We celebrated my daughter's birthday here with a family dinner and loved it. The food was delicious and we especially enjoyed the apps. We ordered: -fried calamari -octopus arrabiata -maple bacon -Kansas City strip -lobster ravioli -stuffed flounder -chicken Milanese -chicken Rossini -creme brulee -tiramisu -cocktails -espresso The dining area is elegant and very spacious. Upstairs they have another dining area and a cigar lounge. There is a spacious free parking lot directly across the street. The servers were amazing and the manager came around to chat and make sure everyone was enjoying the food. I will definitely return. Add this place to your list. read more

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My Mom and I went to have dinner. When we walked in the restaurant smelt old and musty. We started with the fried calamari It wasn't soft and it was oily We ordered the linguini and white clam sauce. The clams were sooooooo tough we couldn't even chew them. So we sent it back for angel hair and shrimp. The shrimp were a very poor quality and the pasta was dry We were so disappointed Being said, I'll never return read more

Went for the first time two weeks ago. Food was very good, waiter was excellent, was told to take our time and enjoy our night at the restaurant. Valet parking was clutch but the $16 for it was a tad steep. Will be back read more

Lovely experience! Came for a baby shower and it was absolutely cozy and beautiful. I wish I lived closer so I could go in a regular basis. The food was delicious and fresh, and the waiters were absolutely lovely. If you have dietary restrictions, like I do, they are more than happy to accommodate. read more

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Been here several times and hosted birthdays and other events, even my sprinkle baby shower. Great location, staff is consistent and the food is pretty good. Enjoy this spot and visit when around the area. read more

The photo does not do it justice! We got two of the 5lb lobsters for $80 each. They were MASSIVE! Was perfect for four people, we got pasta (they had gluten free pasta) with broccolini. Was super delicious & filling! Waitress was great, they didn't have gf bread, & very beautiful interior. read more

Buona Sera - 5lb lobster - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

I was expecting a lot more from this place, heard about this restaurant and was always on my list to try. Not impressed. Linguini w/ white clam came out a bit cold and bland. The steak also was on the cold side. If you serve steak at this price range, make sure it's kept hot. Service was great! It was a weeknight so it wasn't really packed. read more

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We've been there many times. The service for NYE was excellent. We were seated right away with our reservation. We both had a drink to celebrate and started off with our appetizers. We had a wedge salad and lobster bisque soup. The portions were HUGE. I took home 1/2 of my soup I had the eggplant parmigiana with penne. I asked it to be served heat hot but it was more on the cool side. The eggplant had too much breading on it so it took away from the taste of parmigiana. My husband had penne with sausage and broccoli rabe. His dish was hot and he ordered a 1/2 portion but was overflowing. Both portions were very large and we took it all home. The decor was tastefully done for the holiday theme. Sorry to say I wasn't crazy about my dinner. But in another year, may go back read more

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Just not a warm an inviting place. Not my favorite . There are better Italian restaurants around. No one bothered to tell us we would be sitting by and when they set up and we had reservations! read more

Had pre-theatre dinner before seeing a show at Count Basie Theatre. They timed everything so we were exactly on time. Food sizes were enormous. Consider sharing salads and entrees. Wine selection is amazing! Shrimp cocktail was amazing. Flounder was too! We had several great wines by the glass including Quintessa. Capped dessert off with a Louis XIII, which was a tad expensive at 150 per half ounce, but Louis is worth it. read more

Buona Sera - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

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We have not been here for quite some time, and when friends decided collectively to have a get-together, we were so glad we came here. The food was impeccable, and I must say, they truly do their meats extremely well. Here are some of the things we ordered. Please bear in mind that we had it family style, and the portions are humongous. - Antipasto - They truly had a sublime selection of Italian-style cured meats, which included Prosciutto di Parma, Soppressata, Mortadella, fresh Mozzarella Pearls, Red Onions, salad underneath, and balsamic glaze drizzled over the top, providing a sweet-tart contrast. It was a very nice high-end charcuterie platter. 5/5 Stars. - Fried Calamari - They lightly floured and fried it. Personally, I preferred it to be fried a bit more. 4/5 Stars. - Eggplant Rollatini - stuffed with ricotta, topped with marinara, and melted mozzarella. The eggplant was sliced thinly and was generously stuffed. 4/5 Stars. - Penne Vodka - They were in a light tomato pancetta cream sauce. I personally preferred a little spicier. 4/5 Stars. - Orrechiette pasta served with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and sausage, broccoli rabe, and basil in garlic & oil. They overcooked the sausage, but regardless, it truly was exceptional. 5/5 Stars - Shrimp scampi - It was overcooked. 3.5/5 Stars. - Boneless Roasted Chicken Cacciatore - the chicken was so tender and juicy. 5/5 Stars. - Pork Loin Giambotta - They grilled it to perfection, and it was still juicy. This dish was accompanied by mushrooms, onions, and peppers. 5/5 Stars. - Mashed red potatoes - Creamy and smooth. 5/5 Stars. The service was impeccable. They constantly came over to see if there was anything we needed. Plenty of wine and beer flowing, exchanging of dirty dishes for clean dishes, and ensuring we have everything we need. read more

