Nero's Grille

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

An American Steakhouse with an Italian Accent

Established in 1969 as Nero's Italian Restaurant, Nero's Grille has spent more than five decades refining a formula that feels genuinely its own: the bold, primal satisfaction of a classic American steakhouse, woven through with Italian cooking traditions that go back to the restaurant's founding. That continuity shows — in the white linen dining rooms, in the recipes, and in the generations of regulars who keep coming back.

The Menu

The steakhouse side of the menu is serious. Cuts run from a 12 oz. New York Strip to a 16 oz. Bone-in Cowboy Rib Eye and a 10 oz. Filet Mignon, alongside a 12 oz. Center Cut Veal Chop available grilled, parmigiana-style, or milanesa-style. The Italian accent comes through clearly in the pasta section — Pappardelle with slow-braised Black Angus short ribs finished with truffle oil and fresh herb ricotta, Linguini alle Vongole with local clams and roasted garlic white wine sauce, and a Frutti di Mare over fettuccini that pulls together calamari, gulf shrimp, clams, and mussels. Classic Chicken Parmigiana and a Spicy Drunken Chicken Parmigiana with vodka sauce sit alongside the steaks without any apology, which is exactly right for this kind of Italian steakhouse.

The raw bar adds another dimension — local oysters, littlenecks, cherry stones, big shrimp, and a Colossal Lump Crab Cocktail, all served ice cold. Daily specials rotate through the week with a clear sense of purpose: Mussels & Fries on Monday, Brooklyn-style Eggplant Parmigiana on Tuesday, a Maine Lobster Boil on Sunday.

Wine and Recognition

The wine program earned Nero's Grille a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects genuine depth and curation rather than a perfunctory list. Wines are available by the glass and by the bottle, with a dedicated selection under $50 alongside the broader cellar — a range that suits both the weeknight burger crowd and a celebratory steak dinner equally well.

The Space

The restaurant offers white linen dining rooms, an outdoor terrace, and a bar room — all serving the full menu. Private dining areas accommodate events up to 200 guests, making Nero's a practical choice for everything from corporate lunches to family celebrations. Takeout and delivery run seven days a week, and the kitchen is not far from Short Hills Mall for those making an afternoon of it.

After more than fifty years, Nero's Grille remains what it set out to be: a place where Italian cooking and American steakhouse instincts share the same table, and where the wine list is good enough to earn outside recognition.