You Can Still Eat at Some of the Best NJ Restaurants – Here’s How!

Missing your favorite restaurants? We know how you feel – we’re missing you too! During this pandemic, we’re all forced to stay at home and away from friends and family for safety reasons, although now restrictions have eased somewhat, so life is returning to a sort of normalcy. However, going to crowded places such as airports, concerts and restaurants still isn’t safe, since social distancing isn’t possible. So, what do you do when you’re craving some pasta from one of the best NJ restaurants?

Well, we have good news! Americans are great at coming up with solutions to problems, and restaurant owners have proven it now by using innovative solutions to beat the coronavirus problem. They miss the workflow and their customers miss eating at their favorite restaurant, so they got creative, and here are some of the fantastic ideas American restaurants have come up with:

1. Outdoor dining

Indoor dining comes with space limitations, but many restaurants (ours included) have outdoor dining, which is generally a lot more spacious. By making some adjustments to the seating arrangements, social distancing can be made possible. Restaurants that don’t already have outdoor dining are setting up tents and other temporary shelters and putting their unused chairs and tables to good use.

You get to enjoy a good meal, and you also get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors – all while social distancing. What more could you ask for? If you’re craving some Italian food, come over to Aldo’s and we’ll spoil you with delicious Italian dishes – not to mention wine!

2. Drive-through

Drive-through was a pretty big part of our lives already, so Americans have welcomed this shift with open arms. Restaurants get to keep their operation running, people get to eat yummy food, and social distancing is followed. Forbes says: ‘The enthusiasm for a drive-through concept pairs up with the market research data; a recent survey by Datassential found that “most consumers would still consider getting food from the drive-thru, often viewing their car as an additional protective barrier from other people.”’

Many other places are offering drive-through services as well – from churches to stores. It’s fairly safe, and you’ll probably be able to find a restaurant near you who offers drive-through services.

3. Takeout

Takeout is a pretty safe way to get your favorite food in a safe way. The preferred, most convenient way to do this would be by ordering food through an app or website. This means you don’t have to leave your home, and you can choose meals from some of the best NJ restaurants, and have them delivered right to your doorstep.

If you’re home alone and don’t feel like heading out, or if you live with immunocompromised individuals and want to ensure their safety, this is probably the best option for you. The food is prepared safely, and the delivery person follows safety protocol to ensure there’s minimal contact. And you can always wear gloves and/or sanitize the outside of the food packages before eating, if you want to be extra careful.

4. Meal kits

Forbes writes: “Midwest fast-casual chain Crisp & Green have developed the Crisp @ Home program, a meal kit delivery and pick up service available at all seven of their Minnesota locations. It allows patrons to select 20 meals worth of a la carte ingredients, such as Crisp & Green’s salad mixes, grains, cold and hot ingredients, beverages, snacks, whole fruits, prepared proteins, and dressings. Ingredients can be assembled at home, or refrigerated and enjoyed throughout the week.”

This is an innovative solution, great for those who’d like to order in bulk and don’t mind having to do a little bit of prep. For busy moms and dads around the country who are having to work, do the chores, teach their kids and entertain themselves, this is an excellent way to have something different.

5. Robots!

With many of us having seen the video of robots delivering food to infected people in China, we knew robots were one solution. Looks like it’s a pretty good solution, in fact! Forbes shares:

“Famous for their robot-made hamburgers, Creator in San Francisco is now using their techie forte to distribute meals in a safe, contact free manner. “Our entrance is now sealed, with all meals moving through a pressurized transfer chamber. The chamber protects the inside of the restaurant from outside air, and has a self-sanitizing conveyor surface,” they explain on the company website. Guests can place orders through an intercom, and then pick up their hermetically sealed, double-bagged meals through the conveyor window.”

It’s an interesting experience that’s completely safe, and you get your food! The restaurant mentioned above isn’t in NJ so you may not be able to enjoy this experience right now, but some day, soon, you will.

6. Pizza kits

Craving some nice, cheesy pizza? You can enjoy one oven-fresh from Aldo’s – one of the best NJ restaurants. However, if you aren’t in the vicinity or prefer to assemble or make one at home, there are other options.

From Forbes: “Renata’s in Portland, Oregon, known for their fresh handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza, quickly sold out of their par-baked pizzas for home delivery. Other local pizza shops across the country are filling pizza boxes with fresh balls of dough, a bag of cheese and containers of sauce for patrons to home assemble and bake.”

This is a little bit of work, but since you’re making everything at home it’s that extra bit safer. You can get taco kits and cookie decorating kits as well. It’s work for some, but it’s fun family time for others.

