Great place!! Owners are extremely friendly and the food is always on point. Their short ribs are the best I've ever had and their fish specials are extremely fresh.

A great family place, almost hidden but you will be a regular after the first visit. Food, service, hospitality, desserts, coffee, you name it, it's pleasing.
We came fore pizza today but we love the short ribs and the octopus salad...
The place needs a better entrance and need to increase the parking availability.

We ordered for takeout at around 2:30 pm and got the food within 20 minutes which is excellent!
We ordered a large cheese pie, chicken parm, and involtini de pollo with veggies and potatoes.
Everyone loved the food! Fresh and just mouthwatering! Everything was great especially the involtini chicken with sausage dish. I could honestly drink that brandy sauce!!!
I'm so glad we ordered from here because I didn't want it to be just another Italian food order.
Will definitely return to try more dishes because this will be our new favorite place!

Local restaurant. The good part about it is the food. The bad is the wait. Since it's a good restaurant in the center of town it is alway busy. Hard to fault them for being successful but there's a small parking lot and not much room to wait inside if the weather is rough.

My wife and I will frequent this place because of the location and good food. But when it's too busy we have to just keep driving and go to the next place.

Great food! Wonderful wood burning oven! Owners are hands on operators- They've always been great with me! Their bread alone is worth the trip.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dinner at this place. The location doesn't indicate that the interior and the service is so excellent. I had the salmon and it was delicious. Would recommend this place

favorite restaurant!! great quality food and fantastic customer service!! Also, byob is a plus. I have tried probably everything on the menu and loved each one. I genuinely don't believe they have one bad thing on the menu.

Well I need to be honest, I was all set for a disaster but I ended up being totally wrong...

I HATE going out on a holiday. To me you are always rushed, crammed in and stuck with a preset menu with very few choices. But as it was Mother's Day and all my mom wanted to do was go to a dinner here so I had to. I called a few days ago and a gentleman told me that if we there by three I did not need a reservation for three people. I said "even on Mother's Day"? And he said yes. Well today I got a little nervous and called to double check and was told the same thing. I hung up and my phone rang, it was them saying there was a mistake and that they were booked. I was NOT happy and explained what I was told. They put me on hold and came back and said if I came ASAP they would make it a point to get us in. I want happy to rush my 72 year old Mom but hey they were working with me and trying to fix their mistake .

We made it there quickly and as soon as I said my name they apologized again and sat us quickly.

The food was great . We started with shrimp cocktail for my mom and my boyfriend and I had the best beet salad I have ever eaten. Perfection. Our entrees were great as well, although I was correct about the limited choices. But we were all happy with what we had. I also had one of the best cups of coffee I've ever tasted there.

The atmosphere was slightly dated and the prices a bit high for the decor but all in all we had a great meal with decent service and were very happy . My k already asked if we can return for her birthday

My first visit to this delightful restaurant. The food was great, the service excellent and the owner a charming restauranteur.
The Pollo Alla Boscaiola was a delicious chicken like you have never tasted before. Pieces of chicken breasts in a portobello mushroom sauce. Outstanding.
This is a to go restaurant in my book. JM

I absolutely love their food, all of their the chicken dishes are amazing. I love the beef brisket and risotto also. Service is consistent, staff very friendly, you just can't go wrong here.

This is a return visit. Enjoyed our dinner at Cafe L'Amore.

We chose Melanzane (eggplant) alla Parmigiana, thin Fettuccine alle Vongole (fresh clams), and a fish of the day.

Friendly, attentive service. Lots of families dining out on this early Saturday evening. Cafe L'Amore seems to easily accommodated by calling ahead. Good value overall.

Cafe L'Amore is BYOB without corkage fee. Most diners brought wine.

Ongoing Gripe: As someone who avoids valet parking, parking is tight and too small for a restaurant this size.

Came here with a group of co-workers this past weekend and we all had a wonderful experience.
It is a small restaurant/pizzeria so I highly suggest making a reservation if you plan on coming here on a weekend.
Small parking lot, but don't worry! They have a very nice Valet driver that is happy to assist you!
The service was great, I loved how the owner came to the table to introduce himself and check to see if we were enjoying the food.
For appetizers, our table decided to share two orders of Clams Casino and brick oven pizza and both orders were delish (especially the Pizza!)
For an entree, I went with the scallops over spinach fettuccini in a white wine sauce. The portion size was perfect (not too big, not too small) and the scallops were large are fresh. We all also shared a few different desserts which were also a perfect end to a great meal.
It is BYOB and good for groups which helps the cost. For 9 people, shared appetizers, one entree per person and a few desserts, the bill was about $300. I would highly recommend if you are in the area!

There's not much to say, this is hands down the best Italian food in the area, probably NJ. Always a treat to sit down and enjoy a meal at cafe l'amore. The bread and sauce is the best. We usually start with Mozarella en Carozza...My wife usually gets the veal parmigiana and I usually get something off the specials menu...salivating just thinking about it!

Came here with a group of co-workers this past weekend and we all had a wonderful experience.
It is a small restaurant/pizzeria so I highly suggest making a reservation if you plan on coming here on a weekend.
Small parking lot, but don't worry! They have a very nice Valet driver that is happy to assist you!
The service was great, I loved how the owner came to the table to introduce himself and check to see if we were enjoying the food.
For appetizers, our table decided to share two orders of Clams Casino and brick oven pizza and both orders were delish (especially the Pizza!)
For an entree, I went with the scallops over spinach fettuccini in a white wine sauce. The portion size was perfect (not too big, not too small) and the scallops were large are fresh. We all also shared a few different desserts which were also a perfect end to a great meal.
It is BYOB and good for groups. I would highly recommend if you are in the area!

Best pizza in the area. Smothered with cheese and pepperoni...yum yum. Cafe L'Amore gets 5 well-deserved stars. Will be making a return visit soon for my next pizza fix. :-)

Great as always. Chicken parm is the best. Pizza is great in the wood burning oven. Very crowded, make a reservation if you can. Best bread while you wait.

Best Italian food in the area. Everything is fresh and prepared to order. If you want something done differently they will recommend and offer anything you might like. Each time we dine here it's like going to an Italian relatives home. Thanks to Nancy our server we learn something new about Italian tradition and food prep whenever we are fortunate enough to have conversation. We love Cafe L'Amore!

My husband and two small children were traveling from NYC to Hamburg, NY and hit a lot of traffic. We had two hungry kids that were sick of being in the car. We pulled off the highway and stumbled on this place. The pizza was delicious and the staff was great. Luckily we were there before the dinner rush, so the place wasn't crowded and we didn't disturb anyone's lovely dinner. My husband and I both said we would have to go back. Highly recommend.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!

My boyfriend bought me to Cafe L'Amore for a dinner date and i honestly fell in love.

First of all this place is BYOB, they have free valet parking and their food is to die for. We order the clams for an app and they were delicious! I had the Filet of sole prepared francese for dinner and that was also something I will for sure be coming back to order. The entire feel in the restaurant is truly authentic and homey. I have already recommended to all my friends!

We have been customers of Cafe L'Amore for over 20 years and have always enjoyed the cuisine and service at this Italian restaurant. We are discerning foodies who appreciate excellent quality food and friendly service. Michael and Mark and all the staff there always make us feel welcome and make sure we enjoy our dinners.
Some of our favorite dishes include - short ribs and mushroom risotto, any of the fish entrees. At the end of the meal, we love to have the light
lemoncello cake for dessert and the coffee and cappuccino is delicious.
Every time we go here we enjoy our dinner- superb choice- highly recommend this restaurant!