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Hubby and I were on 11/6/25. stopped in for dinner since it is walking distance from the Count Basie to our car, and I have been wanting to eat here for ages and i was very hungry. We were last ones in for dinner since the kitchen was closing- but we quickly ordered our food so the kitchen could head home. Bresaola w/fresh Burrata drizzled with Pesto- absolutely delicious I highly recommend this, it was perfect as a starter and my husband and I loved it. For my main, Calamari Marinara sautéed in the marinara, I had a choice of it served over hot or sweet linguine, I chose hot. Absolutely fantastic the calamari was tender and not over done, perfect bites with the macaroni, it was huge! and I had plenty for lunch the next day. Hubby ordered the Lobster Ravioli and it was served with shrimp & scallop in a tomato blush sauce. Ravioli was large, delicate and stuffed full, and it was quite a large serving as well, in fact he had enough for lunch the next day, and was very happy about that. Honestly, for such late service and with the kitchen closing, they did not rush the food service, they didn't skimp or push out sub par meals, everything was as if we were a 7p dinner service, but at 10p. I really want to come here on a night that we are not, ourselves rushed for work at 5a the next day, but honestly, if this is any indication and reflection of the staff and service they regularly have during traditional meal service, then to me.. they shined brightly as could be. I commented to my husband I would love to come back for our 27th Anniversary (coming up) and he smiled and said, maybe sooner.. and he rarely says that about any restaurant and we have been together over 35, so that says a lot. With Wine and dinner, it was a little over $100.+ he never lets me see the bill but I think it was definitely a reasonable dinner for two. Yes I took photos and yes I am posting them. I forgot our servers name, but she is a gem and I would love to have her again, she was fun, welcoming and didn't make us feel rushed or that we were bothering them in the way for coming in so late-- and that is very hard to find staff that are as welcoming as the staff here is. So I am sorry I forgot your name, but thank you for making our evening out so enjoyable. read more

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From the moment we walked in, Chris Mariani (who I assume is the owner) warmly greeted me and my party, immediately setting the tone for what turned out to be another great dinner. We were served by Tony, who was incredibly helpful when it came to deciding what to order. He was honest about what he thought we would enjoy based on our preferences and had a great sense of humor that made the experience even better. This time around, I went with the chicken meatballs, which were absolutely delicious in a creamy tomato sauce, and the chicken Milanese. The Milanese was a little different from the traditional preparation I'm used to, but it was excellent. I typically go with the Chicken Parm, Fried Calamari, and Clams Oreganata, and they never disappoint. Between the consistently great food, welcoming atmosphere, and genuinely friendly service, Buena Sera continues to be one of my go-to spots in Red Bank. Highly recommend! read more

Food is so boring and uninspired. It's Summer in NJ and they have pale tomatoes in a salad. Inexcusable. Chicken parm that was just fine and a chicken Milanese that was slightly overcooked and the arugula salad had sloppily cut red peppers that looked like raw chicken--unappealing and confusing. Big portions of mediocre food. Even the dessert tasted like a boxed cake mix with premade frosting. Server was nice but never cleared our appetizer or bread dishes and didn't scrape down table after the meal. Ambiance is corny old Italian NJ restaurant read more

Food was amazing. Very beautiful atmosphere and service and our waitress was fantastic Highly recommend this place read more

It was my first time, its very striking exterior caught my attention, the interior is very classic and rustic, the open kitchen concept caught my attention a lot, the waiter Antonio was fine, the service was constant. I don't have any bad comments about the service. Speaking of the food I was very surprised the truth both main dishes were spectacular with the appetiser I only have one complaint I have tried better Bruschetta that was terrible the tomato was not pomodoro. Desert was good read more

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We enjoy the food very crowed on weekends but still delisioso!! Chicken Milanese done to perfection. The only thing I didn't like was the rosé sangria was very sweet. read more

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Great for dates, for celebrating great occasions feel like you're home! We just ate at the bar last night, great espresso martinis! Bartenders are fun and engaging, and really know how to make their drinks! Ended up having a few appetizers.l like that that you can get half portions on the clams with linguine. Huge portions, great food. Was nice to find a tartufo for dessert. read more

Service is good ! Food is better price is expected for fine dining . Authentic menu for an Italian restaurant . I can't say enough about this place . Mangia read more

