We had our 2nd visit to Bona Vita just last night for dinner. This is a cute little BYOB restaurant and I remember our first visit fondly. Our dinner last night was just as memorable but for different reasons.
Let me start off by saying our waitress was wonderful and service was good. We ordered the Arrancini appetizer and I was disappointed that the risotto was undercooked and a bit hard. For dinner, I ordered the Riviera and absolutely loved it! The tomato risotto was perfectly cooked and chicken was delicious. My boyfriend ordered the Swordfish and it was also delicious. For dessert, I order the coconut cream pie and I have to say, it was THE BEST COCONUT CREAM PIE I have ever had. I cannot wait to have another piece!
The one negative I have to point out, even though I hate to, is that at one point during the night, I saw a small mouse scampering across the floor. ENOUGH SAID!
Decent place. Food was un-even. Loved the eggplant saltimboca appy, didn't care for the fried calamari appy, a tad bland. Entree, veal was very good, risotto it came with.. Undercooked, a bit hard. Service was Excellent. Price is reasonable. I would go back and try other dishes. I can see the potential for a great meal.
Review Source:Bona Vita - your coconut cream pie is the lightest, fluffiest, best ever that I've had and I cannot wait until we meet again.
Food here is ok. I've tried the gnocchi and lobster ravioli. While they were ok, I wasn't wowed. For their prices, the servings are on the smaller side (not such a bad thing, but considering the quantity you get at other places, it's underwhelming).
I was more impressed with the dessert. YUM.
We went to Bona Vita with a group from work after a meeting. Â Unfortunately they do not have a liquor license and we were not aware before we got there being from out of town. Â The gentlemen working was super nice and arranged for a near by liquor store to run a couple of bottles of wine down for us. Â The food was just ok. Â We ordered the artichokes, the mussels and the portabello for appetizers. Â The portabello was so sweet, not good. Â The artichokes were pretty good but very small serving. Â I don't eat seafood so can't comment on the mussels but they didn't get all eaten so how could they have been? Â
For dinner I chose the bufala ravioli. Â It was pretty good. Â The arugula pesto was a little more bitter than I've had before but it was a solid effort. Â For dessert I had the coconut cream pie and I was so excited to see it on the menu but again it was just ok. Â
There is so much better Italian in Jersey.
We've been going to Bona Vita for about two and half years and every time we go I keep saying I have to put a review out here. Â Well, I'm finally doing it. Â This place is a gem. It has it all. Â Great ambiance, friendly, professional wait staff, and an outstanding menu. Â
The minute you walk in the door the warm, inviting colors, lighting and furnishings greet you.  The liberal  use of earth tones, well positioned mirrors (they are hung well above the line of sight so you aren't looking at yourself or others during dinner) and comfortable seating only serve to enhance the dining experience.  If Rocco is at the door he will instantly make you feel welcome.
The wait staff is knowledgeable, friendly and most have been there for quite some time which says a lot about the way a restaurant is run. Â Like any successful enterprise, if the staff sticks around, management must be doing something right.
The menu changes seasonally and although not expansive it has an excellent selection of appetizers, salads, pasta, meat, fish and desserts and the portions are generous. Â I recommend the meatball or calamari appetizers but they are all good. Â I had the gnocchi entree for the first time and I am hooked. Â As has been written here many times, Adele's coconut creme pie is legendary. Â If you don't have room after finishing dinner, ask to take a piece home.
