Caffe Anello

I don’t know if a review can really do this gem of a restaurant justice but I will try my best.
Walking through the door my wife and I were greeted by Joe. He confirmed the reservation, shook my hand, gave my wife a hug, and welcomed us like we were old friends. We were seated soon after in a tastefully decorated, albeit small, dining room that felt very comfortable, and not cramped at all.
Our waiter, who introduced himself as Sean and took out drink order (no alcohol here, but you can byob) was friendly, attentive, funny, knowledgeable, and quick. Couldn’t ask for better without being greedy. Tim, the other funny, knowledgable, super friendly waiter, recited a 6 or 7 item list of specials from memory and let us mull it over.
Since it was a special a occasion, we ordered several appetizers, all of which were truly amazing. A plate of homemade fresh mozzarella with tomato, pesto, and balsamic glaze was first, followed by fried fresh mozzarella with prosciutto, and their classic red sauce, and finished it off with the homemade ricotta ravioli with the pesto.
Let me change gears here for a second: This homemade pesto is, bar none, the best pesto sauce I have ever tasted. It is clean, fresh, sweet, and pairs amazingly with everything it was served on. I want this pesto in my life. On sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, whatever. It is that good. Please believe me.
Next came the entrees. I ordered the veal special, which was lightly breaded, fried, and served with fresh mozzarella and balsamic drizzle on top, garlic roasted potatoes and sautéed escarole on the side. This was the first time I have had veal in a long time, and I am glad I did. Tender, juicy, with a crisp crust from the breading and an overall flavor when combined with the rest of the plate that left me wanting more, despite how many appetizers I had eaten already.
My wife got the bone in pork chop, lightly breaded and fried, served with pancetta and the most beautifully caramelized onions I have ever seen along with the same potatoes and escarole. The pork was phenomenal, it was perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful, with a great crust.
I finished the meal with chocolate cake with raspberry compote, fresh whipped cream, vanilla frosting, and crumbled Oreos. It was fluffy, moist, rich, and overall delicious. But it did not compare to the vanilla bundt cake with chocolate chunks filled with homemade pistachio cannoli cream. This cake was a thing of beauty. It had such a unique, beautiful texture and combination of flavors, I’ve never had anything like it.
Overall, this was one of the two best meals I have ever had in my life. I will recommended this place to anyone who will listen. Make reservations and prepare yourself for the journey.

Anello never fails to amaze my wife and I… The best family restaurant in NJ with the friendliest staff and the food is expertly crafted by their head chef John! True flavors and good vibes all around

I would like to give this restaurant zero stars because I have never had a worse meal in my life! The person who greets you is the nicest, most charming host you can ever meet, but that’s the only good thing about this place. The food is inedible!!! It is the biggest ripoff i have ever seen anywhere in the world! I felt like it was «The Emperors New Clothes» or a prank show. The chicken parm which they call something else was 36 $ and I have had better at my pizza place in the country. The veal parm was $ 42 and was undercooked!!! Completely inedible. The menu is so limited that we had to order dishes wee oils normally not order in a Saturday night with couples (chicken and veal parm) bug we had no choice. They came with nothing! No pasta, no vegetable, just plopped in the middle of a plate for $ 42??? This is not a top steak house or Jean Georges. This is behind a curtain of a bakery and you sit on wood chairs next to a Tiny kitchen and you see how they turn out your food in 5 minutes. Preprepared? The seafood salad appetizer was poured from a bowl onto a plate 2 seconds after I ordered it and it was warm and terrible. The bread that they rave about when u sit down was nothing special. I felt like I had been robbed. It was 125 $ a couple for food worse than a pizzeria, with no alcohol (BYO thank goodness) nor dessert or coffee! They rushed us so much that we had to finish our date in a local Starbucks, yet no one came In after they are supposedly sell out and need resos weeks in advance. I feel Badly writing this, but I can not, with good conscience, allow other people to be ripped off like this. The reviews make no sense and I hope others will come forward !