Buona Sera - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

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ordered the lobster rolls because it was a special it was the worse lobster roll i've ever had .no big pieces all minced up because there probably wasn't much actual lobster in it . was like a tuna fish sandwich! i sent it back . i then had a watermelon and goat cheese beets salad . it had cucumbers and tomatoes and onions in it . it was like a italian salad with watermelon and beets added in was not impressed with the food here read more

Buona Sera - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

Superb Italian, great service, and generous portions. The octopus appetizer was cooked to perfection, but the highlight was the gnocchi bolognese -- big chunks of meat (not some soupy paste) and hearty red sauce with gnocchi that were borderline fluffy (don't know if you can call good gnocchi fluffy, but they didn't sit heavy at all). Great meal with friends and an excellent start to 2026. I was able to finish about half of the portion -- and enjoyed the rest over the weekend read more

Buona Sera - Gnocchi bolognese - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

Brittany is a wonderful server. Attentive and friendly. Great recommendations. I love my flounder and my bff loved her rigatoni bolognese. Canolli to share. They give HUGE PORTIONS ! The food is delicious and fresh. I love it . The ambience is sweet. I love the old Sinatra music. Cute decor. I love it! read more

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We had an outstanding celebration at this res!!The atmosphere was inviting! The crater salad and chicken parm were fantastic. Chocolate lava cake and lemon sorbet were so good! Service staff were excellent!! We will define back!!Great job ... read more

Buona Sera - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

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Beautiful old school Italian. Me and a few friends shared the 5 pound lobster and it was delicious. The food came decently quick and was overall great. read more

Thank you for such an amazing night. Everything from reserving the table and planning the menu (we had a small party of 11 and I spoke with Anthony who helped me with choosing the family style menu). The service was impeccable (special thank you to Tina), the ambiance was beautiful and the food was delicious and plentiful. The owner Mike actually came to our table and serenaded us with his guitar and song. It was magical! read more

We had the most amazing Christmas dinner with our daughter in for the holidays! Ivy was the most amazing server! Her recommendations made our dinner even better! Thank you ! Merry Christmas! read more

Buona Sera - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

We used to come to this restaurant often and loved it. This time is a total disappointment! The hostess is not professional to the least. No greetings, rushed us upstairs, not sure why( the downstairs is empty). Upstairs is also empty. But she managed to seat us at the edge of the stairs. We asked to change to a more comfortable table, and out of the whole empty floor, she seated us against the cashier desk, and my husband can barely sit down properly. Enough is enough. We ended up leaving the restaurant without eating. Sad to see a good restaurant going downhill like this read more

We went yesterday before we were seeing a show at the theater and the food was incredible from start to finish.I didn't feel rushed.Service was great and the food was excellent read more

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The ambiance is old school, Italian, dark lighting, good music (live music during dinner - maybe even get up and sing along!). The menu is extensive and they make each plate to order, so those that have allergies can communicate that when ordering and the kitchen will take care of you. I enjoyed a cosmo and gluten free penne vodka with grilled chicken and it was amazing. A huge portion! The server was extremely nice, fun, and professional. read more

Buona Sera - Dining room, live piano - Italian Near Me - Red Bank, New Jersey

Friends holiday get together this past Saturday evening. The restaurant is decorated beautifully for the holidays. Buona Sera is certainly unique in that they have a Cigar Bar on the top floor with a bar. Cigars and cocktails for sale. Excellent selection of Bourbon and Whiskey. Service in the lounge is outstanding. The restaurant itself is tremendous with several dining areas. Later in the evening they have a DJ and part of the restaurant turns into a club. The food is executed very well for the most part. Appetizers were excellent, Clams oreganata were delicious as was the stuffed artichoke and crab cocktail. The Caesar salad was traditional and outstanding. The veal parmigiana on the bone was great, tender seasoned veal topped with a nice marinara and mozzarella. The chicken scarpiello was a mixed bag, the dish was a tremendous portion but was missing some flavor. It could have used lemon, cherry peppers etc. The prime porterhouse for 2 was disappointing in two aspects, the temperature was uneven at best, asked for medium and several pieces were well done. The quality of the meat was ok, I'm not 100 percent sold on the prime piece. I will say that I was impressed as we were asked about the meal and I let them know about the temperature etc....the waiter and manager asked if we wanted it replaced. We declined as we had eaten most of it. The staff brought out a large dessert platter on the house which was a classy touch. The desserts were very good, tiramisu, key lime pie, mousse cake. The restaurant has a vast wine selection, certainly something for everyone. I will likely return. read more

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Service absent... wine glasses absent...food quality great, quantity not so much. Deeply disappointed!!! read more

