Home Essex CountyCaldwell Casa Nostra: An Italian Bistro in Caldwell, New Jersey

Casa Nostra: An Italian Bistro in Caldwell, New Jersey

by Samantha Bonizzi
Samantha Bonizzi
stonehill
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Short of going to Europe, there’s nowhere quite like Northern New Jersey for quality Italian food. Another gem has entered the dining scene within the last two years: Casa Nostra, located at 455 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell. A father-daughter duo who hail from Sicily and are seasoned restaurateurs run this authentic Italian bistro. Above all else, the pair strives to give patrons the freshest dishes and a bona fide Italian experience. Read on for more about Casa Nostra in Caldwell, New Jersey.

The Backstory

Nicola Moncada grew up in Sicily with a fisherman father who loved cooking seafood and a mother who taught him many recipes. He entered the restaurant business by starting as a server in Tuscany, then made his way through Florence, London, Paris, and New York to refine his restaurant chops. He eventually opened his first restaurant in Novara, Italy, just outside Milan.

Nicola has been in New Jersey since 2000 and has opened several restaurants in locations such as Little Falls, Little Ferry, and Madison. His daughter, Daniela Moncada, also started in the restaurant business early and spent several years working in establishments independently of her father. Recently, the two decided to join forces by opening Casa Nostra, where Nicola serves as the head chef, and Daniela is the sous chef and floor manager.

Read More: Inside Dolce Marie: An Italian-Inspired Cafe in Verona

The Menu

There’s nothing premade on Casa Nostra’s menu. Everything is made-to-order and fresh, including the pasta. Nicola goes shopping daily for the ingredients. If something is not up to his standard, he’ll remove it from the menu that day.

The menu features an assortment of appetizers such as seafood salad, grilled octopus, and an eggplant tower; Roman-style flatbreads (with dough flown in from Rome!); salads and soups; pasta dishes; and meat and seafood plates. There is also an extensive specials menu each night, which could feature items like zucchini blossoms, black ink linguine with mixed seafood, and scallops in a limoncello sauce, to name a few. Nicola switches the deserts, made by his friend, every two or three days. Typically there’s a cannoli on the menu with a cream and shell imported from Sicily. MG pro tip: If there’s a cheesecake on the menu that evening, get it. It’s super light, fluffy, and delectable.

 

 

Additional Details

Casa Nostra is an intimate space, with only eight or so tables, so it’s best to make a reservation on weekends. The setting will quickly transport patrons to Italy with a kitchen tucked in the corner, visible to most diners. Guests will catch Nicola whipping up dishes or overhear Nicola and Daniela calling out to each other in Italian. Don’t be surprised if your meal is two to three hours long and leisurely in true European fashion. It’s clear that Casa Nostra is a family-run business where the owners also treat their customers like family.

See More: The Best Italian Restaurants in Hoboken: A Definitive List

The restaurant hosts a regional night once every two months with a preset five-course menu inspired by a different region. The restaurant requires reservations for these events. Casa Nostra doesn’t have a website or social media account (making it a true hidden gem), but patrons can call the restaurant for reservations and to find out about upcoming events.

Casa Nostra is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5PM to 9:30PM, and Fridays and Saturdays from 5PM to 10PM. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is a BYOB establishment.

read more food button