Food was unbelievably fresh, and delicious. Service was outstanding, and heart felt. It felt like you were eating in their home. Definitely going back. They have a couple of months wait for a Saturday night. But well worth it. During the week is fine. Extremely warm and inviting people. Joe, Cheryl, and Tim. Plus chef John wow!

This tiny little nugget in Westwood is outstanding! Celebrated our Anniversary here last night. Joe’s greeting makes you feel as though he’s welcoming you to his home for a nice, Italian meal. Once seated, you are again warmly greeted and offered some of their dynamite made-​fresh-​daily bread and delicious dipping sauces. The menu offers many tempting dishes and it’s hard to decide which to have! No matter what you order, you are going to be delighted. The food is off-​the-​chain delicious! Chef John does an amazing job and after dinner service, you can find him out and about — greeting the diners as warmly as Joe does. Caffe Anello is my new favorite spot. Once you try it, you’ll see why. Call in advance for reservations…

Unbelievably good. Chef John and his wife are so nice, warm, and welcoming. They took such good care of us tonight for our company’s yearly party. The food was perfect — fresh, homemade, and delicious. Everything was impeccable, top to bottom. Definitely call ahead, since they are really popular and you need to make sure they’ve got seating for you. Also, make sure you order the eggplant parm, which is so dam good that it makes me wish I didn’t know it existed because now I have to come back there any and every time that I want eggplant parm since I now won’t go anywhere else for it.
Thanks for an amazing meal and an awesome night!

Hands down best meal I have had! Everything is homemade… authentic italian… everyone has to eat here in their lifetime! Added bonus the owners and staff are the most amazing people!

Great gluten free crepes. We ordered the Bergen crepes with Nutella, bananas, and strawberries. Very child friendly place. They even gave our child a free cookie :) We’ll definitely come back.

We went excited but ended confused on the hoopla of the place. It started when they served cold Jarred filetto sauce for the bread.
We had roasted clams and there served in a red sauce. The sauce had a oil slick on top and were extremely fishy. As far as entrees, we had he duck and country fried steak. The duck was over salted and served with ice cold broccoli rabe. The country steak was oily and served with cold broccoli rabe also. There was a pool of oil on the bottom of the plate of the country steak. Cheesecake was amazing. Chocolate cake wth cannoli filling was dry and tasteless.
Décor the lights are never dimmed and the music is so loud you can’t talk. I’m not sure of the appeal of this place!

Caffe Anello is by far the best Italian restaurant in the area! This is truly a family-​owned and operated, quaint restaurant. It is definitely a small and intimate setting. The food is incredible– fresh, local ingredients. I highly recommend the meatballs, and any daily fish special they have. The steak is also one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. You can truly tell the difference in their local produce! And you certainly can not skip dessert! Every person that works there is beyond friendly, they make you feel apart of the family. You can not get better customer service than Anello!!! Definitely make a reservation for the first available spot they have.
Then return to Sogno in the morning for a latte and crêpe ;) = Best Weekend Ever!

«Café Anelo» is a perfect example of how a «Mom-​and-​Pop» establishment does things that chain restaurants simply cannot. It’s not just the food (which was outstanding) but the atmosphere.
«Café Anello» is not an elegant place. It’s not stuffy or high brow. Nor is it particularly romantic. It’s cozy and very unpretentious. It is more akin to the old establishments from Little Italy when it WAS Little Italy. The dining area is small but this is done deliberately so that the staff can pay close attention to the needs of the diners.
The food is extremely well made from fresh ingredients of high quality and is presented gracefully. The staff is almost ridiculously friendly. My wife and I were seated next to what turned out to be the kitchen and we were enthusiastically greeted by two men who turned out to be the head chef and sous chef. You wouldn’t know it from their attire: they were not dressed in formal cooking garb (white aprons, white hat etc.) but everyday street clothes. The waiters were attentive and on top of everything we needed (taking our orders, refilling our water glasses, etc.).
Some people might be put off by being seated right next to the kitchen and by the cooking staff not in «regulation» cooking attire or just the lack of what some might call «lux ambiance» but I wasn’t. The welcoming atmosphere is so relaxed that it felt more like I was at someone’s house for dinner made by someone who really knew how to cook. It’s one of the few places I’ve been to in the last couple of years that I plan on going back to again. «Café Anello» succeeds because the owners (Joe, the gentlemen who greeted us as we were seated and his wife) obviously love doing this and in this particular way.

