The Movers.com Blog

When it comes to dining out, I’m a service snob. Scrumptious entrees, savory hors d’oeuvres and mouthwatering desserts can be easily spoiled by an inattentive, rude, or otherwise unpleasant server. Granted, the world’s best service can’t help a fallen soufflé or a watery soup. However, dining at a restaurant shouldn’t just be a meal: it should be an experience.

That being said, Café L’Amore excels in both its culinary and service endeavors. My family has spent dozens of birthdays, anniversaries, and dinner parties at this quaint little eatery over the past seven or eight years, and we’ve never once been disappointed.

Over the course of visiting the restaurant, we’ve sampled at least half of their large menu. My personal favorite: shrimp parmigiana, served with either a seasoned steamed vegetable medley or potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce. The large shrimp are coated in homemade marinara sauce and enveloped with fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s a simple dish, but the fresh seafood, perfectly spiced marinara, and fresh cheese make it appeal both texturally and taste-wise.

All of the other entrees that we have had have been equally delicious. The chicken francaise is spirited and tangy. Oven-baked pizza is tantalizing and crisp. Even the bread, which is served alongside each meal, is baked to perfection in the same wood burning ovens as the pizza.

Though the desserts are not made on the premises, it is always a fun experience to flip through the photography-rich after-dinner menu and select the most visually stunning sorbet, cake or tart. My recommendation: the lemon sorbet, served inside a whole frozen lemon skin with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

The food is only half of the story at this little restaurant, though. The friendly, fast wait staff are equally impressive as the decadent food. The same four or five servers are present almost every evening, and it’s impossible to not enjoy catching up with them. Whenever my parents dine alone without me and my sisters, they ask for our whereabouts and tell them to send us over soon. We even found out that one of the server’s daughters was getting married the same weekend my sister tied the knot (at a nearby venue nonetheless) and that another had seen our high school marching band perform during a football game at her son’s school. All of their personalities are warm and attentive, and they go out of their ways to make sure that your meal is delivered piping hot with any special requests you may have.

The prices are very reasonable. Despite the economic downturn, the chefs will not change their recipes or give subpar portions.  However, the prices have been increased slightly to accommodate this excellence. If you would like to enjoy your own alcoholic beverages, you may bring them with you as the restaurant does not serve alcohol.

All in all, I couldn’t recommend Café L’Amore in any higher regards. This restaurant will offer you a high-quality dining experience each and every time you visit. And trust me: after savoring a well-prepared meal and meeting the delightful staff, you’ll come back time and time again.

CAFÉ L’AMORE
455 Ramapo Valley Road
Oakland, NJ 07436
201.337.5558
cafelamore.org