The best NJ restaurants follow safety precautions

Businesses are starting to adjust to the ‘new normal’. For some businesses, the shift is easy. For restaurants, it’s been especially difficult, since we rely on customers visiting the premises and spending time with people, eating food prepared by our staff. As such, we have had to change how things work around here and follow some extra safety precautions, but seeing the joy on our customers’ faces as they finally tuck into a long-awaited Italian dinner is well worth it. Here are some of the safety measures we – and other NJ restaurants, doubtlessly – are following:

Wearing protective gear

The members of our staff wear protective gear as necessary – including face masks and gloves – while performing their duties. They have been briefed on safety protocol, and how to wear the protective gear. We are aware, for instance, that masks must not be lifted or removed while talking, eating, or coughing.

Sanitizing the premises

While cleanliness and hygiene have always been important at our restaurant, now we are paying special attention to sanitization before we begin work, and after we finish the day’s work. We also make sure everything we use to prepare your meal is properly sanitized, so there’s no way harmful viruses (or pollutants, or dirt) can enter the meal.

Encouraging social distancing between staff members

While some staff members may have to work in close proximity (for example, in the kitchen), the others are encouraged to follow social distancing regulations not only so they’re safe, but also so they can form a healthy habit.

Giving leave to sick staff members

If any of our staff members are sick, we encourage them to stay at home and recover – whether or not their illness is related to the virus – because we want to avoid taking any risks. As one of the best NJ restaurants, it is up to us to set an example for the others, and we do so by following all regulations without making any compromises with quality.

Arranging outdoor seating with social distancing in mind

We realized that indoor dining would not be possible for a while until things return to a safe normal, and so we set up outdoor seating for our customers. We have plenty of space, and we’ve set up the chairs and tables so you can enjoy your meal with family without coming within six feet of other people.

Delivering food and accepting payment with no or minimal contact

All these safety measures would be rendered ineffective if our staff didn’t follow them while interacting with customers. So we’ve instructed them to be especially careful while taking orders, delivering food or accepting payment, to make sure there’s minimal contact and that there’s no way for virus transmission to occur.

Aldo’s – one of the best NJ restaurants

We are dedicated to serving our customers with tasty, healthy Italian food. We have a lovely lunch and dinner menu that you can choose from, and our items are very affordable – because we think a fun day out with friends and family shouldn’t be a financially stressful experience.

Our staff are very friendly, so if you have any special requirements (for instance, if you need gluten-free pasta), just let them know and they’ll make sure you get the right item. Eating at Aldo’s is like lunching at a home away from home. With our cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious, fresh food and beautiful premises, you’ll enjoy every moment of your visit.

For restaurant timings and other information, please visit our Home page.

Dining out has largely been put on hold because of the pandemic, but businesses like ours are slowly coming up with creative ways to let you get out of your home and enjoy some good food while still staying safe. People like eating at a restaurant, and being restaurant owners, we completely get it. We work hard to provide the experience, so today, we’d like to share with you some of the top reasons why people like eating at a restaurant. It may seem like a rather obvious subject to cover, but it’s one of those things that you don’t really notice until you’re told about it – like the tip of your nose!

Our hope is that after reading this list, you and your family will be able to enjoy your experience more when you are able to head out to a Bergen County restaurant. While we’re on the subject, we’d like to add that you can now have lunch or dinner at Aldo’s while socially distancing – but more on that later. For now, let’s have a look at some of the top reasons why people like eating at a restaurant.

Benefits of eating at a restaurant

At Aldo’s Restaurant, we want to remind our readers of the joys of dining out. You’ll see how there’s a lot more to it than you’d have thought. Some of these reasons might even surprise you, because it’s one of those things which people are used to, and so they don’t notice. Like going shopping, for instance – you know it’s fun, but if you were asked to list seven reasons why, could you? Well, we don’t know the answer to that, but we can assure you that if you gave it some thought, your next shopping trip would certainly be a lot more fun!

So, to give you and yours some food for thought and to enhance your next restaurant experience, here are 8 wonderful reasons why you should eat at a Bergen County restaurant.

1. Get a break from cooking

Cooking is a fun activity and it allows you to get creative and make something for your family, but when you have to do it every single day, it doesn’t remain fun for long. For most people, cooking feels like a chore which they do sort of automatically, trying to come up with recipes that require the least amount of effort. Infuse some life into your daily routine and break the monotony by dining out. You’ll enjoy the experience, and not having to cook will be a huge bonus! You might eat something you want to try making yourself, or get inspired to try something new.