I have been going to Cafe L'Amore since it opened, and I love the owners, staff, and food. My daughter lives for the pizza! I usually opt for any fish/seafood specials. And the portions are very generous. The dining area is a little noisy, so not ideal for a romantic dinner - however, everyone else will be happy with the quality of the food and the happy atmosphere.

Better yet: order and have it delivered. Great food in your own home, lovingly prepared.

Ordered take out today and had the Pollo Alla Boscaiola - Amazing flavors! WOW! This dish had many flavors hitting the palate and the right amount of brandy cream sauce! I would order this again and again! Thank you Chef for the wonderful dish!

GREAT place!! classic Italian food done the right way! I always order a Selvatica pizza and I have yet to be disappointed. Flavors are amazing and the food is always fresh! Maybe one day i'll venture out and try a different pizza from here but it's hard to try something new when you have one that's so delicious!! Just writing this is giving me a CL pizza craving. 10/10 recommend!!

This is one of my favorite italian restaurants in NJ. Low key, casual and delicious. Everything I've had here is wonderful but one of my favorites is their Pasta Amore - creamy but light, flavorful yet delicate. And let's not forget that they make some of the best cannoli's for miles. Enjoy...

Delicious meal. Pasta was real perfectly cooked. Appetizers tasty. Every dish came out hot.

I visited family in this area for a week and liked this place so much we ate here twice. The veal parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, veal saltimbocca, sole francaise and linguine with white clam sauce were the entrees were had and all were amazing quality and generous portions. For appetizers the fried mozzarella. mussels, grilled octopus and the specialty bread were also perfect. A nice dessert tray and cappuccino finished the meal perfectly.

Oh my. SERIOUSLY delicious pizza. High quality ingredients make the difference!! Charming owner. Eat HERE!!!

The food was delicious!

Should be six Star’s place is magnificent food and service to die for

This is the best place ever. The food is amazing and the owners make You Feel so welcomed and part of the family. There is not a better place around.

We had a bridal shower today at cafe l'amore and the food and the service was amazing. I highly recommend them for any occasion

This place is awesome! Mark and the staff are super sweet. They did my uncles Repass. They accommodate an extra 10 people without any hesitation. As you know when your facing such a hard time like this any help, especially one with a smile is greatly appreciate.Let me not forget the food is AMAZING! I will be coming back soon to have a nice dinner with my family to this lovely establishment.

We have a bridal shower today at cafe l'amore and the food and the service was amazing. I highly recommend them for any occasion

I first found this amazing restaurant about a year ago, I was in the area on a mini getaway and Cafe L'Amore was recommended by my Airbnb Host. I can't tell you how happy I am I listened to his recommendation. The bread is incredible, crusty and delicious on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside. I had a shrimp dish off of the specials menu and it was by far the most spectacular dinner I have ever had. So delicious that on my way to a recent getaway I went out of my way to stop in and treat myself to another outstanding dinner at Cafe L'Amore. I had contacted the restaurant on Facebook messenger to see if I could get a similar meal and they responded in no time that they would be delighted. That warmed my heart even more. When I arrived the owner, Mark came out to meet me and promised me a delicious meal. He wasn't lying. Usually in life when you have high expectations you get let down. Well not at Cafe L'Amore!! My meal was absolutely divine. Words can barely express how amazing all the flavors were. Not to mention the staff, you won't find a nicer staff. My waitress was there any time I needed her, which wasn't often because she made sure I had everything I needed. I can't wait to come back to Cafe L'Amore and enjoy the atmosphere and the amazing, delicious food. It's worth noting I'm not the only person willing to traverse the Garden State to eat here, while I was there a gentleman was telling me he knows people that travel from Toms River and Cherry Hill to eat at Cafe L'Amore. Treat yourself, go to Cafe L'Amore, you will not regret it at all. The food is beyond words and the staff is downright doting. You do not get service like that anymore.

I've been to this establishment MANY times. The food is superb. The prices are reasonable. The service is top-notch. Make sure to end your mean with a cappuccino - the best in all of Bergen County!

Tonight we tried something other than pizza and it did not disappoint!

Love it! The food is delicious!! I will always come back for a good meal at Cafe la More.

My family and I go to this restaurant often. It's close by and the food is not only excellent but it is reasonably priced. The wait staff is friendly and very professional. My favorite dish is the Capellini L'Amore topped off with a tartufo for dessert - can't beat it!

This weekend we hosted a party for seven at our home. Each of us ordered a different takeout entree from Cafe L'Amore. What a pleasant experience! The food was just a good as it is in the restaurant (which is great) except we missed the pleasant attentiveness of the staff. We recommend Cafe L'Amore to all our friends for wonderful Italian food.

Perhaps one of the best Italian restaurant in New Jersey, this phenomenal spot never fails to deliver. Always have a great experience and am always greeted with big smiles from the owners! You'll never be disappointed with lunch or dinner from here!

I've been coming to this restaurant since it opened almost 24 years ago. Their Italian specialties are delicious, carefully prepared, and reasonably priced. Their menu is diverse, and they can modify their preparation to accommodate any dietary requirements. They also have an excellent selection of wood-burning brick oven pizzas and freshly baked breads.
The earth tone dining room offers a friendly, intimate atmosphere for dining, as romantic Italian music plays softly in the background. A great BYO restaurant, serving great food, at a great price, made by great people who care. The food is consistently delicious, and the service is great!

Why haven't I found this place sooner? Not sure but glad I have! We attended for a Wayne Valley sports dinner and loved the family style party arrangement. All the food, from the appetizers to the main courses to the desserts were excellent. Service was great, food was delicious and plentiful. Friendly, family owned business that will make you feel like family. BYO if you want to bring your own wine, beer or cocktails. Give it a try, you won't regret it.

Had a great experience at Cafe L'Amore. I've been spoiled lately exploring the best restaurants in Astoria but I'm still always on the lookout for some quality brick oven pizza in Jersey. Our party tried a variety of different pasta and pizza dishes off the menu and everything was delicious. Most of all everything presented smelled amazing and tasted really fresh. Because of that and them being BYOB, they deserve the 5 stars!

Came here again on Valentine's Day. The place was absolutely amazing! Ordered the Seafood Crape. The Crab meat, sea scallops and shrimp were all cooked to perfection! They had live music through out the night and to add on, the owners gave my valentine date a beautiful Rose to make it the most incredible and memorable meal ever! Best Italian restaurant in the area!

Excellent, wonderful, delicious, exactly where it is at.

This place deserves six stars !

Come and have a good time with your family. You will come back time and again.

Simply the best food for miles ! They are consistent on quality and service. They use quality ingredients. The owner is always there making sure he's running a good ship. I have always had an excellent experience whether I eat in or take out.

Nice restaurant great food. Our first time there and it was delicious. Salmon was tasty and clams and pasta great too. Our server was nice di dnt rush us at all. It was very nice when owners came around to tables to say hello. Next time we will try the pizza. Parking is valet only di dnt know that until we got there. Definitely will go back.

Great local restaurant. I have eaten here maybe a dozen times but get their brick oven pizza to go often. Get the picante pie, very tasty and the thin crust is perfect. The entree's are always fresh and well presented. The staff is professional and friendly, some have been there for many years. BYOB so you don't get hit with $8 - $10 drinks. Overall you won't be disappointed.

Have been going to this restaurant for almost 25 years. Food is always Delicious. The service is and has always been great. Mark and Michael make you feel so welcome each and every time. Highly recommend Cafe L’Amore.

Excellent food and nice quiet atmosphere!! A ten!!

