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Castalia 997 Restaurant & Lounge
Castalia 997 Restaurant & Lounge

Castalia 997 Restaurant & Lounge Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.castalia997.com
  • Email: rjsent@optonline.net
  • Phone: (973) 785-8880
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Sunday: 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Tuesday - Saturday: 11:30am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Sunday: 2:00pm - 9:30pm, Tuesday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday - Saturday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian, Fusion / Eclectic, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Executive Chef: Alfredo
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Dancing, Delivery, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access
  • Catering: Our entire menu is available for take out or catered at another venue. Loving attention to detail for on-site or at your own location.
    Your catered feast is prepared with
    the pride and expertise Captain Ron & his Staff creates.


    Birthdays • Anniversaries • Graduations
    Communions • Bar Mitzvahs • Repasts
  • Private Party Facilities: Castalia is open six days a week for lunch and dinner and seven days a week for parties. We offer a variety of private event spaces for your special celebration or corporate event. Please consult us directly for Party Package information or call the Captain.
  • Private Party Contact: Captain (973) 785-8880
  • Entertainment: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday view website for complete listing.
  • Special Events & Promotions: Lou Pallo of the Les Paul Trio performs every Wednesday evening starting at 7:30, reservations suggested.Happy Hour Daily 4:00 till 7:00

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Route 46 or Route 80
  • Public Transit: Easy access to public transportation.
  • Parking: Private Lot
  • Parking Details: 450 parking spaces available. Includes handicap spaces, ramps and full accessibility.
A word from Castalia 997 Restaurant & Lounge
The minute you walk into Castalia you know you have stumbled onto some place special. From the warm and friendly greeting by husband and wife team "Captain" and Laura, to the intimate setting, you're made to feel like family.

The reasonably priced menu includes steaks, chops, fresh seafood… and creative weekly specials, along with traditional and contemporary Italian favorites. With its blend of "Old World charm and New World cuisine" Castalia truly offers something for everyone.
Join us for a "lite bite" @ the Bar or a gourmet feast for the family and be sure to save room for one of Laura's sumptuous homemade desserts.
Open 7 days a week, lunch and dinner.Continued
Foodspotting photos
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerNeighborhood Gem
Diner Reviews
  • "Delicious food, awesome martini list, Friday night singer gives u a sense of nostalgia. Great place for a date night or group event!!"
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "Wonderful find. It was a lovely surprise to be visited by both the manager and the owner to check on things. Our server was delightful. We will definitely go back!"
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "This was our first time here and would definitely go back. Prices were reasonable for a valentine's day romantic dinner for 2. The food was awesome. Had the specialty drink of the night (I asked to go light on vodka), it was perfect. The service was friendly from the second we walked in until the time we left. I believe it was the owner or manager that came over to check on us also so that makes a difference. The desserts were delicious. Space is tight but we still felt like we had privacy even though almost every table was occupied. We will definitely eat here again."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "As always, our visit to Castalia was wonderful. Always a pleasure to be spoiled by the Captain & Laura"
    Dined on 2/4/2014
  • "The beet and goat cheese salad was so beautifully prepared and taste as good as it looks. My friend was in the mood for steak and was extremely happy with his choice. I had pasta with clam sauce. I asked for extra sauce which they gladly provided. And the homemade desserts are an added special touch. Great dinner. Prices are very reasonable and portions are generous. Service is professional and attentive without making you feel uncomfortable."
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "Took my mother on a Thursday night. We had a Groupon, which we put towards the dinner. We had an eggplant rollatine appetizer, which was great. Wished it were offered as an entree. My Mom had the salmon with dijon mustard and I had the veal parm. The food was outstanding and the portion sizes very good. Service was very good with the owner, host, and wait staff checking on us numerous times. Will be back."
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "I don't know how they do it but every time is better than the last."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "We came for the entertainment but will be back for the food!!!"
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Great find tucked away in a strip mall. Perfect spot for a date night or out with a group. Best red sauce.....generous portions and professional service. Live entertainment is enjoyable because it is not too loud and doesn't overpower the ability to converse. Owners and staff take pride in what they do."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Excellent italian, with great salads and desserts, more than just red sauce;fish dishes especially good."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "We visited in January to celebrate a family birthday. We ordered mostly specials and the tab ended up being quite high. I wish the restaurant had provided a list of specials with the pricing or that the waiter had recited the prices for these entrees. The food was well prepared and the wait staff was very friendly. The problem was that we were seated near the bar area and there were several patrons there watching a football game who were shouting and being quite rowdy. Hardly the quiet atmosphere we would have preferred. We considered asking to have our table moved, but, the dining area is quite small and I don't think it would have mattered."