The first word that comes to mind when thinking of a description for Café Anello is: intimate. I walked out of the place feeling like I had just finished eating dinner at my Italian family’s house. The catch? I’m not even Italian.
Without a doubt, one of the more unique dining experiences in my life. You actually forget that you’re eating at a restaurant because everyone in the staff is so genuinely friendly and welcoming. Service gets an A++.
The love that goes into making the food is even more apparent. Fresh local ingredients and simple Italian cooking come together to make meals that would satisfy even your Nonna’s palate. I, personally, have never had such cheese raviolis as delectable as those served at Café Anello.
And sure, it’s not cheap, but for the quality of the food and the experience, it’s more than worth it. Skip Olive Garden one week and try some real Italian cuisine for once.
No joke though, you should probably try this place before the reservation list gets ridiculous.
Move over, Raos, Café Anello is on its way to making history.

Came here again for date night, after SIX months of neglecting our favorite Westwood spot (BF and I could not believe it had been six months — inexcusable!).
We were greeted, as is usual with Anello, by Joe, who is the biggest sweetheart and makes you feel like you’re part of his family. Upon then being seated, promptly at 8, two different servers (Tim and Sean), said hello to us and welcomed us back. That attention to detail, that acknowledgment that someone is returning means so much and goes so far.
The menu had been updated since our last time at Anello, and though I was tempted to stick with my usual order of ravioli with pesto sauce (all homemade, naturally), but the eggplant parmesan stood out to me. I also found out that everything at Anello is locally sourced, which I didn’t realize until it was pointed out. Everything is of the highest standards, so we were informed that if the chef goes to market that day and something doesn’t look up to par, it won’t be on the menu that night and there will be some kind of substitution. That would totally warrant a sixth star from me — Über style — if it was possible.
We ended up totally switching up our order from the norm (down to bringing a bottle of white wine versus our usual of red). To start, we had the fried mozzarella, which neither of us have tried. It was absolutely incredible. Cheesy and delicious, and genuinely unlike any fried mozz I’ve ever had. I’m legitimately salivating at the thought of it, that’s how good it was.
I went with the eggplant parm (especially after the server Sean told me how incredible it is), and BF ordered the Tuscan fried steak. Holy shit, they weren’t lying when they said that it was an incredible eggplant parm. It was probably the best I’ve ever had with thinly sliced eggplant that was perfectly cooked, with a ton of cheese and homemade sauce. Again, drool worthy can’t even begin to explain how good it was. BF was in love with his steak, and said it was perfectly done. The green beans that served as a side were delicious and a good accompaniment to the dish.
The food alone is enough to make you want to keep coming back to Anello, but it’s really the warmth of the service and owners that is the biggest draw. You’re not just going for delicious food, you’re going and becoming part of their family for the night. I’m telling you, it’s got to be a prerequisite to be a truly kind, warm person in order to work at Anello. I could not recommend a restaurant more highly and cannot wait to keep coming back for more.

5^th Visit, 5^th Five Star Rating!
We came last week for a new take on Butcher and The Chef. It was absolutely amazing.
This time around Chef John teams with The Sushi Chef from Bop & Sushi. The combination was deadly!
Salad: Wedge with home made blue cheese and tomato’s. Delicious… He should sell that blue cheese.
Appetizer: A full sample platter of sushi. The Salmon was hands down the best I’ve ever had. I’m not a Salmon guy but this was not going to waste. Asparagus Roll Topped with Seared Tuna Belly, For those that love Tuna, this was just an absolute «10». Phenomenal… Summer Flounder was F*cking Delicious and The Maguro was a knockout… Finished off with a sushi tower of the best spicy tuna ever created with Lobster Salad and a avocado salad.
Dinner: Butter Steaks from Westwood Prime Meats! What a Ruthian Home run this was. Cooked to a perfect Rare as requested, the flavor was just impressive and satisfying. I see no reason to leave Westwood when we have a place that can sear a dry aged steak like that!
Dessert: The cheese cake speaks for itself, have had it each time and you wont be disappointed. The White Cake with an Oreo Canoli Cream and crushed Oreos on top was delicious… My wife loved it. Espresso’s as usual were just perfect.
The Service: Everyone in there is phenomenal. From talking with Joe, to Tim giving you the ins and outs to John coming out to say hello after you eat.

