"The terrace was lovely, and the pizza was delicious. Everything was great, and the service was excellent. I will definitely be back!"
When we visited this restaurant on a Monday night just before Christmas, it was absolutely bustling! It didn't take long to understand why: the ambiance was warm and inviting, the decorations were charming, the staff were friendly, and the food was outstanding. Our only issue was the price, which felt a bit steep. We ordered the El Diavolo pizza, and it certainly lived up to its fiery reputation—it was incredibly spicy yet delicious, featuring a crispy crust and gooey mozzarella. The garlic knots were also delightful. We decided to skip the sangrias because our bill was already quite high. I’m looking forward to coming back in the summer to see the outdoor pizza oven in action.
The appetizers are excellent and generous in portion. The service is also very good. The outdoor seating area is delightful, surrounded by trees, flowers, and a lush garden that supplies the kitchen. However, the pizza was disappointing. While the wood-fired oven is beautiful, it operates at around 500°F, which doesn't compare to other ovens that reach 900°F. For these hotter ovens, Caruso 00 flour is typically used, and the cooking technique differs as well. You can see this in places like Fiamma’s in Westfield and Lombardi Pizza Co. in Martinsville.
While I sat there, a man at the next table waved at me and showed me an article on his phone claiming that Ralph had embezzled $10 million and had spent some years in federal prison. Curious, I looked it up online, and to my surprise, it was true.
This could explain the decline in food quality, as the calamari we received was incredibly rubbery. We did send some of the dishes back, but they returned unchanged. I expressed my disappointment to the person in charge, who seemed indifferent to the situation.
Consider this a fair warning!
While the pizza was decent, I expected more. The plain slice featured good cheese with a thin, flavorful base and crust, but it was lacking in sauce. The margherita slice felt over-seasoned to me, which seemed unnecessary if the sauce and fresh basil are of good quality. It almost felt like they were trying to cover up the flavor, which is puzzling because the slice was actually quite good. Perhaps I just visited at an off time. I truly enjoyed the atmosphere, and I think trying a fresh pie might change my overall impression.
Réservez une table maintenant
Wow! This place was a blow. It was fast effective service. The waitress was polite and the employee understanding of a two-year-old. The bathroom had a slight chaos and when I alerted the management, he apologized and let it clean up at a moment. Really outgoing staff. Nice food. The rolls were hot and fresh. I had fatuccine chickens Alfredo and my husband had half a chicken parmesan. Both dishes were worth the price. It was enough for a small army. Delicious. It was so good. Not bad prices for the part. Definitely recommend
We sat outside and were very impressed with the planning that went into the layout and landscaping! They have created a beautiful grotto like atmosphere for the patio. The food was excellent. The service was the only thing that keeps this from a five star review. It wasn't particularly crowded but it took almost ten minutes to get water, bread was delivered after my salad plate was cleared and the server seemed uninterested in checking in with us throughout the meal.
This restaurant was fantastic! The ingredients were top-notch, and the atmosphere—especially on the terrace—was lovely. The staff were incredible as well! I will definitely recommend it to anyone searching for a delicious pizza in New Jersey. Plus, they offer quick delivery.
I’m disappointed to learn that this restaurant has closed. The pizza was excellent, and I had hoped it would survive the challenges posed by COVID. I really dislike what the pandemic has done. I sincerely hope they decide to open a new Stefano's soon.
Réservez une table maintenant
I can't believe they're closing at 9:30 pm on a Saturday! I came here hoping to sit down and enjoy some pizza, but to my surprise, they were only offering takeout and no seating. I was pretty disappointed, so I ended up having to take my meal to go.
The terrace was lovely, and the pizza was delicious. Everything was great, and the service was excellent. I will definitely be back!
