When it comes to authentic Italian cuisine, Montclair is certainly not short on options. But few restaurants focus on Northern Italian dishes like Cafe Giotto. The restaurant’s spectacular pasta dishes and homestyle cooking are enough to make it a favorite for locals.
The restaurant focuses on fresh, homemade food and uses quality ingredients. Its menu features a variety of traditional dishes as well as rotating seasonal specials. Chef Luca and his staff take great pride in their work, which is evident in the food they serve to patrons.
The atmosphere at the restaurant is cozy and welcoming. The exposed brick walls, rustic wood details and cozy seating area are reminiscent of the side streets of Italy. The dining room offers a handful of tables inside and a small outdoor seating area. The restaurant is a BYOB so you are welcome to bring your own bottle of wine with you to enjoy with your meal.
Located on 42 Church Street in Montclair, New Jersey, the Café Giotto is the perfect place to stop for lunch or dinner with friends and family. The restaurant’s approachable menu highlights classic dishes, but the true star is the fresh, handmade pasta. The restaurant’s gnocchi with sausage and broccoli rabe and their famous lasagna are dishes you don’t want to miss.
If you’re in the mood for something lighter, you can always order one of their many pasta salads or soups of the day. The Caesar salad is a favorite among customers, while the butternut squash and barley soup is truly unique. For dessert, try the lemon mascarpone mousse or their tiramisu.
When the restaurant first opened, it was known as Osteria Giotto and was run by chefs Robert Pantusa and Luca Valerin. Both now work at the smaller Cafe Giotto on Midland Avenue. Pantusa, a first-generation Italian American raised in Cedar Grove, and Valerin, who hails from Imola, a city in northern Italy, met after each moving to the United States.
They shared a passion for cooking, and the pair opened the original Osteria Giotto in 2003. It quickly became a favorite in Montclair for its simple but flawless Northern Italian cuisine. Osteria closed in 2016 after a 13-year run, but the two have reopened the space under the new name of Cafe Giotto.
While the cafe is much smaller than its predecessor, it’s also packed with just as much charm. The staff at the restaurant are all familiar faces from the old location, and they have brought their enthusiasm and professionalism to the new restaurant. Chef Luiz Santiago, who worked at the previous location of the restaurant, is an invaluable asset, and servers Joanne Berlangieri (who was with Osteria for years) and Marika Autrand are both experienced and friendly.
If you’re looking to send a gift that will be appreciated by a loved one, consider the Cafe Giotto gift card. The gift card can be redeemed at the restaurant, and the recipient will receive a customized greeting from the owner.
