The Biz Buzz

Chef Gennaro Returns to West Caldwell

Gennaro's Cucina opens on Clinton Road with a familiar face in the kitchen.

It’s July and Gennaro’s Cucina in West Caldwell has already booked a Christmas party. That’s a good sign for a business that opened its doors less than two months ago. Almost everything is new at this pizzeria and restaurant, with one notable exception. Husband and wife owners Tom and Bonnie Graziano are proud to bring Gennaro Romeo back to this location at 40 Clinton Road, where he worked for about a decade when it was home to the popular Italianisimo. The Grazianos say they were matched up with Romeo—who is known for his grandma pizza and signature gravy—through a mutual friend. After searching for the perfect location for more than three years, it was Romeo who suggested going back to the same kitchen in this strip mall after …

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Bites Nearby

Cafe Amici: A Delicious Taste of Italy

Scrumptious food and an enthusiastic staff surely will keep diners coming back.

At first glance, the cavernous interior of Cafe Amici, with its high ceilings, is a bit off-putting as it's so different from the cozy atmosphere of smaller Montclair restaurants, such as Samba or even Osteria Giotto. But the liveliness of the space—despite the bad acoustics—soon wins one over as the crowd and the staff both exude an energy that's contagious. During a visit there on Saturday night with foodie friends Craig and Susan Weeden and Dan and Jackie Scarfo, my husband and I not only enjoyed the atmosphere, but also some scrumptious food that makes Cafe Amici one new restaurant worth checking out. The contemporary, 52-seat dining room has a minimalist flair with walls adorned with faux window boxes designed to make you feel as …

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Who Makes the Best Italian Food in Town?

Is it even possible to choose? The best pasta? The best sauce?

For some folks it's the smell of the fresh-baked Italian bread, the tang of the freshly-grated parmesan cheese, for others it's the perfect al-dente pasta with just enough savory tomato sauce on top. Northern New Jersey is nearly synonymous with Italian food and the "abondanza" we have makes us spoiled. We love our bolognese with tender meat, our pesto with fresh basil and just the right amount of garlic, and our parmigiana sandwiches to be served with the mozzarella cheese still bubbling on top. So it's a tall order to pick the very best Italian food in town. But that's what we're asking you—our Patch readers—to do. Starting this week, we want to know your "Patch Favorites." We want you to vote for your favorite local business, this week …

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New Jersey Monthly: Review of Angeloni's

New Jersey Monthly food critic Rose Saferstein visits Angeloni's in Caldwell.