There truly aren't words to describe how incredible this meal was. From start to finish, everything was above and beyond - no notes! If you know anything about Anjelica's it's how difficult it is to get a reservation. My friend and I showed up on a whim at 4pm on a Tuesday to ask if they had a spare table for dinner. Much to my surprise, they were able to seat us for a quick dinner and were very accommodating. The quick dinner turned into 2.5 hours and we were extremely grateful they let us stay so long. Everyone working there was super attentive. You could tell they really cared about providing great service and a great experience. We ordered what felt like the entire menu - 3 apps and 3 entrees to split because why not? Everything sounded so good we couldn't resist. We started with the octopus, spiedini special, and zucchini flowers. The octopus was so tender it melted in your mouth. Some of the best I've eaten. Same goes for the zucchini flowers. Light and delicate but still packed with flavor. We split the spicy vodka, salmon special, and pasta al forno as our entrees. The spicy vodka macaroni was insane. I could have eaten 10 bowls it was that good. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was totally worth the hype. Angelica's far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to return! read more

See all

I can't recommend this place enough. I came here for birthday dinner and the service and hospitality was immaculate. They definitely make sure that all their guests have a great time. They're a BYOB place and have a couple of mocktails on their menu. They do also have specials and off the menu items that the server tells you before you order. The are also very allergy accommodating as well. I get the spicy vodka with grilled chicken which was amazing and lives up to the hype. My friend got the cacio e Pepe which was delicious as well. They also have a gorgeous outside seating area adjacent to the building. Highly recommend getting a reservation by emailing them read more

See all

definitely one of the best restaurants in the state of New Jersey. The food is always consistent great service and simply delicious. The hottest part is getting in but it's worth it. read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

The food and service were great as usual. This was our first time dining outside and the alleyway was very nice save for a few gnats and humid weather. The trick to this restaurant is getting a reservation. I got in by grabbing a lunch reservation that opened up and then while there I was able to make a dinner reservation. Good luck! read more

See all

I've been waiting to try Anjelica's for a while and was so excited to give this spot a try! It is a charming BYOB spot and is a lot more packed than I thought! Dimly lit atmosphere with prompt and friendly service. This is a place to go where you should eat family style and try a bit of everything! We started off with the house chopped salad (a must get, it was excellent) and eggplant parm app, then got the famous spicy vodka sauce pasta and cacio e Pepe, chicken parm and then skirt steak. We ended with the cheesecake and tiramisu which was delicious! I think the eggplant parm app was my favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything here. If I had to skip one dish, it would be the cacio e Pepe read more

See all

We decided to try Angelica's again in Sea Bright. It was wonderful! Such a fun vibe too- we enjoyed the ambience and had a nice time. The staff was top-notch notch taking amazing care of us throughout our meal. Also, they were great with food allergies- thx you!! ( shout out to Tyler!) Plus constantly checking on us- filling up our glasses, etc. ( great service all around) We had an array of things to try- apps, entrees, and desserts. We ordered a ton of stuff to try. Eggplant parm app Meatballs app Seafood app Two pastas ( spicy vodka and a bolognese) Chx milananse and chx parm with a side of pasta. Plus two desserts Everything was AMAZING and delicious. We all loved our meal and plan on coming back sometime soon. Reservations & BYOB. On a side note, the serving dishes were so pretty and beautiful! Enjoy! read more

See all

Food here is incredible. I see why it's so hard to get a reservation. Service is friendly, attentive, and fast. We sat outside in the fall and they set us up with blankets and heaters. It made for a cozy experience. We devoured our dishes. He particularly liked the meatballs and I liked the Sole and and the Anolini. We both thoroughly enjoyed the ricotta cheesecake. There were more items on the menu I'd like to come back for. Reservations definitely needed. The place was packed even on a Monday night. Food tips: it's all good! read more

See all

Where shall I start. Everything there was amazing. Food was outstanding ! We started out with 2 orders of the meatballs and ended up ordering another. They were delicious. We also had an order of the long hots. They were good. I had the pasta with ragu. Delicious. I do have to say the portions were just right. My husband had the lobster ravioli, which was also delicious. Pistachio ice cream for dessert. Service was on point. After every dish someone quickly came and took our plates. The ambiance was fine dining at its best. We would definitely go back and have the meatballs again!!! read more

