La Tavola Cucina Ristorante, South River

Within La Tavola's butter-hued walls, decorative partitions and flowing red curtains subdivide the dining room. Amid these stately accents, owners Jill and Steve Sullivan present an elegant menu of contemporary Italian fare. Chicken and seafood arrive pan-seared or roasted with basil pesto and lemon-caper butter, whereas gamey meats such as rabbit complement traditional spiral and straight pastas. Diners may also requisition the sconce-laden space for private parties of up to 150 guests or 300 acrobats willing to stand atop one another's shoulders.