We eat at Nauna's almost every Saturday night. I love the staff and it is one of the most comfortable restaurants to sit and be with our friends.. No one pulls your dish from you and make you feel like turnover is more important.. Thanks

Nauna's is great

Love Nauna's, and find that all the staff, not just Tom, care about the customers. And Nauna's is always supportive of the schools and their fundraisers.

I do appreciate Nauna's support of local schools and other organizations, but after a bad experience there several years ago--unfortunately, my first visit--I never went back. Unbelievably rude treatment by the manager (we were waiting for a table, a young server seated us, apparently against the wishes of the manager, who snapped at US!). That was it for me--plenty of other restaurants in town!

One of my fave places in town -- who's spreading nasty stories about Nauna's?!

There never seems to be a friendly vibe at Nauna's, so with so-so pizza we rarely(maybe once a year) go even though we live a block and 1/2 from there!

Today I talked to Tom and he said that everything was faked. The show paid the employees to mess up on things that they never did. The dude made the waiters intentionally bring the wrong food, delay service, be on their phones, and snap at customers. When the guy would send in actors as tests, Tom knew exactly what his employees would do and he had to pretend like he was surprised. BTW they were getting paid a large sum to do this, it's not real at all

Nauna's is the typical Montclair "rookie" place to go with the kiddies. Did it myself going back twenty years when Nauna's pizza joint was a shack across the street in the same location that now occupies a relatively new structure. However, somewhere around the 100th visit, the guy who runs the place still looked at our family like he had never seen us before. Never a hello, never a warm and welcoming smile, never a thank you or even a "did you enjoy your meal...? And, it was not just us, because I began to notice that he did this with everyone!
Whatever location scout, who lives in Montclair and chose this place for the Food Network, clearly is still in their rookie season of residence.
By the way, it was this guys parents who gave him this business. He built nothing. The mom was still working and funded the entire new building. Twenty four years of building...Really?
The mom, who only retired a few years ago, always greeted everyone with a smile and always a thank you when leaving.
Instead of Tommy trying to figure out what his "employees" do to detract customers...someone needs to clue him in to the fact that it all starts at the top.
The best is the "electric car charging post" outside of this place...Please...can i use that? NOT. How many more ways can you spell...."social disconnect".

I order from Nauna's almost everyday for lunch they know
Exactly who I am when I call and they are always nice. My favorite dish is grilled chicken, goat cheese, grilled zucchini and pesto on a panini, it's amazing!

I also remember the old Nauna's, as a pizza joint on the other side of Valley. I love the new digs, but haven't gone there much since their amiable greeter and front man, Raymond Helfrich, left for greener pastures.

I see here that Nauna's has been nominated, by the readers of Suburban Essex magazine, as being the "BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT" and as making the "BEST PIZZA" and I voted for them in both categories.

http://www.naunas.com/

My kids and I have been customers of Nauna's since it opened across the street from it's present location two and a half decades ago. When my grandchildren visit they ask me for Nauna's delivery and I order the same fresh homemade fare my kids enjoyed at those ages: spaghetti, spinach salad with pear, walnuts, tomato, onion, crumbled bleu cheese and for dessert the carmel apple crisp. Tommy and Sean worked their toosh-tails off day and night plus weekends building the business, sacrificing their youthful 20s for the business, rather than having fun, especially on weekends. Hat's off to them on their success! Their dedication to the schools, community and fundraisers is widely known. The food quality is fresh and authentic. Tommy's wonderful mother, affectionately known to old time loyal patrons as "Ma" still works there! I saw her last week and she looks fantastic! Tommy and Sean have always greeted us by name and have treated us darn near like family since the beginning, so I don't know what these other posts are referring to. Everyone loves Sean and Tommy and Ma, and always has, as far as we've ever known. Congrats on the TV show, Nauna's! For the sour grapes types, who are obviously in the minority, go back and order the salmon dinner special with the tomato and artichoke sauce or try the lobster ravioli with a side of broccoli rabe. Try smiling at the staff and I'll bet you'll get a smile in return. You'll leave with a warm happy heart and tummy, guaranteed.

I've been living in Montclair for 4 years and frequent Nauna's about 5-10 times a year. Their food is tasty and consistent, the menu is very extensive and the service is very good. Wait times for food are generally very short. There's a reason this place is always busy and full. And delivery is pretty quick too. Other than being a little crammed with a highchair in the first dining room, I have zero complaints. The main dining room for adults and no pizza menu is also very comfortable. I really wish there were other cuisines that had this type of professionalism and food consistency in town (ie Mexican in Montclair is pretty poor).

Thanks for the (mostly) kind words everyone. We do try to do the best we can, but I know we're not going to make everyone happy. I really do welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone that has had a bad experience and would like to discuss it, so please take me up on it and stop by.