We come here often for a nice Italian meal. Food is very good, bring your own wine which I love! Service is always excellent. Menu is a little more contemporary , you won't find spaghetti and meatballs or manicotti. They have valet parking almost every day because parking is a real bear. You enter into a wood burning pizza delivery space and then into a lovely dining room with soft Italian opera in the background.

WOW! is the only word I have.... this was amazing! It was really authentic Italian. Our table got a handful of dishes rigatoni vodka, penne vodka bake (was phenomenal, probably the best i've ever had), short ribs were money, and then we got a few pizzas. The pizzas were really good. I am in love. I am so happy I can easily get take out from here too.

Other notes - Service was really really friendly. Restaurant was clean.

We've been going to Cafe L'Amore for over 10 years now. Michael and Mark have a way of making everyone feel like family when dining at this staple in the Franklin Lakes/Oakland area. Always great selections of fish and speciality Italian dishes. Great atmosphere and friendly staff.

We had dinner at Cafe L'Amore on Valentine's Day last year. The food was very good but the music was superb. A man played the piano and sang beautifully. We are going again on NYE this year, for the music and the food.

We dined at Cafe L'Amore with 2 other couples on the recommendation of my brother-in-law who goes there frequently. Everyone in our party was satisfied with their choices. Speaking for myself, I chose the Gamberi a Piacere Parmigiano (Shrimp Parmesan). The shrimp were jumbo, as promised with a generous portion of shrimp accompanied by an equally generous portion of penne. The sauce was delicious and all the food came out piping hot. My husband had Vitelli alla Parmigiana with angel hair. He said it was very good. The others in the party shared a Margherita pizza as an appetizer. It was reported to be very good. The server was very attentive and professional. We were not rushed. There is no liquor at this restaurant, but feel free to bring your own. There were a few people picking up pizza, to go. I have no hesitation in recommending Cafe L'Amore for a pleasant dining experience.

Three of us had lunch here Tuesday. It was a wonderful experience. Don't let the strip mall deceive you, this is a great restaurant.
The interior is very nicely done with white tablecloths and white cloth napkins. The low background noise level allows you to hold a conversation with your table mates and hear and be heard.
The service we had was super.
Most important of all, the Chicken Francaise I had was superb and the penne was al dente with good sauce. My mates were very happy with their meals also.
I'm Italian and grew up in New York City so don't take this review lightly. Cafe L'Amore is a great find.

Delicious food at reasonable prices. Crowded on weekends.

What a wonderful restaurant. The owners Michael and Mark come out and greet you and also walk thru the restaurant and say hello and check on how we liked the food. You feel treated like family and the waiter and waitresses are very pleasant and helpful. Nancy is great and will come up and say hello and ask about your family every time. She is a great person to get to know. All the employees I know have been there since we have been going for over 10 years now. Even one of the bus boys have been there that long.
Food is always fabulous and we never had a bad experience. Food has always been exceptional. We have even thrown small parties, christenings, confirmation party and birthday parties at Cafe and the food and service was great.
Will always return and highly recommend this restaurant for you and your family. You will enjoy it and please review them.

11.12.17 Here again and the food and service is delicious. Nothing but rave reviews for the owners Mark and Michael and the staff who run a top notch restaurant.

Best food around. Friendly owner and every dish is a different delight!

Delicious!!! We will be back for sure ! Our waitress was an absolute doll and made us feel at home ?

Stopped here by chance last week, driving to New Jersey. Food was great, would definitely recommend. Beyond the food, the owner was extremely hospitable, which made the experience all that better.

My husband, Sal and I started coming here over 20 years ago. For many of those years, while the kids were young, this is how we enjoyed our Friday night "date" night! ( It's a BYOB!) The owners, Mark and Mike, are hospitable and friendly. The wait staff has been there forever...Nancy, Laura & Terry remember our names and always take great care of us and, we've been there for date nights, girl's nights out and large celebrations. But the best part? The FOOD! Chef Mark and crew always deliver consistent, amazing meals. We highly recommend you give them a try!

I really enjoyed the food.the service was very good.

GPS accidentally took us here and we couldn't have been happier. The food was incredible! Pasta with red clam sauce and farfalle pasta in Alfredo sauce. Best I've ever had!

I've been here many times and the food is always wonderful.

I chose cafe l'amore because it my dads favorite restaurant! My dad is 98 and they couldn't be more accommodating with him and his wheelchair we use to scuffle him about. The valet met us and helped me
With the wheelchair and kept the spot open right in front of the restaurant. The food was delicious and reasonable. I kept saying why don't we come here more often! They greeting him respectfully and sat us most comfortably. I give this place a 5 star all the way around. Worthy of my patronage!

I want to Thank Michael and Mark for doing an awesome job in selecting the menu for my boyfriends 50th Birthday celebration at Cafe L'Amore. It was EXCELLENT. Everyone was super pleased with the food, the service. I love recommending this place to friends and people on Facebook because I LOVE the food and Michael and Mark are the BEST!! My neighbor just went there for the first time after I told him about it and loved the food and how personable you are. Thank you!! if I could give you more than 5 stars I would!!! See you soon!! Linda & Donald.
It's BYOB which I love too. Since restaurants normally don't have moscato that I love. So it's great that I can bring my wine and enjoy a lovely dinner either just the two of us or for a family gathering. If you haven't tried- please do.

We have been going to this neighborhood restaurant for years and it never disappoints.Not fancy, just very good.Expansive menu and every dish is plentiful and delicious.
Even the staff is wonderful..most of them have been there for years.And, the owners are even nicer.A warm hello, a hug and a huge smile whenever you see them.A family restaurant that makes you feel like family.

Love this food so good! Worth the price! Parking is tight but they deliver..amazing pizza go check it out!

we've been going here for over 20 years and will continue for the next 20! Their pizza is always out of this world and the food is consistent and excellent, whether its eating there or having them cater a party! Chicken franchese is tender and juicy. you can cut it with a fork! Last but not least is the great staff that's been there for a long time!
Hats off to Mike and Mark, the owners!

Everything is delicious, people are very friendly, they recently added a life size staue or Terry the long time waiter by the front door.

Best Italian food I have ever had and consistently tasty brick oven pizza!

Been going for a few months and have been satisfied every time.

Nicely accommodated our group of 9 with only 10 minutes notice on a Saturday night. Excellent friendly service all night.

BYO - bring your own wine. Server uncorked our wine and correctly returned the corks.

Food was very good. Stuffed Rigatoni was excellent. The pizza with the broccoli was very good.

Liked the pitchers of water placed on the table.

The free parking in front of the restaurant can be tricky. Ask the staff if you don't know where to park or if you need help.

It's a lovely restaurant located near beautiful area of ring wood. Serving delicious food! Had gone there on a date and it was just perfect!

My boyfriend and I had the best experience at Cafe L'Amore. It was an unexpected trip to this cute cozy restaurant. The owner, Mark was very polite and served us a beautiful pizza right before the place closed! Would 100% Recommend!!

This place got excellent food. I had the homemade parpadelle with lobster which was exceptional. Definitely be coming back here.

We have estimated we have eaten here 100 times in the past 8 years.
The food is outstanding and the service is always good also.
The prices are reasonable and we always come home with food.
We are avid restaurant goers and this one is a couple of levels above the typical North Jersey BYOB.

I love this place! BEST stuffed artichoke around! Great vodka sauce, not all vodka sauce is created equal. Yum wood oven pizzas. After hearing about it in passing, I now order about 1-2 times a week. It is reasonable and quality. The owners greet everyone with the warmest hello and remember everything that makes you happy down to the type of bread you like on the side. It feels like you walked into your own family's kitchen around the holidays but without the family quarrels lol. Time and time again they continue to amaze. If I don't stop in and pick up personally, they send a hello back to me with whomever picked up. How thoughtful.