Exceptional, accommodating, exquisite, friendly...what are those? Those are terms to describe BVO. Not only is their food a home run but they will provide you with great service. I chose this place for a team dinner after eating at their sister restaurant (Pizza Vita). When you walk in you will notice the assuring decor and will be greeted by the very friendly owner/host. He will make sure your experience is a pleasurable one. Once seated, they took our alcohol (it's a BYOB) and set it up so we had easy access to it. Prior to everyone arriving a fellow manager and I noshed on some calamari balsamico which was out of this world...the calamari melted in our mouth's...I then proceeded to order an exorbitant amount of apps to accommodate the crew. Their La Tavola was a hit with the table. It's a combination of cured meats, cheese and bread (along with tasty tomato, olives and a mozzarella ball stuffed with ricotta). 1 is enough to feed about 3-4 normal people or just my buddy and I. I made the mistake of loading up on the apps. Not because they weren't good (quite the opposite, they were fantastic) but because I could not finish my main course. I went with the special (veal with spinach and potato's w/a unique sauce). It was phenomenal but I couldn't muster the last couple of bites (I needed to have a little space for the dessert :-)). I did sample other people's dishes. All just as good. The tortelonni stuffed with pumpkin isn't my forte but good nonetheless. The risotto with shrimp and a kick of lemon zest was very good. Their bread which I think I ate about 2 loves of was great as well. So after 2 courses of abundant, delicious food we could not pass up the dessert. Before I talk about the dessert I must add the service was top notch. They constantly filled the water glasses (without being asked which is so important), they filled our glasses with wine quickly if we were running low and anything we needed we were attended to quickly and with a smile. The waiter we had was very friendly and attentive. All while the owner was coming over and asking how everything was several times. You can tell they care here.
Now to the desserts. Not being able to make up my mind I ordered three different ones to be shared by a couple of us. The Coconut Cream Pie was so goooood. Shavings of coconut, coconut cream filling and so light you feel as though you didn't gorge yourself (but in actuality you did). Their melted cheesecake was so good it should be illegal. Their lemon tart was so tart it made me wince...and I love lemon filling so I was in heaven.
So, this place gets 5 stars on everything. Service, ambiance, food (all courses) and prices. So go out of your way to go here, you will not be disappointed. I assure you that.
If you forget to pick up booze, there is a liquor store within walking distance. Parking is on the st but behind the building there is a hidden parking deck...shhhh.
I recommend making reservations. The place does get busy and they do everything they can to make sure your experience is a good one. So what are you waiting for, go!
ENJOY! =)
Summit needs another Italian restaurant like it needs another real estate agent, but this one isn't bad. The food is good and the desserts are memorable, but we're just trying too too hard here. Relax, my meal doesn't need 12 ingredients with a reduced this and a glazed that--just some fresh ingredients cooked honestly and we'll all get along fine. Try the gnocchi, but don't leave without eating all of the desserts.
Review Source:Had lunch here last week and the food was uneven. Â The balsamic calamari was a greasy mess, despite being lauded by the waiter, but the bean and escarole soup was delicious. Â The bolognese tagliatelle was terrific but the ravoli with ricotta and lemon sauce was far too rich and too cheesy which made for only a few bites.
The odd thing was the staff acted angry when we arrived. Â No one else was there but they seemed put out when we asked to be seated. Â No one else came during our lunch and the ravioli was left largely uneaten but no comment from the staff as to why. Â No bread was offered.
The quality is good in the culinary desert known as Summit but order carefully here. Â Two dishes were great, two were at best mediocre.
Generally a good spot, although my favorite dish without fail is the gnocchi. Â Big, fat, succulent chunks and delicious no matter how you pair. Â Unfortunately they are so good I've never ordered anything else and am oblivious to service decor and all else. Â I just go there to bathe in gnocchi ecstasy. Â If they don't have it I don't eat there. Â This rating, therefore is ONLY for the gnocchi.
Review Source:We had a wonderful meal here of chicken scallopini, scallops, farmers salad, and a pasta dish called Ragu. The pasta was made on premises in a truffle sauce. It was delicious. The setting is casual, the service was very attentive, pleasant and prompt.  This place can  be noisy, but that's also part of the charm. We have eaten here several times, and we have always been pleased.  It is a BYOB which always gets two thumbs up in my book. I recommend going here for a good dining experience in a relaxed environment.
Review Source:I had the pizza and it was delicious. I recommend this place for a nice dinner party because it's not the type of place that you would go to for a casual lunch. Overall, the food and service was really good and it's a bit pricy but going there every once in a while makes it delicious and something to look forward to.
Review Source:Great food, service, and decor!  This place deserves your business.  Prep properly if going for dinner by having a very light light lunch because you will want both the app and the dessert!  It is all great food!  I ran out of wine and the manager showed me through the kitchen for a short cut to the  wine store and left the door kitchen door open so that I could get back in.
