Tried Cafe Azzurro for the first time. Greeted and seated promptly and even offered a choice of tables. While dim lighting can make for great ambience we felt it was a bit too dark. We noticed several people using light from cell phones to see their menu. While the general wait staff was very attentive our actual waiter barely said a word unless asked a question and not once asked how our food or meal was. Strictly wrote order, ensured glasses were never empty and delivered check. No verbal interaction which my husband and I thrive on at restaurants. Food was very good. Beef carpaccio appetizer was generous and well presented. The beet salad was just enough for an appetizer portion with perfect vinaigrette flavor. Bronzino entree was tender with a kick of hot peppers in the garnish which added a nice flair to what could otherwise be a bland dish. Veal Azzurro also very tasty. Prices are reasonable and BYO a big plus! We would gladly visit again but hope for a different waiter!
Review Source:Our first visit to this busy restaurant on a Friday night. We had a reservation (recommended) and had a request for al fresco when we arrived. The hostess, Rona, was great: very welcoming and accommodated us graciously to an outside table soon after our request.
Very nice ambiance, food was above very good. Wait staff was very attentive, prompt, and pleasant, if only a little hard to understand at times. We had the chicken parm which as excellent, just the right portion with a small side of pasta; and a pasta pomodoro with a very rich red sauce. We had wanted to try the chocolate soufflé for desert, but they did not have it this night. We will plan to be back again.
In the Peapack/Bernardsville/Menham area, there's tons of great restaurants. This isn't one of them. I've driven past this place hundreds of times, seeing nothing but fancy cars packed out front and people looking like they're having the times of their lives.
On Saturday, we decided to give this place a go and called for a reservation. To our surprise, we were able to land one.
We arrived on time, but were told it would be quite some time before the table was open. Surprisingly, another table in a different part of the restaurant opened and we were able to be seated. During the wait, I couldn't help but notice the speed in which bus boys and waiters were moving. It almost made me uncomfortable to watch them literally run from table to table. As we were escorted to our table, a bus boy ran past, bumping into me and never said a word.
Once seated, our waiter arrived instantly and without a welcoming or asking for drinks, he prompted us for our order. "A few minutes, please," was our response, to which he quickly ran to another table.
The waiter did return in a timely manner and took our order. The best part about the experience was that the food came out quickly and it was good.
During our stay, our waiter never returned once to check on us. In fact, the only time he did come back was to place the check on the table. We were never asked if our food was good or if we needed more drinks/anything. After returning with the credit card, our table was being cleared and prepared for the next setting while we were still sitting. I felt extremely rushed.
All in all, the service is what gets this place 1-star. It was rude and unsettling.
A lesson to the owners. Never replace quality with quantity.
This is the third time we have dined at the restaurant. The reservations are honored and the staff is attentive. The day was spectacular and the outside seating comfortable and relaxed. The food was average to poor. The soup was adequate. The veal chop special for $29.95 was dry and appeared to have been either under a heat lamp or cooked earlier in the day and reheated. The stuffed pork chop special for $25.95 was tasteless and undercooked, while the accompanying risotto was good. The filet mignon similarly appeared to have been held under a heat lamp or cooked earlier and reheated,the filet was diner average with three over cooked and dry asparagus and a really small portion for $29.95. The pastas were average for $17.95 and a boring selection. Overall despite the al fresco dining we will not be returning anytime soon.
Review Source:This is consistently one of my favorite local restaurants, but I'm really frustrated by a recent visit. Â Â The food is always great, but reservations are meaningless at this restaurant. Â The last 3 visits we've had to wait any where from 30 minutes to one hour to be seated. Â Last night we were seated after a 30 minute wait and then asked to give up our table because the space was too tight. Â We said the table was fine but they told us that they would not seat anyone at this table. Ten minutes later they reconfigured the space for a larger party. When we confronted the hostess she told us she was just doing what the manager asked her to do. We were seated 10 minutes later. Â No apology from the manager and no offer to comp any part of our meal. Â We told them this was extremely bad form and they didn't seem to care. Â Honestly the food isn't that great to put up with this type of treatment.
