Spuntino Clifton, NJ Fabulous New Italian Wine Bar

Finally, a wine bar in my neighborhood, and a damn good one at that. Now don't get too excited it is not a Gottino, NYC, but for here in the burbs it is very good. Spuntino, means little snack in Italian, is an exciting new place that just opened by Target in the Clifton Commons complex, on the site where Carino's was. Read Our Latest Review Here.

It has a very well selected Italian wine and beer list along with a full bar and specialty cocktails. On the menu is a big selection of tempting little plates at little prices. Just opened this week Spuntino has some flaws but an abundance of potential. We stopped by this past Sunday night and had some great wine, beer, food and company. New York Times Agrees.

The restaurant is separated into a bar area and dining rooms. We like sitting at the bar so headed in that direction. There were no free stools so we ordered a couple of wines and moved over to one of the many high top tables. Where a perky waitress took our food order.

The bartender offered a taste of each wine before pouring to make sure we liked it. A nice touch. The wine by the glass, of which there are many, is served in a mini carafe, it is called a Quartino, from there the wine is poured into your glass. For each wine you order you get almost two typical glassfuls.  

Spuntino features over 100 Italian wines mostly from smaller family owned wineries. I saw many very good vineyards on the list. Daily 42 wines from almost every Italian wine region are available by the glass. Prices range from $6 to $15 per Quartino.

We had four small plates as you see on the right and enjoyed each dish. The beet salad would have been nicer on a bed of greens and needed salt. The warm olives were actually hot and were a little heavy on the garlic. Broccoli Rape with sausage was perfect, meatballs were very good, but I was not mad about the crisp spaghetti that accompanied them.

The menu has many good looking selections and we will be trying more.

Staff is abundant, friendly and very interested in your happiness, but still need some polish. It has only been a week since opening.

We will be regulars here.

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas
70 Kingsland Road
Clifton Commons on Route 3 East
Clifton, NJ
(973) 661-2435

Monday - Thursday, 11 am - 12 am
Friday - Saturday, 11 am - 1 am
Sunday, 11 am - 11 pm

 

 

Comments

[Peter Conway]

What wines do you like?

[Larraine]

LOve Spuntino's! The food is great,and so is the service as well.We eat there a few times a week.

[Peter Conway]

Yea, I agree, we we re their again last night and loved it too.

[veronique deblois]

Loved this place and its wine list when i visited last week. Salumi and cheeses are excellent.