2. Eat something different

At home, it’s always the same old. We form a routine, and we like to stick to it because it’s efficient and it provides comfort. Comfort is pretty close to boring, however. So dine out and eat something different! Maybe you’ll rediscover a forgotten meal, or you could treat yourself to a favorite dish. This is again about breaking the monotony, and having fun. Aldo’s is your go-to Bergen County restaurant for Italian food, so if you want to try something specific, we’re always here.

3. Wine!

Hey, wine is great – there’s no arguing with that. And at Aldo’s, our wine list will make you smile from ear to ear. You can order wine by the glass or by the bottle, and take your meal to the next level. With wines from Italy, France, California and other places, our wine menu is rather impressive. We aren’t saying restaurants that don’t serve wine aren’t as fun, but we’re better – wine or no wine.

4. Try something new

Have an adventure – try a dish you’ve never had before! Your taste buds will love it. If you’re a picky eater, you can always ask friends for recommendations, since they know what you like and can make suggestions that’ll be more suitable for you. But for the adventurous, let yourself go wild! Try out a dish you’ve never heard of, or which you can’t pronounce the name of. Try out something that sounds nice, or which has an interesting ingredient. Trying out new things is how you learn and develop your tastes, and at Aldo’s we can promise one thing – our food is unbeatable.

5. Eat healthy food

Dining out doesn’t necessarily mean eating junk food. At Aldo’s, we’re a family-owned Bergen County restaurant, and we care for our customers. We prepare tasty meals with fresh ingredients, and we like to make sure that everything we serve is nice and healthy. Many people associate restaurants with unhealthy food, and that’s because it’s not practical to watch your calories and control what goes into your food. Even if the ingredients are mentioned, you can’t really control how much salt, sugar and oil goes into it. At our restaurant, we assure you we keep those things in mind. If you’re extra cautious due to health issues, let us know and we’ll make doubly sure we prepare your meal as per your needs.

6. Have a fun outing

Dining out is fun! The experience of trying out new foods, of going somewhere different, of treating yourself adds up to a very fun experience. We always see our customers go off with a happy smile on their face, and it warms our heart, knowing that what we do makes people happy. Some people are nervous eating in front of others, or don’t like talking while they eat, but that’s a small portion of the population. For most people, that’s no problem at all. Even people with social anxiety find themselves relaxing and having fun once they get into the place and get their meal.

7. Enjoy the atmosphere

An Italian restaurant has an ambiance unique to it, and you’ll love the experience. You and your family are used to eating meals at home every day, so the change in atmosphere can be exciting. This is one of the biggest reasons why dining out is better than takeout – it’s not just about the food, it’s about the restaurant experience. The décor, the lighting, the staff, the little eccentricities every place has…

8. Spend some time with friends

If you’re visiting a Bergen County restaurant, double the fun by taking your friends along. Of course, we aren’t necessarily talking about right now, because it may not be the best idea to meet all your friends, but once we’re back to normal life, pick a date and go hang out! Eating out is an excellent way to spend some time with friends at a convenient location. Many people like to meet at home so they can relax and catch up, but cooking and cleaning can be very tiring – so a cozy little restaurant like ours is the perfect alternative! Find a nice spot to sit, and relax and catch up. You’ll usually have to wait a little while your food is prepared, and that’s the perfect time to get the conversation started.

Outdoor dining at Aldo’s

Did we list all these benefits just to tell you that you can’t enjoy them right now? No, we wouldn’t do that to you! At Aldo’s, we have outdoor dining, so you can enjoy a delectable Italian meal from your favorite Bergen County restaurant while socially distancing from other customers. We have plenty of space outside, and our staff follow safety precautions, so you have nothing to worry about.

Outdoor dining is a rather different experience compared to indoor dining, so if you’ve been to Aldo’s in the past and enjoyed a meal indoors, be prepared for a very interesting new experience! It’s in a safe, sheltered area so you won’t be exposed to the elements, but outside is still outside. You get to enjoy the local scenery, and if the weather’s nice and a gentle breeze is blowing you’ll have a fantastic time. Conversely, we would recommend avoiding a trip if the weather’s about to turn bad – because the area is properly sheltered, as we mentioned, but your experience may not be quite as enjoyable!

Takeout available!

For the cautious or immunocompromised, we also offer takeout through the ChowNow app. Order your favorite Italian dishes to enjoy at your own home.

