Had a fantastic meal, a perfect place for a date night. The clam linguini was delicious, and my…read morewife had the chicken cordon bleu special. Everything was great, as was the service. A bit pricey, but it's worth it. We'll be back!

First I would say the staff was welcoming and friendly. The food was good although some dishes were…read morenot as expected (which can be a good thing). The rice balls were made with black rice-quite a surprise when we cut into them! The pulpo was tender and excellent. Both appetizers were very good. If you are looking for spicy Fra Diavolo, I would suggest mentioning to the waiter you want some heat. The Shrimp Fra Diavolo was very good but not at all spicy. The mushroom risotto was very good as well. One of the specials was chicken cutlets with fresh tomatoes, olives, with a light sauce and topped with shaved mozzarella. This was served with roasted potatoes on the side, and it was excellent. The chicken was so flavorful and so tender you could cut it with a fork. Two of us had this special and it did not disappoint. We ended the night with coffee and two desserts. The creme brulee had a coffee flavor and was good. We also ordered a chocolate souffle, which definitely did not resemble anything close to a souffle. The flavor was fine but it flat, almost like a pancake. It was closer to a flatter molten lava cake. (Guess we should have been suspicious when we didn't have to wait extra time for the souffle.) Now for our main gripe. When one of us asked if the special chicken could be made without garlic (due to an allergy), the server said 'of course - nothing is impossible'. This was a lovely response to the request. However, when we received the check, there was a $4.00 charge for 'no garlic'. Really? We eat out in all sorts of restaurants from casual to very high end, and never have we ever seen this. This very small charge left a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended). For this reason we gave only three stars - nice ambiance inside and outdoor seating under a gazebo, pleasant, friendly service, and good food, but the extra charge for omitting an ingredient was very disappointing.

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.

Their #1 Sesame Pizza Pie is the best! It is packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. We tried…read morethe mozzarella sticks for the first time and were so surprised by their size. They were thick and had a good taste to them. Since we ordered this online for pick up, we found the front staff to be nice, but the parking is a little tough to navigate, so be aware.

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!

Recommending Pauline's Cucina for: 1) The food, a classic…read more"your grandfather's choice" kind of place. 2) The service was excellent as a family owned & run restaurant. Everybody was making sure that everything went well. All this and without being overbearing or smothering; something I'm quite sensitive to. We met the Chef, father of our servers , both his wife and his son (and others), and between them there wasn't any wish that wasn't granted in some fashion: Right down to the desserts. I was going to have the Italian bracciole, but I got talked out of it by the chef getting 3+ mini braccioles instead! I mean, our server, an excellent young man introduced me (or the way around) to his father the chef, and we talked food and how things could be done. Que Bella! The "mini" braccioles were quite good; not dry which was mine can be when I make them. A pleasure. My companion ordered the penne pasta with chicken which was also quite good. A fairly delicate-ish sauce that wasn't heavy handed and worked well needing just a quick grind of black pepper after the first tasting to round it out. Pepper grinders were on every table; a very positive move considering the sawdust and bridge sweepings that are in most shakers. They are but a poor shade of the real thing. And even older peppercorns, freshly ground, beat year-old preground powder out of a tin any day. I should also mention that olive oil is on tap at all times for breads and such. Another good thing. Prices being what they are, I can't really complain, but I do remember grumbling that sans alcohol (BYOB), two people came to roughly $110 plus tip. To be fair, that came with tiramisu and cheese cake, Italian style, along with an espresso. I mean, really, can't kick at all. The only thing I might alter are the string lights that festoon a good part of the decor. They're a bit dated, and don't quite offer enough light to see by. My companion mentioned that it was a little dim in the restaurant which made the menu is a little difficult to read. That would have to be the largest "negative" of the evening. It's dated, and your grandfather would've loved the place. Probably did! I'm not a grandfather and I loved the place. It was nice to be treated like guests of the family; I enjoyed that. I do expect to be back even though it's a long walk from Jersey City.

As a party of four we all had a great dinner here. There was a great selection and were all more…read morethan satisfied with our choices. Portions are huge so you are guaranteed an extra meal when you get home. When asked about deserts the young waiter described everything that "his mother" - who had also been serving us had made that day. Paulines reminds me of the family run restaurants we had many years ago in the Bronx.

Upside down Sicilian with extra sauce is unreal. If your old and from Bensonhurst Bklyn and…read moreremember buying Sicilian pizza at Reliable Bakery on 86th Street in the 70s you have to try this pie.

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.

Found this place by pure coincidence and so glad I did. We went here for my birthday dinner and…read moreabsolutely loved it. Staff is super friendly and professional. The ambiance, well it's an old church, so just picture that for moment, just lovely. The food was amazing and good portions as well. We will definitely be back.

I normally don't write restaurant reviews, but I was so disappointed with our experience at A…read moreSalute that I felt compelled to share it. From the moment we were seated, our waiter made us feel as though we were an inconvenience rather than valued customers. I ordered the Salmon Pomodoro, and it was one of the worst restaurant meals I've ever had. The salmon had a strong fishy taste, and badly overcooked. It was so unpleasant that I suffered indigestion for the rest of the evening. I would have sent it back but we had an event to go to. My husband ordered the eggplant entrée. It came with only eggplant--no pasta or side. When I politely asked whether it was supposed to include pasta, I was simply told, "No." Another member of our party asked if hard-boiled eggs could be added to a salad and was also met with a flat "No," without any attempt to accommodate the request. To make matters worse, when my husband paid with a credit card, we were surprised to see a $14 service charge added to the bill. We were not expecting this, and it left an even worse impression at the end of an already disappointing meal. Between the poor service, disappointing food, lack of flexibility, and unexpected charge, this was not an enjoyable dining experience. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.

Anything I've eaten there was perfect the Food is great !! Service is great and quick..read more

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!

My husband through me a surprise party at Peppinos on Route 34 and it was fabulous. Owner and chef…read moreVinny out did himself with amazing Italian food. We had the back space all to ourselves. The servers were wonderful so attentive and responsive to all our needs. Everyone raved about the pizza! Their servings are huge enough to share. The eggplant parm was delish. Chicken cutlet parm is a staple for me and Peppinos was right on. The fried artichoke hearts were amazing. Everyone went home with tons of food. Mmmmmm!! Thank you Vinny and crew!! Remember if you order the mixed salad ITS HUGE!! Share is the word!!

This place was amazing! One of the best places I've ever been to. It's such a cute little place…read morewith 10-20 people worth of seating. It was probably one of the best calamari's I've had. And, the pasta was the perfect combination of rich and creamy. The service was also great and they waiters packed up our food and constantly kept checking up on me and my party.

Just moved into the Area.... wanted to order some pizza for the family...ordered a 16" cheese…read morepizza, Fettucine with Bolognese, a Rice Ball in Vodka Sauce, Some Calamari, Some meatballs, some "fried chicken" and a cheesesteak....and a few other bits............. the food was LEGIT.......Always skeptical when I see "Italy" or "Italian" but pizza was perfect, Bolognese was proper..... my wife devoured the rice ball in Vodka........ Calamari was great....... FOUND OUR SPOT........wanted to email the owners directly but it's not published.......if you read this.......THANKS!

Great service, great food! This is hands down our favorite food around! So good and they listen if…read moreyou do not want onions!

Wife and I decided to stop for a slice at 9:45 tonight coming home from a party. Never had their…read morepizza before. Was extremely happy we did. Can't wait to order a pie from them again. Perfect thickness of dough and really crispy. Staff was very friendly.

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!