See all

Luck was with us on a beautiful Saturday in early October- scored a reservation at Anjelicas. We sat outside and enjoyed a leisurely and delicious meal. Service was good overall. Appetizers Eggplant parm Octopus over cannellini beans Second course Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe Entree Sole Meunière Dessert Ricotta/mascarpone cheesecake Another amazing dinner. Food is always fresh and on point. read more

See all

We'd driven by Anjelica's on the way to and from the beach at Sea Bright for years, and talked about trying it sometime; only last year did I realize that getting a reservation was not so easy. But I finally did it and we had an early dinner on Saturday, and it was so worth the wait! Our server, Antonio K., was friendly and attentive; the outdoor dining alley where we were seated was lovely and comfortable (fortunately, the weather cooperated); and the food... oh, wow, the food. The roasted peppers appetizer was light and flavorful. My branzino and her calamarata were both beyond delicious. Of course we had to have dessert, too, and the coffee and cappuccino complemented the hazelnut biscotti and ricotta cheesecake beautifully. What an incredible experience; we'll certainly visit again! read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Branzino! - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

See all

Restaurant is very difficult to get a reservation it's as if you were trying to get into a 4 star Michelin rated NYC/California restaurant

Unbelievably good food! Vodka sauce is probably the best I ever had - they use cherry peppers in the sauce which gives it a nice zing. Not pictured but their chicken ripieno is also delicious. So hard to get a reservation but it's definitely worth getting one at an odd hour to try this amazing food read more

See all

In town visiting relatives for the holidays. Brother in law had been hyping Anjelica's up for 2 months. It lived up to it. We were a party of 8. The only reservation we could get was for a Sunday at 4pm. The inside is small and they pack as many tables and chairs in as they can. If you're claustrophobic, you're not going to like it. As for the food: Stuff olives: A+ Meatballs; A Garlic bread: A+ Branzino: A+ Pasta with vodka sauce: A Sole: A Ragu: A- Stuffed lamb chops: A+ Tiramisu: A+ Waiter was friendly and accommodating. Overall great experience. Bring your own booze if you want to drink. read more

This is one of the best Italian restaurants that I've ever been to. One thing to be aware, they don't have an alcohol license so you have to bring your own alcohol and they uncork and serve at no extra charge. read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

See all

I felt blessed to have been able to get a reservation. We sat outside and had a wonderful evening. The food was delicious and we enjoyed our experience. read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

Simply the best around. Never had anything that was not great. Very hard to get a reservation though

Well we finally got a reservation at Anjelica's and it was worth the wait! Absolutely loved the old school Italian ambiance in here. It's also BYOB and there's a liquor store right next store! We started with the meatballs and baked oysters - baked oysters were absolutely delicious! I had to get the spicy rigatoni and my boyfriend had the baked chicken - both amazing! We ended the night with the pistachio cake dessert. 10/10 experience! read more

See all

The food was delicious. The ravioli were perfect, and the salmon was also delicious. The spicy lobster rigatoni was pretty good; the lobster was very fresh, which is what it should be from a location like this. The linguine garlic olive oil pasta was meh but not bad by any means. The service was very attentive. We sat in the alley which was quite nice and we enjoyed it a lot. read more

Delicious food. Attentive but not overbearing service. Party of 7. We were seated promptly at our reservation time. Appetizers were Meat and cheeses platter, octopus and beet, strawberry and cheese salad. All fresh and savory. Entrees were excellent. Double cut pork chop is actually triple cut. Very tender and tasty. Owners / managers are very present and on top of everything, not that they had to be since the staff is on the ball. Strongly recommend. read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Double cut pork chop. - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

