Cortina Ristorante

First time here. Had a Portobello appetizer and a veal dish. Both were good. The place is very large and has a bar section too. But the place was completely empty. Yes, we got there early but by the time we left — about 7:30 — it was still empty. Maybe people were still home eating their Thanksgiving leftovers. We only saw one person working in the place and was probably bartender, waiter, owner, manager and everything else. Don’t know how many people were in the kitchen to prepare our meals.
Usually, we get warm bread in restaurants. They served us cold bread in a basket covered with a cloth to insure that it stayed cold. (Actually, I liked the bread and we ate it all, but I am not used to being served cold bread in a fancy restaurant).
This place was recommended to me and I cant say that I was disappointed. I enjoyed the food. I did feel a bit odd that we were the only people in this massive restaurant, but then it began to feel good to have the place exclusively.
Will check it out again, probably on a busier night and at a later hour.

If we could we would give it 0 starts but the one for service. I asked for sea bass and they gave me cod fish, the portion was embarrassingly small. We paid a ridiculous amount of money for horrible food. My granddaughter ordered a fish dish and she couldn’t even get past the smell of the fish to eat. Fish should never have an odor like that. The lamb chops were tasteless, salt and pepper wouldn’t even fix it. It’s not the money, it’s the quality of the food. The place used to be amazing and I recommended that my family spend thanksgiving there but it was an embarrassment and I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. I feel that people should know the quality is not what it used to be.
Maria Pena
973−777−5376

Being bored, if not outright disgusted by the lack of great restaurants in this part of New Jersey, a friend mentioned CORTINA’s. We were grateful to have discovered this jewel! Firstly, it is warm and welcoming, with nice ambiance. The owner and staff bent over backwards to assure we were taken care of — so much so that the owner even provides «LIVE» piano music — (not someone singing along to karaōke, which seems to be what «live music» has become and I try to avoid at all costs) thus improving the ambiance and ability to savour the great food. Old school! Great! Like ricks Café in Casablanca, only here and now!
Thanks much!

Really great dinner tonight at Cortinas! They truly helped make my daughter in laws birthday special! They made the best oysters rocker fellow followed by risotto to die for… Lobster and asparagus! Dinner was equally good with sausage broccoli rabe and chicken… Yummy!!! Carlos out waiter even sang happy birthday!!! Thank you all for a great evening!!!

First the chef was wonderful and made oysters rocker fellow for us! Carlos our waiter was extremely friendly. I can’t believe this hidden gem was just around the corner from our house! Prices were low compared to the quality of food and people at Cortinas!!! Try it you will be surprised! If you do see it on the menu ask for it they aim to please as well!!! Really can’t say how happy I was to find a place so close with such good food and great people!!!

I have eaten here several times and find the food, service and atmosphere of highest quality and look forward to having another great experience here!

HORRIBLE. What’s worse? The food or the incompetent waiters? We were a party of 10 that arrived at opening– 5pm– and it was aweful. We were ignored. completely to the point we thought perhaps they didn’t speak English. And then… the food was gross. And then, after 2 hours and 15 min., I asked if our table could be cleared and dessert menus brought and the waiter took a major attitude with me. What a JERK.
The place looks like it got stuck in the 80s and is a hub of senior citizen regulars so, they could give a hoot about good food and service. Nasty. In every sense.
Gross. Spend your $$$ anywhere else but here. We complained to mgmt on the way out but doubt it fell on ears that care.
Diner beware… go find Italian at a bazillion other places New Jersey.

Great service, but the meal fell short of the expectations. We also had like 3 waiters at one point and that got confusing. I’d come back though, I do love a good old-​school italian restaurant experience :)

I’m unsure if this is really going to be a fair assessment of Cortina Ristorante.
You see, I came here for a catered affair… a dear friend died and the meal after the funeral was held here.
We started out just fine… libations were generous and the bread came out hot and bountiful. There was a small pasta dish, Vodka sauce I believe which was really, very tasty.
But then, things went down hill after that.
There was a choice between salmon and chicken and I went for the chicken. The results? My chicken was very tough! And, I wasn’t the only person who felt that way.
In conclusion, my meal was neither noteworthy nor memorable. Too bad too considering the occasion (That person was someone you could never forget!). Will I return? Perhaps.

Cortina is our absolute favorite restaurant! This hidden gem has great service, beautiful ambiance, and a superb menu. We have been eating here for years and have never had a bad dish. When you enter you’re always greeted like family. The best!