Review Source:I was somewhat conflicted as to whether to give this place three stars or four....
Stopped in with my girlfriend several days ago. There was one other couple there having lunch, but they left soon after we arrived, so we essentially had the place to ourselves.
Let's take the food from the top:
We split the Romaine, Crumbled Pancetta, Caesar Dressing, Focaccia & Croutons salad; the waiter was nice enough to bring it on two small plates. The salad was absolutely exquisite. I never realized lettuce can be so crunchy and full of flavor. We thought, "if this is the salad, what's the main course like?"
I had the Rigatoni with Pork Ragu because it sounded absolutely mind-blowing. The sauce easily lived up to this standard, but the pasta was too al dente; it was almost as if the chef had the sauce on and then remembered halfway through that Rigatoni comes with some pasta. I couldn't finish it and took it home, hoping to have it for a late-night snack, but that didn't happen.
My gf had the Chicken, Crisp Pancetta, Red Leaf, Tomato, Balsamic panini and said it was absolutely godly. I had a few bites and can easily second that. Def recommend that sandwich.
I can easily see myself going back, especially with friends or family (not the type to let this sort of potential go because of undercooked pasta) but it seems like the sort of new place that still needs a little time to figure itself out. They're trying to be more progressive than your average "When the moon-a hits your eye..." type of Italian joint, and that's no easy task.
This place seems to be more of a contemporary Italian restaurant in both design and in menu. Â Don't come here if you're looking for a classic chicken parm dish or spaghetti and meatballs - come here to try something a little more original as far as Italian food goes. Â I came here hungry for chicken parmesan, and was disappointed to see that it wasn't on the menu. Â However my disappointment quickly turned to pleasant surprise when the waiter brought out some fresh, moist bread and our appetizer of balsamic glazed calamari. Â This dish was absolutely delicious, and huge! Â Some of the best calamari I've ever had, if not the best. Â My girlfriend got a cavatelli dish that was very good, and I wussed out and got a personal margherita pizza instead of being adventurous. Â It was very thin crust which I like and it was tasty, although I'm sure it's not one of the house specialties. Â The atmosphere was casual but classy, and more social than romantic. Â I'd recommend it to friends.
Review Source:Took friends here for a friendly dinner to catch up. Â As I get older I feel I see people less and less and wanted a location with good food where we can laugh and talk without worry of disturbing other patrons.
We sat in the front window and were greeted with not only amazing food but fabulous service. Â I cannot say enough good things about this place. Â Do not leave without a slice of that coconut pie. Â To. Die. For.
I've been here several times over the last year or so and I've always recieved great service and fantastic food. Â The Chicken Rocco and Osso Bucco are always good, but I would receommend the specials on any night. Â
Unlike another reviewer, the staff has gotten to know us and always takes care of us. Â FYI - it's BYO so remember to grab something before you pop in.
This review is for brunch only. My wife and I were looking for a good local brunch place but unfortunately this wasn't it. I tried the pancakes which were kind of dry and not light and fluffy like I like from a great pancake. My wife had the signature eggs Benedict which was okay but nothing to write home about. Hopefully they improve on their brunch offerings.
Review Source:This Italian restaurant is a breath of fresh air! It offers a very comfortable and heart warming environment, very good and friendly service, but above all great food that actually reminds you of Italy. We had the fried artichokes and calamari balsamico which were very good. Mama's Sunday Ravioli - three meat ravioli with fresh tomato and basil sauce - were a special of the day and simply amazing. Best pasta dish I've had in a long time. Even the broccoli rabe we had as a side dish was cooked and flavored with garlic to perfection. It's a dish I truly love and rarely enjoy at a restaurant. That says something about this place. Turns out the desserts were amazing too. Fresh wholesome creations that were created on the premises (none of that frozen plastic stuff). The apple cinnamon torte and the coconut cream pie were simply to die for. If you haven't been there, please go. I think you will enjoy it.