Undoubtedly the best meal I've had all year. Not only is the food truly incredible, but the service and ambiance of the beautiful outdoor patio made for a magical experience. The hype surrounding Anjelica's is a true sentiment to its excellence. Everything we ordered was a home run. The stand out dishes for me were the classics - the meatballs and the raviolis. Both tasted so incredibly fresh, and satisfying yet light. Just absolutely perfect. Honestly, no other meatball or ravioli I've ever had has even come close. Another must order is the spicy blush pasta. So flavorful, so creamy, so delicious. To finish the meal off? One of the best tiramisu you'll ever have, paired with a cappuccino. With so many winning dishes on the menu, you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose to order. The wait is well worth it if you can snag dinner reservations. The Jersey shore is lucky to have this gem of an Italian restaurant. read more

See all

4.5 stars. Great place for a great impression, the ambiance and the mood. The music could be a bit lower to make conversation more enjoyable. The food is exquisitely prepared and the service is impressive. Reservations are required and sometimes hard to make. Be flexible with them. Average cost pp is $75. Enjoy yourselves and dine here. Probably better to go in Spring/Autumn. It's hectic in the summer. As per the food? Superbly done. Explain what I had? , not important. If you're a foodie, just order!!! read more

See all

Excellent food. Excellent service. It is easy to see why it is hard to get in. We started with fried olives, long hots and meatballs. All good but meatballs were a bit dense. For dinner we shared the stuffed chicken. It was juicy, tender and full of flavor. We also had spaghetti with garlic and oil, it was ok. Not enough flavor. We will definitely go again. read more

See all

I have to Rave about my dinner and service at Angelia's tonight. From appetizers to deserts we're exceptional. The service from their staff was amazing. Can't wait to get back again. read more

Drove just under an hour to get here and it was well worth the drive! A lot of Italian restaurants have spicy rigatoni. But Angelica's spicy rig separates itself. Perfectly spicy, not too much, not too little. The chicken cutlet was also incredibly flavorful. As for the beans, I never thought I would enjoy beans of all foods at a restaurant, but it was amazing! All in all this was one of the best meals I have had in a while. The ambiance was also very nice. Dimly lit. Great spot for a date night or a catchup with friends. read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Spicy Rigatoni with Chicken Cutlet - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

See all

ABSOLUTELY worth the month long wait for a reservation!!!! Food was off the chart DELICIOUS and FRESH, service was very hospitable and attentive, this is a very small and quaint restaurant with an authentic Italian vibe. My only caution is....if you reserve to dine outside and there is rain in the forecast at the time your dinner date rolls around ( who can predict the weather a month in advance) they will cancel your reservation with no apologies and the wait list starts all over again . DONT risk it, trust me it's not worth it! Will definitely be back!!! read more

Very good food in an inviting atmosphere. In my opinion, the people who call it the best restaurant in NJ or who fight for reservations (very hard to come by) might be overselling it. But it's a good choice, and I would encourage people to try it if they can get a reservation read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Chicken Parmesan and Spicy Orecchiette - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

So so not worth the hype, food is good but overpriced. Reservations need to be booked 6months out not sure why.

Best Italian food in NJ! The pasta is homemade and cooked to al dente perfection! Wonderful blend of flavors and authentic pasta dishes. They had a chicken special of the day which was tender, juicy and bursting with flavor (some kind of butterflied chicken with spinach rolled in). Even the Caesar salad was somehow elevated! We ordered a classic tiramisu and some kind of chocolate cake with olive oil ice cream for dessert, and both were delicious and light! It's over an hour from me but definitely will be returning! Edit: I forgot to mention, the service was top notch! read more

See all

Very fine restaurant in all regards. Food was excellent, service was excellent & ambience was excellent! Couldn't ask for more! A must experience... read more

Not worth the ridiculous antics required to get a reservation. Good food, but......we're in the NY tri-state area - authentic and delicious Italian restaurants with incredible ambiance aren't hard to come by. Won't be back. read more

