Fascino

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Address:
331 Bloomfield Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042

Neighborhood:
Montclair

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $31 to $50

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Fascino Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.fascinorestaurant.com
Email: fascino@verizon.net
Phone: (973) 233-0350
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 9:30pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 10:30pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian, Continental
Executive Chef: Ryan DePersio
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, BYO Liquor, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Takeout, Wheelchair Access

Getting there

Cross Street: Grove Street
Public Transit: Lackawanna Train Station
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Public lot within 100 yards of restaurant.

A word from Fascino

"The atmosphere of Fascino, with its minimalist cream and deep red decor, borders on stark but not casual. The complexity's in the entrees, where flavors, scents and textures fuse seamlessly. Puree of kobacha squash soup with oregano crema and hazelnut oil wins the intriguing appetizer award, and… the paper-thin sheets of beef carpaccio with truffle oil and petite salad are a beef purist's dream. Pastas, risottos and raviolis are all available as appetizers or main courses, but the duck breast with confit cannelloni and black fig compote or pine nut-crusted codfish might be hard to pass up." -- Mike Hess, AOL Digital CityContinued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerItalian

Diner Reviews

"Always tremendous. Never disappoints. Food is just always prepared with such care and perfections. Staff is very friendly as well."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"I was looking for someplace new to try with my wife and stumbled upon Fascino in OpenTable. Once we made it to the restaurant, I could tell why it was rated so high! The ambiance was wonderful, service was friendly and the food was very good. This is a place I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice, romantic scene. Top notch!"
Dined on 2/24/2014
"The service was impeccable, the food was different, yet excellent. The interior space is warm, charming and romantic. I would highly recommend this restaurant."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"I've eaten at many fine establishments; creative food with high quality ingredients that it's well executed. This place is no exception. We had 4 courses each and coffees for $140. Every thing was great and good portion size. I have already made reservations to return."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"Fascino, one of Montclair's first good restaurants, continues to shine. The vegetarian tasting menu, along with the meatier dishes, is inventive and delicious."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"I enjoyed Fascino. The food was quite good and the service was great. However, I felt a little something missing. The pacing of the tasting menu was a bit off and some of the dishes should have been warmer. I would go back, but I do expect a bit more from such a highly regarded restaurant."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Birthday reservation for my bride. We found a quiet corner and enjoyed a wonderful evening. Great food, ambience and conversation. We'll be back in thirty days with friends."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"Fascino and Ryan DePersio never disappoints. The food and it's presentation are sumptuous. The staff is professional. This is the go-to place when you want to be sure of a wonderful meal and experience...with friends and without."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"Wow! We expected it to be nice, we had heard great first hand reviews already, but our experience was simply stellar! Feeling welcomed as we arrived 5 min late for our 9pm reservation on 1/31/14, our experience only improved by every passing moment. From the service, to accommodation, to each course of our meal we had a wonderful time. We've eaten at 6 or 7 places on Bloomfield Ave over the last few years, some of which we have been to more then once but for sure this has been the best! We hope to be back soon."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"outstanding!the food was out of this world and the service was top notch!i will eat there again trust me!"
Dined on 1/28/2014
"We enjoyed the evening, easy going service, attentive but not overbearing, good food, nice portions, interesting combinations. We waited for a while to try it, we'll be back."
Dined on 1/27/2014
"A warm greet at the door, food that is out of this world, expert and attentive service...what's not to love?! Thanks again for memorable feast!"
Dined on 1/11/2014
"was very surprised with the great vegeterian food. Was a bit disappointed with the desserts though. Desserts were not as good as the food."
Dined on 1/4/2014
"fantastic in every way! Our friends from California said it was so good we must never go into New York to eat."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"If a party of 2, could be seated in a booth or a tiny table. We had the tiny table which was really the only negative of the evening. The seafood chowder was very good (broth was brown though not a typical Manhatten or New England). Romaine wedge was delicious but a little pricey for what it was. The Cod was very good a little spicy for tastes of person who ordered it. Short Ribs were very good. The Apple crostada w/cinnamon gelato was delicious, crust was flaky apples warm. The molten chocolate cake came w/ hazelnut gelato also good. Overall would definitely recommend Fascino, but for serving size seems a little pricey."