Review Source:We've eaten in this place many times in the last 2 years. Â You'd think they would know us, but they don't. Â Despite that fact, I still love the place. Â It's almost always loud and busy. Â To me, more of a "go with a group" place than a romantic couple spot. It's BYOB and very reasonably priced. Â
The menu has something for everyone. Start with the calamari. Â It's served with a spicy sauce and is plenty to share. Â I like that you can order lighter dishes (like the artsy pizzas) as an entree. Â That leaves room for great desserts like the coconut cream pie.
A few tips - if you want a cocktail before your Bona Vita dinner or need to wait for your table, go right across the street to Fiorino's.  Very comfortable bar.  Also, there's a  free parking deck right behind Bona Vita.  You have to drive in from around the corner on Springfield Ave (across from Jos Bank clothing store), but you can walk from the back of the deck right to Bona Vita's door. Enjoy!
Great Restaurant for the Price! Â As for the yelper that mentioned bloated after eating the doughy pasta. Â Unfortunately, we American's are use to processed foods. Â The pasta is made fresh so if you eat fast you might feel a little heavy in the belly later. Â Back to the review... my husband & I shared a salad that was large and we each had 2 shrimp among us. Â The shrimp was large and full of flavor and cooked to perfection! Â We each had our own pasta. Â I had the Rosa and he had Clams in a White Linguini sauce. Â It was so fresh and I loved it was a BYO. Â The only thing is the tables are close together and a little noisy but it's just a NYC feel so I can totally deal with that. Â Thank you Bona Vita Osteria for great food and a good price ... this is a hard find in NJ.
Review Source:I was, at first, on very good terms with this restaurant. Our reservation of seven people was well handled and we were seated promptly. Decor is nice, bright, and modern (as opposed to the ridiculously cliche "italian villa" like appearances). Appetizers were ordered and brought out and I was very impressed--fresh mozzarella and tomato dish, a peach-nut fusion salad, everything was very good. I was very excited to try their special, house-made pasta with a meat sauce that sounded like it was to die for.
Service grew a little strange. We noticed people who walked in after us getting served before us. Finally our food came out. Out of the seven of us, three of us (me included) had ordered the homemade pasta special. For the extra time we waited, it was ironic that the pasta was extremely undercooked -- it was doughy, hard to chew, and hard to swallow. I am never one to send a dish back (I may rag about it later on Yelp though), so I worked my way through it, finally stopping before I could finish the rest. The sauce, as predicted, was great. The pasta was terrible.
The dish sounded awesome when described, and we noticed other tables order it, take a bite, and look at it with a puzzled look of "is it supposed to be like this, or is the chef slacking off?" One of the other people at our table who ordered the pasta send it back for a linguini with white clam sauce dish. I sampled this new order and found it was underwhelming as well. It really seemed like the appetizers were the star of the meal.
With a bloated stomach from doughy pasta, and wanting to go home, we all decided we'd give the restaurant a chance on dessert. This wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't a great thing. The "cappucino ice" was my favorite of the ones we ordered, and I recommend it. Being a key lime freak, I ordered the melted key lime cheesecake, which was basically a very thick, cold smoothie of cheesecake and key limes served in a small glass. It was good, but overly sweet and rich, and I could only finish half.
Overall I was not too happy about my experience here, especially cause the wonderful appetizers were so misleading. I suggest that whoever is on appetizers here get out of this restaurant and start their own.
I had a dinner here with friends right after they opened and thought it was ok. Â I've been meaning to get back and give it another try after the kinks got worked out and I'm glad I did. Â Made a reservation on Saturday night for my wife and I. Â We were treated well and the staff was great. Â Dinner was supurb but not over the top volume wise. Â We did leave room for desert and we're glad we did. Â The coconut creme pie was excellent. Â It's nice to have a local place that's so informal and comfortable. Â Other than not accepting AMEX it was perfect. Â We'll be back!