All of the amazing things you've heard about Anjelica's is true and I confidently say this is the best Italian food in NJ. We dined here for the first time last night and are already planning our next visit. We sat outside under the heat lamps and it made for a cozy and charming ambience. The service was also wonderful, they couldn't have been more kind and attentive and the pace of the courses was perfect. Now on to the true star of the show, the food. You can't go wrong with anything on this menu, our group decided to dine family style so we could sample as much as possible and nothing disappointed. The straciatella soup on special was incredible, the texture of the spinach eggs and noodles combined with the flavor of the sharp parmigiano was perfect and the serving was huge. The meatballs are also a must, the best I've ever had from the texture to the flavor and even the marinara sauce. A MUST order was the Tagliolini, the bechamel sauce was so rich and creamy and like all of the dishes, the pasta was perfectly cooked. But what really showed the range of this menu was the Caesar salad, they took something so simple and typically average and elevated it. For entrees we shared the Pollo Milanese, Orechiette, Ravioli and the Artichoke Hearts. These were all incredible, the chicken cutlets were thin, juicy and so flavorful, all of the pasta was perfectly al dente, the ricotta filling on the raviolis was so creamy yet light at the same time, and the spicy blush sauce on the orechiette had the same qualities. We ended the meal with the tiramisu and it was the best I've ever had, the perfect balance of espresso, the lady fingers were soft but not soggy, and the cream was light and delicious. Set your alarms and make your reservations because this experience is not one to miss. read more

See all

My first time coming and SO worth the hype. Amazing service, happy caring staff. All pastas were cooked perfectly. Beautiful menu and amazing tiramisu for dessert to celebrate my friend's birthday. Can't wait to come back read more

Anjelica's Restaurant - Spicy rigatoni, chips and butternut squash ravioli - Italian Near Me - Sea Bright, New Jersey

This restaurant makes me happy. My friend raved about this place and I can see why. I drove an hour to get here. The head chef, Angelica, can be seen in the kitchen cooking. She runs that kitchen like a machine. I've never had a spicy vodka sauce like this one. The ricotta stuffed in the fresh ravioli tasted so fresh. Lastly, I HATE mushrooms, but I LOVED this ravioli. When I think I mushrooms, I typically think of dirt, but for these I thought of fresh herbs when I took a bite. read more

See all

You know when a place is hyped up so much and then you go to the place and it doesn't live up to the hype?? Yeah you're not going to find that here at this restaurant! Anjelicas lived up to the hype and then some. The food was absolutely amazing. Hands down the best spicy rigatoni and the best chicken cutlet Parm I have ever had. The ambience was adorable. We sat in the little alleyway off to the side, and it was absolutely beautiful. It was expected to be slightly chilly this day they provided blankets on the back of our chairs as well as heating lamps. The service was so on point...there are constant waiters walking around, replenishing your drinks, pouring your wine, taking away dirty plates and getting you whatever it is that you need. I cannot wait to go back to this establishment. I absolutely loved it! read more

See all

Nice place 4 stars all around Definitely not 5 stars. Sorry. Eggplant parm appetizer underwhelming. Great service BYOB they brought us ice, lemons and limes, a great glasses for our vodka!!! Nice touch read more

One of the best italian restaurants in NJ! Been coming here for years and the food is always solid and you have to get the napoleon for dessert. Will definitely be back soon! read more

See all

Reservations are hard to get during the summer, but keep trying because the food and service are phenomenal. We were seated immediately when we arrived. I know that some reviewers mention that the tables are close together, but the three of us were comfortable and we did not feel crowded. Appetizers were exceptional. I selected the Sole al lemon as my main course. Perfect!! And for dessert- tiramisu- heavenly! read more

First off the restaurant was beautiful and the service was amazing. The food was absolutely delicious. My only issue was the portion sizes were small for the price of the meals. read more

See all

First time and did not disappoint! Hard to get a reservation but worth it! It's also Byob! Place is great and service was excellent, would definitely go back. Food was delicious. Situated on across from the beach on a great strip. We sat outside. read more

See all

Reservation required one month ahead. I followed the process for a reservation for my birthday dinner. They finally call me back after trying to reach them for a week (left two voicemails and an email) and tell me they have nothing at the time I originally requested. The guy who finally called me back was so rude! Acted like I was some no body. So disrespectful! I will never give them any business. Terrible people!! read more