People have been asking if we were paid to do it and yes we were. We had to close for half a day for the crew to set up all the cameras and mics and they were here for a week shooting which was really intrusive. I knew they were going to embellish a lot of the scenes and it wouldn't be pretty, but having an hour show on the Food Network alone is worth a lot. I think our customers will understand what they see isn't what they normally see here, I hope everyone enjoys the show, remember it is television and they need to have 'interesting' things happen or there is no show. I think most people watching will understand what was going on....;)

I have been a friend, customer, even an employee, of Tom and the Naunas family since 1987. If you don't like the food, well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but I can't stand idly by while people smear Tom's reputation with lies. Tom did a very eloquent job defending himself previously, but he is too modest. He is a successful businessman because he knows how to cultivate customer loyalty. He is one of the few restaurants in town that has always run specials to reward the loyal customer. He has done more good works for this town and various charities than any other business I can think of. When I personally faced hard times and needed extra income, he gave me a job. When a good customer lost a child to sudden illness, Tom stepped up and provide the repast without concern for repayment. Tom is a tireless advocate for "green energy" sources and electric automobiles, and he does this without remuneration, and he provides the electric charging stations free for customers and at minimal expense for non customers. He installed them at his own expense and makes no profit from them.
I don't know why anyone would want to sling mud at this guy over some imagined slight, but if you knew Tom like I know Tom, you'ld keep going back again and again.

When we lived in Glen Ridge 18 years ago we used to order delivery from Nauna's twice a week. They were always friendly and the food was great. Will have to tune in to the show.

When I splurge for pizza, it's always Nauna's! It's the only place open on Christmas Eve, without a line for delicious chicken & bacon pizza plus, that chicken wing pizza! I grab a few slices & that becomes my meal when I trek back to Buffalo, for Christmas. Love Tom & Nauna!s

Star Tavern is the measuring stick for all Pizza in Montclair

people lets first understand all these show are scripted, Resturant Stakeout in no exception.

Tommy had been a huge pillar in the community for over 20 years, has been extremely supportive to all organization that ask and not just in Montclair.

I to am a close friend, former employee and I have nothing but wonderful thing to say about Tommy. He has been the first to step up when ask to support charities in town as well as out of town. He has been extremely generous with a organization that is close to my heart the NJCDC based in Paterson.

This Christmas Eve as well as past Christmas Eve Tommy provides over 300 pizzas for about a 1000 underprivileged children and their families for the NJCDC's annual Christmas Eve Party for the less fortunate.

His staff is first class and Sean and Mario are true gentlemen and I am proud to be associated and feel fortunate to be their friends.

Mark, i just read your ridiculous thread and I have to say your information is wayyyy off.

I have know Tommy, his parent and Sean for close to 15 years now.

I worked for Tommy while in College at Christmas breaks( that is how I met him) and when he was still across the street. First his parent who are the most amazing people I know and had nothing to do with giving him the business. Tommy did it all on his own. His parents refer to me as Fitz and I call his Mother Mom with all the love and respect I have for my own Mom!

I never heard of this restaurant until last night seeing on food network. I live in Bloomfield and never eat out as my wife and I enjoy cooking at home. I was curious about the restaurant as it's local. We watched 30 minutes but also preoccupied by NFL and DNC. I'm not a fan of reality shows typically. Seems Tommy has alot of support from what I have read here. All I can ask is why was this restaurant featured? Why did Tommy allow surveillance cameras and view them remotely? If its a sham why are managers and employees seemingly embarrassed. I would assume they signed a waiver to show their faces. Please enlighten me if you know how this works and why this show happened in the first place. My thought is publicity but who wants this publicity?

Nauna's was the first place we found when we moved to town in '96, and it's one of our favorite places. Tom's wonderfully interesting and a hell of a guy. We eat in, take out, have food delivered, too. Perhaps it's just me, but I have frequent negative experiences with young teenage wait staff. Not just at Nauna's, but in general. I do miss Raymond being there. He kept the place running tight, and always had something nice to say to us. Good luck Tom, in the future. We love Nauna's. It's about as close to our sorely missed NYC pizza.

P.S. One of our usual waiters in the back restaurant always comes up with some delicious pesto for me, even if it's not part of a menu special. I am happy that I can order whole wheat pastas, too.

This is THE WORSE Veggie LASAGNA I have EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE....... I ma DISGUSTED! I havent eaten all day I was FAMISHED as a courtesy some brought me NAUNA'S VEGGIE LASAGNA so we could have a meeting over food......THIS IS UNETABLE FROZEN CORN CARROTS AND PEAS IN THIS DREADFUL MURDER OF PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW...... NO I didnt see the FOOD NETWORK SPECIAL AND LORD KNOWS I AM SORRY NEVER AGAIN!