Café Giotto, located at 42 Church Street is an Italian restaurant in Montclair highlighting Northern Italian cuisine. The menu is approachable featuring lots of classic dishes, but the authenticity of the food is what sets them apart from the vast number of Italian restaurants in the area. Café Giotto’s spectacular dishes will have you coming back time and time again. Trust us, order a tray of the lasagna Bolognese before going to take it home — you will need it! Read on to learn all about the Italian cuisine at Montclair’s Cafe Giotto.
The Atmosphere
(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
A night at Cafe Giotto feels like a notte en Italia – from finding the small green sign signaling the entrance to its home in an old building, diners will feel truly transported. Café Giotto tucked away off Bloomfield Avenue on Church Street.
(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
There are a handful of tables inside and a beautiful seating area outside, creating a wonderful setting for mangiare alle’aperto (eating outdoors). The restaurant is warm, cozy and inviting with lots of exposed brick and rustic wood features: the building housing the restaurant was built in 1929 and has kept many original architectural features. Its brick floors are reminiscent of a side street in a quiet Italian town, completing the scene.
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The Menu
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Café Giotto’s homemade food captures the essence of authentic Italian cuisine. It is fresh and includes rotating seasonal specials. The daily specials can be found on Cafe Giotto’s social media pages before visiting. The attention and care that Chef Luca takes with the dishes are evident in the quality of the food.
In addition to the daily specials, the ogni giornio (everyday) menu has classics for lunch and dinner.
(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
If you stop by for lunch, try the Bresaola Panni – the sandwich has bresaola (lean, dried beef), arugula, shaved pecorino cheese, and an artichoke spread. The mix of textures and flavors really make for a well-balanced sandwich. It’s salty, fresh, and creamy at the same time.
(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
Plus, Café Giotto’s bread is something to be enjoyed in all its forms. It is light, airy, with a great crust, perfect for sandwiches and for cleaning the remaining sauce off a plate.
Café Giotto’s most sought-after dish is the lasagna Bolognese. This lasagna is like no other lasagna in the area. It is prepared in a traditional manner Done in a traditional manner with béchamel rather than ricotta, so it is creamy, flavorful, and depressing when it’s all gone. This is one of those dishes that may ruin other lasagnas for you elsewhere (sorry Mom), so proceed with caution.
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(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
The restaurant offers many desserts and pastries great for an afternoon pick-me-up. The lemon mascarpone mousse is a bright, zingy dessert – refreshing the palate while still feeling very indulgent. The tiramisu is light with a perfect espresso punch to get you moving, after all, that lasagna.
(Photo credit: @cafegiottomontclair)
Cafe Giotto offers curbside pick-up and limited delivery During the pandemic, the Cafe added family meal kits to their menus to keep their customers fed and happy. The menus can be seen on the eatery’s Instagram or by giving the Cafe a call.