Review Source:Had an early dinner there last night. We were the first there at 5:30. Dinner was excellent. I had one of the specials that was a pasta with calamari and shrimp. Desserts were wonderful, I'd love to find the recipe for the Melted Key Lime Cheesecake. The Coconut Cream Pie was also wonderful. Service was very good. The waiter was quite attentive, water was frequently refilled. I should have read the other reviews before we went as I was disappointed when I ordered a drink and was told that they were a BYOB. Didn't try the salads as the menu says, "eat responsibly, save room for dessert". So that's what we did!! The only small issue was that there were a few flies that just seemed to love our table. You don't really expect to ever see flies in a nice place like this, but they had both "normal" house flies and gnats.
Its a popular place. When we left at about 6:45, the place was almost full.
First off, the food is very good here (especially the desserts), and prices are very reasonable. Â I also appreciate it being BYOB. Â We live in Madison where the owners used to have a place on Main St and enjoyed that establishment a lot.
Maybe our visit last night (July 30 2009) was an anomaly, but I have to give Bona Vita Osteria 3 stars because the service was unacceptably slow. Â There was one server covering our half of the restaurant. Â The place was packed (this was a Thursday night) and we had to wait 15 minutes just for him to take our order. Â Don''t get me wrong: the guy was trying but he was just too harried. Â I noticed other tables around us getting frustrated as well (a lot of hand waving to get his attention).
I used to wait tables for a living, and I know things can happen like staff calling in sick, whatever. Â That said, when it happens, "Management" should step up to the plate and lend a hand taking orders, running credit cards, delivering food, schmoozing customers etc. Â Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Â
We may try it again, but there are so many good Italian restaurants in the area I don't really feel compelled to do so.
This place was a supreme disappointment. Â The whole point of an osteria is that wine is the feature attraction, yet this place doesn't have a liquor license. Â The service was inattentive at its best but mostly non-existent. Â The food was also quite mediocre, particularly for the cost.
Review Source:My husband and I went to Summit with a bottle of great wine in tow, in the event we came upon a BYO venue following an evening meeting last week. Lucky for us, we parked on the street where Bona Vita Osteria is located.
We were professionally, promptly and warmly greeted by Rocco, who I guess is the GM. We remarked to him that so few restauranteurs know how to greet you....warm, inviting, but not overbearing. We had a great meal that was made SPECTACULAR by Rocco who, upon learning that I have celiac disease, offered to make me any pasta dish I wanted with Gluten-Free pasta they keep on hand! I have only ever had this happen in Florence and in Canada....NEVER in the good ole US of A. To say that it was HEAVENLY to have GF pasta, that I could eat, prepared with their vodka sauce....would be an understatement. Such a gracious thing for a restaurant to do. The fig appetizers were earthy and reminiscent of Tuscany, the service was prompt and friendly....the atmosphere was lively. A GREAT NEW FIND FOR US! Thanks, Rocco and best wishes!
What exactly is the matter with you?
If you've bookmarked this place, why haven't you eaten here and written a review? Â If you haven't, then something is really wrong because you're missing one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. Â I bet you don't even know about their new menu (Bona Vita has new menus on a seasonal basis).
All the salads rock, but I'm always going for the Spring Salad (red leaf lettuce, dried cranberries, pecans, goat cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette). Â And if pizza is your thing, you're good here. Â I'm mildly addicted to the Tino - mushrooms, sicilian olives and cherry peppers. Â
Pastas - please for the love of any religious figure order the Funghi - proscuitto di parma and a mushroom ragu with parmesan broth over penne. Â I don't quite know how to explain this. Â It's not particularly mushroomy, it's just awesome.
On the entrees, the Rocco is still on the menu and I still recommend it, simple wood grilled chicken with roasted vegetables in a diavolo sauce. Â The veal saltimbocca is also really good and the grouper is solid if you're going the fish route. Â Can you tell I go here a lot?
And even with all that good food, save some room because there are still the unbelievably amazing desserts. Â We came here for my mom's birthday a couple weeks ago and because we're probably responsible for anywhere from 3-33% of their profits we got a sampler of all the desserts:
Raspberry crostata
Peanut butter and chocolate raviolis
Zeppolis filled with carmalized apples and served with caramel dipping sauce
Ice box cake
and probably more that I can't really think about right now without my pants exploding at the button. Â
I don't think there's a better restaurant in this area for the value. Â Would ya go already? Â BYOB
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