Taverna Rustic Italian - Newark

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1. CD

   ChristinaD

   Philadelphia

   37 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   37 reviews

   Dined today

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Great food. As always. Wonderful service. Daniele was our server. She is spectacular. She usually waits on us when we go. She makes us feel special by remembering us - and what we like. The bar tender makes the BEST cosmos. ( I am sorry I don’t know his name - but he wears a beard. ) he is great as well. One of our favorite Italian restaurants. We love taverna. Would highly recommend

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Tyler is the man! My girlfriend said the Beef Brasata reminded her of a meal her recently deceased nana made for her growing up. I’ve never seen an emotional response to a meal before so good on Taverna for making that possible. I enjoyed the late night reservation because we ended up being the only ones in the dining area

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3. Y

   Yemar

   Philadelphia

   88 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   88 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Evan was our main server but all contributed to provide a great experience. Michael the manager even stopped by and we were definitely pleased with our Sidecars and wonderful food.

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4. TL

   ThomasL

   Philadelphia

   11 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall3food2service5ambience3

   The dishes we ordered ranged from utterly delicious to almost inedible. First up was fried calamari, which was wonderful, and different from what you see in most other places. The squid was cooked perfectly, and the combination of sauces and flavors complemented it beautifully. Next we had the Taverna salad. The greens were very fresh, which was nice, but otherwise it was, well, just a salad. The entrees were a different story. I had the Shells Aurora. It was OK but not great – a little bland, the shells were somewhat overcooked, and the chicken looked like it came from a bag of frozen precut pieces. At least the portion was generous, though the dish was definitely underwhelming. The real problem was with my partner's Grilled Spicy Shrimp. It was oversalted to the point where you start to perspire and gulp water with the second mouthful. She stopped eating a third of the way through. She doesn't like to complain and make a fuss, so I called this to the attention of the waiter, who informed the manager. To Taverna's credit he offered to get her something else, but by that time she wasn't hungry. I asked them to pack the leftovers so I could try it the next day. Eating it was like taking a drink from the Great Salt Lake. I appreciate the manager's effort to make amends, and am sorry my partner didn't take him up on his offer. But that doesn't dismiss the fact that this dish should never have gotten out of the kitchen.

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5. L

   Larry

   Philadelphia

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Every staff member was so friendly and accommodating. A very enjoyable dinner. Food was excellent. only improvement opportunity is to not serve plates with chips. We had a few plates with chipped edges.

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6. DG

   DeniseG

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   This was our first visit but will not be our last. We loved everything, from the atmosphere to the food, and our server was fantastic!

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7. CL

   CindyLou

   Baltimore

   19 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   19 reviews

   Dined on June 11, 2022

   overall4food4service5ambience3

   Audrey was a wonderful server!

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8. PN

   PierreN

   Philadelphia

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on June 11, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Very nice. The food was good and so was our server.

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9. BC

   BobC

   Philadelphia

   22 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   22 reviews

   Dined on June 4, 2022

   overall5food4service5ambience5

   Great weather and a nice outside table led to a great evening dining at Taverna. We had a new server, Brenna, who did an outstanding job. We loved the veal appetizer and spicy shrimp entree. My Manhattan was great and reasonably priced. My wife loved her Sauvignon Blanc. My only wish is that they would update their menu from time to time. Or at least have several specials to choose from. For frequent dinners like us, we have tried everything we like on the menu and would like something new. I would add that all of the nice restaurants on Main St Newark have a similar issue with their menus getting stale.

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10. HH

    HannahH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The menus are fantastically fresh. Start with a seasonal cocktail such as their Fresca and end with a house-made Lemoncello. Either is perfect for a warm-weather evening. Their wine list provides wonderfully approachable items by glass or bottle. Appetizers are diverse seasonal offerings that reflect the talents of the kitchen and pair back beautifully with the menu. The Main Courses are creative yet approachable focused on impeccably fresh organic ingredients seasoned to perfection. The dessert menu is focused and every item is outstanding. Their in-house coffee blend is richly aromatic with hints of chocolate top notes. After one sip you'll feel transported to a Bistro in Tuscany. Finally, the service is outstanding! The staff is exceptionally knowledgable, wonderfully warm, and charismatic. They truly make you feel warm and welcome. The ambiance is beautiful with wonderful views of the kitchen where you can see how the magic happens. Make reservations early and be prepared to be transported. Taverna is a gem.

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11. DM

    DeMichael

    Philadelphia

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Everything from the excellent food (thx Krista!) to the service from our fav waiter, Tyler, and the manager on duty, Michael S. checking in on us, Everything was perfect. We were celebrating a friends birthday. It’s still our favorites place on Newark. Michael B. & Bill G.

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12. LM

    LoraM

    Sacramento

    78 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    78 reviews

    Dined on May 31, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    Searched for “best Italian” in the greater Wilmington area, Taverna was highly rated. Had big expectations. Attractive restaurant, seemed busy (good sign). Husband loved that they had Peroni on tap. Wait staff, mostly college kids, was engaging & fun. We enjoyed the dinner banter. The two who waited on us - were brothers, & they were very great! Well trained & pleasant. The food: our guests, who frequent chain restaurants, loved everything! The food is definitely notches above a chain restaurant. The bread amazing, and pastas cooked to perfection. My husband had chicken parm. It was on the dry, over cooked side which he didn’t like. Despite that one hiccup, we’d definitely return. It’s right on Main St, busy part of town, lots of energy. We slid into a parking space several doors down. Parking could be a problem when university is in session. Overall, excellent meal, good value & we’ll go back.

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13. X

    Xsanthi

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 31, 2022

    overall3food5service3ambience3

    The food was excellent, but the service was lacking; we regretted having chosen Taverna to celebrate a birthday--it did not feel at all special, as it has in the past.

