Pesto Italian Bistro — Restaurant in Park Ridge

Overall, a great Italian restaurant in northern Bergen County. From start to finish the meal was spot on. Went here with some family for an early dinner. They can cater to larger parties (we had 9) as we made a reservation earlier in the week.

Great artisan bread served warm with salted butter & an assortment of olives in oil. Bread was so good we asked for 2 more refills throughout the meal.

With a party this large, we got to sample almost everything on the menu.

Starters: -Mussels in white wine sauce -Artichoke fritti -Panko-crusted meatballs -Burrata (special) -Cavatelli broccoli rabe (pasta ordered as app) -Arancini (rice balls; on the house)

Standouts for me were the amazingly creamy burrata with balsamic glaze atop a perfectly fried eggplant & mussels that were cooked perfectly in that broth. Probably some of the reason we went through a lot of bread. The arancini were great - fried perfectly and served with vodka sauce. The cavatelli was a simple but flavorful dish; I wouldn't hesitate ordering that as an entree.

Entrees: -Rigatoni pesto -Veal roulade -Veal saltimbocca -Veal milanese -Veal oreganato -Linguini with herb roasted chicken & filet mignon (special) -Mixed seafood pasta (special)

My veal saltimbocca was solid; plenty of flavor with a rich sauce. A bit salty if anything. Rigatoni pesto was a very interesting dish with seared tuna & crab meat. I don't much like pesto + fish + pasta but this dish worked & was delicious. Mixed seafood was also a standout - fresh seafood & a good marinara sauce.

Portions on the pasta dishes were quite massive. Portions on the meat dishes less so. Not complaining but just an observation.

Service was attentive & friendly throughout. The manager on duty came by a few times to make sure we were doing ok which was a nice tough. Like I said, overall a great restaurant!

This was one of my longest reviews but this place...

Pesto Italian Bistro was the perfect venue for my wife and I’s rehearsal dinner. The food is top notch and right up there with the best Italian food we have had in the area. Old school Italian classics that are elegant in their simplicity, all of the food is incredible and sure to be crowd pleasers. The zucchini friti, chicken parm, penne alla vodka, and salmon rustica are all phenomenal - but the real highlights for us were the arancini and meatballs, which are both must trys. Being BYOB was a massive plus as we got to bring wine that fit our guests preferences.

The service from all the waitstaff was amazing and they really did all that was in their power to make sure the evening went off without a hitch. The staff really brought their “A game” - none of our guests had to wait for wine, water, or anything else that they needed.

Shoutout to Manny who helped facilitate everything for us - from the reservation itself, to the table setup, to last minute menu changes - he was super accommodating throughout the entire process and happy work with us. He let us rent out the entire interior space, let us bring our own signage and desserts, and kept the evening on schedule to make sure food service was not interrupting speeches. We would highly recommend Pesto for your next dinner / event - thank you again for such a memorable evening, and hope to...

Went to Pesto Italian Bistro on May 7, 2016 & all I can say is.... UNBELIEVABLE 5 STAR ... The rice balls, hot bread, & salad really set the palate for what was about to grace our table. One entree was the grilled-to-perfection Lamb Chops w/spinach over the best-ever mashed potatoes and the other main dish was Halibut over perfectly prepared risotto w/honey … both were unbelievable & beyond spectacular! And I'd be remiss if I didn't comment on the chocolate mousse cake ... "off the charts”! The service & attention to detail was definitely among the finest restaurants anywhere, including NYC, New Orleans, Chicago, East & West coasts. This restaurant is an excellent find and takes BYOB to new heights. It has become an absolute favorite of mine ... you owe it to yourself to try Pesto Italian Bistro in Park Ridge, NJ. Run to it, Don't Walk!!! Going back tonight May 21, 2016 with family to try Veal Chops, Blackened fettuchini with clams, shrimp, etc., and bronzino over risotto...