Moderate and elegant, followed by great food and friendly staff. Flatware was changed between every…read moremeal, service was quick and top tier.

@il_leone_nj completely blew me away. You can feel the intentionality the second you walk in!!…read more The space is warm, stylish, & the vibes are truly impeccable. It does not feel like a strip mall spot at all... it feels like a hidden date-night gem. The owners, B & Izzy, are so welcoming, and their hospitality really sets the tone for the whole experience. The staff was just as friendly and made us feel taken care of all night. Now let's talk FOOD...We started with the garlic shrimp appetizer and I'm still thinking about that sauce it was so flavorful, garlicky & perfectly cooked. The spicy rigatoni had the perfect kick and was one of those dishes you don't want to stop eating. Honestly, everything we had was incredible. Obsessed is an under statement for their pizza. So DELISH! I also love our chicken entree, the pollo martini. It was such a delicious sauce and I loved that they served this with a sautéed garlic spinach! For dessert we had a warm banana bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream and it legit brought me back to life. Quite literally obsessed! I will be thinking about this dessert for a while! It's BYOB, the prices are reasonable for the quality, and the whole experience just hits. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to!

We stopped in for a delicious Italian dinner, and we were absolutely not disappointed. The…read morerestaurant was beautifully decorated for the holiday season, creating such a warm and inviting atmosphere. They also have a pizzeria conveniently located right next door, which is a nice bonus. The service was outstanding--Alessandro was the best! He recommended his signature cocktail, the Orange Cosmopolitan, and all I can say is WOW. Perfectly made and dangerously good--they definitely sneak up on you! He checked in on us throughout the evening, always friendly and engaging, which truly elevated the experience. The food was just as impressive: Pollo Milanese - a perfectly cooked chicken cutlet topped with fresh mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, onions, shaved Parmesan, and a bright lemon vinaigrette. Pollo Carbonara - topped with prosciutto, spinach, peppers, and fontina cheese, served over penne pasta. Alaska Chicken (special) - stuffed chicken with shrimp, roasted tomatoes, spinach, and cheese in a rich cream sauce, served with saffron risotto. Absolutely delicious. For dessert, we shared a toasted almond cake and a caramel cheesecake cone--paired with cappuccinos, of course. The perfect ending to a great meal. It was a wonderful evening shared with wonderful people, made even better by Alessandro's exceptional service. Highly recommend this restaurant, and we will definitely be back to try more dishes!

Really enjoyed the evening here the other night! Was celebrating a wedding here and the spread of…read moreItalian classics & pizza was delicious! Live entertained was an unexpected plus! Staff service was as good as the food.

Calamari, chicken parm alla vodka, pear and arugula salad... delish! Food was very good and hit the…read morespot. Looking forward to trying the pizza! Everyone is friendly!

Wow!!!! Completely blown away by this restaurant and already counting down the days until I'm back…read more We ordered several items to share and everything was generous in portion, even the side salads that came with pasta dishes. The clams and linguine had incredible flavor with a great amount of clams in each bite. Very satisfying. The eggplant pasta was also a standout: filling, well-balanced, and packed with flavor. The chicken pesto sandwich was good as well and came with fries on the side. However, the sesame seed pizza! WOW WOW WOW. Absolutely amazing and easily the most memorable item of the meal. Overall, a fantastic experience with delicious food and great portions throughout!

Excellent Italian cuisine. Food is great and so is the chef Rocco and Serg. Service is great.read more

We have been to Pauline's several times in the past few months. It is simply the best Italian…read morerestaurant in the NY/NJ area. Chef Rocco delivers every time. His food sings to us each and every time we go. The baked clams and Pauline's salad is a great way to start. You will sop up the delicious clam juice with gorgeous bread. It is to die for. They offer new and spectacular specials as well for apps and mains. Don't miss the angel hair with lobster in pink sauce, or the shrimp scampi with asparagus. So many other incredible dishes - chicken, veal, pork, and fish cooked the way you want it. Chef is so accommodating and flexible. Dessert is magic - tiramisu, chocolate yummies, gelato - oh my goodness. It is heaven. Don't wait - go to Pauline's. It is simply the best!!!

We have been going to DiBarris for years. We really order just one pizza. The vodka nona pizza…read morewith sausage. That pizza is phenomenal. It is just amazing. It is a sesame seed crust with vodka sauce, fresh mozz and big sausage crumbles. It also reheats amazing. The only real issue is that is a 15 minute drive each way from my house.

Di Bari's - Matawan, NJ…read more I walked into Di Bari's for one thing: the bar pie. What I didn't expect was a full lineup of elevated, abundant, and reasonably priced dinner specials that turned my quick stop into a full-on feast. This place is absolutely not just a pizzeria. I started with the stuffed zucchini appetizer--so fresh and flavorful--and the pork osso buco, which was tender, comforting, and honestly restaurant-quality. From there I tasted the Tuscan haddock, the chicken balsamico, and the pappardelle... every single dish was delicious. Portions are generous too, so come hungry. I left stuffed in the best way. The bar pie? Amazing. Thin, crispy, full of flavor--exactly the kind of pie that deserves attention. Dave Portnoy, you need to get down to Matawan for this one. There is also an area for private gatherings. Another fun surprise: they carry L&B Spumoni by the quart and Nasto's gelato, which is such a treat to see on the menu. If you're in the area, definitely come for the bar pie--but stay for dinner. You'll love it just as much as I did.

