Cafè Giotto Introduce
## Introduction / Overview: Montclair’s Authentic Italian Jewel Box
Nestled in the bustling heart of Montclair, Cafè Giotto is a quintessential destination for New Jersey residents seeking an authentic, high-quality Italian dining experience. Located on the charming and busy Church Street, this restaurant transcends the typical Italian-American fare, focusing on simple, spectacular flavors characteristic of Northern Italian cuisine. Known for its dedication to homemade specialties, Cafè Giotto has built a stellar reputation on its incredible fresh pasta, artisan panini, and welcoming, cozy atmosphere.
More than just a lunch spot, Cafè Giotto offers a full spectrum of dining opportunities, serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. The menu is a delightful showcase of Italian staples, ranging from light antipasti like Burrata Bruschetta and hearty starters such as Clams & Mussels to substantial main courses. Their menu is notably versatile, offering rich Comfort food like the famous Lasagne Bolognese alongside excellent Healthy options and a comprehensive list of Vegetarian options.
Whether you are a local stopping by for a quick, high-quality Coffee and pastry, looking for a delicious Panini like the "Giotto Special" for lunch, or settling in for a multi-course dinner featuring fresh seafood like Pan Seared Sea Scallops & Shrimp, Cafè Giotto delivers. It is a true “jewel box” location that maintains a Casual yet Trendy atmosphere, ensuring a memorable dining experience for every patron.
## Location and Accessibility
Cafè Giotto is perfectly situated at 42 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA, placing it in one of Montclair's most desirable and walkable dining districts. Church Street is renowned for its vibrant, local feel, making the restaurant a natural gathering spot for the community. The prime 07042 location offers easy access for both local diners and visitors from neighboring Essex County towns.
The urban setting of Church Street comes with standard metropolitan parking arrangements. Visitors should be aware that Parking consists of a Paid parking lot nearby and Paid street parking options. However, the benefits of the lively atmosphere and the proximity to local shops often outweigh the parking logistics.
The cafe ensures a comfortable experience for all guests with key Amenities, including a Restroom and a Gender-neutral restroom. Payment is simple and streamlined, accepting all major methods:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
## Services Offered
Cafè Giotto offers a comprehensive array of service options to suit every need, from a leisurely seated meal to fast takeaway:
- Dine-in: Full Table service is provided within the Cozy indoor Seating area.
- Outdoor seating: A highly popular option, allowing guests to enjoy the vibrant Church Street atmosphere during warmer months.
- Takeout: Convenient in-person pickup for enjoying the menu at home or on the go.
- Delivery: Order your favorite homemade Italian dishes to be brought directly to your location.
- Full Dining Spectrum: Offers distinct menus for Breakfast, Brunch (often featuring rotating specials), Lunch, and Dinner.
- Beverage Options: Serves outstanding Coffee, as noted in the highlights, along with a selection of Alcohol and Wine to complement dinner.
- Catering: Provides Catering services, allowing you to bring their acclaimed Italian specialties to your event.
- Quick Bite: Known for Fast service, making it an excellent choice for a quick, delicious stop during the workday or while running errands.
## Features / Highlights: Authentic Northern Italian Cuisine
Cafè Giotto’s menu and atmosphere are highlighted by several distinguishing features that draw crowds from across New Jersey:
- Homemade Pasta & Lasagna: The undisputed star of the menu is the spectacular, fresh, handmade pasta, a hallmark of Northern Italian cooking. Their Lasagne Bolognese, prepared in a traditional style often utilizing béchamel instead of ricotta, is consistently cited as an award-winning and must-try dish.
- Gourmet Panini Selection: Ideal for lunch, the Panini menu offers creative and classic options such as the "Giotto Special," "Padova," and the savory Leg Of Lamb Panino, all featuring their light, freshly baked bread.
- Specialty Seafood & Meat Entrees: The kitchen excels with traditional Entrees and rotating specials, including exquisite seafood items like Tagliolini Seafood and Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare, or meat selections like Veal Milanese and Chicken Breast Paillard.