    Dined on 1/5/2014
  • "A good solid restaurant but dinner for two with a single appetizer and no drinks or desserts cost $85. That's too much money for this place. As noted, it's a decent place to eat but $85 is what I'd expect to pay at Ruth's Chris or something, not a strip mall Italian restaurant."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "My husband and I have eaten here in the past, but we are Early-Birds. Great Food! We loved it so much we brought a couple with us this time and had a later reservation. Great Food! And imagine our surprise when the live music came on and everyone started dancing! What a wonderful little neighborhood gem to find great food and music in the same place! I especially liked that the owners came over to the tables and introduced themselves. It was nice that they "checked in" with all the tables to make sure everyone was happy. I would definitely recommend going here for the food, music and good time!"
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "We have tried this place twice. The first time the whole facility was in use for a private party, so we were seated in the bar. Very noisy. This time they had lounge music and dancing.... and again we were seated in the bar. Not our thing...we won't be back"
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "We ( table of 7 ) enjoyed a delicious, relaxing New Years Day dinner. Everything was perfect."
    Dined on 1/1/2014
  • "My husband and I decided at the last minute on Saturday to go out to dinner and we wanted to try somewhere new to us. I went on Open Table, which was recommended by a friend and searched for a someplace that had an opening for dinner and found this gem, Castalia 997. The service was excellent, very attentive staff. The food was wonderful. My husband is a bit picky and he ate every morsel. We will definitely be going back."
    Dined on 12/28/2013
  • "Since there were only 3 of us for thanksgiving we decided to eat out. I found this restaurant on "open tables" thanksgiving pull down. read all the reviews (which highly compliment the italian food) but the thanksgiving special was pretty average (cranberry sauce was an exception, outstanding). Owner and staff were very friendly and courteous. Will try again but will order from the regular menu."
    Dined on 11/28/2013
  • "Our second trip here and we were once again impressed! Great food, great entertainment"
    Dined on 11/23/2013
  • "We had a 6pm Saturday reservation which was nice because it was quiet. The food had a great spin on some Italian favorites. And huge portions - we orders 3 apps and we could have called it quits after that. The service was great and it was a very calm and warm environment. Can't wait to go back!"
    Dined on 11/16/2013
  • "The chicken rollatini special that I had was so good that I went back two days later to have it again!!"
    Dined on 11/12/2013
  • "Met a few friends that I haven't seen in a long time and was a little concerned based on our varied tastes however it proved to be the perfect place for us. There was something on the menu for everyone, the service was friendly, relaxed yet professional and the food was EXCEPTIONAL. I was pleased with my choice of restaurant and will most definitely be back soon with my family. I am considering this location for our family Thanksgiving if we decide not to have it at home."
    Dined on 11/12/2013
  • "As the title states, this place was just average...and for those who look forward to great dining experiences on Saturday nights, I just would flat out not recommend this place. There's no need to go into the details of the dishes that we ordered like I normally do in my reviews, they were just fair to average at best. I wish them luck, but we will not be back."
    Dined on 11/3/2013
  • "Absolutely loved it, great food, service, entertainment - a great spot!"
    Dined on 10/27/2013
  • "I thoroughly enjoyed my pasta dish. My friend did not care for her veal parm. at all."
    Dined on 10/24/2013
  • "Food was excellent. Somewhat pricey but worth the visit. Enjoyed the specials. Found the stuffed artichoke to be amazing. Could have done without the evening entertainment. A lounge lizard singing karaoke and his female friend (who was not any good) were too loud and intrusive."
    Dined on 9/28/2013
  • "Very pleasant experience. It was not very crowded, and when I was seated a woman (who told me she was the owner after I asked) came to welcome me. Appetizer was excellent - sweet Italian sausage, long hot peppers and potatoes, all flash fried - tasty. I had the pollo arrabiata which was also very good - a little on the vinegary side (made with pickled cherry peppers), but very good. When I left I got directions back to me hotel from the husband of the woman who greeted me when I arrived, and he told me next time I was in town to call him (he gave me a business card) and he would send a car to pick me up. He reiterated that he meant it! Highly recommended."
    Dined on 9/13/2013
  • "My wife and I decided to look for a place to have lunch, and I used OpenTable to find a restaurant. We found the place is a strip mall, and were concerned regarding how good this restaurant would be. We were pleasantly surprised. The wait staff was very attentive, and the food selection was excellent. (Try the rock shrimp appetizer, it is superb). All of the food was beautifully prepared and fresh, and tasted wonderful (no over-garlic to cover up for lack of flavor). Then we had a delicious desert (home made)... a caramel creme cake that was out of this world. We would definitely recommend this restaurant. The only sad point is that we live in South Jersey, and can't visit the place more often, but we will be back."
