Montclair offers a seemingly endless selection of restaurants, Italian ones in particular; after a while they all sort of blend together into an indistinguishable mélange of marinara sauce and meatballs. But when your palate craves something fresh and different, set your sights on Luce Italian Restaurant in Caldwell for a welcome change of pace.

An established mainstay on the Caldwell dining scene, Luce opened in 2001 by owners Joseph Capassco and Dino Vitagliano, who sought to bring the polished, contemporary dining experience of New York City to Luce.