- Exceptional Coffee Program: Patrons rave about the quality of the Coffee, making Cafè Giotto an essential stop for a morning ritual or afternoon pick-me-up. The inclusion of the classic Italian dessert Affogato (espresso poured over gelato) further showcases their dedication to coffee culture.
- Dessert Showcase: The dessert menu is rich and tempting, featuring classic Italian sweets like Ramisu (Tiramisu), creamy Panna Cotta, and the bright, refreshing Lemon Mascarpone Mousse.
- Atmosphere & Popularity: The atmosphere is described as Casual, Cozy, and Trendy, perfectly suited for a pleasant Solo dining experience or an intimate gathering. Its popularity extends across all dining periods: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
## Contact Information
For reservations, to inquire about the daily specials (often including seasonal risotto or seafood), or to place a Takeout or Delivery order, please use the following details:
Address: 42 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA
Phone: (973) 746-0111
Mobile Phone: +1 973-746-0111
## What is Worth Choosing Cafè Giotto
Choosing Cafè Giotto means selecting an authentic piece of Italian culinary excellence in the heart of Montclair. For New Jersey diners, its value lies not just in the delicious food but in the unique, comprehensive dining experience it provides across the entire day.
The primary reason to choose Cafè Giotto is the unmatched quality of its homemade Italian specialties. The commitment to crafting fresh pasta, particularly the critically acclaimed Lasagne Bolognese and Black Truffle & Ricotta Tortelloni, sets it far above the standard neighborhood Italian spot. The ability to taste Northern Italian cuisine prepared with such care and authenticity is a rare treat in the Essex County area.
Beyond the pasta, the café's utility as an all-day dining spot is a significant advantage. Whether you need a quick, gourmet Panini sandwich during your lunch break, a satisfying plate of Chicken Milanese for dinner, or simply an exceptional cup of Coffee to start your day, Cafè Giotto covers all bases. The combination of Fast service with the option for Outdoor seating creates a dynamic environment that caters to both a relaxing meal and a quick, efficient bite.
Finally, the Cozy and Trendy atmosphere on the sought-after Church Street adds to its appeal. It’s the perfect place to meet friends, enjoy a quiet solo meal, or celebrate a special occasion, as recommended by happy customers. By accepting modern Payments and offering both Delivery and Catering, Cafè Giotto proves itself to be a convenient, high-quality, and deeply authentic Italian gem for the Montclair community.
Cafè Giotto Menu
Appetizers
- Fennel, Mixed Mushroom & Potato
- Mixed Seafood $23.00
- Clams & Mussels $25.00
- Burrata Bruschetta
- Bresaola Carpaccio $18.00
- Octopus Carpaccio $21.00
- Pappardelle $30.00
- Balsamic Chicken $30.00
- Pan Seared Sea Scallops & Shrimp $35.00
- Cacio E Pepe $22.50
- Black Truffle & Ricotta Tortelloni $26.00
Panini
- Giotto Special
- Padova
- Imola
- Napoli
- Calabrese
- Vegetariano
- Breaded Chicken
- Grilled Chicken
- Leg Of Lamb
- Italian Cooked Ham
Entrees
- Risotto Of The Day
- Fish Of The Day
- Chicken Milanese
- Leg Of Lamb
To Start
- Daily Soup $8.00
- Pizza Margherita $9.00
- House Focaccia $10.00
- Antipasto Misto $23.00
- Eggplant Parmigiana $14.00
- Arancini $9.50
- Burrata & Tomato $16.00
Meat
- Veal Milanese
- Chicken Breast Paillard
- Risotto
Others
- Lasagna
- Pomodoro $18.50
- Pesto $19.50
- Aglio E Olio $17.50
- Bolognese $19.50
- Sea Scallops $33.00
- Crispy Salmon $31.00
- Halibut $32.00
- Zuppa Di Pesce $33.00
- Lasagne Bolognese $19.50
- Vegetable Lasagna $19.50
- Tagliolini Seafood $33.00
- Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare $33.00
- Linguini & White Clams $26.00
- Fazzoletti $19.50
- Seasonal Ravioli
- Seasonal Risotto
- Chicken Parmigana $23.50
- Chicken Paillard $23.50
- Veal Milanese $33.00
- Daily Salad
- Spinach $13.00
- Quinoa $14.00
- Mesculun $12.00
- Caesar $12.00
- Ramisu $9.00