Went here for a birthday dinner with the family. The parking situation is pretty tough as they are on a small lot and there are a few other businesses next door - but they have a guy there who helped to park the cars and fit them in. The interior is not much to speak of but it was obvious that this place was popular as pretty much every table was filled before 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. The waiters/waitresses were very attentive. The fresh bread was too good not to eat more of. We ordered the Mozzarella Carrozza as an appetizer and the sauce was very good. I ordered the Farfalle Carbonara which was excellent - pasta cooked perfectly and just the right amount of pancetta, egg, cream and onions. Hubby ordered the chicken francese and it was very good - a nice crisp on the outside of the chicken and just the right amount of sauce which often makes it too wet. I would definitely come here again and try some of their other pastas or even their pizza as it looked good!

I give yelpers alot of credit. How did they remember to take pictures of their delicious food. We couldn't wait to eat.

This place is great.
Classic Italian with excellent service.
Hands down best restaurant in Oakland.

Valet parking up front.
Tip when he returns your keys.

Just stop and eat here already!!! The wood-fired pizza is amazing. Bread hot out of the oven. Salad delicious. We were only stopping for lunch on our way home from New England, but we ordered take out to have for dinner. The owner and our waiter were super helpful--sending us out the door with a big bag of ice to keep our food cold. YUM. YUM. YUM. Real. Food.

I really love the food and staff. The ambience is perfect. Loved the cheesecake. A very enjoyable experience.

My wife and I love it here. We always get a stuffed artichoke. My favorite entree is the Veal Parm. The BYOB and fresh baked bread are the key elements of this place. The owner is very friendly.

I went to Cafe L'Amore for dinner yesterday with my husband. We like to go here every once in awhile for authentic and flavorful Italian food. The ambiance of this restaurant is not super fancy, but has an old school Italian flair.

After having to valet the car, we waited for awhile despite there being some empty tables. This would be my only gripe. Once we were seated with a glass of our own Bring Your Own Wine in hand, they served us soft warm bread. I always ask for olive oil for dipping versus butter, and they're more than willing to give it.

Next, we ordered a margherita pizza to start. We had never tried their pizza before, and I have to say we were not disappointed. For those who like more Italian style pizza (such as what they would serve in Italy), this was on point. The pizza was bigger than a personal pan pie, but not as large as your typical American pizzeria pie. It was thin crust, had excellent tomato sauce, perfect mozzarella cheese, and was topped with fresh basil. I would go back just to have this for dinner. We planned to just try it and take the rest home, but we enjoyed it so much we ate the entire pie.

For our dinner entrees, my husband had chicken parmesan and I had rigatoni vodka with chicken added to it. My husband's chicken parmesan was huge. Their marinara sauce is always excellent, and has the perfect amount of sauce and mozzarella. He picked angel hair to go along with it, but customers can pick any type of pasta to pair with this dish. My rigatoni vodka was also perfect. I tend to like vodka sauces that are not too red (then it's too marinara-ish, so what is the point of vodka sauce?) nor too white (then it's overly creamy). In fact, I like vodka sauces that are a little more orange and have just the right amount of each. Cafe L'Amore has figured it out. In addition, the icing on the cake is that they actually asked me if I wanted mine spicy. No Italian restaurant has EVER asked me if I want a little kick to my vodka sauce. YES PLEASE! It was just a mild kick, but it added so much flavor. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who wants a good vodka sauce. To top it off, we both had plenty of leftovers to take home.

Last, we shared their cannoli for dessert. It is a very large cannoli - perfect for two people who just want to have a taste. The cream filling is delicious and has chocolate chips. The shell has the perfect crispiness to finish it off. The entire dinner cost us $70 after tip, so excellent value, considering we ordered quite a bit, everything tasted great, and we had leftovers. Their service is also great. Overall, the ideal Italian restaurant foodie experience.

This is best place you can get a stuffed artichoke in the whole damn state! It's huge and filled with garlicky cheesy goodness. The owners know us know now due to our frequent returns- and we have tried almost everything on the menu! Definitely in my top five best Italian restaurants in NJ!

One of favorite places in the world...no joke. The food is amazing (I can't get enough of the chicken l'amore), the staff treat you like family, and even though I live far away now, I look forward to when I have the opportunity to visit! If they ever decide to retire, I will cry :(

Dined here 2xs so far both times all food and service was excellent. 1st time we came with a party of 14 everyone meals from one to the next was so delicious. The owner is very friendly each time we have came in he has made a complementary appetizer 1s time was one of his specialty pizzas that was out of this world. 2nd time we got a large flat bread that we used to dip in the delicious sauce from there clams appetizers. This is a hidden gem and we are so glad we found it. Can't wait to come back.

I am not really big on pizza but this pizza I had here was really good. When and if I get pizza craving, I know where to get one.

Unassuming location but good and service are outstanding. Pricing was reasonable for the quality of good and service you get.

Great pizza, and great staff. Looking forward to going back to try more than pizza.

Excellent food! It reminds me of the authentic NYC Italian restaurants of the 80's. This is definitely among the best Italian food that I've had in NJ (very few in that category). The saltimbocco is real deal. The veal piccata excellent. The tomato sauce is made from scratch and you can tell. The decor might be outdated but I could care less so long as they keep serving phenomenal dishes. If you want real Italian food then this is the place.

We do take out at least 2 times a month. The bread alone is worth coming in for!

Pizza, pasta, and cannolis's are great!

I've been going here with my family for almost 20 years and the food is nothing short of spectacular. The calamari is unlike any other; they've perfected it. It's not greasy, it's crunchy, it's what I use to compare every other calamari I've ever had. Hint: I've never had a calamari dish better than here in my life. I've also never had a bad dish here. Any review I've seen was from someone unsatisfied with their service, which is a shame because this place meets my expectations for everything.

Absolutely incredible place to go eat! Highly recommended. The food is incredibly tasty, genuine Italian food!! The owners, and everyone who works there, always make you feel comfortable and treat you as if you're family! Definitely an incredible spot to go eat for any meal.

Desperate to avoid eating highway food, we took a random exit with the hopes of finding something better than a fast food place. And boy did we. We found Cafe L'Amore that is not only charming but serves wonderful Italian food, competitive with our best restaurants in Philadelphia, which has become a mecca for fine food.

it was the best place on OAKLAND! great food and service thanks from Bodnar auction staff

The grilled chicken is phenomenal

Michael and Mark are in a class by themselves. By far the greatest food I have eaten.

Cafe L'Amore never disappoints. This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in Northern New Jersey. The owners are warm and friendly, and the food is always excellent. Some of my favorites are the fried calamari - so light and delicious, and the Veal Saltimboco - my favorite anywhere. The restaurant offers a comfortable dining room that is ideal for any occasion, but is also fantastic for take out. I really love the fresh bread that is always a compliment to any meal.

This is my favorite restaurant!!! Food is outstanding, service is excellent and it's BYOB !!!! I ordered their veal forestera it was to
die for, also the best stuffed artichoke I ever had..
Nedy
P.S. Mike & Mark (owners) they are the best, love these guys..

Wonderful ,classic dishes, great service, wonderful menu. Truly a local gem. Carry out, brick oven pizza and beautiful sit down menu. I'd give this a try asap!

