AWARDS & PRESS
To all of our customers: thank you for your continued loyalty and support! We’ve earned these recognitions because of you and all of your help:
CALANDRA ACCOLADES
2024
Restaurant Guru – Recommended
Il Vecchio
2023
Suburban Essex Magazine “Best of Essex”
GOLD MEDALS
Best Bakery — Calandra Bakery
Best Brunch/ Breakfast — Il Vecchio
Best Caterer — Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Deli — Calandra Italian Market & Deli
Best Outdoor Dining — ll Vecchio
Best Private Dining Room — Calandra Mediterranean Grill
Best Specialty Food — Calandra Italian Market & Deli
SILVER MEDALS
Best Banquet/Event Venue —Cucina Calandra
Best Full Service Restaurant —Cucina Calandra
Best Italian Restaurant —Cucina Calandra
NJBIZ Business of the Year
Family Business of the Year (101 + employees) – Calandra Enterprises
Bakery North Jersey –Calandra’s Bakery – All
Bang for the Buck North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Bar Scene North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Village
Best Deli (Italian-Style) North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Italian North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Lunch North Jersey – Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe
Pizza North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Soup/Salad/Sandwich North Jersey – Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe
Wine List North Jersey – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award
North Jersey best Outdoor Dining – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
North Jersey best Special Occasions – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
The Knot – Best Of Weddings
Calandra’s Bakery
WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards
Calandra’s Bakery
Yelp – People Love Us
Calandra’s Bakery
Restaurant Guru – Recommended
Calandra’s Bakery
2022
Suburban Essex Magazine “Best of Essex”
Gold Medal
Best Bakery
Best Deli – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Outdoor Dining – Il Vecchio Cafe
Best Private Dining Room –Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Best Specialty Food – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Brunch – Il Vecchio Cafe
Silver Medal
Best Banquet – Cucina Calandra
Best Italian – Cucina Calandra
Best Caterer – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Bronze Medal
Best Full Service Restaurant – Cucina Calandra
NJ Monthly Magazine Jersey Choice Awards
Bakery North Jersey –Calandra’s Bakery
Desserts North Jersey –Calandra’s Bakery
Best Caterer North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Deli (Italian-Style) North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Bang for the Buck North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Bar Scene North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Village
Italian North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Lunch North Jersey – Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe
Pizza North Jersey – Cucina Calandra
Soup/Salad/Sandwich North Jersey – Calandra’s Il Vecchio Cafe
Wine List North Jersey – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Morris/Essex Magazine Readers Choice Awards 2022
Calandra’s Bakery voted Number One
The Knot – Best Of Weddings
Calandra’s Bakery
WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards
Calandra’s Bakery
2021
Suburban Essex Magazine “Best of Essex”
Gold Medal
Best Bakery
Best Deli – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Italian Restaurant – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Best Outdoor Dining – Il Vecchio
Best Pizza – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Silver Medal
Best Caterer – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
NJ Monthly Magazine Jersey Choice Awards
Best Lunch Spot – Il Vecchio Café
Best Caterer North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Deli (Italian-Style) North Jersey – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
NJBIZ Reader’s Rankings:
1st place – Best Business Lunch (North Jersey) – Calandra’s Italian Village
1st place – Best Hotel – Hampton Inn & Suites, Fairfield
1st place – Best Food Company – Calandra’s Bakery
2020
NJ Monthly Magazine Jersey Choice Awards
Best Lunch Spot – Il Vecchio Café
2019
Suburban Essex Magazine “Best of Essex”
Gold medal
Best Outdoor Dining – Il Vecchio Café
2018
Trip Advisor
Top 3 Best Restaurant & Italian Cuisine – Cucina Calandra
#1 Best Italian Cuisine – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
