Lupa - Berkeley Heights

To start, we both ordered drinks and decided to share the truffle burrata as an appetizer, along with squid ink pasta with shrimp as our second course. The burrata was fantastic, and while the squid ink pasta was quite good, the shrimp were a bit undercooked. For our main courses, we both chose seafood dishes. There were seven seafood options on the specials menu, and considering the positive reviews on Yelp, we believed this restaurant had a solid grasp of seafood preparation. My wife selected the halibut and I opted for the orata (dorade). Unfortunately, when our main courses arrived, both fish had an unpleasant taste. My orata was overwhelmingly fishy, despite being heavily seasoned, and was served atop a blend of farro and quinoa with dried mushrooms. The seasoning was heavily flavored with cinnamon, which clashed with the fish, making it unappetizing. My wife's halibut was even less appealing. It came with potatoes smothered in tartar sauce (which was an odd pairing), and the halibut itself was a thin tail piece topped with a cold dollop of walnut sauce. The texture was mushy, and it had a strong fishy taste, rendering it nearly inedible. Shortly after, the chef came to our table to inquire about our meals. I dislike complaining, but I had to express that neither of us could eat what was served. He seemed taken aback but didn’t respond much. A few minutes later, our waiter returned, indicating he hadn’t yet spoken with the chef. We reiterated our complaint, and he took the fish away. At that point, he offered us dessert, which we politely declined, feeling it was best to leave. Finally, the waiter brought the bill and informed us that he had removed the halibut (priced at $45) from it. It felt like a rather strange dining experience overall. The first half was enjoyable, but the latter half was quite disappointing. The waiter handled our complaints poorly and seemed annoyed that we voiced our concerns. To top it all off, I developed a mild case of food poisoning about 12 hours later, likely from the fish. We had high hopes for Lupa, but unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant. I am glad to see that others have had better experiences, though.

What truly distinguishes Lupa is the remarkable quality of the food, especially the pasta. From the moment it touches your palate, you can tell that everything is made in-house. The dining experience is elevated but not pretentious; there are no unnecessary frills, just the kind of delicious food you'd expect from a family meal prepared by 'nonna.' The attention to detail and consistency in each dish is impressive. While everything we tried was outstanding, I want to highlight the biggest surprise: the Tiramisu. It was perfectly balanced, not overly heavy with cream, and richly infused with espresso. I've often hesitated to order Tiramisu in the U.S. due to past disappointments, but I took a chance here and was thoroughly impressed. It is by far the best version I've had at a restaurant in the U.S. to date. In addition to the exquisite meal, the service was excellent. The staff was warm and welcoming, and it was especially lovely that some of them spoke Italian, which my mother appreciated immensely. It takes a lot to impress her, and they managed to hit every note perfectly. I can't thank them enough for that. I highly recommend Lupa to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience, particularly for Italians seeking a true taste of home!

The homemade Italian pasta dishes are absolutely delicious. The pizza is also fantastic. The staff is incredibly kind and friendly. This is our favorite Italian restaurant!

This is a great spot. Food is top tier with a good wine selection. I've never been disappointed by a dish we've had. Once we arrived without a reservation towards the end of the night and they refused to let us leave they were dedicated to making room for us. Not once did I feel rushed once we were sat.

I have now dined at LUPA around 30x. Always delicious. But last night dinner moved to a new level of Extraordinary!! Aldolfo is a combination of artist genius. His creations just get better better from start to finish; every course, every time. Cocktails also perfect with a fantastic wine selection to match a wonderful, caring staff! Go back to LUPA and then go again.