My friends and I chose this spot for our annual Christmas brunch. The offerings and price on the…read moreprefix menu (including booze) sounded fantastic so off we went, 16 in total. Due to some recent health concerns, I passed on the regular menu and just had the grilled chicken, mozz, red pepper, arugula sandwich and it was incredible. The amount of food that everyone got and even what was left over was well worth everything, especially as delicious as they said it was. Our main server, Anthony, was such a sweetheart, very kind and attentive. This restaurant is housed in an old church and it is beautiful. We are planning another trip again!

Nice enough ambiance but that was it. I did not enjoy my meal. I arrived early, sat at the bar…read morewhere two female employees carried on a fairly loud personal conversation for quite some time. They didn't ignore me, and this is personal preference, but I think the whole place doesn't needs to hear what employees are taking about The bar tender suggested the Caesar; it came with very limp lettuce and quite over-dressed. Not impressed but the near rock hard croutons were ok. My entree was the orrichiette. It had a really odd flavor, verging on not good. I think that was the intended flavor profile but I really disliked it I don't suggest it and for sure will not return

There is not one thing that these folks serve that is not good. Pizza, pasta, chicken, veal are…read moreall good. Take out is awesome. The kids do a good job with service. Tony really cares. The ambiance is very comfortable.

I've been here a few times before their expansion and the food was always hit or miss then. The…read moreportions use to be generous and the prices were reasonable. I dined in recently after their expansion and portions are now half their size and the food wasn't good at all! My husband said the sausage hero was terrible, and I had the shrimp puttanesca and that was a complete disappointment! The sauce wasn't tasty, the portion was small, and the shrimp were microscopic! They were tiniest shrimp I've ever been served! It made no sense because the dish was pricy for a dish at a pizza parlor that wasn't even good! To sum up the new expanded La Madona it's overpriced, skimpy portions, and it's not even good! Definitely skip this place!

We called them last minute for a repast. The funeral was on Saturday and we called them on…read moreWednesday. They easily accommodated our party of 50 with exceptional service and amazing food. Our guests were in disbelief at amount of delicious food that was served as well as the quality. The waitstaff were phenomenal as well as the bus staff. It was BYOB they let us drop off our deserts and alcohol and held them for us. Couldn't ask for kinder more accommodating people. Not to mention that food was out of this world. They even doled out containers for people to take the leftovers home and not a single slice of bread was left!

Basic chair/table or booth seating, which had not been changed since it was La Cascina. Gets very…read morenoisy. Service could have been better, there was one waitress for the whole restaurant (33 patrons seated). Food was very good; our entrees were carefully prepared fresh. BYOB.

I recently stopped by this place after work. I ordered 2 Buffalo Chicken Slices to go. They looked…read morevery good from behind the counter. Actually, all of the pizza slices looked really good here. Nice and thick slices, which I like as a change up. When I got home, I ate these slices so quickly. They were delicious. The chicken tasted great, and had alot of cheese on it too. A mild Buffalo sauce used, but that didn't bother me. Very filling. Overall, I really enjoyed this pizza. I can't wait to come back and try out some more of their pizza slices and options!

One of my local favorites! This place is consistent! We frequently order pizza, sandwiches, GF…read morepizza and my all time fav Chicken Francese from here. I do suggest ordering any pasta al dente. This is one of my favorite chicken Francese entrees in the area! Since it's my favorite dish I've probably ordered it hundreds of times in NJ. The chicken is thin and cooked well, the sauce has the perfect amount of lemon, and the pasta when cooked al dente pairs great with the sauce. The staff is always professional and service is typically quick. Since this establishment does primarily takeout, expect to wait longer Friday-Sunday. Expect to use street parking, which can be a little tricky when it's busy for a quick takeout order (however I rarely have trouble except for a Friday or Saturday night). This is a classic pizzeria style restaurant. It's nothing fancy, but the food is delicious.

Easily one of my favorite pizza places! I have tried them a couple times so far, and each time I've…read moreloved it. Honey on their margherita pizza is a real game changer. The honey roni option is also delicious if you're a fan of pepperoni. A slice of their BBQ chicken is mouthwatering! I also recommend the chicken ranchero. Their pizzas are yummy, crispy, and not too greasy. Their desserts are also yummy, and I would definitely recommend their cannolis and chocolate chip cookies. The employees here are super warm and welcoming. If you choose to dine in, they have a small but clean dining area where you can easily find a seat to grab a quick bite. Their loyalty program sends out a decent amount of offers as well!

Delicious pizza! We ordered out from here, so I can't speak to the decor, but the pizza was great…read more We had the Brooklyn upside down, vodka hot honey roni, and a meatball pie. All pizzas were super flavorful and the crust was... chefs kiss! We also had a Caesar salad and buffalo wings which were good but a bit more of your typical variety. Definitely coming back!