Boccone South

We were wowed by owner, Silvio! He explains the specials that can turn a non foodie into a foodie within seconds. Every dish is better than the next. Each dish we have tried is full of flavors and fresh ingredients. Also- the homemade Italian bread pudding is a dessert that I dream about and cannot wait to have it again.

We had a fantastic time at Boccone South and it quickly became my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. We had a last minute family event of 16 people that included 9 adults as well as toddlers and infants. Other restaurants struggled to accept this (understandably), but when I called Silvio, he was so accepting and so we made the Sunday afternoon reservation 1 day in advance. When we walked in, he addressed me by name and I felt like we were fast friends. He clearly takes pride in his food, service and establishment! As others have said, every dish was better than the next, and we ordered specials which we don't normally do. Highlights included Octopus (from Portugal), Calamari, Zucchini and Stuffed Pepper appetizers. Amazing Osso Bucco, Papperdelle Funghi, Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Parm entrees (among others) and delicious bread pudding w/ gelato and lava cake /w gelato desserts. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! BYOB.

One of the best Italian restaurants in the area. Many of their dishes have a modern spin on them. Normally we don't go for the specials but here they really are diffrent and worth trying. ~Highly recommended

MUST TRY!! every. single. dish. phenomenal. my family and I came here last minute off a friend's recommendation and this is absolutely going to become a monthly if not weekly spot for us. this is the type of restaurant you recommend to others to impress them. for our appetizers I had the warm goat cheese salad. didn't even get a picture because it was so delicious I couldn't stop myself. same with the burrata it was just that good. I am a vegetarian and got the perreochi verino ( I think it was called) and it was actually to die for. my cousin got the crab cakes and cold seafood salad.. everything so fresh. we also met the owner silvio who is extremely kind and passionate! he had us try his vanilla and cherry ice cream banana pudding. which is something I would never order for dessert. it was no lie the most delicious freaking dessert I've ever tasted. I DONT EVEN LIKE CHERRY ICE CREAM OR BANANA PUDDING!!! cappuccino delicious. beautiful. perfect. my uncle and dad said only Italy could compare to the espresso and his ability to make coffee. we were literally giddy the entire dinner. the food was so good it made us excited. 1000/10 experience. service food and atmosphere perfect. BYOB I am so grateful we stumbled upon this spot! I can't recommend this restaurant enough.

I went there with my wife and daughters and was so pleased. Recently heard about it from a friend that said they would swear by it and we are always looking for authentic Italian food with a nice BYOB setting and I tell you the second I made the phone call for the reservation and I heard that Calabria accent I knew we were in for a treat. The owner Silvio greeted us as soon as we came in, spoke to me about where we were from in Italy and really set us up with a nice bunch of specials and choices, and we left so full. The octopus was tender, the stronzopretti was made perfect. He makes all his pasta homemade and you can tell. I couldn’t even breathe. We will be back and this is going into our rotation as go to spots. The Affogato was phenomenal for dessert as well as the pudding cake. The only negative I can say is that they brought out the meat with the pasta, but I won’t hold it against them. It was delicious.

Beautiful restaurant. Very genuine people. The owner is a sweetheart. You can tell he’s very passionate about his craft especially behind his food. Everything was amazing. I got the carbonara of course. 10/10

Everything at Boccone South is delicious! The food and service are excellent! The owner, Silvio is a warm and welcoming host!

Best Italian meal in a long time. Food, excellent! Service, attentive! Intimate atmosphere! The owner Silvio aims to please! Will be back!

Charming restaurant with excellent food and service. The owner was very friendly and informative. Six of us ordered family style w 4 apps, 5 main courses and 3 desert. Every dish had its own distinctive taste and was perfectly balanced. We had no leftovers! Will def go back when we are back in the area.

Our meal was delicious. Service was excellent. Very comfortable environment. The owner is involved in everything

My dinner at Boccone South was nothing short of fantastic. I came in with my girlfriend around 5PM so it wasn't too busy but people slowly but surely started to trickle in. The owner came over and enthusiastically recited the specials for the night. Everything was delicious and the portions were generous. I think my favorite dish of the night was the Papardelle Funghi. The different kinds of mushrooms had an earthy flavor with different textures and the truffle cream sauce accentuated it well. The pasta was prepared perfectly too. It had just the right amount of bite to it and it soaked up the cream sauce well. The Ribeye Boccone was cooked to a perfect medium rare, as ordered. It was seasoned perfectly and it had all the flavors I look for in my steaks. The vegetables it was served with were fresh and the fries were actually really good too. I could go on about everything we ate, but I'll keep it brief. If you like Italian food I'd say Boccone South is a must-visit. Not only is the food superb, but the service is also phenomenal. If I lived closer I'd make several return visits.