Just visiting but attended a function in their private dining area. Food and service were 10/10. If I lived nearby, this would be here often. Who does not love hood Italian food? Since we were served, we did not get a chance to look at the menu, but the food we had was fabulous. More than that, the service was over the top good, friendly and efficient. Salad - unbelievably good. Pasta course - no idea what exactly the sauce was, but it was delicious. Chicken Cacciatore - best entree by far, yummy. NY Strip - excellent preparation Salmon - this one fell short for me, just not well seasoned. Excellent reason to go back to NJ. read more

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reservations is a must! Food is always great and service as well. Since they added on, there is plenty of tables but always busy because it's right next-door to Count Basie Theatre upon entering it looks like a very small place decorated like an old Italian restaurant, with a open kitchen. Manager is always there to make sure things are in very smoothly. They do have a bar. read more

Ohhhhh!!! When I tell you, this was the best Italian food I've ever had in my life......I MEAN IT! This NC woman was in awe of the NJ accents, the dress of "mob-like" men and dainty women dressed to the T..and here I am in not looking the part! I digress! Our waiter had a stone cold face at first. He did not like the sarcasm from another person at our table. It was pretty hilarious to me (waiter's demeanor)! By the end of the night, our waiter was smiling and offering suggestions for a night cap and evening desserts. I ate soooo much seafood! The oysters were briny just how I love them. All of the clam dishes were phenomenal! That was just appetizers! I drank the local beer and was feeling nice and toasty when I left. There was so much food left from my pasta dish, that I had enough for breakfast and dinner the next day. I asked for a to-go box and our waiter said, "You didn't have to ask for that. I was going to personally box up your leftovers for you." And he did! I felt like a Queen! I will most definitely visit again when in NJ! Thank you for showing me what authentic Italian food is supposed to taste like. Carrabba's and Olive Garden can never be compared! Oh, and the LIVE lobsters to choose from! They easily weighed 5-10lbs alone. An expensive night, but well worth it! Work hard, play harder... read more

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Been here for many occasions. Food is always on point and the atmosphere is beautiful. However, after this last visit I happened to go over the receipt and noticed all the entrees were bumped up in price compared to the menus we received. One entree had shrimp added but it was almost $17 for that , and a total of $24 to add a shot of Buca to two $4 espressos. The other entrees were a few dollars more each with no add ons . Don't know if maybe we all had outdated menus but at this point it is what it is. Still Nice place to visit, we will just have to be more conscious of what we're ordering and billing. read more

I have been to Buona Sera a handful of times. The food is good. The thing I love best about it is the ambiance. What a cool place. I have sat in 4 different rooms on each visit. I liked everywhere I have sat. I had the crabmeat appetizer & grilled salmon for dinner. I had 2 aperol spritzes. The crabmeat was ok. I was not crazy for the cocktail sauce or the crab. The salmon was good, but a little salty. Everybody I was with liked their meals. I just think it was an off night for me. I had a slight cold so that could have had an effect on my tastebuds. I did have the pistachio gelato and that was delicious. I would definitely go back. The staff & service are excellent! It's a cool place. I would definitely recommend trying it if in the area. read more

The ambiance is fantastic. My waiter Anthony told us to close the menus, let him know what we were in the mood for, and entirely delivered. There were 6 of us in total. We started off with fried calamari, clams casino, eggplant rollantini, and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto. After we had an order of stuffed rigatoni which was served to us individually by our server. For the entree we shared a porterhouse for 2, bronzino, lobster mac & cheese, and cacio e pepe roasted potatoes that are absolutely to die for!! The kitchen staff truly prepared it all to perfection at the guidance of Anthony's suggestions to us. This was our first time here and easily has become a place that we will begin to frequent regularly. Thank you Buona Sera for being one of the last in a dying breed of true original restaurants. read more

the food was pretty inedible unless you order basic pasta. drinks were good but food was terrible.

First time dining here. It's a massive restaurant. They take very large groups of dining and special occasions. It is very dim that you need light for the menu. It's also VERY loud inside and can be hard to hold a conversation. I was a bit disappointed in the soups. They are meat based when normally, other Italian spots, are not. They also messed up on an app and added meat when it should not have been. Their food portions are large. We ate about half and packed up the rest. A photographer comes around for pictures. They bring them back framed and sell them for $20 a pop. read more

We enjoyed our meal. The service was quick and attentive, and the food was good. We were given bread and butter on the table as we picked out our drinks. We enjoyed a bottle of wine, salads, pizza, chicken parmesan, gnocchi Bolognese, and chicken Milanese. All were good and enjoyable. The place was bustling for a Saturday In September -off-season, but it was pretty noisy at our table to be able to hear each other. They had a photographer go around if we wanted a picture. The place was charming, with a bar downstairs and another floor upstairs that was open to the downstairs. (I'm guessing why it was so loud) We enjoyed the food, and the service was good but quite noisy. If you have any issues walking or stairs, I recommend requesting a table downstairs when you make a reservation. Enjoy! read more

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