Viaggio Ristorante — Restaurant in Wayne

Viaggio has potential to blossom into one of those small eateries that really makes its mark in the local community. The menu is a bit awkward being comprised of modified recipes that really don't hail from one part of Italy or another. Growing up in an Italian home, being married to an Italian woman, knowing the language, food and culture quite well, I have tasted a wide variety of foods from countless regions. Viaggio seems to be one of those Italian restaurants that attempts to take simple dishes and apply a bit too much thought in the hopes that something old can be made new. The only issue with such an idea is that in a state like NJ and a locale such as Wayne the multitude of Italian families is grand; the comfort food we all know and love is not on the menu or if it is the Bracciole comes with brown gravy. Not that this is entirely a put-off, but, to be fair it is akin to going to a burger joint and getting a cheeseburger served on a lettuce medallion bun complete with a red wine reduction and blistered tomatoes...in other words sometimes the "flare" just doesn't fit.

Another thing to mention is that the chairs they'e chosen are nothing short of uncomfortable, medieval devices that may look nice and match their somewhat masculine decor but wreak havoc on your body. The ergonomics are lacking, the design sits you far back into the seat and the back stiles then proceed to maim you. During our meal I essentially found a position of comfort at the edge of my seat and stayed their until we left; I dare not move for fear that I would forever lose that comfortable position. I offer this as a word of caution to those of us our there that are not necessarily a size "0" or a smaller guy. I'm an average guy but these seats killed me.

Viaggio has potential to do more. The staff is friendly but it would be nice to have one waiter asking how the meal was and not being asked several times over the course of the meal if "everything was ok" while trying to have a conversation.

The decor, while being overly masculine and dry is put together nicely...the chairs could be donated for scrap to offer more comfort for patrons however. The menu is a bit pretentious and could do with some refining in terms of both food and language. It would be nice to see a friendlier version as not everyone in the area speaks Italian like my wife and I. It was funny to hear the waiter try to explain the menu to us and then admit that he didn't know what a good majority of the menu actually said.

And, if the owner of Viaggio reads this, well done on our dinner however Arancini Bolognese should include actual bolognese. Our Arancini Bolognese was actually...

Yesterday, we took my 97 year old Italian immigrant Dad out for dinner for Father's Day. We called ahead for a reservation and prompted the hostess that we needed a salt free option for my Dad. We are restaurateurs and have owned many restaurants, but decided that since we'd heard so many wonderful things about Viaggio's Chef; Robbie Felice, and particularly that he and my son both graduated from the prestigious CIA, it seemed like the perfect choice to celebrate my Dad. We arrived on time, and while I was happy to see that the restaurant was fully staffed, (a real luxury given today's serious staffing shortage in hospitality), we were not greeted in a warm a friendly manner, one that a true Italian restaurant would encompass. Our waitress saw that we were struggling to pull up the menu on our phones, yet did not extend the courtesy of describing the specials. We literally had to get up and read about the specials posted on their window. My son, (Exec Chef and restaurant owner) ordered for the table. Roasted Beets, Arugula Salad and Charred Octopus (a $20 app that did not include a full tail). All basic and lacked the "wow factor" we expected. For our entree's, he ordered the Fazzoletti for my Dad. While we asked for it to be salt free, we trusted that the Chef would compensate for that with bright and interesting flavors. Sadly, the dish was bland and dripping in butter. A man who really appreciates a good plate of pasta was left speechless. My daughter and I had the snapper special which came out raw. While the manager did come over to apologize and offered another option, we asked them to re run that dish. When it was finally served, we were disappointed. The dish included polenta cubes (dry and lacked flavor) chard (over-cooked), and a raw tomato slice where the fish sat. At least this time, the fish was cooked through, knowing how a Chef can expedite a dish quickly, we knew that the fish was tossed into the deep fryer. Lastly, the Black Bass which was the only dish that was beautifully plated and full of flavor. In the end, and while we mentioned to our waitress that there was a CIA grad at our table...Chef Robbie never showed nor were we offered anything to compensate for raw fish. We were left feeling upset and overlooked. Sorry, but this spot was a real disappointment. It pains me to write this review as I truly know how hard it is to run a restaurant. But since my family knows what it takes to provide a complete dining experience, and especially since the Chef overlooked us, I felt compelled to do so. Would never recommend nor would we...

Exceeded our expectations both in terms of flavor and service. Every staff member was friendly and engaged, there were absolutely no hiccups. The food came out with perfect pacing and was a complete delight.

For 2 people, we shared the beets and cauliflower apps, both were sensational. The pairing of mint and pistachio (2 ways) with the beats was a highlight. The cauliflower app (not pictured), while almost monochromatic in presentation was terrific. The batter was light and crispy, with oodles of flavor, especially with the squeeze of lemon.

Next up was the pasta. We went with the ravioli with the balsamic and brown butter sauce. It came out looking heavy but was actually perfectly balanced and surprisingly light. It disappeared before our eyes.

The herb roasted cod was next and was packed with flavor and depth. It could've possibly used a tad less salt in the sauce, but that largely comes down to personal taste. It's a very robust fish and the sauce held up to it very well. I'm glad we shared this one, it was pretty intense.

Out of morbid curiosity more than anything else, we ventured forward with one of the steak specials. Everything had been so very good, I would've kicked myself for not trying the steak. Since we had shared the cod, and since everything else was so light, we still had a little bit of room. The funghi misti and smashed potatoes on the side absolutely made the dish sing. The strip was perfectly cooked, no complaints there, with a healthy ribbon of fat along the side to give you a range of flavor profiles depending on your preference. Those potatoes and mushrooms, though! Combined with each bite of the steak, it was outstanding.

We finished up with the pana cotta. The texture of the granita provided great contrast and a bright burst of flavor while the creamy panna cotta did its thing down below. It was a great finish to a spectacular meal.

We'll be back later this month for my wife's birthday. Lastly, while we were there, we learned that you can follow their social accounts for notification of private menu items and some other goodies!

This place is a gem. The menu is well thought out, beautifully executed and not overwhelming, especially if you follow the guidance of treating it like a traditional Italian meal with an appetizer, a small pasta dish and the entre. There's a lot of attention to detail and passion in the dishes, backed up by a knowledgeable service team. It doesn't get a whole lot better. Don't let the strip mall...