Review Source:Just wanted to write an updated review, since I personally don't read reviews that are as old as my original one. Â This place is STILL a favorite of mine. Â Can be very crowded on the weekends, so try to make a reservation. Â You might still need to wait a bit for your table, so be patient, it's worth it! The service, in my opinion, is great. Â They are efficient and keep the courses moving rather quickly, but once your dessert is served, no one will rush you out the door. Â The food has gotten even better since my first review. Â Specials are often the way to go, in my opinion. I love their fish specials particularly. Â Their eggplant parm is to DIE for...thinly sliced and heavenly (not fried!). Â Love their beef carpaccio appy too. Â And they'll do half portions of their pasta as an appetizer, the spaghetti carbonara is a personal favorite. Â I do love this place, and really can't recommend it enough.
Review Source:The owners of the ex-Fratelli's Restaruante in Bridgewater have made a great transition to Cafe Azzurro in Peapack. This is only our second visit over the few years they have been in operation but we have tried at least a few times to get a last minute reservation and were out of luck in the process.
The warmth of service is wonderful and the food is excellent. I had the Spinach Salad to start and a Red Snapper special for the entree. Not having been here but twice (with a long time in between to boot) I wonder if the specials change as much as they did at Fratelli's -- for if they do you will probably never need to order off of the regular menu on any of your visits!
Bottom line -- a great place to try but do make a reservation in advance if at all possible and if the temperature is right eating outside is wonderful as I still remember that from our first visit a couple of years ago.
We went to Cafe Azzurro twice this week -- once in a small group and once with a larger group as a private party. Â Both experiences were very good. Â On Tuesday night, eight of us had the corner table in the front room and we ordered from the menu. Â The rack of lamb was excellent as were the scallops, chicken parm and assorted pasta dishes. Â The portions were ample and the service attentive. Â Mixed reviews on the salmon. Â On Saturday night 16 of us were in the back room. Â They offered a 5 course meal including hot antipasto (fried mozzarella, coconut shrimp and portabello), penne pasta, crispy well-dressed salad (choice of 2), choice of three entrees (chicken, veal or salmon), and creamy tiramisu for dessert. Â All the courses were very good and for only $40 per person! Â Salmon was nice size and well cooked. Â Even though it's BYOB, Azzurro does a nice job with glassware and makes it feel like a special occasion.
Review Source:I just had dinner on a wonderful summer evening outside. The waiters are very attentive. There is a small koi pond and music plays in the background. I thought some tables were a little too close for my comfort level, as I do not like to hear other peoples conversations, but we got a corner table for 2, which worked out nicely.  I like the fact that it is byob. The restauant gives a feeling of being simple, yet upscale, yet casual at the same time. Some people were dressed up, others casual. Business casual is fine here. My friend and I split a calarmari appetizer, which the kitchen divided on 2 plates for us without us asking. Very good start. The  calarmari could have been cooked a tad more, as it just passed the not too rubbery stage. The coating on it was great. My entree was absolutely divine- shataki ravoli, made with a homemade pasta.  My friend had the seafood ravoli, which they enjoyed. We watched other dishes being served and everything looked delicious. The dessert menu looked very nice, each dessert priced at $8.00. We decided to skip dessert here and head down the street to Natirar's Ninety Acres for an after dinner drink, then coffee. My friend had not been to Natirar yet/I have  and wanted to see it, so that's why we finished the evening there. All in all, this was a very nice restaurant. I'm fussy and can see that the owners here are attentive and eager to please.  The prices were in line and I'm looking forward to becoming a regular here. :)
Review Source:A good representation of New Jersey Italian food. The dining room is tightly packed and very noisy. The atmosphere is a stereotypical Italian place (Sinatra? Really? ), like someone trying to do their best idea of what a classy place would be like.
The food was well-prepared, but my wife and I agreed that it was exactly what we'd be served at any of the other similar Italian places in every town in the state. The waitstaff was attentive, but clearly under orders to keep the tables turning over quickly (and as we left, there was a sizable line waiting to be seated).
If you're already in town, it's a safe bet, but not worth traveling for because you'll drive by plenty of places just as good, no matter where you're coming from in NJ.
Cafe Azzurro is one of those locally-known restaurants that never disappoints. Â The food is always fresh and well-prepared. Â The wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable.
My wife is addicted to the Rigatoni, Sausage & Peas. Â The dish is simple but incredibly flavorful. Â Every dish I have ordered was very good. Â And then I have some of my wife's which is even better.
Prices are very reasonable and it is a BYOB place. Â There is a liqour store a few steps away if you need it.
You will always see the same customer faces in Cafe Azzurro. Â I am convinced it is a conspiracy to keep everyone but the locals out. Â And for that I am thankful.
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