This is now my favorite restaurant!!! Food is outstanding. BYOB !!!! I ordered their veal forestera it was to die for, also the best stuffed artichoke I ever had Nedy

This the absolute best place to go to for dinner that I know. I am a skeptic when it comes to trying new dishes but never here anything I have tried has been delicious. Service is great also they never rush you out. If you like fried calamari they have the best i have had every time and i have had calamari from all over the area. You can also ask to have a certain dish the way you like it as long as all the components are on the menu.

By far our favorite Italian restaurant! My family lived in Oakland for many years and for the past 8 years we have lived in Maryland. We still try to get back there once or twice a year for their delicious food!

Love Caf L'Amore - Michael and Mark are the owners and super nice.. greet you like family.. waiters and waitresses are very pleasant and nice.. great food.. BYOB - walking distance love it there.. if you haven't tried them - I'd recommend you going. :)

The food is excellent and service is great!! The owners greet you and welcome you as you walk in. The food is consistently delicious no matter what you order. Dining room is small but has a very cozy feel to it.

For Oakland this is one of the classiest pizza places I've ever been to. The owners are so nice, they will come out of the kitchen to your table and ask you how your food was. You don't see that very often. It definitely shows when you love what you do!

One of my favorite Italian Restaurants around the area. Their chicken is always so fresh and the appetizers are always great. I have been coming here with my family and friends since I was younger. Felt like my first Yelp review needed to be this place!

This is my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere! The food is absolutely amazing every time we come. My family and I have been coming here for over 10 years. I love coming to visit Nancy and the rest of the servers. They are so wonderful! I've never left without wanting to tell everyone how amazing the food is. And it's the best pizza anywhere, I wish I lived closer and could get pizza from here more often! Perfection!

Also, just had a party here for my cousins communion! Even as a buffet, the food was amazing! And they brought out appetizers for the tables and they were absolutely amazing! Nothing beats this place ever!

Amazing food, service, ambiance, can't rave enough. Everything is wonderful, and every time I have gone the experience has been the same or better.

Love this place. Love the owners !!!!! Very friendly and the food is amazing. I've been dining here for many years and will continue to do so. The oven brick pizza is to die for.

Best Italian place in the area. I used to go to Ramapo College and passed this place all the time. I decided to give it a try and boy am I happy to have done that. Their chicken parm is DELICIOUS. Their menu is huge so I will be going back to try other dishes. Really awesome place.

I've been a long time customer & have consistently received delicious food with great, friendly service! My pizza last night was cooked to perfection with light crust, just the way we love it. So good that I was back tonight for lemon shrimp franchise with fusilli and a crisp house salad, so delicious! Oven fresh bread topped our meal. Always great food from one of our favorite restaurants.

ITALIAN DONE RIGHT!!! A small charming hidden gem. BYOB and delivery service to WAYNE . Chicken parm seems like a basic no-brainer dish, but many have failed to meet expectation. Cafe L'Amore's chicken parm is off the chart! Prepared and Cooked to perfection. Penne vodka with peas and baked mozzarella..you won't be sorry. Proportions are oversized and very generous. My ONLY gripe is my order requests have arrived incomplete several times (no extra side of sauce, missing peas, received spaghetti instead of angel hair). Overall, an Italian lovers dining must.

I was looking for dinner and decided to try. Staff was friendly and food was delicious. I will definitely be back.

Cafe Lamore consistently provides well prepared, flavorful entrees. One of my favorites is their lobster ravioli. The scallops, shrimp, lobster tail and ravioli's are settled in a really tasty sauce. The fish entrees are typically fresh and well prepared with flavorful matching sauces. The restaurant provides a nice atmosphere (BYOB) and works well for take out too.

I love Cafe La'more! I've been going there for years growing up in Oakland, NJ. We moved out of town and still drive up to Oakland often to eat here. I have a huge family and we are all regulars. The owners are amazing people and know how to make you feel welcomed and at home. They will even customize dishes to your liking or due to allergy restrictions. Delicious food, wonderful people, and great service!

Tha most Delicious food I have seen

My favorite Italian restaurant in the area. Veal Parm is to die for! My family and I have been going there for years. Great BYOB. Take out is as good as eating in and love their homemade fresh bread.

My new fav! Consistently good food, even when I keep trying new things on the menu. The busier the place is, the better. Super-fresh bread, piping hot entrees, and most importantly, great taste! The best red sauce in the area... Very small dining area, but it has a great cozy feeling. Parking is a mess, but it's always valet.

PROS
great food
huge menu
friendly owners

CONS
parking

I discovered my new favorite place, cafe l'amore is great for every night dinner. BYOB I love taking my own wine.

We have been coming to Cafe L'Amore since they opened many years ago. The owners Michael and Mark are great as is the rest of the staff. The food is always excellent. My son often orders food from Cafe L'Amore when having family and friends over. Cafe L'Amore is like coming home. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We've been here 3 times in the last month and have been very pleased. And yes, everyone is correct when they tell you.....order the stuffed artichoke! We went as a party of 6 Saturday night and the service was good, the food was delicious, and no one was disappointed. A great find in NJ....not too many of those in this area.

Great local Italian. Calamari and chicken parmigiana are my go to.

We love Cafe L'amore. Mark and Michael are great hosts and Nancy, our favorite waitress has become a personal friend. The food is high quality, consistent with delicious specials that might keep you from ordering their most delicious chicken Parmesan. Great for a Saturday night dinner with friends or a family gathering on Sunday . It is the #1 pick for our friend who is a Nationally known chef, with every visit. We go mostly during the week when the place is bustling but the wait time is short.

This cafe is pretty deceiving from the outside- it's just a red awning next to a bunch of other small stores on the side of the road. But the portions are generous and the food is pretty good for this part of NJ. I split a pizza (the one with pepperoni, eggplant, pesto, and some other stuff I can't remember) and eggplant parm with a friend, and we were stuffed well before we ran out of food. I was actually most impressed with the bread. It tasted fresh, and the sesame seeds generously sprinkled on top were amazing. I would say that the bread and the cute family-style atmosphere from the wait staff are what make this restaurant stand out.

Dee-Lish-Us!!!! Went out to celebrate a birthday with friends on Monday night. Our friends are regulars here but we aren't - YET. I ordered cold seafood salad- the dressing was heavenly, the seafood tender and sweet. Everyone raved about their personal dinners (short ribs, stuffed flounder and some shrimp special with lots of seafood and a light plum tomato sauce...looked amazing.). Will definitely be coming back!!

This restaurant is awesome. We have been coming here for a while and we have never been disappointed

This is my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere! The food is absolutely amazing every time we come. My family and I have been coming here for over 10 years. I love coming to visit Nancy and the rest of the servers. They are so wonderful! I've never left without wanting to tell everyone how amazing the food is. And it's the best pizza anywhere, I wish I lived closer and could get pizza from here more often! Perfection!

Great food. Loved the stuffed artichoke special. Everything is good. Nice service too!

What a wonderful restaurant. The owners Michael and Mark come out and greet you and also walk thru the restaurant and say hello and check on how we liked the food. You feel treated like family and the waiter and waitresses are very pleasant and helpful. Nancy is great and will come up and say hello and ask about your family every time. She is a great person to get to know. All the employees I know have been there since we have been going for over 10 years now. Even one of the bus boys have been there that long.
Food is always fabulous and we never had a bad experience. Food has always been exceptional. We have even thrown small parties, christenings, confirmation party and birthday parties at Cafe and the food and service was great.
Will always return and highly recommend this restaurant for you and your family. You will enjoy it and please review them.

Looking for a great place to have a party, Caf L'Amore is the best place around. I had my mother's 80th Birthday there and it couldn't have been a better experience. From planning the menu, with Mark the owner. To the actual party itself, 29 people all raved about the delicious food, the variety, presentation and the service. Mark was more than accommodating with special menu requests , and he came around and made sure all the guests were happy. It was a great personal touch. I could not have been happier with the outcome.