#1 Mediterranean Cuisine – Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
OpenTable Diners’ Choice
Top Italian Cuisine – Cucina Calandra & Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Best Restaurants in Fairfield – Cucina Calandra & Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Google+ Rated Excellent
Cucina Calandra
Morris Essex Health & Life Magazine
Best Bakery
2017
OpenTable Diners’ Choice
Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Calandra’s Italian Village
Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
NJ Monthly Magazine “Best Of” Contest
Best Bakery – Calandra’s Bakery
Best Bang for the Buck – Cucina Calandra
Best Caterer – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Deli – Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
Best Dessert – Calandra’s Bakery
Zagat Award of Excellence
Calandra’s Italian Village
Calandra’s Italian Market & Deli
2016
Suburban Essex Magazine “Best of Essex”
Best Bakery
Best Deli – Calandra’s Italian Village
Best Outdoor Dining – Il Vecchio Cafe
OpenTable Diners’ Choice
Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
NJ Monthly Magazine “Best Of” Contest
Best Bakery: Multiple locations
Best Italian Restaurant (North): Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill
Best “Bang For Your Buck”: Cucina Calandra
2015
OpenTable Diners’ Choice
Cucina Calandra
NJ Monthly Magazine “Best Of” Contest
Best Bakery: Multiple locations
Best Caterer and Best Italian-style Deli: Calandra’s Market and Deli
Best Dessert: Calandra’s Bakery
Best Italian Restaurant (North): Cucina Calandra
Morris Essex Health & Life Magazine
Kid-friendly: Cucina Calandra (1st place)
Italian Deli: Calandra’s Italian Village (3rd place)
2014
NJ Monthly Magazine “Best Of” Contest
6 Categories:
Bakery: All locations
Bang for Your Buck: Cucina Calandra
Caterer: Calandra’s Italian Village
Deli (Italian Style)
Calandra’s Italian Village
Best Italian Restaurant (North): Cucina Calandra
Best Cannoli: Calandra’s Bakery
Suburban Essex Magazine Best of Essex Contest
Best Bakery
Best Deli – Calandra’s Italian Village
Outdoor Dining – Il Vecchio Cafe
Morris Essex Health & Life Magazine
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
To all of our customers: thank you for your continued loyalty and support! We’ve earned these recognitions because of you and all of your help:
Devils Captain Hischier, Calandra’s Announce Partnership
ByDevils PR @NJDevils NewJerseyDevils.com –
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier and Calandra’s Bakery recently announced a partnership for the 2023-24 season. As part of the agreement, Nico will make two special appearances at Calandra’s restaurants throughout the season providing Calandra’s customers and Devils fans the unique opportunity to meet and interact with the team’s captain. The first appearance took place October 10 at Il Vecchio Café in Caldwell, NJ with a second appearance a TBD event in February/March.
Throughout the entire 2023-24 season, Calandra’s will be selling custom designed Hischier-branded gift cards with 20% of all sales donated to the Devils Youth Foundation. Additionally, Calandra’s will be raffling off signed Nico jerseys at various events throughout the season. Calandra’s Bakery Caldwell will also be selling Nico-themed cookies during the year.
Calandra’s is once again a corporate partner serving as the “Official Bakery and Bread of the New Jersey Devils.” They will continue this season hosting three away game viewing parties at their restaurants and also serve as the presenting partner of the birthday scroll program.
“I’m really happy to be working together with a local business here in New Jersey, while I can support the Devils Youth Foundation,” said Nico Hischier, Captain of the New Jersey Devils. “It’s really important to me; we’ve done things as a team already, I’ve been to some events, and it’s just great to be able to give something back to our community. Allison Blitzer, and all that they do for the community with the Foundation, did such a great job to get this Foundation going to do so many good things in our community. For me, it’s just nice to be able to contribute.”
NJ Monthly – The Little Bake Shop That Could
American Entrepreneur – Three Generations of a Successful Family Run Business
APP.COM – Jersey Italian Food Endangered Species
CBS – NJ’s 5 Best Cannolis
Ehiac – Anthony Calandra
Got Cakee – German White Cake
Let’s Eat Everywhere – Hey There Cupcake
Awards & BADGES