Owner was very friendly and helpful. Altho if the specials are written on a piece of paper would be nice Most of the wait staffs look like they had a bad day, so that gave me a weird vibe walking in and sitting down. The table we sat on was very sticky. However, all the food we ordered came out fresh and hot. We were all very pleased. We will be back during the nextholiday. Lighting is very festive inside

Highly recommended. We had a party of 14 and every single thing from appetizers to entrees were presented like a work of art. Besides looking great the taste was phenomenal. Kudos the the chef! The ambiance is exactly what we were looking for. The owner (Silvio) couldn't have been more professional and courteous. Silvio definitely takes pride in his business and goes above and beyond to make sure the experience is what he would expect. Thank you Silvio and Staff. Vincenzo

Food was delicious! Everything was so fresh and you could taste the difference. Service was exceptional as well! Very attentive, and their Italian accents added to the ambiance.

Silvio is great and wants to make sure you have a great time and a pleasurable dining experience. Our party came in with a wheelchair and he was more than willing to move tables around to accommodate our group, even without a reservation. On top of that our food was excellent. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. I have a gluten allergy and they were able to serve me with ease. I got the penne vongole and was able to swap out for gluten free pasta without a problem. We also got to experience the eggplant rolatini and the homemade bread pudding on the house. My mom and stepdad are Italian and I will definitely be coming back with them in the near future. The home cooking, the atmosphere and the vanilla & cherry gelato (with bits) sold us for another visit.

Just celebrated a couple of birthdays at Boccone's and it was perfect! We were warmly greeted by Silvio upon our arrival. Our table was already set up for our party of 12. We ordered several appetizers and they were all delicious: calamari, goat cheese salad, octopus special, crab cakes (huge) and mozzarella in carrozza. All arrived perfectly cooked. We were equally impressed with our entrees: Carbonara, scampi, fruit to di mare, vongole, pork chop (special of the day), and pappardelle funghi. Everything was perfectly seasoned and portion sizes were surprisingly large. Will definitely go back for not only the food but to feel transported to a trattoria in Italy! Thank you to Silvio and his team!

Unassuming Italian restaurant tucked off Rte. 10 and easy to miss, but worth every reason to stop by for a meal. We had an early Saturday dinner, so seating was no issue, but the phone line was constantly ringing with new reservations so it seemed apparent that the kitchen would get busy as the evening went on. The restaurant is BYOB, so maybe stop at the nearby Bottle King to grab a wine or two before your meal. The host was personable and well-versed, and we ended up getting the recommended butternut squash and ricotta with shrimp special that was absolutely delectable. We also ordered the linguini vongole, which came with a generous helping of clams, and the spicy mussels as an appetizer. The fra diavolo sauce on the mussels is some of the best I've had, and the warm and crispy bread was the perfect complement to make sure none of the sauce went to waste. Certainly one of the better Italian restaurants in the area, and I look forward to coming back.

Good luck finding a better dessert than the signature bread pudding... I mean anywhere... The owner Silvio is the man. Food is great... Nice atmosphere. Highly recommend.

So fresh, love the food, people, ambiance. 2nd visit in one week! The special salads are delicious, the fish, pasta, just come and eat!

Absolutely amazing spot! The food was delicious--especially the pasta and seafood--and everything tasted super fresh. The owner was incredibly nice and made us feel really welcome. You can tell he cares a lot about the experience. Highly recommend if you're looking for great Italian food and a warm, friendly vibe!

Boccone is nestled in the plaza next to the ski shop on Route 10 and provides both indoor and outdoor seating. Although quite small, the indoor seating boasts a charming ambiance. All pastas were served hot and customizable with fresh pepper and cheese. Bonus points for all the pasta coming al dente, not many places can get this correct in my opinion. Each pasta was so flavorful, but the Strozzapreti and the Paperdelle Funghi were the ones that really impressed! We also order a calamari as an appetizer, but that fell short of expectations, arriving soggy rather than crispy. Despite this minor setback, the overall experience is still worth savoring for its cozy atmosphere and mouthwatering pasta offerings.

Silvio and his team are top notch , this restaurant is hidden in plain sight on RT 10 in the same complex as the ski shop. there is ample parking, neatly tucked next to a dentistry but don't be fooled. tho the restaurant is in a quaint and unassuming location, the food is well worth seeking out! I enjoyed the reduction sauce served alongside the pork, with a nice briny version of vegetable ratatouille and mashed potatoes. the penne pasta and and meatballs were tender and delicious. the mussels were fresh - my favorite was the salad by far. plum, hint of apple cider vinaigrette, what a lovely meal! service was quick and efficient but never rushed , felt like what every meal should be - homey & make you want to come back for more! p.s. don't sleep on dessert! save your calorie counting for another day!