Amazing

Love it here. Michael and Marc are great all the waiting staff is polite and attentive. Come here all the time and the food is always amazing. Never had a bad plate.

Went here with family for my birthday last night and it was a nice, quite, delicious, little spot! I haven't been here for quite a while but my parents come here alot. First off their freshly made bread is addictive! I didn't ask if it was sourdough or not but I think it was, regardless it comes out hot and soft and delicious. I ended up getting a house salad with house dressing and it was very good as well. I kinda regret getting that salad bc my main entree was huge and just unbelievably delectable! I went with a farfalle carbornara with grilled chicken on top and it was amazing!  Big pieces of pancetta and a light creamy sauce, it was so delicious. I am actually eating the leftovers right now...My dad swears they have the best chicken francaise around and literally scarfed it down in like 3 minutes flat! My boyfriend who eats chicken parm in every Italian resteraunt we go to said his was great and the portion was quite large too! My mom had the shrimp scampi and said it was very good, the portion could have been a little larger though. My daughter ate pasta with marinara sauce and the chicken fingers. She seemed to love the food bc she ate a lot!  Another plus is that they are a BYOB, so we had some wine for my birthday. It was a pleasant experience to say the least! The one thing I wasn't happy about though was that they wouldn't let us eat the birthday cake my parents brought for me... But other then that we will be back! We even for pizza to go and all had a slice a few hours later even though we were stuffed to the gills already lolol...

very nice place. give them a break... maybe the parking is difficult. but you go for the food. The food is very good...

The name Café L’amore , meaning restaurant of Love defines the restaurant perfectly. One bite, of this food will take you back to all the memories you wish to revisit. The memories of families sitting beside each other sharing the love and happiness in the dining room, two young couples sharing exquisite Italian food as they reminisce about their life together, and the taste of a home cooked, amazing, mouth warming Italian food. Food that can bring you to Italy and back. When I say that there is no food like Café L’amore, I am serious. Because I would not eat for days just to eat there again. The atmosphere, family-like, calming, happy, warming, and loving. When I was eating that delicious food everything was zoned out and I felt love again. I felt love around me and cared for. Granted you all maybe complaining about the parking, but you always have to go through an obstacle to feel as cared for as you do in Café L’amore. They have Valet parking if needed and the service is great. I now know why customers are willing to wait and why this restaurant is spoken highly of. There’s no restaurant like Café L’amore. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that wishes to taste great food.

Looking for a great place to have a party, Café L'Amore is the best place around. I had my mother's 80th Birthday there and it couldn't have been a better experience. From planning the menu, with Mark the owner. To the actual party itself, 29 people all raved about the delicious food, the variety, presentation and the service. Mark was more than accommodating with special menu requests , and he came around and made sure all the guests were happy. It was a great personal touch. I could not have been happier with the outcome.

Great Italian Food
Owners are always at the door to greet you with a smile! Great Italian food too.

great local resturant
Owners friendly, food great, never rushed, a wonderful local resturant. I have never had a bad meal and always left totally satisfied. Try the crabcake app.

Worth the wait !
There is always a wait at this restaurant...BUT if you want some of the best Italian food in NJ, this is your spot ! The owner is far from the friendliest in the world but the service is pretty good and the food out of this world.. The food will have you coming back over & over again......

Excellent food, cozy atmosphere
Always a great meal, never disappointed. Great bread, great calamari. My husband loves the shrimp parmigiana. Parking a nuisance, they accomodate with valet. This is our favorite place in town, highly recommend!

Great food!
Favorite restaurant in town.

Best in Northern NJ
Best little Italian restaurant in Northern NJ. Love the specialty pizza and the Salada del Mar is my husband's favorite. When we don't feel like going out, we order take out and bring it home, it's always hot and delicious!

Love this place. Odd location, however, beautifully designed and family friendly. Close to my house and it's a nice little get away for a Friday night.

Everything I had was delicious. I tried the soft shell crab and sampled my wife's gnocchi. Also had a slice of the cheesecake which was really good. Parking was not great but valet helped out.

I'm embarrassed that it took me this long to write a review... I've been ordering their Pizza and hand-made gourmet pasta since July 20th, 1994 (date we moved into town) on an almost weekly...

We don't eat much pizza since changing our diet to gluten free.  Most of the pizzas made with gluten free dough were always bland and the crust was dried out and hard.
But, Mark and Mike recently changed their gluten free pizza dough, and the crust is now very tasty and has the texture and look of regular pizza.  This is the best gluten free pie in the area, and a great alternative for us.
Thanks!

Always amazing food and service.

I've been coming here for 5 years and am always happy! Great community feel to the restaurant.

Looking for a great place to have a party, Café L'Amore is the best place around. I had my mother's 80th Birthday there and it couldn't have been a better experience. From planning the menu, with Mark the owner. To the actual party itself, 29 people all raved about the delicious food, the variety, presentation and the service. Mark was more than accommodating with special menu requests , and he came around and made sure all the guests were happy. It was a great personal touch. I could not have been happier with the outcome. • • • Looking for a great place to have a party, Café L'Amore is the best place around. I had my mother's 80th Birthday there and it couldn't have been a better experience. From planning the menu, with Mark the owner. To the actual party itself, 29 people all raved about the delicious food, the variety, presentation and the service. Mark was more than accommodating with special menu requests , and he came around and made sure all the guests were happy. It was a great personal touch. I could not have been happier with the outcome. • • •

Great food, The chef came to our table to let us know about the specials, we went with the specials and it was amazing. We love the BYOB I can have great wine with great food without breaking the bank.

I'm embarrassed that it took me this long to write a review... I've been ordering their Pizza and hand-made gourmet pasta since July 20th, 1994 (date we moved into town) on an almost weekly basis... I've NEVER been disappointed. They make the absolute BEST pizza that rivals some of NYCs finest Pizza joints! Their Pasta dishes use the finest and freshest ingredients... I could go on... Thank you Cafe L'Amore for never compromising value and staying true all these years! You've been consistently wonderful!

Exceptional BYOB.  A family favorite since 1997. A must visit when family come in from out of town. Wife also dines there for girls night out. Friendly and super accomodating owners, and a staff that has become dear friends. Never had a bad meal there or experience. Specils are always different, great fish and meat prepared to your specifications. Was once a secret, but their great food and service has madeit a well populated spot. For those that have trouble parking, use the valet and help a kid out with a tip. We usually go later on Fridays or Saturdays, around 8:30, the wait is shorter, and we always seem to be the last to leave because it's such a comfortable surrounding and people.

Stopped by on a Saturday night.  Got in just before the dinner crowd hit!  Food was above average.  Appetizers arrived quickly and were tatsy (calamri and mussels).  Took a long time for dinner to arrive.  Was not in a rush, so no big deal, but was longer then what is conisdered normal (especially with a line waiting for our table).  Great value for the price.  Will be back!  Oh, on the bad side, parking is horrible!

We love this place! The dishes are always great, and if you like pizza you must try it! The service is good (not too fast. And not too slow). Can't beat the prices and the fact that it's a byob saves a bunch on wine.

My parents threw an open house after Christmas without knowing exactly how many guests would be coming. They ordered several large chafing dishes of entrees from Cafe L'Amore, which were delivered exactly on time. Two people arrived with the food: a server and the manager (I think). They were cordial, polite, and extra extra helpful. They even took a trip back to the restaurant and returned with large chafing dishes that they set up for us!  Fantastic service for a small catering order. (The food was good too.) Best of all, the kitchen accommodated special dietary needs in one of their signature dishes by preparing it without flour, making it gluten free. Would use them for any parties from now on.

