Bottagra: Upscale Italian Dining Experience in Hawthorne, NJ

If you love Christmas I would definitely recommend a visit. This place is decked out to the max, they have additional seating in a heated party tent with a themed bar too. The holiday drink menu is very cute, the drinks are served in innovative ways or cute presentations. The food was fantastic. The kangaroo appetizer was very good, not gamey at all and cooked perfectly. Angry Chicken Parm and Shrimp Scampi were both entrees that I tasted and they were both very delicious. Overall a great experience and we have a lovely server too. It was Thanksgiving Eve a long standing tradition in NJ, and the tent was packed full of people enjoying live belly dancer's and drummers. I would check their website to see if they have any events going on depending on what kind of experience you're looking for here.

What a wonderful way to spend my birthday! Had a terrific "soup to nuts" experience at Bottagra this evening. Our server and host, Jamie, was excellent - all the food and service experienced under his watch was excellent. Drew was on the microphone this evening, belting out all the crooners hits and some broadway tunes as well - great voice ! My diver scallops appetizer was perfectly cooked and the sauce had a nice subtle kick to it! Our friends also enjoyed their antipasta platter. For dinner, my rack of lamb dish was a generous portion of well-prepared lamb, cooked to my preference, and accompanied by an interesting spinach with melted roquefort cheese to give it a great blend of flavors. Our table, overall, enjoyed all their meals. My wife had a cake for me (thanks hunny!) and we enjoyed some cordials, and a couple of other desserts to finish out a great evening! Great time! I definitely recommend Bottagra for a nice night out with that special someone in your life or a great night with friends!

New Jersey has no shortage of Italian restaurants. Named for a fish roe used in Italian cooking, this establishment brings a modern Mediterranean flair to traditional Italian fare. My partner, our friends and I decided on dinner as first-timers for a party of six last night. Located on Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne, Bottagra offers a variety of dishes hailing both the northern and southern regions of Italy. Reservations were easily made on their website via OpenTable. Upon entering, it reminded us of a mountain retreat vibe, rustic but elegant, where we were greeted by the maitre'd. We were seated quickly in the dimly lit main dining room with music playing throughout. There were other smaller private party rooms. The diversely appointed menu featured fresh and flavorful culinary favorites as well as the extended verbal specials being a bonus. For starters, we opted for 12 Blue Point Oysters, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Shrimp & Brie, Veal Meatball Parmesan, and Today's Special - Red Leaf Salad. Our main entrees consisted of Capellini di Mare, Shrimp Scampi, Spinach Malfatti, Today's Special Red Snapper, Black Squid Ink Linguini, and Linguini Funghi. Complimentary warm crusty bread started our meal, which is a good sign when there are real olives in the oil on the table for the bread instead of butter. The food was deliciously tasty, flavorful, and presented in a trendy fashion. Being Saturday night and crowded, the main dining room was a bit loud because it's a popular place with great energy. The service was impeccable, the right amount without them hovering over us, and they didn't rush us out. Our server, Edwin, was friendly and accommodating, making sure we had everything. The price was very reasonable. It was an amazing culinary experience with food and friends to catch up, which we can recommend.

Party of 10 eating outside it was a lot of fun under tent food served. Everything is delicious beginning to end. The service was good ambience nice with the lights and music Definitely a place to go it was a little hot

I had my surprise 40th birthday celebration here several months ago, and I can't express enough how incredible the whole experience was. My husband had been planning this for a couple of months, and the staff went above and beyond to make it absolutely perfect. The food was simply amazing--delicious and beautifully presented. But what really stood out was the level of care from the owner and staff. They were so attentive, warm, and accommodating, making sure every detail was flawless. It was a night I'll never forget, thanks to their exceptional hospitality!"

Lots of hype about Bottagra and their epic dinner parties at night. But just so you know, you can still go for a low key delicious dinner inside. Food is still on point and the staff is accommodating and friendly.

Their food is always top notch when we go for dinner- favorites- malfatti, strozzapretti, squid ink tagliatelle, any meat dish. Went for their Thursday night with a group of friends and it was next level. The theme was Arabian nights that week and it was phenomenal. Can't wait for the next one!

Our favorite restaurant for any event or celebration! The service is always spectacular and the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. Not to mention they had it fully decked out for Christmas! They even have smaller rooms if you prefer a table in a more quiet area. Our table area had a "fire" going on the TV - so cute! You can't go wrong with any of the appetizers or cocktails, but I strongly recommend trying the spinach malfatti. It's a very unique menu item and absolutely delish!

My brother and sister-in-law have been trying to get us to try this place for years, and I'm happy we finally got a chance to make it there. I was surprised at how big it was! A spacious dining room with multiple areas for private events. They had live entertainment while we dined, and while it could have been a little lower, it wasn't too loud. The food itself was great! My salmon was fresh and the spinach and polenta that accompanied it made for a delicious cohesive dish. Check this place out!