Local Italian dining at its best here. Owner operator Silvio is the consummate host, turning out enjoyable dishes with the utmost hospitality.

Been meaning to try this relatively new addition to Livingston's dining scene ever since they moved in. The building used to house Porto By Antonio, a fan favorite and before that, sandwich legend Cosi which I also loved. I had low expectations. Figured the food would be good but there are lots of decent choices in the area. What I didn't expect was that it would be excellent and friends, that it was. Had mussels and their shrimp special and was literally blown away. Service was attentive and extremely helpful. I know it's silly but I happen to love it when the server refers to the specials in first person singular. "Tonight I have a delicious......" Just need to warn you to stay the hell away from the bread or at least wait until your entree arrives because it's also spectacular. Warm welcome to the area. I'm sure you'll be missed in your old Short Hills location but their loss is fortunately our gain. Kudos!

TLDR; if you want bad salty food, have half a bottle of wine spilled on you, ruining all your clothes and bags, belittled and assaulted by the waiter, this is the place for you. Never in my life have I received such terrible service. I came here with my friends and our kids. The waiter is rude and unprofessional. The waiter said an off putting comment to my wife about her bag: "is that a mommy bag?" The waiter spilled wine on me and all over our things. I asked for the manager and the waiter said he was the manager and wouldn't compensate or credit anything. After asking around, we figured out who the real manager was and he comp'ed my meal and gave some apps and dessert. The manager asked my wife in a snarky tone, you get credit, smile! The waiter asked our table who made the reservations and my friend said that he did. The waiter complained that we have too many kids here. At the very end, the waiter came up to me to "apologize" and pinched my cheek like I'm a little kid! I'm livid!!!

We had the most wonderful meal ! Everything from the salad to the specials to the main dishes were all well thought out and delicious . Silvio, the owner, could not have been more welcoming and charming ! We will be back with our friends !

Incredible linguine vongole pasta - one of the best I've ever had! Spaghetti and meatballs was delicious as well, but meatballs were spongy. Service was great, everyone was really friendly. Will definitely be back!

Phenomenal food. We eat out a lot and 65% of the time it is Italian. Our in laws are our fellow "foodies" and they definitely know good food. We ate here Tuesday night and we all agreed it was fabulous. I had the cacio e Pepe which was the best I've ever had. My wife had a chicken dish (Pollo Fantasia) that she said was spectacular (I wouldn't know - she wouldn't share). The appetizers were also exceptional and the ambiance & atmosphere were amazing. The owner was welcoming, charming and attentive. I would highly highly recommend Boccone South. We would rank this as one of the top five italian restaurants in North Jersey. We will be going back - repeatedly.

A star arrived in Livingston , a one intimate dining area and a fresco with genuine home cooking from various Italian regions with a host who welcomes everybody, presents amazing specials and service A patient told me about this gastronomic discovery around the corner for my office in Walnut Street and forever I will be a regular pilgrim to this -for NJ - unheard of delight. Also open as early as 430 pm beat the crowds. Maestro Silvio, grazie , tu doctore

So this restaurant was in Milburn/Short Hill and moved to Livingston now. The waiter and owner are nice but the service felt rushed. The food was just ok when we went. The fried calamari was rubbery and not cooked well at all. The fried mozzarella appetizer was also not cooked properly. The cheese wasn't even melted on the inside it was gold and solid. The carbonara needs work. It wasn't traditionally done with the normal guanciale, instead it was made with a prosciutto or ham. The bolognese was pretty good but I prefer without mushrooms. Not sure we will be back, but feel like they deserve another shot.

I'll make it simple for you. Do you want to go to Italy? Do you wish you could eat in Italy without the flight, jet lag, and potentially questionable AirBnB?! This is it! Just head to Boccone and you'll be truly transported. Listen carefully to the specials... they've never failed and are rotated frequently. The gnocchi is perfect, the carbonara is come lo faceva la mamma... they even poach the garlic in balsamic for the (on the house) pane con olio. I could go on and on, but seriously, there's no need to. This is Italian-Italian. Like Italy. Not American-Italian. This isn't your spaghetti and meatballs, sausage and peppers, pizza, baked ziti joint. Nothing wrong with those and we have some of the BEST of those in our town (home of the 8.9, iykyk)... this is taking a trip back to Rome or Florence... this is stopping by a small family restaurant in Montepuciano... this is that place a local sent you to, that went above and beyond. The owner pours his heart and soul into the menu, the execution of the dishes, and the happiness of his customers. Oh! And did I mention it's BYOB?!

