Palazzo Pasta Company — Restaurant in Montclair

Will never return, and highly advise any sensible human to avoid this shop like the plague.

Came here twice, once for dinner and about 3 weeks ago for a late lunch. The first visit, I sent my steak (which was billed as prime, but the meat was grainy and tasted metallic) back because I ordered medium and the internal color was grey. Clearly well done. My waiter, a polite gentleman with a beard, offered to take it back as he too saw it was over-cooked. Then I heard a commotion in the kitchen....it was apparent the chef was arguing about the temperature of the steak with the Server. I eventually heard the Server say, "Chef, he thinks it's over cooked, what do you want me to do? Take it back?" At that point I almost got up to ask the chef for the check so I could leave. I was so uncomfortable. Finally, the server emerged and assured us with a smile that Chef is making a new steak and it'll be out in a few. Which it did and it was at least medium, though the flavor was the same....lousy. Think a notch down from a Friday's steak. But I was happy with the service. We paid and left, thanking our still smiling server.

Here is the kicker! I went in for lunch with a friend (HIS CHOICE, NOT MINE) the next week. Towards the end of our meal, I see my previous server show up in street clothes and wait by the host stand. The chef/owner then wraps up a meeting with what I gather was a new hire amd approaches my former server with an envelope and they shake hands. It was obvious that the employee quit or had gotten let go. The employee opens the envelope and immediately says "Chef this is not right. You still owe me HALF my money from last week." After some muffled arguing in the kitchen, I hear the Chef's distinct NY accent snap, "you wanna raise your voice mfer? Why dont you come outside and raise your effing voice with me?" At that point I see the chef storm out with employee undeterred and following close behind....I was stunned.

What happened next was the chef getting nose to nose with his employee and pointing into his face repeatedly saying "hit me....g'head!" The employee merely smirked, did not budge and said, "I dont want to fight you, I just want you to pay me for my work."

The most uncomfortable I have ever felt. Average food, belligerent owner who stiffs his employees....doesnt desereve to stay...

What to say.. Seen food go on the floor. Seen food get put in reused old boxes. Very unsanitary don't eat there and if you have and got sick that night please hit the like button on the bottom thanks. Food quality is sub par Over priced to what they give. First thing you see walking in is the rip in the plastic by the door. What that tells is how they keep the place so what do they do in the back ? Frozen raviolis Dry pasta made early and rinsed off Food delivered in and suv and is not refrigerated Bread crumbs from stale bread that is garbage from calderas Unsanitary food handling practices Food is stored under r2 units that is poison on your food The door cover has a slash in it ( the place looks like it's falling apart ) Seafood not held at 40 degrees when in transport. For years they said they had Berkshire pork chops but restaurant Depot does not carry Berkshire. So I don't know where they got Berkshire but I never saw that there I think they are lying and who would know they mask the flavor to fool you.

The place can't be that good if you put on the tables give us a review on Google (suggesting a positive review) and you might win a free dinner and you can't get people to make reviews. So you need friends, family, and workers make those reviews and you can see for about half a year they only got like six reviews. That says something about the place.

The silverware is on a table Infront of the bathroom. A violation of sanitation laws in new jersey. Reason is when people come back and forth from the bathroom put their hands on the area time to time without washing hands.

Uses Uber and door dash and who know what happens to your food or even the delivery person even works for the company all you need is a password and use the app even if it is a friend

Employment under paid, over worked, and some under age and paid under the table. Also off the books. The labor board should be aware of this.

Manager let's people call him apostle bishop making a mockery of religion (disrespectful). Still to this day.

They say John giglio is the chef on their site and it's not true. He doesn't even work there any more. Heck he doesn't even live in the state any more.

I would advise not to go here. If not for others then for your health.

I can't believe they think they are right in doing...

Bad service that affects the food quality

I live close by and was looking forward to the new restaurant opening in that spot. I went with the family, we were four last Saturday night. The restaurant was slightly crowded but I leave it to each person to see if they are comfortable or not in a crowded public space.

Appetizers were really good (Octopus and Calamari).

About 40 minutes after we ordered someone came to our table and told us that they no longer had pappardelle pasta and asked us to choose another kind. Then it took another 15-20 minutes to bring the food, so it was about one hour after we ordered. At that point the linguini Vongole was cold so my wife sent it back, and some of my seafood in the Cioppino was chewy as if it had been under a heat lamp for a long time.

There was no apology for the delay except for a couple of times saying "your food will be ready soon" when the tables around us got their food (they both ordered after us). They really tried to treat this as a normal event.

After dinner, and while walking home, I got a call from the restaurant and I was thinking they were going to apologize. No. They actually called to tell me that I had not paid my bill - I used the QR code provided in the bill to pay in a "contactless manner" and even though they offer it, apparently they don't know how it works -

I don't give it a 1-star because the appetizers were good. The rest of the night was ruined by selling something they don't have or by giving it to another customer after...