Dined on 12/30/2013
"Our reservation was late (9pm) due to attending other earlier events. I thought that I would never eat that late and would have to take a doggie bag home. Not so. My appetizer was the romaine salad wedge. Fabulous and innovative! I ate every morsel. My entree was the squid ink bucolinin (sp?) with crab. Wonderful, favorful, and light. Nothing left on my plate to take home. We bypassed dessert this time but will certainly induldge on our next visit which will be soon and for an earlier hour. Loved it!!!"
Dined on 12/28/2013
"fascino is on autopilot to serve every guest graciously-the superbly fine cuisine is the draw with a menu for all palates."
Dined on 12/26/2013
"My friends were looking for an adult Christmas after a lackluster dinner out last year. Fascino was my first choice. In spite of the full house, and stressors of the season, Fascino was the perfect choice. Service great, nice and steady (never felt rushed), and food superb. The friends we brought, who don't typically dine at this white tablecloth level, were thrilled with the evening in every aspect."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"the food was great, the service as well would definitely go back"
Dined on 12/24/2013
"We asked the coat check girl for an entree recommendation and she said the braised short ribs were her favorite. We went with that and she was oh so right. Absolutely melt in your mouth delicious! Several of us had the romaine wedge salad as an appy and it was just right to complement the heavier entree. One of our friends had the salmon tartare and I think was a little disappointed that he received about 12 crackers with the tartare as his entree, more like just a big appetizer. But overall everyone enjoyed their meal including the scrumptious desserts - carrot cake was fabulous!"
Dined on 12/19/2013
"You have to go. An Italian place that doesn't stick to the classics, with great execution and flavors. A few interesting appetizers, very good mains.... and then the pasta. Oh, the pasta. Had 2 of them and there were maybe 4 more I want to come back and try. Squid-ink bucatini and blue crab amatriciana fantastic. Papardelle with braised duck sugo also wonderful. And then dessert, which I don't often get to. Had the special banana cake and it was amazing. Service was also excellent, very relaxed, but attentive. Highly, highly recommend."
Dined on 12/4/2013
"We were seated right away upon our arrival on Thursday evening. Overall good food, slow service , slightly pricey for this type of upscale Italian restaurant. We had Squash soup and a seafood based soup. For our main courses, had Bronzini fish and short rib filled ravioli. All. Dishes were well prepared and well seasoned with good plating. Our desert Molten chocolate cake with Hazelnut gelato were to die for! Will definitely return and highly recommend."
Dined on 12/5/2013
"We used to live nearby and loved this place, always great food, great service. The food was still pretty decent, but the service was ridiculously slow. Not sure if it was the waiter or the kitchen, but dinner took nearly 3 hours, and our wine was long gone before our entrees came. Also, the booth might have been OK for 1.5 hrs, but our backs and butts were hurting when we left. Too bad, because we still visit this area often."
Dined on 11/27/2013
"Innovative...Delectable...Inviting...Upscale...Professional...Flavorful...Enticing...Accommodating...Sublime...Fantastic!!!"
Dined on 11/16/2013
"Visited the rest. After its renovation and find the ambiance warm cozy and modern. Nice job. Food well thought out and menu offered variety and portion sizes. Food was well presented and tasting menu allowed us to try the kitchens hand at 8 different dishes all were very tasty. Could have been a bit well paced, a bit long in between cours"
Dined on 11/21/2013
"I was looking for a place to have dinner with two business colleagues who were staying in the area. I had previously read very good reviews of Fascino and decided to try it. We were not disappointed. The sweet potato gnocchi appetizer was fantastic - light and fluffy. No belly bombers here. All of us loved our entrees. The staff were very friendly and attentive without being annoying. I will definitely be back with my husband."
Dined on 11/19/2013
"We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation & were not seated until 30 minutes later. No accommodation. Tuna rollatini great. Mussels fresh. Octopus salad &beef carpaccio enjoyable. Short ribs tender, tasty. Scallops w prawns fresh, good portion. Pork chop w fennel special fantastic. Bread pudding was nice finish. Service was pleasant when there but mostly non existent. Seemed like they forgot we were there since we were in the back room. No check back after entrees came. Pepper was empty, had to wait quite some time to find someone to refill/replace it. Service did not live up to standard for this type place & price paid, $275 for 4. 3 hours arrival fo departure, slow pace of service. Drove 40 min. Food worth drive;service & price not"
Dined on 11/15/2013
"Food was delicious. Mussels were perfectly prepared. Homemade pastas were on point as well. Duck breast cooked to a perfect R to MR. BYO, but if you forget, a local spot can connect you quickly with a bottle. Nice "occasion" spot - took the wife for a b-day, which I mentioned in my Open Table reservation prior. They brought her out a small complimentary dessert with a candle, which was very nice, service wise. The waiter was well informed and knew the menu. Because he handles quite a few tables in the general area, guests overhear the "menu spiel" a few bonus times. Overall a very nice time, we will be back."
