Jessica's Restaurant — Restaurant in Fanwood

Update July 2025: We've been wanting to come to their new location ever since they announced the move. We can confidently say that the food quality is still up there. Service is really good The atmosphere is very upscale! To top it off we actually got to speak with the Chef/Owner and what a great time. It's so awesome when the owners of an establishment are just normal, good human beings and are down to earth.

Original review below: We've been looking for a local Italian restaurant that serves quality dishes. Jessica's Cafe & Restaurant checks that box.

While they do have a parking lot, you should be prepared to potentially park on the street as the lot isn't that large, but the approach out of the parking lot is rather steep, so if you have a sedan, you might scrape, SUVs shouldn't have an issue.

The inside table space is relatively small, so if it is the weekend and the weather is nice you can opt to sit outside. They have a side patio, which is covered and cooled by fans at each end. While we went here on a Tuesday evening in July and it had previously rained which cooled the temperature down to a respectable limit (high 70s).

This is a nice restaurant and it's obvious that they care about the dishes they serve. I really appreciate the fact that the menu is not huge, you can tell that they want to serve the best Italian food. Every dish we had was great

For appetizers we had Spanish Octopus served with Salsa verde, chorizo, roasted potatoes, fennel, orange garnish. We also had the Fried Burrata, which we thought was another way of saying mozzarella sticks, but no, it was actually Burrata cheese lightly breaded and deep fried, served in a bowl with basil pesto and tomato sauce. Both of these were so good that we completely devoured them.

We also had the beet salad served with whipped goat cheese and oranges, sherry vinaigrette, watermelon and arugula. I'm normally not a fan of beets or goat cheese, but JFC this dish was fantastic!!

For our entrees we had the Seafood Spaghetti and Spaghetti Carbonara. Both of these dishes were really good. The staff here were so great and attentive, always refilling our water without asking and making sure everything was to our liking. I believe that we noticed the chef come out and check on one of the larger tables to help carry out food, and that's a good sign that they truly care about what they are serving.

The menu changes seasonally so what you have one night, might not be the same if you go back infrequently, so be prepared for that. Personally, i really appreciate a restaurant/ chef who takes this approach to serving the freshest food which are in season!

Overall I think we spent about $60 per person and that's very reasonable for the quality of food that is served.

Can't wait to...

Best Gourmet Pizza in NJ! This is not your local pizzeria by the slice or where you buy 10 pies for your super bowl party. This is a fine Italian restaurant with a big, city taste in the middle of the burbs. A True GEM. The Pizza are filled with high quality ingredients blended with a savy sauce and the classic pull-melted cheese as you bite into the burnt-aroma slice from the wood-fire flame!!! My favorite Pizza are the hot soppresata and the foie Gras (duck/goose liver) with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. And when I'm not in the mood for Pizza, the entrees are just as elite. The dishes ranges from salmon with black rice and smoke bacon to porterhouse cooked in a red wine mushroom sauce to overnight braised short-ribs. My favorite appetizers are the RiceBalls!, wood-fired meatballs and the shrimp & mushroom crepe. And for the desserts the apricot bread pudding is crack; I crave that alone at least twice a month. Also you can't go wrong with the chocolate molten cake, creme brulee, and banana split with the homemade ice cream. They are All Legit! And sometimes they have tiramasu, ask if they have it. The Chef is a real cool, down to earth guy too. His name is Armen and has this authentic European accent that for some reason made me appreciate the food even more! He walks around to check in on the customers. This is a restaurant that I definitely look forward to at the end of the week, especially after a long week. Moreover, a fine food establishment without having to dress fancy. It's a casual-cozy restaurant but still nice enough to bring a date or your in-laws, especially on nights when they have a violinist. Finally, what sets this place apart and makes it the Best...B! Y! O! B!!!! Win! ...

I recently visited Jessica's Restaurant, for an early Friday evening reservation with my group of four for our monthly night out. While the food was outstanding, the overall experience was a bit mixed due to some ups and downs.

The weather that day was terrible, which caused a few of us to arrive slightly late. Unfortunately, one staff member was quite rude about it, despite circumstances beyond our control (childcare issues, etc.). This initial interaction left a bad taste in my mouth.

Thankfully, our waitress Rosie completely turned things around. She was incredible--kind, friendly, and attentive throughout the evening. Her warm demeanor and excellent service made a world of difference and helped us relax and enjoy the rest of the meal.

We started with the Burrata & Grapefruit Salad to share, which was a delightful blend of fresh, vibrant flavors. For my entrée, I chose the Fettuccini Seafood, which was phenomenal. The seafood was fresh, perfectly cooked, and paired beautifully with the divine pasta. Everyone at the table loved their dishes.

Jessica's is BYOB, but they also offer wine from Old York Cellars, a local vineyard, which is a nice option if you forget to bring your own. One thing to note is that they're very strict about table time limits, as the restaurant gets packed. While this keeps things efficient, it doesn't lend itself to lingering and chatting with friends. I'd recommend planning to head to a nearby bar or cafe after dinner if you're looking to extend the night.

Despite the rocky start, I would return for the amazing food and service from Rosie. Just be prepared for a bustling atmosphere and time limits if you're dining...