Been here about eight times this year. Food, service and value are all just amazing. Sausage & peppers r an appetizer MUST have.
Everything else is just great. No bad meals all in an atmosphere where everyone feels like family.
Come here come often just please don’t take MY reservation.

The food is very fresh and on the money. John, Timothy, Sean and Joe were all Super.
It definitely lived up to the ‘pre-​game hype’.
Great job John.
Ciao

I had come here for coffee before and knew that they were building «something» on the other side. I knew it would have food and just assumed it was going to be a pizzaria.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST. Not because it gets busy but because the chef needs to know how many people to expect. All dishes are made from scratch that night.
We were seated and attended to by the most personable waiter. (sorry forgot his name)
For starters we had the shrimp app, mutz and tomato and the meatballs. All were excellent.
Entrée I had the pasta special with shrimp.
If you don’t know — they make all their own pasta here.
I do not eat pasta except for Lu Nello’s.
I ordered it here. It was amazing. The sauce was a bit odd for me — almost like a sweet garlic — but the pasta was truly special.
My dinner companions all had the veal. That too was excellent.
Dessert we had their own tiramisu. OMG
Can’t wait to go back.

This is a unique & special restaurant that you definitely must try — good luck getting reservations though! It’s so popular that you need to call way in advance to get a reservation. The interior is intimate and has this lovely light wood throughout it. The kichen is open and you can frequently interact with the chef which is cool!
I’ve dined here twice & both times my meal has been exceptional as well as the service. The servers are inviting and are knowledgable about the food. The food is authentic tuscany cooking. The bread that is given to you as a starter has 2 tasty dipping sauces to try — of course you can’t help but gobble it down as it’s so good. For dinner the bolonese & the carbonara were awesome. My favorite is the carbonara — truly unique and different than what you get at an americanized italian restaurant.
Desserts — go for the tiramasu — the best I’ve ever had. Everyone who works at this place is so friendly and accommodating. I had a great experience here and will be back for sure!

Caffe Anello, one of the best pure dining experiences I’ve had, not only offers exceptional food, but fantastic service as well.
The moment you walk in through the front door and past the curtains (it shares a storefront with Sogno Coffee House, which is amazing as well), you feel like you’ve been transported to rustic Italy.
Permeating the air is the scent of a myriad of delicious homemade pastas and the sounds of John, the owner and executive chef, hard at work crafting another dish worthy of being a masterpiece.
Upon arrival, you will be immediately greeted by the staff and taken to your table by Tim, your waiter.
As Tim recites the entire menu to your table in impeccable fashion, his descriptive flair starts painting image after image of delicious food in your head. Unable to curb your insatiable hunger anymore, you eagerly order a few things from their menu: starting with the homemade meatballs and fresh roasted clams, moving on to the Insalate Di Pere and ending with the Chicken Anello. Your companions do likewise, ordering the Pasta Pomodoro and Ravioli.
As per tradition, warm bread with homemade Pomodoro sauce and garlic pesto sauce accompany your dishes. Do be warned though, as the sauces are extremely delicious, and you can easily fill up by just munching away on them. We literally had to stop ourselves from stuffing our faces so we can have room for everything else.
Now I don’t normally put meat in my mouth, but when I do, it’s Caffe Anello’s out of this world homemade meatballs. Pure euphoria is delivered with every bite of these juicy, tender meatballs. Simmered in their homemade tomato sauce and doused in fresh parmesan cheese, these massive meatballs will have you craving even more.
The clams were absolutely delicious, shocking me with a freshness that you don’t expect from Jersey seafood.
The pear salad was light, crisp and refreshing; the perfect interlude before your entrée.
By the time the Chicken Anello came out, I was already very full. However, in an effort to preserve my man card, I stepped up and devoured the entire thing. The Chicken Anello, chef John’s creative take on a chicken parmesan, is a bone-​in free range chicken breast that is breaded, pan seared and then baked. This method allows the chicken to cook thoroughly while still maintaining a soft, tender center. The melted mozzarella and Pomodoro sauce completes the dish, balancing out the tenderness with a gooey, saucy texture.
While the meal was fantastic, huge props to chef John for his culinary genius, it was the service that really put the icing on the cake.
Sean, the other waiter alongside Tim, also made sure all of our needs were met. Accommodating on every part, their attention and constant check-​ins really made you feel like a valued customer, and not just someone to sign on the dotted line.
Given the amazing service, food and value this place offers, it really begs one question. Why haven’t you tried Caffe Anello yet?