We recently had a private party catered by Cafe L'Amore and loved the food, as always but the amazing service really added to our experience.
When the food was delivered, they saw that we didn't have the setup for chafing dishes that we needed so offered to go back to the restaurant and bring back what we needed. It was very thoughtful and more than we'd ever expect.
And the food...Being from an Italian family who normally cooks, we are pretty tough to please. The food is delicious and the bread will be all you think about for days.
Thanks for the great addition to our party!

Café L'Amore is consistently good. Its our favorite local Italian restaurant. You can't go wrong with any of the entrees. And my favorite appetizer is the string bean salad. Yum! Only downside is often a long wait if you want delivery. So we usually pickup or eat in. Great food! Byob!

Great food .. I probably get take out 2x a week from here.  Never had a bad meal.

Great atmosphere, incredible food and owners and staff are really friendly.
This place is a most go visit the food is unreal and there pizza is cooked in a brick oven. Best pizza ever, they also do take out and delivery which is amazing considering how good the food is. I recommend everyone to try this restaurant out its amazing.

In a little town that somehow supports more than a half-dozen pizza/Italian restaurants, you need to stand out. Cafe L'Amore offers consistent high quality meals, brick oven pizza that is second to none, a great atmosphere, fair prices, and BYOB. Yes, the limited parking requires some patience but the meal is definitely worth it. The food is always fresh and is some of the best Italian I've eaten.

In a little town that somehow supports more than a half-dozen pizza/Italian restaurants, you need to stand out. Cafe L'Amore offers consistent high quality meals, brick oven pizza that is second...

Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in North Jersey...and we're damn picky....AND we always get GREAT SERVICE here. Maybe you can chalk it up to good karma. Ha ha!

The name Café L’amore , meaning restaurant of Love defines the restaurant perfectly. One bite, of this food will take you back to all the memories you wish to revisit. The memories of families sitting beside each other sharing the love and happiness in the dining room, two young couples sharing exquisite Italian food as they reminisce about their life together, and the taste of a home cooked, amazing, mouth warming Italian food. Food that can bring you to Italy and back. When I say that there is no food like Café L’amore, I am serious. Because I would not eat for days just to eat there again. The atmosphere, family-like, calming, happy, warming, and loving. When I was eating that delicious food everything was zoned out and I felt love again. I felt love around me and cared for. Granted you all maybe complaining about the parking, but you always have to go through an obstacle to feel as cared for as you do in Café L’amore. They have Valet parking if needed and the service is great. I now know why customers are willing to wait and why this restaurant is spoken highly of. There’s no restaurant like Café L’amore. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that wishes to taste great food. • • • The name Café L’amore , meaning restaurant of Love defines the restaurant perfectly. One bite, of this food will take you back to all the memories you wish to revisit. The memories of families sitting beside each other sharing the love and happiness in the dining room, two young couples sharing exquisite Italian food as they reminisce about their life together, and the taste of a home cooked, amazing, mouth warming Italian food. Food that can bring you to Italy and back. When I say that there is no food like Café L’amore, I am serious. Because I would not eat for days just to eat there again. The atmosphere, family-like, calming, happy, warming, and loving. When I was eating that delicious food everything was zoned out and I felt love again. I felt love around me and cared for. Granted you all maybe complaining about the parking, but you always have to go through an obstacle to feel as cared for as you do in Café L’amore. They have Valet parking if needed and the service is great. I now know why customers are willing to wait and why this restaurant is spoken highly of. There’s no restaurant like Café L’amore. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that wishes to taste great food. • • •

Always great food.........always a wait because there is no italian restaurant as good for miles around. You have to go to Manhattan for anything as good and pay twice the price. Ps the owners are not Italian.....go figure! Theygive the warmest reception to their regulars.

I am a lover of fine foods, especially italian.  As such, I have frequented quite a selection of restaurants in the area and happen to think this is by far the best.  The staff and proprietors are courteous and friendly.  The ambiance is charming and the food is to die for.  It is a great dining experience!!!

Let me just say that I've only been to Café' L'amore' four times, and every time I dine there, the bar gets raised higher and higher... I can't say enough about how pleasant the experience has been to both, my wife and I, and in some occasions some invited guests of ours.
In our last visit, we invited my wife's cousin and his wife for his birthday and everything we ordered from the menu (with no exception) exceeded our expectations... from the Calamari alla Toscan, Zuppe di Vongole to the Veal Sorrentino and the Chicken alla Parmigiana... We were overwhelmed by the great taste of some fine authentic Italian food!

My wife and I are looking forward to our next visit to Café' L'amore' which I think it will be very soon!!

Always happy when I walked out of this restaurant because of their tasty food.  After having Per Se, Le Bernadin,  Bouley, Babbo, Mesa Grill and many other top rated restaurants in the world, I am still happy with their food.

I moved from Oakland over ten years ago, and currently live in East Hanover which has a multitude of Italian restaurants.  However, I haven't found one I enjoy as much as Café L'Amoré.  I stopped back in for an early dinner when I was back in the area a few days ago.  I was greeted and remembered by the staff and owner.  I had a amazing meal and brought home enough leftovers for two more!  Yes, the parking can be challenging but in every other respect this place is a GEM.  I will always stop in for a meal when I am up that way

Fabulous atmosphere and delicious food especially the wood fired pizzas. The vodka sauce was incredible and don't skip the cheesecake!

I have been to Cafe L'amore approximately 50 times in my lifetime and ordered pizza from them another 50ish times. Their food is made Italian but with a different sort of homemade twist that makes everything uniquely delicious. I recommend their pizza offerings, their veal w/ salad, and their chicken bosciola.

Owners friendly, food great, never rushed, a wonderful local resturant. I have never had a bad meal and always left totally satisfied. Try the crabcake app.
Owners friendly, food great, never rushed, a wonderful local resturant. I have never had a bad meal and always left totally satisfied. Try the crabcake app.

There is always a wait at this restaurant...BUT if you want some of the best Italian food in NJ, this is your spot ! The owner is far from the friendliest in the world but the service is pretty good and the food out of this world.. The food will have you coming back over & over again......
There is always a wait at this restaurant...BUT if you want some of the best Italian food in NJ, this is your spot ! The owner is far from the friendliest in the world but the service is pretty good and the food out of this world.. The food will have you coming back over & over again......

Always a great meal, never disappointed. Great bread, great calamari. My husband loves the shrimp parmigiana. Parking a nuisance, they accomodate with valet. This is our favorite place in town, highly recommend!
Always a great meal, never disappointed. Great bread, great calamari. My husband loves the shrimp parmigiana. Parking a nuisance, they accomodate with valet. This is our favorite place in town, highly recommend!

Favorite restaurant in town.
Favorite restaurant in town.

Best little Italian restaurant in Northern NJ. Love the specialty pizza and the Salada del Mar is my husband's favorite. When we don't feel like going out, we order take out and bring it home, it's always hot and delicious!
Best little Italian restaurant in Northern NJ. Love the specialty pizza and the Salada del Mar is my husband's favorite. When we don't feel like going out, we order take out and bring it home, it's always hot and delicious!

Great little place – I have been going to Cafe L'Amore with my family for almost 10 years now. It is a very small little place, but the food is great! BYOB is a plus. Dessert menu is great too!