Amazing Food!! BYOB if you would like wine with dinner. Don't let the location in a strip mall fool you this place is amazing - every dish was perfect and delicious. Staff was attentive and Sylvio the owner was as gracious as could be. We were in NJ/Nyc for the week and this was the best meal we had on the trip. Worth searching out if in the area.

Went two weeks ago and everything was great. Went tonight and what we choose was terrible. The pasta carbonara was watery. The rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe was tasteless. The gnocchi were not appetizing. Bill came to over $220 dollars- no appetizers or deserts. Very disappointed!

Will start with saying , that we really recommend this place! So friendly and delicious! We ordered calamari fritti (very good!), Pappardelle Funghi: mixed exotic mushrooms over handmade ribbon pasta, in white truffle cream sauce (my favourite! to be honest, came here to try just this ), Spaghetti Carbonara: onions, smoked pancetta, egg yolk, parmesan cheese (was very good). A cherry on top was a bread pudding with cherry ice cream (so yummy). The Owner was so friendly and staff - very helpful.

Every dish I've tried here was a marvel and service is always great. This is one of the very best Italian restaurants in NJ. Don't miss it!

Wow. Anyone looking for that quintessential north jersey Italian cuisine needs to come here. BYOB so you know either they know how to cook or fuggedaboutit. For appetizer we had the Cesar salad and the clams oreganata. The clams were the best I have had. Instead of compacting the bread crumb into the clams these were made almost like a stuffed artichoke style with a nice broth. The Cesar salad was also really nice - if a restaurant can't make a basic Cesar salad they probably cant produce anything else worth writing about. We tried the pappardelle with fungi, rigatoni with sausage and veal saltimbocca - all great. Service was excellent and there is ample parking. Definitely coming back.

Every single pasta here is delicious! Perfectly al dente and definitely freshly made. Portions are great, and service is amazing!

Strong 4.5 stars that I am rounding up. Came on a Friday night and they had plenty of seating. Very family-run, small business oriented feel to it. Service was friendly and timely. The menu was extensive with lots of options. 1. Clam linguini - Pasta al dente. Sauce a tiny bit on the salty side but delicious nonetheless. Enough clams for a meal. 2. Cannoli - Crunchy, sweet, delicious! Overall, an authentic Italian place for a good dinner or take out. They are BYOB as well. Will definitely be back!

I went to this restaurant in the past and had an amazing experience. I just went in and asked for a table and the staff was incredibly rude. They were not accommodating at all. They asked if I made a reservation and we looked around the empty restaurant and told them no. The server said next time you can call for a reservation. Do not go there. I'm not sure if it is under new management.

There Food is as delicious, authentic, and of good quality. The freshness of ingredients and the harmony of flavors in dishes like bruschetta are particularly praised1. Silvio's Service is Friendly, attentive, and efficient. Delivery is speedy and customer service is fantastic. Ambiance: Known for its wonderful homemade dishes and sides. Boccone South sets a high standard for an outstanding cuisine and food. Bobby

Food was amazing! Best outside of Italy! Service was not rushed, owner was super careful with food allergies. Recommend 100%

We just returned from an incredible dinner at Boccone. From the warm welcome by the staff and owner Silvio to each menu item that we had, the place is all 5 stars. We were seated promptly and greeted warmly. The wine that we brought was opened for us by Silvio as we looked over the menu. In a few minutes he returned to explain the specials for the night. We split the pulpo with sausage and the burrata with sliced meats as our apps. The main courses were the stuffed, double cut pork chop, the corvina and an old school veal parm. Each dish looked great and tasted fantastic. I, the reviewer, was the one with the veal and without being too dramatic, it was the best version of this dish that I've ever had. Being quite full at this point we couldn't handle dessert but we're brought a delicious sweet brioche with creamy ice cream to accompany our coffees to end the meal. Thank you Silvio for a great overall experience.

Yelp needs to update the menu. Prices are 50% higher than presented on yelp. Website has no prices. Food & service very good. Lacks ambience. Prices on the high side of fair. Plenty of easy parking for dinner.