Friendly, fresh, and quality Italian restaurant!
Let’s first talk about getting a reservation. I’ve been trying to get a reservation here on a Saturday night for over a month and I’m glad to say that it was worth the wait. This place is reservation only, so be sure to call them at least a week beforehand if you are looking for a table on a Saturday night. Joe, the maître’d, takes care of the table seating, and he is very helpful and does try to find an open day/​time for you. So I’m not too sure what the few reviews are saying about him being harsh or rude. Try calling the restaurant during off hours (2−5pm) to get someone to pick up. It does get hectic during dinner service, but I did notice Joe pick up the phone whenever it rang. By no means is this place as difficult as getting a reservation like at Sushi Nakazawa in NYC, if you get what I’m trying to say.
Location: The restaurant is located right next to Sogno Coffee. You actually have to walk into the coffee shop to enter the restaurant. Once inside the dining room, the ambiance is a bit of everything. The lighting makes it romantic, while the friendly atmosphere can make it a nice get together with friends and family.
Food: Caffe Anello’s dinner menu is not stockpiled with the typical Americanized Italian dishes that you find around Bergen County (Chicken marsala, fettuccinne alfredo, etc). We started off with an order of the scallops and an order of the meatballs. The scallops were to die for. The Tuscan rub on the scallops was sweet, but not overpowering. The meatballs are your typical homemade meatballs. My father seemed to really like it. I thought it was a bit tough, but I imagine this is because there’s no breadcrumbs in it, so no complaints really.
My father ordered the dry aged rib eye, and we both had to agree that it was really good. The prep on the rib eye is what we both took notice of. It was a clean piece. All the extra fat was trimmed off precisely. It came out perfectly medium rare. My mother ordered the spaghetti with shrimp and tomato sauce. The tomato sauce is very light and you can tell the fresh pasta makes a difference. If you want to play things safe, the order this dish. Otherwise, they have a lot more traditional Italian dishes you should probably order. I ordered the bucatini carbonara. I loved the bucatini and the sauce. They’re quite generous with the pancetta on top as well. You don’t really find this dish around the area so I was happy to see it on the menu.
For dessert, we ordered coffee that they brought over from their coffee shop next door and also ordered crepes and an espresso infused custard. If you get the espresso infused custard, share it. It’s a bit rich for one person to finish by themselves.
Service: Our waiter, Tim, was very informative. He really sells the specials for the night really well. Whether it was Tim, the maitre’d, or even one of the chefs, every now and then, someone would stop by our table throughout dinner to make sure everything was alright.
Overall: It’s great to see a local family owned Italian restaurant in Bergen County. We usually have to go into the city for Italian food that’s not your Italian chain restaurant. So it’s nice to have another option around the area. Will definitely come back to try their chilean seabass and veal special. Expect the bill to come out around to $ 40-​$ 50 per person after tax and tip if you order an app, entrée, and dessert/​coffee. Also, it’s BYO.