CASUAL ITALIAN DINING
Montclair, NJ


Our Story
Our restaurant is named after La Rocca, a medieval castle in the heart of Imola, the bustling northern Italian town where Chef Robert Pantusa’s love affair with Italy and Italian food began. La Rocca Osteria is the culmination of a 25 year journey in the restaurant business which started with 3 years at the Michelin 2-star Il San Domenico restaurant, Italy before returning home to New Jersey.
Robert’s recipes are simple and are often the product of generations. And, like that medieval castle, they have stood the test of time in an ever changing world. His signature dishes, perfected over that 25 year journey, use only the highest quality ingredients and traditional techniques of which his grandmother in Italy would have been proud.
In true Italian style, our home is your home. Our belief in simplicity and comfort is reflected in the decor of La Rocca Osteria. We hope you will feel the hospitality like a Grandmother’s embrace as you walk through the door. Everyone’s experience will be different, but each customer will leave taking a little piece of Italy with them.
Our menu
Our restaurant is named after La Rocca, a medieval castle in the heart of Imola, the bustling northern Italian town where Chef Robert Pantusa’s love affair with Italy and Italian food began.
antipasti
INSALATA
PRIMI
SECONDI
CONTORNI
House Made Bread
ANTIPASTI SPECIALS
PASTA SPECIALS
FISH & MEAT
DESSERTS
COLD BEVERAGES
HOT BEVERAGES
Calamari Fritti
Crispy, fried calamari in potato basket with side of tomato sauce
Antipasto Misto
Selection of cured meat (prosciutto, mortadella, and salami) & mozzarella
Tuna Tartare
Tuna, diced tomato, olives, red onion and barley
Carpaccio di Manzo
Thinly sliced beef filet, white mushrooms, shaved parmigiano
Timballo di Gamberi e Verdure
Diced eggplant, zucchini, sundried tomato, jumbo shrimp, balsamic reduction
Arancini di Riso
Rice balls, one filled with nduja, one smoked provolone, one Bolognese
Insalata di Pesce
Cold seafood salad, celery, onion, tomato.
Polipo alla Griglia
Grilled octopus, roasted tomatoes, a saffron and njdua infused barley, with pesto and basil oil.
Clams & Mussels
Breadcrumbs, white wine, & garlic
Parmigiana Soufflé
Served over sautéed mushrooms
Eggplant Parmigiana
Layers of lightly floured, sautéed eggplant, tomato, & mozzarella
Bresaola
Thinly sliced air-cured beef filet, surrounding our carciofi salad in a lemon dressing
Caesar Salad
Classic Caesar salad.
Broccoli Rabe Salad
Pickled red onion, olives, roasted peppers, mozzarella, white balsamic dressing
Spinach Salad
Spinach, tomato, red onion, walnuts, shaved parmigiano, pancetta, balsamic dressing
Carciofi Salad
Artichoke, lemon, shaved parmigiano & black pepper
La Rocca Salad
Mixed greens, apple, walnut, pecorino, honey, lemon dressing
Burrata
Roasted red pepper, cherry tomato, arugula
Panzanella
Croutons, mozzarella, sweetcorn, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, sweet red onion
Tagliatelle Bolognese
Bolognese ragu, parmigiano.
Penne Norma
Tomato, eggplant, ricotta salata.
Spaghetti alla Chitarra
House made spaghetti w/ seafood combination of clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari, tomato.
Gnocchi
La Rocca tomato sauce, smoked provolone.