Never in my wildest dreams did I experience such rude service. I tipped 15% pre-tax. The waiter was very pushy during the meal and that he had the gall to insist that I tip 20% post-tax. I've never had that happen before in my entire life. It was mortifying in front of my date. Our meal was well under an hour and we made basically no requests. In terms of the food, it was fine. It was just standard Italian food. I'll say that they had limited vegetarian options for my date, which was disappointing. It was also pricey, close to $100 for two people with no appetizers and no wine. There was no real ambiance to speak of. Concrete floors. Nothing on the walls. Relatively tightly packed and nothing much going on the walls. It was pretty loud in there which wasn't great for conversations. No stars are deducted for ambiance. The low review is due to the hostile service.

Aside from the fact that the prices were wildly different from those posted online (in some instances double), the food (eggplant rollatini, penne bolognese, and meatballs and spaghetti bordered on inedible. No one checked if everything was okay. It was so awful that it would have made no sense to send it back and get something else that promised to be just as awful...so we would have said it was fine but, again, no one asked.The waiter was pleasant enough. the maitre d was incredibly rude. The restaurant was more than half empty and I can certainly understand why. I see these rave reviews and all I can think is that they are from friends and relatives...I can't imagine that anyone, even the least discriminating, would find this food palatable let along.excellent. And...overpriced.

My husband I stumbled upon this gem while running errands. When we walked in, we were immediately greeted with a warm welcome by Silvio. He guided us through the menu and was very attentive throughout the evening. His ravioli and Cacio e Pepe are phenomenal. We will definitely be coming back.

Amazing place! Honestly, I was blown away by the Food, service, and atmosphere. We will definitely be back! Hot homemade bread and olive oil was a treat. The specials were fantastic! We had the wrapped scallops and the special salad as appetizers. Next we had the specials. I had the veal chop with mashed potatoes and ratatouille and my wife had the gnocchi. Both were huge portions and delicious. If you love Italian food and are looking for someplace special this is the place!

Food was excellent. I had the octopus appetizer & it was garlicky, tomatoey deliciousness. My dinner was halibut with sweet potato & carrot reduction. My son had chicken parmigiana which was so delicious. My husband has the Chicken franchise that he described as "good". We were too full to have coffee & desert. The place when you walk in didn't look that nice or smell that good. The floor looked messy too but the food more than made up for it. I would definitely return & recommend the place it us byob The service was wonderful, very attentive & timely.

i am a very tough critic. First, service and ambiance are half the experience and thd food needs to be better than I can make at home. Boccone hit a home run on every front! The owner Silvio is born to run a restaurant and it shows. every member of the staff works very hard and is well trained to provide a very nice experience. I literally walked around the restaurant on my way out to thank every person working for the great job they did. my wife had tuna carpaccio which was really well prepared and for tuna lovers would be a great starter. I had an octopus appetizer that was legitimately the best I've ever tasted. The tenderness of the fish was very hard to describe in terms of how absolutely perfect I found. The pasta dishes were cooked very correctly which is to say firmly but not under done, the food was temperature hot when it came out which is a lost art and the taste was great! The carbonara was a very nice choice and my wife's dish with shrimp and a very thick pasta was one of the best I've ever tasted. The vodka sauce was sublime. A custard bread pudding at the end just made the meal absolutely perfect. This was one of the few 10 out of 10 meals in my life. I would highly recommend trying this restaurant.

Sylvio is the best. This is the best Italian food in the area by far. If your not coming here your missing out.

Have dined at Boccone South since they were in South Orange, then Millburn and now at East Hanover. At each location the place has been delightful. Current location has ample parking so it's a nice upgrade. Most importantly, they've consistently been warm and welcoming, and the dishes have been good. Nothing over-the-top, just a cosy friendly restaurant that's lovely for meals with family or friends. The place is BYO and portions are old school!

Wow!! There is so much passion and love mixed into the food. I truly felt like I was in Italy. Silvio is a fun and hospitable gentleman. Thank you for a lovely experience and a culinary delight! We will be back!

Silvio, the Sicilian restaurant owner, hosted us wonderfully with exceptional authentic cuisine and his staff provided great service all around. He is full of charisma and I could not have asked for a better birthday dinner for my father. We had the specials of king shrimp app, rainbow trout, braised short ribs, and blank ink pasta and all were superb.

This should be a favorite in the area for its charming owner, great service and good food. Try the bread pudding - absolutely amazing!

We have eaten here several times and consistently have great experience. We used to go to their location in South Orange before moving to Livingston. From the warm welcome to the beautiful platings of delicious entrees to the mind blowing dessert, this is probably now the best Italian restaurant in Livingston. Veal chop. Haddock. Chicken Fantasia. All amazing entrees.

Good food, unique ambiance, and personalized service. Owner/chef is very personable and makes diners feel very welcome.

Very friendly and cozy environment with delicious Italian dishes. We liked the fried calamari. The service is prompt. We'll definitely go back!