The newest restaurant in Oradell, ORA, bears a meaningful name. Of course, the moniker pays homage to the town where it is located. But Ora also means “now” in Italian, which is important because ORA’s menu lives in the now, not the past.
As the team describes, Chef Tom Silvestri serves freestyle Italian dishes. “While he honors the traditions of Italian cooking, regions, and ingredients, he’s not bound by them,” says Marketing Consultant Nader Ashway. “It’s food that sits at the intersection of traditional Italian and what people call New American. When you think of New American, you think fresh, local, seasonal ingredients turned into recipes from all types of cuisine. Here, we take that approach, but focus it on elevating and modernizing Italian cooking.”
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A New Take on Classic Italian Dishes
Their raw tuna appetizer exemplifies the freestyle Italian cooking at ORA. A ‘typical’ tuna tartare features soy sauce, soybeans, avocado, and wontons. But their freestyle Italian approach instead combines pickled eggplant caponata, olio verde, basil, and spicy pine nuts. Caviar Cannoli is another unique starter. A cannoli is typically a dessert—fried pastry dough filled with ricotta and decorated with chocolate chips. At ORA, cannoli is made with parmigiano, filled with a chive-whipped mascarpone, and finished with royal ossetra caviar. The dish is served in a smoky dome, which the server lifts and removes at the table.
Pizzas are also a big hit at ORA, thanks to their 900-degree wood-fired pizza oven. Standouts include the Picante, with pepperoni, sausage, nduja, and Fresno chiles. Meanwhile, the Sunday Morning pie has meatballs, broccoli rabe, hot peppers, and crispy garlic. Another fan favorite is Funghi, with roasted wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, and truffle honey.
All the pasta at ORA is made in-house. Entrees include fresh fish and cauliflower steak for vegetarians. They dry age their cuts and chops including NY Strip, prime ribeye, and filet in their onsite dry-aging cabinets.
Their extensive beverage menu boasts cocktails, mocktails, wines, whiskeys, tequilas, and cognacs. Their signature cocktails are the Campania Punch and the Ora Negroni. Meanwhile, their beer list includes local and international options, including Italian options.
About the Restaurant
The two-story restaurant replaces coffee shop, Cool Beans. However, the space is completely rebuilt from the ground up. “The building is a marvel of both architecture and modern technology. Every space is thoughtfully planned, and every system, from the kitchen to the dining room, is a state-of-the-art installation,” Nader explains.
According to their architect, Garrett Singer Design, ORA evokes the style of a modern farmhouse. It also purposefully mimics the colors of an Italian countryside. Deep ochre and sienna browns complement the gray painted backdrop and lapboard walls. Mercury glass lighting in the dining room adds a glow throughout the restaurant.
Visit ORA at 304 Kinderkamack Rd in Oradell. (See them on Google Maps.) To learn more:
| Visit their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 201-267-4304 |
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ORA Restaurant FAQs
Yes, they accept reservations.
Yes, they have gluten-free options.
ORA offers vegetarian options yes.
They do not offer takeout, no.
No, they do not offer delivery.
Yes, they serve cocktails, wines, whiskeys, and more.
Yes, they have a kids’ menu.
All Photos: © Ron Antonelli