    Dined on 8/31/2013
  • "Never thought to give this place a try since it is in a stripmall location. However, we decided to go to this restaurant based on the reviews here at OpenTable.com. We were not disappointed. The food was great and the owners came over to the table to make sure we "were happy". My husband asked if they had just opened, because he didn't see owners come out very often once a place "establishes" itself. We were delighted with the service and quality of the food. Definitely would recommend this place to others."
    Dined on 9/7/2013
  • "Every time we visit we look forward to returning. Each visit where we've had a new patron come with us, they also can't wait to return. Hands-on attention from both waitstaff and owners (Captain & Laura) is outstanding. Would not hesitate to recommend it to everyone."
    Dined on 8/31/2013
  • "We traveled to see Lou Pallo & Friends and were not disappointed. The restaurant was full and the band was playing at a sound level that still allowed us to hold a conversation. As the night continued, more musicians began to participate providing a variety of entertainment. There was singing, a trumpet, banjo and of course Lou Pallo. It was a great time and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the specials and the menu. In fact, he offered his opinion on what he recommended. Overall, it was a great experience and we look forward to returning."
    Dined on 8/29/2013
  • "small place but the food is amazing and the staff cares. owners both did rounds at all the tables. we'll definetly return"
    Dined on 8/25/2013
  • "This was the second time my friend and I came so this time we tried a few different martinis. I had the lemon drop and candy bar; both very good. My friend had the fig and chocolate, which were just as good. The appetizer special that Saturday night was fig wrapped in prosciutto with cheese. It was very delicious. For our entrée’s, I had the gnocchi with a red Bolognese sauce, it was very tasty. My friend had the cavatelli with broccoli; she was very happy with her choice. We also had a chocolate pretzel shot which was made perfectly. This was our second time coming to the restaurant, the atmosphere was the same as last, energetic and fun, and the service was perfect. We definitely plan on coming back with friends."
    Dined on 8/11/2013
  • "Very good menu, not exclusively Italian; excellent service both servers and kitchen; reasonable prices; entertainment on weekends"
    Dined on 8/11/2013
  • "Found out about this place on Open Table and went there for my wife's birthday. It was great! Appetizers and dinner were outstanding. Owner and service were very friendly and inviting. There was a large party of senior types next to us which made it a bit loud but they were so friendly and fun we enjoyed the entire evening. Would go back anytime!"
    Dined on 7/28/2013
  • "Never disappoints as to the quality of the food offered. Just wish they would put some effort into staff training. Wait staff is very amateur. Table not set properly. Specials read off a list. I wish the owner would put some effort into staff training and development. The food is spot on. The service should be too."
    Dined on 7/21/2013
  • "Quality food and service! Great selection of possible pasta dishes, including gluten free. Very personable staff, felt like they were all on their game."
    Dined on 6/30/2013
  • "I guess you can call us "regulars" by now. We love this place. The food is always consistently very good, the service professional and we feel welcomed as we walk in the door."
    Dined on 5/22/2013
  • "Soft shell crabs, my favorite, prepared to perfection. Stuffed artichoke, out of this world. 16 oz steak with sauteed onions better than any steakhouse I have ever been to. Of course we will return soon."
    Dined on 5/12/2013
  • "Everything was perfect. Our family of 12 felt welcomed, taken care of, and of course very very full. The attention to detail was obvious from beginning to end. Some were here for the first time and were impressed. It made our Mothers Day everything we hoped it would be."
    Dined on 5/12/2013
  • "Was impressed with the vibrant & friendly ambiance it offered the moment I walked through the doors! A small but cozy bar that had a good selection of drink choices and a barmaid that made certain you were happy with your drink choice! The live music was a nice touch, a bit loud at first then became a nice background of fun and energy, it may have been because it was the last turn of tables - the 8:30 pm seating. The food was very good, not that I ventured into the specials, I started with some basics ans they hit the mark! The next visit will be more adventurous to set a benchmark for the future! Definitely going back!!"
    Dined on 5/4/2013
More reviews ›
  • Easter Brunch & Dinner Reservations
    Sunday, April 20, 2014›
    Buona Pasqua to all! Celebrate Easter with your loved ones at Castalia 997. Our a la cart menu will include many Easter specials along with our traditional Italian menu.
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • New Jersey - North Winners
  • Neighborhood Gem
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