By Sally Deering

River View Observer’s restaurant VIEWS Pick for October 24th to November 11th DA NOI Restaurant

I heard Chef Gordon Ramsey say on one of his TV shows recently that New Jersey is known for its Italian restaurants and after years of dining Italiano in my home state, this Jersey girl knows by now that some of those places serve pizza and spaghetti and call it Italian cuisine.  But if you want to taste the real deal, Italian dishes that are made to order by an excellent chef, in a warm and romantic setting, then run, don’t walk, to Da Noi Restaurant in Bayonne.

On a recent Friday I stopped by Da Noi Restaurant in Bayonne and Romalo Avila the assistant manager greeted me at the door and showed me to a table in a cozy yet elegant dining room painted a creamy yellow with dark cherry wood trim, open wine racks and pictures of Italy, shelves of wine bottles and Italian songs playing in the background. Avila escorted me to a seat at one of the linen-covered tables and as I sat down, a waiter brought an appetizer of Bruschetta – chopped tomatoes in olive oil on toasted bread – and a basket of warm bread with olive oil to dip it in. I was feeling the amore before I even ordered my meal.

Avila brought me a glass of red wine a robust full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that helped set the mood for what was to be an elegant, delicious and satisfying dining experience.  I tried the Insalata Caprini, goat cheese baked over a field of greens with walnuts in a balsamic vinaigrette that was delicious. The warm goat cheese melded beautifully with the walnuts and greens and the slight tang of the balsamic vinaigrette.  I then tried a pasta dish, Rollolo Mantanara, homemade pasta rolled and filled with spinach, Ricotta cheese and wild mushrooms in a pink sauce topped with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.  Avila told me this dish is one of the house signature dishes and I can see why.  The flavors of this dish were amazing – the texture of the homemade pasta and the flavors of mushroom, Ricotta cheese and spinach were a love-fest for my taste buds.

Da Noi Restaurant’s lunch and dinner menu features classic Italian Antipasti dishes like Gamberi Griglioli, grilled shrimp over sautéed zucchini, pine nuts and plum tomatoes; Crespelle Fiorentina, eggplant cannelloni filled with Ricotta and spinach; and Fegalini di pollo ai Balsamico, sautéed chicken liver over a field of greens salad; and Insalata Bianca, hearts of palm, artichoke, mushrooms and endive tossed in oil and lemon with shaved Parmesan.

Pasta dishes include Fidellini Mare e Monte with shitake mushrooms and shrimp in a light red sauce; Ravioli Piamonlese filled with spinach and cheese in a pink sauce; Tortellini Gralinali, meat tortellini with prosciutto and peas in a pink sauce; and Rigatoni Cipullo with ground sweet sausage, prosciutto and cream.

For fish lovers, there’s the Filet Sole Fiorentina sautéed with lemon and white wine over spinach; Shrimp Parmeggiana with marinara sauce and Mozzarella served with linguine; and Zuppa di Pesce, mixed seafood stewed in tomato sauce.  Chicken dishes feature Pollo Scarpariello sautéed in rosemary, garlic and wine; Pollo San Remo, boneless chicken sautéed with sundried tomatoes, peas and Portobello mushrooms; and Pollo Castelli Romana, boneless chicken with shallots, artichokes and mushrooms.  Meat dishes include Bistecca ai Ferri, grilled sirloin steak served with roasted potatoes and Vitello Martini, veal encrusted with Parmesan and sautéed in lemon and white wine.

There’s a divine dessert menu, too, and Avila served me a strong cup of espresso to cap off my delicious meal.

The service at Da Noi Restaurant was excellent. The staff was warm, friendly and efficient. Dishes were cleared as soon as each course was finished and my water glass was never empty. Even as I entered the dining room, Avila pulled my chair out for me and made me feel like a VIP.

After my meal, I wanted to meet the person who created it, Chef Angelo Riva, who is also one of Da Noi Restaurant’s partners.  I rarely do that, but I was so impressed by the food, I wanted to tell him personally how much I enjoyed his masterpieces.

When I went online to check out Da Noi Restaurant’s website, I saw several rave reviews posted by others who dined there. “G.P.” of Bayonne posted this: “Probably the best restaurant in Bayonne.” “J.E.” of Hillsborough, New Jersey, had this to say about Da Noi: “Da Noi is fantastic! Every time we eat here I order something different and have yet to be disappointed. The Eggplant Rollitini is my favorite! ” And, “Argante” of Jersey City posted this rave: “I tried Da Noi the first day it opened and have been coming back ever since. When I can’t make it to the restaurant I order take out. Great service, great food, great ambience. The staff is friendly and so are the customers. I highly recommend Da Noi.”

Da Noi offers off-premise catering and hosts on-site parties, which is great now that the holidays are approaching.

Dine at Da Noi and you’re sure to enjoy incredible Italian cuisine at reasonable prices. Bring the family, your friends and for a romantic dining experience, bring your significant other. At Da Noi, amore is in the air and served with every dish.

Da Noi Restaurant

1105 Avenue “C” (corner 54^th St)
Bayonne, NJ 07002-3329
(201) 437-5578

www.danoirestaurant.com

Hours:  Mon through Thurs, 12 Noon-10 p.m.;

Fri and Sat, 12 Noon-11 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m-9 p.m.