Sept. 12th, 2021

1. Spano’s Ristorante Italiano – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Spano’s was recommended to us by Chris’s father who swore up and down that THIS was the place to go for Italian. If you want to experience traditional Italian in a place straight out of a Soprano’s episode, this is the spot for you.

Walking in, you’re instantly greeted by the smell of garlic and loudness with tables pushed together, packed with big families and parties. We told our server we had a bottle of wine, Amarone della Valpolicella, for the owner, Joe Spano, to which she yelled into the kitchen “hey where’s Joe, get him over here!” Mr. Spano came to our table and as we gifted him the wine, he thanked us with surprise at how we knew it was his favorite bottle.

The Spano’s are good ole, Italian people and you end up feeling like family the way they run their business. We found out that the chef is Joe Spano’s son, who came out to check on us. We asked him to teach us his ways, to which he joked, “if I ever get a day off!”

They had the best cannoli I have ever had, freshly filled so the shell is perfectly crisp. Mr. Spano sent over homemade sambucca to top off our night and we left with happy, full bellies.

2. Fresco Da Franco – Montclair, NJ

Fresco’s is located in a walking-friendly part of NJ called Montclair, where you can find upscale dining with great food shimmied up to adorable little boutiques and nightlife venues. This trendy-cool restaurant sets the tone for a club-like dinner party serving an upscale Italian menu under a mood-lit ceiling and color changing lighting while a DJ pumps hip hop jams at full volume.

You can find places like this all over Vegas (Lavo brunch anyone?), but I was surprised to find it in New Jersey! We had the BEST time here the weekend of our wedding with a party of 30 close friends and family members. It’s an energetic combination of dance music and food that makes you want to stand up in the middle of your eggplant parmesan, swing your napkin over your head, and start dancing…which is actually encouraged!

3. Bottagra – Hawthorne, NJ

If you’re looking for dinner and a show, another dinner-club-party spot is Bottagra on a Thursday night. Bottagra is infamous for its DJ hosted Thursday night dinner parties where every week they put on a fully costumed rager ranging from Circus to Disco to Hawaiian themed. The crowd is generally made up of older 20- to young 30-somethings with show-offy cars, skin tight bandage dresses, and a table reservation. It’s a place to see and be seen for every party animal who’s looking not to go home alone.

Depending on where you sit, this place can either be a full-on club OR a fun, vivacious dinner and drinks spot. If you’re like me, I suggest sitting out on the front patio, across from the circus-like tent full of bottle service tables and shoulder to shoulder drunken dancing. This is where you can order dinner and drinks while dancing in your seat and watching the shi* show from a safe place.

4. Lombardi’s Bar & Restaurant – Cedar Grove, NJ

When Chris first told me we were meeting his friends for dinner at a sports bar, I wasn’t expecting much. I’m really not a big sports bar kind of girl. However, I was super wrong to judge the book by its cover on this well-kept secret.

Lombardi’s is definitely a locals-only kind of spot. It’s a no frills place but the food is killer. My suggestion is get a pizza for an appetizer to share and the Chicken Scarpiello for your entree, which is their specialty!

5. The Log Jam – Lake George, NY

Alright so this one isn’t technically in New Jersey BUT if you’re exploring the area from NJ to NY during the winter season, you want to go here for dinner. Chris and I went on our way to Vermont for my birthday this past year and we were not disappointed! It’s got the coziest, fireside vibe and looks like the most perfect Christmas cabin you’ve ever seen. Great food, great service, AMAZING dessert!

If you try any of these restaurants let me know in the comments below or tag me @ashulley on IG!

With love,

Ashley Jo