The name Café L’amore , meaning restaurant of Love defines the restaurant perfectly. One bite, of this food will take you back to all the memories you wish to revisit. The memories of families sitting beside each other sharing the love and happiness in the dining room, two young couples sharing exquisite Italian food as they reminisce about their life together, and the taste of a home cooked, amazing, mouth warming Italian food. Food that can bring you to Italy and back. When I say that there is no food like Café L’amore, I am serious. Because I would not eat for days just to eat there again. The atmosphere, family-like, calming, happy, warming, and loving. When I was eating that delicious food everything was zoned out and I felt love again. I felt love around me and cared for. Granted you all maybe complaining about the parking, but you always have to go through an obstacle to feel as cared for as you do in Café L’amore. They have Valet parking if needed and the service is great. I now know why customers are willing to wait and why this restaurant is spoken highly of. There’s no restaurant like Café L’amore. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that wishes to taste great food. • • • The name Café L’amore , meaning restaurant of Love defines the restaurant perfectly. One bite, of this food will take you back to all the memories you wish to revisit. The memories of families sitting beside each other sharing the love and happiness in the dining room, two young couples sharing exquisite Italian food as they reminisce about their life together, and the taste of a home cooked, amazing, mouth warming Italian food. Food that can bring you to Italy and back. When I say that there is no food like Café L’amore, I am serious. Because I would not eat for days just to eat there again. The atmosphere, family-like, calming, happy, warming, and loving. When I was eating that delicious food everything was zoned out and I felt love again. I felt love around me and cared for. Granted you all maybe complaining about the parking, but you always have to go through an obstacle to feel as cared for as you do in Café L’amore. They have Valet parking if needed and the service is great. I now know why customers are willing to wait and why this restaurant is spoken highly of. There’s no restaurant like Café L’amore. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that wishes to taste great food. • • •
Liked: Food

This is a grest byo... and close ti home

I have friends that go to this place for years and they got us hooked on . very good food if you know anything about food.......and don't worry about the parking there is always somebody to help you.

Food was very good, but the parking was a parking fiasco!!!!! My Friends car got hit and the driver took off!!! There is not enough parking for this restaurant!!!! Why Cafe L'Armore doesn't move out of that space and into Cooper Tree Mall is beyond me. The restaurant has such a good following, everyone will go with them and would very much appreciate the move!!

I found this restaurant just by pulling off the freeway one day on my way home from Canada and tried out there polenta and broccoli rabe. I must say the food is absolutely fantastic! I will be back again! Highly recommended!

I eat here anywhere from 2-5 times per month. Eat in or take out it's always good. BYOB with valet parking. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu This place cannot be beat for great food and value...

We frequently eat here as it is in town and the food is always delicious and the owners friendly.  We stopped in for a quick bite after a long day at work and had a great fresh tri-color salad and thin crust pizza.  Everything is always fresh, well prepared and well seasoned.

It always amazes me when people begin their reviews with, "I've been here 'X' times and usually everything is excellent, but this time....." And then rate the place with 1 Star.  I don't know about you but if a place doesn't have a decent star rating when I'm restaurant hunting, I'm not likely to read through the reviews unless I know the name or I believe it has a different reputation.

I think I see that unfortunate pattern happening with this place.  Not every meal/experience I've had has been stellar at Cafe L'Amore but more often than not the place is great.  It is one of the very few restaurants I can take my Dad to eat (he is the ultimate critic).  The pizza for take out is great. The tricolor salad is one of my favorites, especially with grilled chicken (I get it for take out often).  The coconut crusted Sea Bass which makes the specials menu from time to time is awesome as well.

To sum things up, I feel this is a great place to eat or take out and if you don't give it a few trys, you'll be missing out.

Pro's - Owners are very friendly and will quickly get to know you and go out of their way to serve you. Food is usually great. Value for regular menu items is outstanding, big portions and very reasonable prices.

Cons - Restaurant and staff can get overwhelmed on busy nights, parking is slim (the valet helps), wait staff can seem unfriendly at first or when overwhelmed, consistency issues.

You could say that my wife and I are regulars here. The half hour trip from Rockland is always worth it. There are too many favorites on the menu to list. The dishes are usually tangy, light and nicely presented. The hot and cold anti-pasta are great. This place is one of the best BYOBs in northern NJ.

Enjoyable atmosphere, incredible food, byob, and super friendly staff!
The restaurant is a hidden gem! I enjoyed the spinach ravioli and those with me tonight had rave reviews of the Cajun mahi, the Cod Tuscany, and some off menu items! The appetizers were amazing...stuffed artichokes and bruschetta that were prepared so well. Desserts that are all from Lotitos and are just as amazing!
The staff is personable and caring. They are attentive overall but could be a little quicker to the initial greeting. I would have given this place another half star if not for the parking situation. They have a valet but since their location is on a major thoroughfare it's not the easiest place to park at.
I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Italian place! My new favorite Italian restaurant!!

Came here on the night of Christmas Eve - they had a limited menu that night, but it still had plenty of options for all four of us (my parents, grandfather, and I). My mother and I shared the stuffed artichoke as an appetizer and that was probably the least impressive thing we ordered that whole night. It was good, but it wasn't as amazing as the waitress made it sound. My dad and grandpa ordered the portobello mushroom for an app, and they both raved about it for days. I had the lobster ravioli and it was delicious!!! Service was great, food was delicious, and we had a great night.
Bring your own booze!!!!
They do have valet parking.

I have been going to Cafe L'Amore with my family for almost 10 years now. It is a very small little place, but the food is great! BYOB is a plus. Dessert menu is great too!

Okay, NOW I get what all the fuss is about.

Every time I pass this place, the parking lot is PACKED so I decided to check out what was so special about Cafe L'Amore. Of course only to find out the answer was EVERYTHING!

I  sat down and ordered my food and within seven minutes it was already steaming hot and in front of me. Not only was the service super speedy, but the food was AMAZING.

The staff  also like to joke with their customers, which I personally love and the setting seems to be a little ironic, which I also love. The restaurant has a french name and serves italian food, but get this...it's run by Egyptians! How funny! All types of cultures coming together to bring us good food. I'm not complaining!

Yum, yum, yum! Spinach roll...mmm...

The sword fish was awesome. The staff was friendly and prompt. Excellent experience overall.

It's the best wood oven pizza in the area so far.. Very friendly staff

Consistently excellent food. Great service and friendly staff. I like everything on the menu and they have good daily specials. Byob so very reasonable.

byob, brick oven pizza and great food what else can you want?

they have awsome brick oven pizza and have pizza special that are great!  the also have great bread...they usually give you two regular bread and then pizza dough bread that is hot and amazing.

We have been going for years and the portions have gotten smaller (example: small peices of mean and less shrimp on the special dishes)  I am ok with this except they have increased their prices.  The have a great spring bean salad with an amzing dressing.... this is also much smaller.  The adverage person wouldnt know but us reguars do.  

Never had a bad meal you will not be disappolinted.

Enjoy

Great food and very attentive staff who are willing to go above and beyond to accommodate their guests. With a very restricted diet, I almost left after salivating over all I couldn't have, but the waitresses, owner and even valet all tried to coax us into staying by offering to custom make any dish to accommodate my limited diet. The outcome was a wonderful brick oven pizza that satisfied my craving while adhering to my restricted diet. Kudos to he whole staff for going above and beyond and making  me a very happy camper! So glad we stayed and I would come back any time I'm in the area!

Owner is a really genuine dedicated chef!   Byob :).  We keep coming back for awesome affordable Italian food.  The cold seafood salad is the best I have had and all the entrees are always good.....great pizza toooo

Top to bottom: Amazing. Delicious. Gourmet. Soooo good. Little pricey but worth the price.