Our appetizers and dessert were both so impressive at Bella Luce in Nutley that they have been placed on my “Best Of List” for 2016. Unfortunately, the entrees were unremarkable. This restaurant which was opened in March 2015 by Joe Capasso and Dino Vitagliano, former owners of Luce Restaurant in Caldwell was busy on a weekday night. Make a reservation.
The dining room has bare tables topped with dishtowel napkins. All of the seats have a view of the open kitchen and the bar which had two TV screens. Specials were written out with their prices and service was extremely attentive with the waiter filling our water glasses as needed, asking if we wanted more bread and checking on us after each course was served.
A sizeable serving of scrumptious caponata with a hint of Parmesan was placed on the table with hot Italian bread. It was finished very quickly. Pasta braids had well balanced flavors and textures from the saltiness and crispness from the pancetta, creaminess of the white beans, slight firmness of Brussels sprouts, toasted breadcrumbs and slivers of garlic. This appetizer was split in the kitchen and served steaming hot; we loved it.
Entrees were not as exciting. A large grilled pork chop came with hot and sweet peppers, caramelized onions and a requested replacement of broccoli rabe rather than potatoes. The meat was tender but I thought that it was too salty; Lowell did not. It was ordered medium rare and served medium well. Calamari and shrimp came in a spicy tomato sauce with peas and potatoes. The dish was boring, the calamari smelled fishy and the shrimp were small. However we had a OMG moment with the dessert, a modern cannoli made with a caramel almond tuile, layered with house made cannoli cream and topped with squiggles of caramel sauce. Not only was this dessert visually appealing but also the crunchy tuille with the cannoli cream was heavenly.
There are some interesting selections that would bring the Saferstein’s back here such as: spicy and sweet Italian sausage with polenta; rice balls; golden and purple beet, fennel, orange and goat cheese salad; short ribs pappardelle; and pollo scarpariello made with a half semi boneless chicken.
Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for dinner starting at 4 PM.
Pork chop
A modern cannoli
Photos courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
Bella Luce Restaurant and Bar
507 Franklin Avenue
Nutley, NJ
973-661-4300
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