Dined on 11/14/2013
"Fascino is best described as a high end Italian style restaurant. Montclair has a vibrant restaurant scene so there's a lot of competition but I must say that Fascino's hold its own. The restaurant staff is very proprofessional and they take their time to explain all of the dishes clearly it is a little bit pricey, but you save in that you can bring your own wine. Overall this restaurant is to be considered a treat"
Dined on 11/11/2013
"Liked the restaurant a lot. Food was delicious. My only reason for not giving 5 stars was an issue with an appetizer. A sushi type roll that was not prepared correctly. They did not trim the sinew tissue on the fish which made it stringy. Not a health issue but a quality issue. However all other appetizers and mains were awesome and service was excellent."
Dined on 11/9/2013
"Went to the Italian restaurant Fascino on saturday for a Birthday Dinner. I came with my GF, but more of my party came later. The staff was very accommodating to the awkward arrival times of my party. The ambiance was very intimate, somewhat upscale, but still causal. The menu was lean, but had enough choices for conservative & adventurous diners. My GF and I got the tasting options for all the courses. This allowed us to get a lot of what the menu had to offer. Food came out a little slow, however all the food came out HOT and GOOD. From the tuna tartar to the bread pudding, every course was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Several owners came around, and met with their guests. Overall a really good dining experience. I would recommend it."
Dined on 11/9/2013
"We went to Fascino to celebrate my husband's birthday. The food was outstanding! I couldn't make up my mind and was delighted to see the option of a tasting menu that could be custom tailored. I was able to get small sized portions of everything that I wanted - oysters, squash soup, braised short rib ravioli and pignoli crusted cod - and enjoyed every bite! My husband had the crab cake and same ravioli as me, and loved it. The waiter knew it was his birthday, so they served his gelato dessert with a candle, but didn't sing which was perfect. They even gave him a birthday card! We love this place and come here to celebrate special occasions. You won't be disappointed!"
Dined on 11/9/2013
"My friend and I had dinner at Fascino and loved it. We ordered five different items from the appetizer menu so we had a nice sampling. I highly recommend the ricotta gnocchi which were so light and delicious, I was tempted to place another order. Also be sure to try the crab cake which was amazing, and the very fresh oysters. Very friendly staff. Plus it's BYOB! Parking can be tough in Montclair but when all else fails there is a (pricey) lot in the back."
Dined on 11/9/2013
"The food at Fascino was delicious. All four of us thought all the appetizers and meals were fantastic. The staff was nice, attentive and knowledgable. Simple but elegant decor makes for a nice ambiance. The short ribs and panchetta fries are out of this world. I highly recommend it."
Dined on 11/7/2013
"Took friends from Bernard's ville, was embarrassed by the quality, pasta was bland, sorry pumpkin mezaluna terrible!! After going there for many years, I won't be back any time soon. Will b looking for a new place to dine with my friends and family"
Dined on 11/2/2013
"I have driven by this restaurant a number of times but never noticed it because the sign is easy to miss. Found the restaurant on Open Table while searching for a venue to dine with work colleagues in the area from Vancouver. Throughout the evening we kept saying it was no wonder Fascino has 2 Open Table accolades of 'Best Overall restaurant' and 'Best Food'. There were a variety of dishes, each infused with incredible flavor. The restaurant is BYO which I didn't mind. Had a bottle of Apothic Red with the chicken, one colleague had it with duck and he is still emailing that his meal was #BDE (best duck ever). And our waiter Mike was amazing! Very attentive & knowledgeable about the menu which came in handy when asked for menu suggestions."
Dined on 11/1/2013
"I take my wife here when I want to give her a special night out. She is mostly vegetarian and lives their vegetarian tasting menue."
Dined on 11/3/2013
"Visited Fascino with 4 colleagues for a business dinner. Reserved a table solely on the number of reviews and recommendations from numerous diners. Certainly my group was not disappointed and I would agree with the majority and confirm it is clearly a Top establishment. We each had a variety of items from the entire menu. I personally started with the truffle scented rigatoni as an appetizer and then the salmon as the main course. Both were prepared with excellence as well as a fine presentation. The parmigiano spaetzle and sautéed broccoli rabe also added a nice compliment to our meals. The preparation was really on point and the service friendly and attentive. Will definitely re-visit with my wife and friends very soon."
Dined on 10/31/2013
"The menu and the preparation were outstanding. Each dish showed creativity and energy. I found the waitstaff did not have either creativity or energy. Perhaps a new waiter perhaps an off night ."
Dined on 10/30/2013
"We were impressed from the moment the salad hit the table. So fresh! Pastas delicious and short rib ravioli especially tasty. We will be back sooner than later."
Dined on 10/29/2013

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