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14. N

    Norm

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Good food, service etc

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience4

    Server was courteous, checked in appropriately. Food served in reasonable amt of time. Salad was gritty, it was definitely fresh, but clearly lettuce wasn’t washed! Beef brasato was very salty. Pork shank was melt in your mouth.

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16. S

    Sean

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food tasted great, no vegan options, they did accommodate my diet by altering a dish to make it with no added dairy.

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great service food came out timely

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18. RC

    RichardC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 17, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Everything was very good, with the exception of the artichoke appetizer. We found it to b on the bland side.

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19. JM

    JeffM

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience4

    Had eaten there before and it was better then - won’t go rushing back. Pricey for what we got.

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20. F

    Fran

    Philadelphia

    31 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on May 15, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience3

    My husband and I have been patrons for a long time. Last night we felt we were in the midst of college kid training night. After ordering our dinners, we waited quite a while before being served our main entrees. Our salads were fine…my entree of chicken ravioli wasn’t cooked enough, and it was lukewarm, and I sent it back. The manager tried to make things better, by even offering us a free entree. I’m not a piker, so opted for just another glass of wine while I waited. The kids working didn’t come over to offer extra cheese. They plopped some in a small bowl w no spoon and brought it over. No freshly ground pepper was offered either for our salads. Which all of this usually is done and or available. More training please! I don’t think we will dine in Sunday night any more. It’s Taverna training night. My ravioli when finally recooked, was fine, they even threw in some bits of chicken breast for some reason.

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21. S

    Sydlovesfood

    Atlanta

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 9, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    I love all of the platinum dining concepts that I have been to and this is no different. The food was wonderful and we enjoyed the ambience.

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22. CJ

    ChristineJ

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our waitress Danielle was the best. Five stars to her!

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23. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food every time!

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious meal, great service, always a great time at Taverna. I dine here often and look forward to the next visit!

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25. P

    Projournalist

    Philadelphia

    28 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    We always love the grilled artichoke a generous, shareable portion ($14). Likewise, our canneloni ($22) main was excellent. The "special" pasta of the night was outstanding (and should be on their regular menu). It was crestini pasta with a bright, spicy fra diablo sauce, served with spinach and topped with Milanese-style chicken (crisply breaded) and some jalapeno peppers ($24). This dish was the hit of the evening. Both mains were very generous (enough to take home another meal). We also enjoyed generous pours of wine from the extensive list ($11). Our server was outstanding; friendly, attentive, prompt-but-not-rushed or intrusive. We had mae a reservation, and did not have to wait to be seated (on a weeknight, early for a pre-theater dinner).

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26. TW

    TaraW

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We have been dining here for years when we are visiting our students at UD. I think the menu is so good that I always have trouble deciding. The sweet Ricotta appetizer is delicious and enough to share with the table. I'm a big fan of the pasta fagiole soup here, too, and the pizza, and my husband loves the veal meatballs (sad they were out of them this time!)

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27. TC

    TomC

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience3

    Food was good but not great or memorable, for a place that is upscale dining.

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28. n

    nickstruereview

    Washington DC

    12 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Some food portions can be small, like appetizers, but entrees we got were large portions. The antipasto was not worth it, soup cup size was small. Food taste was great though

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29. H

    Helene

    Philadelphia

    13 reviews

    2.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2022

    overall2food4service1ambience2

    We had a 6:00 reservation, arrived on time . We needed to be at a concert venue at 8:00 which was literally 4 minutes away from the restaurant. We were seated promptly, but did not get our entrees until almost 7:30. We rushed to eat and pay the bill no time for coffee and dessert to celebrate our birthday. The food was tasty but we were so rushed that we will not return!

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30. ES

    EmilyS

    Philadelphia

    62 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great meal and service! Tyler was superior, great knowledge of the menu and drinks. Attendive without being obtrusive and gave great recommendations. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal!

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31. EK

    EvaK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 28, 2022

    overall5food5service3ambience5

    It was incredible. The food never ever disappoints!

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32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on April 24, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Great food and great service will definitely be back

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33. JD

    JessicaD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious Food as always. I love the Whipped Ricotta app

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34. NC

    NaomiC

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    Food was great.

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35. NY

    NewYearsEveDiner

    Philadelphia

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on April 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food quality, taste, and portions.

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36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Best chicken fettuccine Alfredo ever!!!

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37. D

    Diner

    Philadelphia

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food, great service! Enjoyed our anniversary dinner!

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38. DG

    DeniseG

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 3, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience4

    We made reservations for 3 people at 3:15pm and were sat promptly in a nice seat by the window. The Chef had not yet communicated the dinner specials to the staff so they were not an option for us. We ordered the veal meatballs (I don’t eat meat and therefore, did not try them) and the rest of the table said that they were good (especially the sauce). We also ordered the fried mozzarella and there was absolutely no flavor at all in the breading and they were cold by the time they got to the table. We also ordered the eggless caesar salad and it was not good. The croutons were apathetic best part about the salad. We all 3 ordered pizza and it was just mediocre. I am absolutely shocked as I have been here several times and is usually really good. I don’t know if they changed Chef’s but it was definitely not up to par. I will pick another location next time we dine in downtown Newark.

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charlotte

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 3, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Food, ambiance & service was very good. Took a while to get the food, but I believe it has more to do with the higher quality of food that may have taken a little longer to make. Great local spot in an area that doesn’t have an abundance of options.

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40. CD

    ChristinaD

    Philadelphia

    38 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great food. Good service. Would like to suggest to turn music down as it was very loud on top of the noise from a very busy restaurant One of our favorite Italian restaurants.

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