Berta's Chateau

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Family Story That Started in 1925

In the early 1920s, Santina and Pietro Berta — a fancy butcher and a trained seamstress from New York's Chelsea District — purchased a former physician's property in Wanaque, New Jersey, as a summer retreat. They had no intention of opening a restaurant, despite coming from Italian families with roots in the trade. When a tenant named Leo Berta (no relation) ran a short-lived restaurant on the property and then departed for Manhattan, the Bertas simply carried on. What began almost by accident is now one of New Jersey's most enduring family dining institutions.

The restaurant grew gradually, expanding room by room — often while Pietro was away on vacation, according to family lore. By the mid-1950s, Berta's classic look and menu had taken shape, and that warmth has been carefully preserved ever since. A major renovation in 1989 drew concern from loyal regulars who feared the character of the place might be lost. It wasn't. As Peter B., the current steward of the family business, puts it: the goal has always been "preserving the warmth and charm my grandparents imbued in our family restaurant — a distinct feeling of being at home."

Northern Italian at Its Core

Zagat once described Berta's as a "charmer in Wanaque, New Jersey, known for wonderful Northern Italian fare that captures the simple homemade pleasures of 'The Boot,' backed by a welcoming ambiance and an extensive, Barolo-heavy wine list" — adding that it has "stood the test of time." That summary still holds. Northern Italian cooking is the heart of the menu, with dishes like Agnolotti di Porcini in Brodo, Tajarin con Burro di Tartufo, and Medaglione di Vitello con Nocciole appearing on special menus that rotate with the seasons and the chef's inspiration.

Peter's own philosophy is blunt and reassuring: "The only thing different are the prices. I will not compromise on quality ever."

A Wine Program Decades in the Making

The wine cellar at Berta's is not an afterthought. Over the past four decades, the restaurant has hosted more than 200 wine tastings and dinners, with a particular focus on the great producers of Piemonte — including legendary figures like Elio Altare, Luciano Sandrone, and Chiara Boschis, collectively known as the Barolo Boys and Girls. While Italy remains the primary focus, the program has also explored France, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Croatia, reflecting the broader European range of the kitchen.

That commitment to wine has been formally recognized: Wine Spectator has awarded Berta's Chateau its prestigious Best of Award of Excellence every single year since 1991 — a streak of 34 consecutive years, 32 of them at the Best of level. It is the kind of record that speaks for itself.

Monday Nights with the Chef

Peter also runs a weekly Chef's Night on Mondays, offering a rotating menu — appetizer, main course, two glasses of wine, and coffee — designed to showcase what's best that week. The menu and wine selections change each time, making it a regular draw for those who want to experience Northern Italian cooking at its most spontaneous.