Our lunch and dinner menus are available as PDFs on our website, so you can download them and look over them when you have time. That’s the beauty of ordering online – you have plenty of time to order, and you don’t feel pressured to decide quickly! Our staff understand that choosing can be hard sometimes, and so they try their best to make our customers feel comfortable while they decide. If you have social anxiety, however, it still happens. On an app, you avoid that issue altogether.

You can take all the time you need to decide what you want to eat, and then have a pleasant meal at home with our takeout option. Order today!

Tired of Cooking at Home? Enjoy Outdoor Dining at an Italian Restaurant in Bergen County

The pandemic has forced us all into our homes so we can stay safe. While some businesses have opened back up, restaurant dining continues to be unavailable for now, because it isn’t possible to maintain social distancing indoors.

So, for those in Wyckoff, NJ who are tired of eating homemade meals and want some change, Aldo’s Restaurant is happy to announce that we have outdoor dining! You can enjoy a hearty lunch or dinner while enjoying the outdoors (and staying safe!) at your favorite Italian restaurant in Bergen County.

Safety comes first!

The staff at Aldo’s cares about your safety, so we will take every precaution to ensure you and your family are safe. Seats outdoors are properly placed so they follow social distancing regulations, for example. The meals are prepared in a safe and perfectly hygienic environment as usual. Our staff has been given proper safety instructions, and we encourage them to stay at home if they feel any symptoms.

Aldo’s is a restaurant that cares. We want you to have a good time without any repercussions. That is why our food is freshly cooked and healthy. The pandemic has forced us to adapt to the times and change the way we normally operate, which creates a little extra work for our staff, but we are happy to accommodate so our customers can have a break from home-cooked meals. We are glad that we’re able to provide some relief and entertainment during these stressful times.

The outdoor dining experience

Just being able to go outside and do something fun is a luxury nowadays, because the virus has posed a lot of limitations on things we take for granted. Restaurants have remained shut because indoor dining isn’t a feasible option with social distancing regulations, and while homemade food is healthy, the authentic Italian restaurant experience is on a whole another level. That is why Aldo’s – your favorite Italian restaurant in Bergen County – has come up with a safe alternative.

If you’ve been waiting to dine out, come over to Aldo’s and we’ll spoil you with delicious dishes and unbelievable wines. The outdoor seating at our location is comfortable, and you’ll enjoy the weather, which has been promising. If it gets bad you’ll have nothing to worry about though, since we’ll have a covered area.

Outdoor dining is great for larger groups of people, because they can sit comfortably, enjoy each other’s company and take their own time. Inside a restaurant, you may feel a little rushed. Of course, we don’t need to mention that you’d be very unsafe in these times, sitting close to people.

Take advantage of the open air and natural light, and have fun with your friends and family. We’re open throughout the week – you can get our open hours from the Home page. If you want to check in advance, you can always call us at 201-891-2618.

Takeout still available!

We will be accepting orders through the ChowNow app soon, so you can easily order your favorite dishes and enjoy them in the comfort of your home. Ordering through an app is super easy. It takes less time, and doesn’t require you to stand in a line or wait at a table. If you are immunocompromised or feel uncomfortable heading out, this is a great option for you. After all, there’s a reason we’re the best Italian restaurant in Bergen County!

The app is easy to use and can be downloaded on your phone. All you need to do is log in, go through the available options and decide what you’d like to order, and pay. Outdoor dining isn’t for everyone, and if you want some yummy food delivered at your doorstep, we totally get it. Our delivery person will follow all safety regulations to make sure you are both safe. When times are better, perhaps you can come visit our restaurant for an authentic Italian restaurant experience!

If you run into any problems, have questions or would rather phone in your order, please call us!

Our lunch menu

You can look through our entire menu online, but here’s a preview to show you what we make best:

Cold Antipasti – Shrimp Cocktail OR Little Neck Clams on Half Shell

Hot Antipasti – Fried Calamari, Spidini, Fried Zucchini, Clams Oreganato

Soup of the day

Special salads including: Sicillian Salad, Shrimp Salad Primavera, Seafood Salad, Insalata Rustica, Caesar Salad

Home-made pasta: Homemade Cheese Ravioli (with marinara, Bolognese or filetto di pomodoro sauce), Cavatelli con Broccoli (chopped fresh broccoli with olive oil, garlic, and a touch of marinara sauce)

Aldo’s Specialties: Shrimp Fra’Diavolo, Stuffed Eggplant, Veal Francese, Chicken Capricciosa, Veal Parmigiana, Shrimp & Chicken Montecarlo, Zuppa di Mussels, Flounder Oreganato, and many more.

