Nonno's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Sandyston Township

I was so impressed with this new and upcoming restaurant that I have decided it will be my initial featured restaurant on my new blog (website in progress) Dining With Dar! diningwithdar.com Every aspect of this place is screaming SHARE ME WITH THE WORLD! Our experience started when I though my husband would be late, so I called to ask if I could push my reservation back 15 minutes. I was assured by "Sonny" that it was not a problem and he ensured I would have a table upon my arrival.

We began with Italian imported water, a nice red from the wine list and appetizers of fried calamari and the nightly special crab stuffed mushrooms. These are /wo favorites of our and we try them at most every restaurant we visit but rarely find one, let alone both, exquisite! Such was the case here at Nonno's though. We couldn't have been more pleased.

Warm semolina bread was brought to our table which we enjoyed throughout our meal. I am an honest person and tough to please so I feel compelled to insert my only complaint here. Butter accompanied the bread to our table and we would have much rather preferred a seasoned dipping oil for our bread. There, now that I have gotten that off my chest, let me continue with the praise!

The staff checked on us regularly but were no overbearing or hovering. Sonny was kind enough to offer us the specials on the menu twice-once when we ordered our appetizers and again after we had devoured these delectable morsels of the gods! (We were so surprised by the perfection of our appetizers, we forgot the specials!)

I chose the shrimp special that consisted of shrimp, sundried tomatoes, asparagus, garlic and cream sauce that can only be compared to the nectar of the heavens. All of this was served over perfectly cooked angel hair pasta. This was the absolute best pasta dish I had even eaten in my life. I couldn't help but pray that this dish could be added to the regular menu as I may have to order it every single time I dine here.

My husband ordered Chicken Sorrentino. Chicken breasts sautéed with shallots and wine, then demi-glazed and topped with eggplant, fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. It was accompanied by fresh vegetables. I had to try a bite as it smelled so good. This dish is full of flavor. The sauce is what every chicken should be bathed in. The fresh vegetables on the plated gave the dish the perfect amount "OMG, I'm so glad I am being served with ths Chicken Sorrentino!) (I knew what those veggies were thinking! Lol)

Oh but wait! I'm not done! Tirimisu is by far my absolute favorite dessert and I have to try it whenever I can find it on any menu. Again, I am not overly exaggerating when I tell you this was by far, hands down, the BEST tirimisu that ever blessed my tongue. It was light and full of flavor. My husband and I shared this dessert but next time, he will have to get his own! Hot fresh cappuccinos made the perfect pairing with our dessert to end our meal.

The entire staff, especially Sonny and Nonno, made us feel like we were a part of their family dining with them. We were invited back and will definitely take them up on the offer.

Nonno's has entered our rotation of divine eateries! We are already planning our trip back!

Do NOT let any time pass you by before calling to book your reservations! Once the word gets out about this place, it'll be hard to get a...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Review of No No No's (Layton, NJ) (That's "No" three times—because once isn't enough to capture how serious this food is)

I don’t even know how to describe what happened at No No No’s in Layton other than to say: it was one of the best Italian meals of my life. This place doesn’t serve food. It serves memories.

Let’s start with the calamari—light, crispy, tender, and served with a marinara topped with chili pepper that had no business being that good. It wasn’t just spicy—it had this slow, blooming warmth that hit your taste buds and made you wonder why every Italian place in America doesn’t do this. It was like the sauce got upgraded to main character status.

Then my buddy Jared ordered something called spadine (we think)—eggplant wrapped with cheese, hot and melty in the middle, crisp on the edges. Whatever it was, it tasted like the kind of dish that comes with a family story. We still don’t know how to spell it, but our taste buds know exactly what it means.

The bread? Legend. The server told us they drive out of town to get it—and Jared, in a moment of trying to blend in, nodded like he knew the place. But even if he didn’t, he was right to agree. This bread had soul. Crusty outside, soft and warm inside—like a good nap on a Sunday.

Now I got the chicken francese, which was perfectly pan-fried and swimming in this lemon-butter sauce that could absolutely end wars. The gnocchi? Light, fluffy, rich. Like they were kneaded by someone who believes pasta is a language of love.

But here’s the twist: Jared never actually ordered.

He told the chef, “Surprise me.”

Let me repeat that. This man put his taste buds in the hands of a stranger. And the chef—without blinking—said, “I got you.”

Now we don’t know what he’s getting. Pork chop? Chicken? A seafood risotto that hasn’t graced a menu in 20 years? Maybe something the chef’s grandmother whispered to him in a dream. That’s the kind of vibe we’re dealing with here. The mystery is part of the magic. Every time the door from the kitchen swings open, we’re all holding our breath.

Whatever comes out—it’s not just going to be food. It’s going to be a reveal. A culinary plot twist. And I’m honestly a little jealous.

In conclusion: No No No’s isn’t just a restaurant. It’s an experience. A faith-based operation. Somewhere, an Italian grandmother is weeping into her handmade tablecloth because she knows she’ll never taste the miracle that’s happening in Layton, New Jersey.

Come hungry. Leave changed. And maybe, just maybe… let the chef...

I've got a story to tell. I frequently drive along 206 back to visit my mother's lake house in Bethel, NY from Somerset County, NJ and I've taken notice of this restaurant on several occasions. Previously it was Mezzaluna and I distinctly remember the sign that fronts along 206 mentioning pizza. I finally passed Nonno's at the right time and decided to stop in for, what I thought would be pizza. After entering the wrong door, I walked into a beautiful fine dining area. Already embarrassed from entering the wrong way, I also realized I was dressed far too casually for this establishment (wearing a T-shirt and Adidas track pants). To my relief, the host treated me with the utmost respect and proceeded to provide some of the best service I've ever experienced. The bread brought to the table was fresh and delicious and the house white wine was crisp and refreshing. Rather than the anticipated pizza, I decided to go with the Gnocchi di Sorrentino. The gnocchi was perfectly light and fluffy. The sauce was rich, flavorful, and packed with chunks of delicious eggplant. The mozzarella melted beautifully and the shredded basil perfectly finished this dish. Despite some initial embarrassment, my experience at Nonno's was nothing short of phenomenal and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone...