Cafe Vincotto — Restaurant in Berkeley Heights

Where do I start? Being a Foodie - In Feb 2024, I started my vetting and research efforts on my quest to locate a new and perfect restaurant in enough time to celebrate my husband’s milestone birthday in March, since my husband and I are both Foodies. At the top of my very short list, I placed a call which first led to a pleasant conversation with Bona who went the extra mile to accommodate my special plans and provided insights into the best way to ensure seating at Café Vincotto’s signature one of a kind custom wood carved table which is a stunning work of art and craftsmanship at its finest for those who deeply appreciate wood carvings. For an added romantic ambiance and intimate setting, the beautiful wood carved table sits directly in front of the restaurants electric yet rustic fireplace. When I had to change the timing of my original reservation, owner Tony could not have more accommodating. On my husbands’ birthday, Tony warmly greeted us, gave us a tour of his pride and joy and shared so much rich history surrounding his restaurant and all the unique elements he has artistically incorporated into the spaces (including the must see “Living Wall”) which not only personalized our experience but also added a whole new dimension to the amazing culinary experience that awaited my husband and I. My husband and I also had the unique experience of having head Chef Stephen personally come to our table, introduce himself and further explained more about the entrée’s we ordered. We knew from after tasting the fresh dinner rolls accompanied by olive oil infused with rich spices that we were going to be in for a culinary delight and Chef Stephen did not disappoint. The wait staff was very attentive to refreshing our Pelligrino water glasses when they went below a certain level, good beverage etiquette! The quality of ingredients, perfect blend of spices, amount of seasoning, preparation, plating and presentation of the Short Ribs of Beef, herb polenta cake, spinach & arugula, as well as the Salmon Crispy Skin with parsnip puree roasted vegetables and salsa verde were all outstanding and truly pleasing to the palate. Hats off to Chef Stephen! The Ricotta cheesecake and Sundae Baklava were also a treat as it was obvious that Tony does not sacrifice quality ingredients and there was an appreciation for the work involved to make the delicious/delicate Middle Eastern dessert Baklava using his family recipe. The entire staff along with the other dinning guest joined in to sing “Happy Birthday to my husband while being served a slice of Ricotta Cheesecake with a lit candle on top and his reaction said it all! The bathroom not only was immaculate, but also featured a faucet that could be easily mistaken for a piece of art. How well a restaurant’s bathroom is kept speaks volumes about how clean and sanitary the back of the house (kitchen) is maintained and with being a germophobic, Café Vincotto met and exceeded my high sanitary expectations as well. My husband and I were so impressed by the amazing food, personalized experience, and ambiance, that I told my husband that I wanted him to bring me back to Café Vincotto again for my birthday. My husband and I returned again the following month in April for my birthday and just as our first encountered, we were blown away again with all that Café Vincotto’s uniquely offers to its patrons with warmth and hospitality. This time I had the Heritage Pork Loin entrée – cooked and seasoned to perfection and one of the most flavorful and tendered Pork Chops I have ever had in my life. The calamari were very tender and seasoned superbly accompanied by an aged balsamic vinaigrette, cherry peppers lemon and...

We have wanted to try Cafe Vincotto since it opened, but we were caring for my elderly mom and couldn’t get away. Sadly Mom passed away last month, so for the first time in nearly a year, were able to dine out. We knew our first excursion would be to Cafe Vincotto, based on the photos and the reviews, and we made the right decision! We were greeted at the door by Tony, charming, enthusiastic, confident and ready to show off the chef’s skills. He seated us at a lovely table. We looked around as he opened our wine, and the first thing we noticed is that the place is immaculate. Lighting is pleasant, dim, but not too dark. Then we noticed that the tables are spaced well, a nice intimate feel. There are soundproofing panels in the ceiling, so the noise level was low. Nice! The menu selections were all enticing, but the specials….they were really special. I opted for the scallops and hub ordered the bone-in pork chop. WOW! Honestly, these were 2 of the best meals we’ve had in the past 20 years years. My scallops were fresh and perfectly cooked, they melted in my mouth. Hub says it’s the best pork chop he’s ever had, moist, tender and packed with flavor. Absolutely delicious! Service was excellent; attentive without hovering. Everyone was pleasant and eager to please. This was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. We can’t wait to return, and to bring friends. Next time I’m going to save room for desert, the selections sounded fabulous! Thanks to all of the staff at Cafe Vincotto, you made our first night out since my mom’s death a really special,...

From appetizers to desserts, this restaurant exceeded our expectations! My friends and I enjoyed every bite! The fried calamari is a must; I loved the creative twists on this classic dish. I tried the short rib and was blown away. The polenta cake and spinach paired perfectly with the soft, tender short rib and was the perfect portion size! Other meals at the table (because you know I had to taste everything) included the Chicken Milanese topped with salad and burrata cheese—so delicious! Salmon that melted in your mouth and the spaghetti with squid ink was the best I have ever had! I love this restaurant. On to the desserts! The tiramisu was decadent and irresistible- try their twist on this classic desert, you'll be glad you did. We also had the baklava sundae, which was amazing! The pistachio gelato was creamy and oh-so-tasty, and the crushed baklava was crisp and flavorful. I will be back again and again. Not just for the fantastic food - although that would be enough to have me return, but also for the bonus of having two of the finest hosts I have ever met. Tony and his wife are so friendly and welcoming that you feel like you're dining with lifelong friends. I highly recommend it for...