Bar Antipasto – Cold Antipasto, Meat Balls, Sausage & Pepper

Sandwiches: Steak Sandwich, Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, Pan seared Veal Scallopini, and Meat Balls Parmigiana

Brick Oven Pizzas (white pizza, light marinara pizza and vegetarian pizzas)

White pizzas – Aldo’s Special White Pizza (ham, prosciutto, white onions and mozzarella), Bianca Pizza, White Basil, Pesto Lovers

Light Marinara Pizzas – America, Genovese Alla Aldo (pepperoni, mozzarella, fresh chopped scallion, olives and mushroom), Margarita, Meat Balls & Sausage, Parma Special

Vegetarian Pizzas – Marinara & Cheese Free, The Primavera (light marinara, artichoke hearts, mushroom & sundried tomatoes)

Our lunch menu is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. You can visit the link above to view more details (including the ingredients in each meal), options, and to see the price of each dish.

Our dinner menu

We like to provide our menus online, so our customers have plenty of time to go through them and decide what they’d like to have. Here are some of the items you can order at our Italian restaurant in Bergen County:

Antipasti – Fried Zucchini, Fried Calamari, Mussels Provinciale, Zuppa di Clams, Spidini, and more

Cold Antipasto (mozzarella and tomato, roasted peppers, anchovies, ham, salami, string beans, artichoke hearts and hard-boiled egg)

Hot Antipasto (stuffed eggplant, clams oreganato, stuffed mushrooms, artichoke hearts, shrimp oreganato, mussels and roasted peppers)

Soups – Stracciatella Romana, Tortellini in Brodo, Minestrone Casalinga, Pasta Fagioli, and Soup of the Day

Insalate – House Salad, Mozzarella & Tomato, Insalta di Mare, Tomato & Onion Salad, Hearts of Palm, String Bean Salad

Homemade Pasta – Fusilli Maestosa (tricolor spiral pasta in a pink sauce with mushrooms, onions and prosciutto), Trofie all’ Amatriciana (twisted pasta in a plum tomato sauce with onions and prosciutto), Lobster Ravioli, Paglia & Fieno, and others

Pasta – Linguine, Linguine Siciliana, Rigatoni Bolognese, Penne alla Norma, Spaghetti Carbonara, and more (gluten free options available!)

Aldo’s Specialties – Filet Mignon Arrabiato, Chicken Fiorentino, Pork Chop Arrabiato, Sausage Giambotta, Veal Chops Oreganato, Veal Rollatini, and many more!

Vitello – Veal Milanese, Veal Francese, Veal Capricciosa, Veal Margherita

Polli – Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Murphy, Chicken Francese, Pollo Campagnola, Chicken alla Aldo

Pesce – Slounder Francese, Shrimp alla Giovanni, Salmon Oreganato, Shrimp Marinara, Mussels Marinara, Mussels Provinciale

Vegetali – Sauteed Escarole, Broccoli Oreganato, Sauteed Mushrooms, Roasted Peppers

Wine list

Our food goes best with some of our lovely wines – and you’ll see we have a fantastic selection at our restaurant! Here’s a small portion of our wine menu, including red wine, white wine, and champagne. You can find the full menu here with prices.

LaLuca Prosecco (Veneto, Italy)

Astoria Sparkling Moscato (Piemonte, Italy)

Simi Chardonnay (Sonoma, California)

Les Charmes Chardonnay (Macon-Lugny, France)

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)

Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

Meiomi Pinot Noir (California)

Angeline Pinot Noir Reserve (California)

You can buy these by the glass, and we have an extensive selection of wines that you can buy by the bottle. Some favorites include:

Veuve Clicquot “Yellow Label” Brut (Reims, France)

Castello Di Bossi “Berardo” Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany)

Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany)

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, California)

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Kendall-Jackson “Vintner’s Reserve” (California)

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy)

Why Aldo’s is the best Italian restaurant in Bergen County

Aldo’s is a restaurant where you can feel comfortable. We’re a small family-owned restaurant with friendly staff, and of course, fantastic food! We’ve been around for over 30 years, and we’ve plied the residents of Bergen County with delicious food and better wine! Our prices are very reasonable, and our food quality is hard to beat – if we do say so ourselves. Come over sometime (when you can safely), and see for yourself!

Our restaurant is open 7 days a week, and has lots of room for guests – although indoor dining isn’t an option at the moment. When things return to normal, however, you’ll be able to sit indoors with your guests and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of our restaurant for a full Aldo’s Restaurant experience.

We’re open from 11:30 to 10 PM Monday-Thursday, 11:30 to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday, and on Sundays we’re open from 1 to 9 PM. If you have any questions, you can contact us anytime!