- Affogato $7.00
- Stacciatella $14.00
- Panna Cotta $9.00
- Chocolate Mousse $9.00
- Lemon Mascarpone Mousse $9.00
- Semifreddo $9.00
- Sautéed Spinach
- Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
- Sauteed Mixed Mushrooms
- Pepper, Onion & Roasted Potato
- Lamb Panino
- Chicken Parm Panni
- Bresola Panni
- Grilled Chicken Panino
- Giotto Special Panino
- Padova Panino
- Italian Ham
- Mussels & Clams Oreganata
- Blood Orange & Mesclun Salad
- Spaghetti Alla Chitarra
- Linguini White Clam Sauce
- Tagliolini With Seafood
- Cavatelli
- Prosciutto & Potato Ravioli
- Herb Crusted Salmon
- Pan Seared Halibut
Cafè Giotto Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great coffee
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Cafè Giotto Photos










Cafè Giotto Location
Cafè Giotto Reviews
italiancafelasagnapaninipastriespestogelatocappuccinofocacciapanna cotta
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Cafe Giotto is a great little place with Amazing food and diligent staff. I recently went here for my birthday and had a fantastic time. The waiter and manager recommended all our amazing dishes. I highly recommend you try this gem for lunch or dinner.
June 14 · Carmela SantulliSuch a cute little cafe with outdoor seating. They have many different Italian dishes to choose from and they sound really good. We ordered the Linguini & White Clams which was okay. It needed salt and paper for flavor. The Chicken Paillard had good flavor but was very dry. The best dish was the Risotto with Lobster, Crab, and Pesto (Specials Menu).The dessert menu have a nice list of dishes to choose from. The Tiramisu, Affogato, and Lemon Sorbet were very good 👍Overall, it was a good experience. Staff was friendly. The bathroom is inside and down the stairs (only one bathroom)
July 20 · Jonathan (Flavor Wanderer)Because of all the good reviews of this place, I wanted to try it since it's been sitting in my bookmarks for so long ! Finally was able to try it out and a couple things I must say --It's a great place to eat at when the weather is nice as they have seating outdoors. Inside is quite small, though I'm not sure if there was more seating in the back since I kept seeing people walk back there...Onto the food ! The sourdough you get in the beginning was so nice -- warm, crispy, and fluffy. The perfect, rustic sourdough.The house focaccia came in an unexpected fashion, but it was so good. A nice focaccia with some caremlized onion topped with arugula and balsamic glaze - yum. The Caesar salad was good, but nothing exceptional.We enjoyed the pasta for the pasta itself, and the clams were delicious, but we both came to the conclusion that the sauces might have needed just a little more garlic but this is probably just our personal preference. The way the pasta itself was made, though, was so good and chewy, you could tell they're made right there.Service was great! The water refill just kept coming it was honestly quite amazing. We could pour the water ourselves but it's like they never gave us the chance to. Staff were all kind and bustling around. We saw some servers bring out lasagna and honestly that looked perfect so I would want to try that.Would I come back here ? Maybe. But I would recommend this place for someone to try out if they wanted proper pasta.
May 08 · Rudylee Jyssica GocoEverything was absolutely perfect. The food was incredible, and tonight was the perfect night to dine outdoors and savor a delightful meal. I’m looking forward to trying their other dishes and pizza. My brother and I arrived on a great time, so there was no wait for a table. The service was very attentive and kind. Looking for the next time.
September 18 · Cathy ZSuch a cute, local spot in downtown Montclair. It's not a big place at all - cafe is right. The espresso drinks were great and the traditional Italian food makes you feel like you're transported to Italy itself! Pastries hit the spot too. If you can get a seat, grab it and enjoy.
January 16 · Al Cohen
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