Palazzo redefines 'Nice'!
Written: Dec 13 '05 (Updated Dec 14 '05)
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Pros: Classy, friendly, excellent food, convenient location near the heart of town, pleasing live jazz music
Cons: a little too pricey for everyday (or every month!) eating
The Bottom Line: I recommend Friday night reservations at Palazzo for a romantic dinner, or for a nice occasion with visiting family from out of town. It will be an evening to remember.
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| montclairgal's Full Review: Palazzo |
I'd never eaten at Palazzo before - ordinarily, a place like Palazzo would be out of my price range - but when my boyfriend tasked me with choosing a very special place around Montclair for our anniversary dinner, it was one of a small number on my list of places to "interview". We walked all over town, stopping into nice-looking places to look at the menu and get a feel. When we walked into Palazzo - just feet from the the Montclair Mile - we knew we had found it.
First, the place has a warm light. The lighting is not bright, but not too dim; it's easy to see your way around, but no harsh bulbs shining in your eye. It's mood lit, with candles to supplement the warm glow.
One of the first things we noticed was a piano being played right there in the front of the restaurant. Palazzo features live jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights. It, too, is neither too loud nor too soft, and it helps the warm and cool feel of the place.
But Palazzo isn't some trendy joint - the manager, bartender, wait staff and chef all impressed us with their friendly, professional service and knowledge. We got a real buzz off of how classy THEY made US feel! We sat down feeling like we'd been teleported to Manhattan, and left feeling like high society from the golden age.
Chef and owner John Giglio really seems to love cooking and to be passionate about the food. Twice while we were eating, we saw other patrons ask the manager to bring him out so that they could offer their compliments in person. I was almost sad when I had finished eating.
Palazzo made me realize just how much you really get what you pay for, when it comes to dining. A little pricey, but well worth it, although the desserts could be a little larger. At $6, the quality of their incredible chocolate mousse was more than up to snuff... however it was gone in a very few bites.
Diners who are used to nice Manhattan restaurants will be pleased by the relaxed, friendly and unpretentious service here. For example, we were delighted when we asked the Manager if we could bring our own bottle of wine (of course!) and whether there was a corkage fee (absolutely not!) and at the end of our meal, he asked if he could try a sip of our wine, for which he exchanged a glass of lovely Raspberry dessert wine from their bar.
More on the restaurant; schedule, menus and photos, can be found here: http://www.palazzonj.net/
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Classy - yes.
Fancy - not necessarily!
Be casual, there's no snobbery at this classy but friendly place.
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening
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Epinions.com ID:
montclairgal
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Member: Amanda H.
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
24-year-old professional sitter/nanny/barista, beauty school student and sister/daughter/niece/granddaughter/girlfriend.
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