Tonnarelli Cacio Pepe
Traditional roman pasta with black pepper, pecorino
Linguine Vongole
Manila clams, garlic, parsley
Orecchiette
Broccoli rabe, crumbled sausage
Lasagna
Classic recipe -layers of house-made pasta, bolognese & bechamel
Fazzoletti
Ricotta/ spinach filled ravioli with butter & sage or tomato & basil
Tagliolini Seafood
House made thin ribbon pasta w/ lobster , crabmeat, shrimp, light cherry tomato sauce, touch of crushed red pepper
Bistecca ai Ferri
Marinated grilled ribeye, roasted potato, sauteed mushrooms
Vitello alla Milanese
Breaded veal cutlet, arugula, roasted tomato, red onion
Pollo al Limone
Roasted chicken breast, lemon, caper, butter sauce with roasted potato and heirloom cauliflower
Gamberi
Jumbo shrimp, lemon, garlic, white wine reduction with roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach
Salmone
Handcut 8oz to 10oz, crispy salmon, mashed potatoes, peperonata
Tonno alla Griglia
Grilled tuna, broccoli di rabe salad
Zuppa di Pesce
Combination of shellfish, seafood, garlic, tomato broth
Capesante
Pan seared scallops, sautéed spinach, & mushrooms, balsamic reduction
Sella di Agnello in Crosta
Rack of lamb, herbed bread crumb, garlic, rosemary with roasted potato and heirloom cauliflower
Skirt Steak
Skirt steak w/ caramelized onion-infused mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus & romesco sauce (contains nuts)
Roasted Potato
Sauteed Mushrooms
Broccoli Rabe
Sauteed Spinach
Roasted Potato & Italian Long Hots
Basket of Mixed Breads
House made, Ciabatta & Butter Roll
Trancio Di Focaccia
House-made Focaccia, Choose: Onion, or Tomato
Grilled Calamari
served with oil & garlic, hot cherry peppers and toasted breadcrumbs
Steak Tartare
served with crispy potato chips and lemon aioli
Crispy Baby Brussels Sprouts *cannot be modified*
Grilled crostini with robiola cheese, crispy brussels sprouts, bacon, caramelized figs, and hot honey drizzle
Baby Veal Meatballs
baby veal meatballs with eggplant, tomato, burrata, and grilled fettunta (roasted bread)
Black Bass Crudo
with white balsamic, fennel, sundried tomato and crispy taro chip
Chicken Liver Pâté
chicken liver and white truffle pâté with toasted brioche
Spicy Tuna Tartare
With avocado mousse, pickled cucumber, croutons, and balsamic reduction
Crab Cake
over arugula salad with roasted pepper, dijon mustard and pesto dressing
Shrimp
Grilled shrimp over brie wrapped in filo dough, toasted almond, honey, and lemon garlic sauce
Patate Calabrese
Half baked potato au gratin stuffed with nduja, smoked provola, and sausage with a romesco sauce
Root Vegetable Mash
Root vegetable mash with bolognese and shaved pecorino
Lobster Salad
With orange mango, pickled onions, lemon, avocado, cherry tomato, and arugula
Lentil Vegetable Soup
Tortelloni
butternut squash tortelloni with amaretto cookies in a brown butter sauce
Strozzapreti
With shrimp, scallops, zucchini, cherry tomato, garleek pesto, and pecorino
Ravioli
Cappellacci filled with braised leek and robiola cheese, served with mushrooms, fresh cherry tomatoes, and shaved parmigiano
Risotto del Giorno
With porcini mushrooms and crumbled sausage
Cavatelli
housemade cavatelli with veal ragu and pecorino
Hanger Steak
seared hanger steak with roasted potatoes, broccoli rabe, and salsa verde
Double Cut Pork Chop
Served with broccoli rabe, roasted potatoes, and pickled grapes in a peppercorn brandy and raisin sauce
NY Strip Steak
NY strip steak au poivre served with broccoli rabe and caramelized onion potato croquette
Loin of Lamb
Seared, boneless loin of lamb served in a garlic rosemary jus with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach
Oxtail
Braised oxtail served with soft parmigiano polenta and sautéed spinach
Short Ribs
braised and slow-cooked boneless short ribs in a red wine reduction and served over mashed potatoes and topped with crispy onions
Pork Tenderloin
Roasted pork tenderloin with broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes in a balsamic sauce
Lamb Shank
Braised lamb shank served with creamy polenta and sautéed spinach
Cod
Seared, Icelandic cod with crispy pancetta, brussels sprouts, and caramelized onion risotto, broccolini, and a lemon and white wine sauce
Halibut
Pan-seared halibut over wild mushroom risotto and broccolini in a white wine and lemon sauce
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Contains nuts
Tiramisu (Gluten Free)
Flourless Chocolate Brownie
Flourless chocolate, hazelnut brownie with gelato.(contains nuts)
Fresh Strawberries
Fresh strawberries, aged balsamic & mint, all topped with lemon sorbet.
Gelato (made in house)
Vanilla - Chocolate - Stracciatella - Coconut - Mixed Berries Sorbet- Lemon Sorbet- 1 scoop $3.00 - 2 scoops $5.50 - 3 scoops $8.50 -
Olive Oil Cake
Olive oil cake with lemon curd, mascarpone cream, blueberry sauce & mixed berries
Pistachio Molten (not for pickup)
Warm pistachio molten w/ gelato (contains nuts)
Stracciatella Special
Stracciatella gelato, w/ zabaglione cream,mixed berries, & candied walnuts
Coconut Gelato Special
Coconut gelato, caramelized pineapple sauteed in Malibu rum
Pellegrino Sparkling Water (Large)
Panna Still Water (Large)
Seltzer/ Ginger Ale /Coke/ Diet Coke/ Sprite / Cranberry
American Coffee
Espresso
Macchiato
Cappuccino
Tea