@il_leone_nj completely blew me away. You can feel the intentionality the second you walk in!! 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! read more

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After taking time to process our experience at IL Leone on Mother's Day, I feel compelled to share what occurred. I made a reservation for three well in advance and was genuinely excited to try the restaurant. We arrived looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day with our mom, but from the moment we walked in, the atmosphere toward us felt noticeably uncomfortable. We were met with lingering stares and treatment that immediately felt different from that of other guests. We were dressed appropriately, nice but casual, just like the other patrons dining there. The only noticeable difference between us and most of the restaurant's clientele was that we are Hispanic, not Caucasian as all of their other patrons were. When we checked in for our reservation, we were told our table was not ready and asked to wait outside in the rain. We waited nearly 20 minutes whist there were those who had arrived after we did that were seated ahead of us. When we were finally brought inside, we were placed at what was very clearly a two-person table awkwardly adjusted to accommodate three people. The table was tucked off to the side near the side door exit, with lounge-style seating and an extra chair pushed in as an afterthought. Meanwhile, other guests were being comfortably seated at proper tables that matched their party sizes. At that point, it became difficult not to question whether assumptions were being made about us based on our ethnicity or appearance. Whether intentional or not, the treatment made us feel unwelcome, overlooked, and deeply uncomfortable. What should have been a special Mother's Day dinner with family instead became an upsetting and humiliating experience. No one should walk into a restaurant and feel judged or treated differently because of how they look or where they come from. I understand IL Leone is family-owned and operated, but being a neighborhood establishment should mean extending warmth and respect to all guests, not prioritizing familiar faces while others with reservations are left standing outside in the pouring rain. And if any assumptions were made about whether we "belonged" there or could afford to dine there, that is unacceptable as well. No customer should ever feel the need to prove they deserve the same level of hospitality as everyone else. To be blunt, if I did not have the funds to eat at your establishment, I would not have made a reservation, nor even bothered walking in. As someone who has lived in Matawan for over 20 years, I have never felt so uncomfortable or disrespected in my own community. I rarely leave negative reviews and typically move on from bad experiences quietly, but this experience was too important to stay silent about. I sincerely hope management reflects on this experience, addresses how guests are treated, and ensures no other family leaves feeling the way we did. (I want to give a huge shoutout to A Salute in Matawan for completely turning our night around! They accommodated us last minute and made us feel genuinely welcomed from the moment we arrived. The service was exceptional, and the food was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant to anyone in the Matawan area!) read more

This was a solid 3. I'm shocked to see the other great reviews. Nothing stood out or wowed our party of 4. The whipped ricotta came with soft bread. The calamari is a mix of rings and peppers. That was a nice touch and it was all cooked well. The pizzas range from $20 and up. $28 for a pepperoni pizza seems a bit much. It was just OK. There are much better options elsewhere. For dinner I went with the chicken Milanese because everything else just didn't stand out. Salad on top was good but the cutlet was lacking flavor. They should focus on making a few dishes well instead of going over board and adding burrata or cream to dishes that don't need them. The service wasn't great. Our waiter barely came to us. We ordered our appetizers and didn't see him again to order dinner until our plates were cleared away. There was a large dinner party and a few other big groups so hopefully they were just very busy and we came on a bad night. Only positives- BYOB and they having parking right in front. read more

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This BYOB restaurant has been on my list for a while. Definitely recommend making reservations as the place is small and gets very busy for Saturday night. It's inside of a strip mall and there is a liquor store If you need to get a bottle of wine.. when we entered, the chic decor and the cozy chairs with the first things I noticed. I made a reservation for 8 PM. I'm not sure if there was a problem with the reservation because they asked me twice for my name. We were finally seated and I have to say Service was very slow. Nothing at all like the other reviews I've seen they opened our bottle of wine and then we didn't see him again for quite a bit before appetizers were placed to open we started with the meatballs, which did not blow me away and the Caprese salad, which was just OK.. The Pizza looked good, but we decided to go with two pasta specials, the spicy rigatoni which I thought was not spicy. It was very bland, and the capellini my husband like that. Overall, I would go back because it's BYOB and the prices were very reasonable. read more

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This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza. It's a BYOB and there's a liquor store a few doors down to pick up your bottle of wine. Just had dinner here with my family and friends to celebrate my husband's birthday. We arrived for our 4:45 reservation. It definitely gets packed on a Saturday evening so make a reservation. (When we left around 7, all of the tables were full!) The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and different dishes. They don't have an overwhelming menu, just several dishes for appetizers, second, third, and pasta of course. We decided to share family style ordering the margarita pizza, pepperoni/hot honey pizza, spicy rigatoni, bolognese, chicken franchise, Brussel sprouts, and the arugula salad. My pick and favorites was the Spicy Rigatoni! Now I've had Mario Carbone's spicy rigatoni at Carbone Beach last Spring. And their version is just as good... maybe slightly better?!! Everything was delicious and crafted with care. Husband said it's even better than some NYC Italian restaurants. I'm still thinking of the Spicy Rigatoni as I write this review. For dessert, we had the cheesecake, panna cotta, and vanilla sorbet (for the kids). The panna cotta was milky, jiggly, smooth, and the perfect end to an amazing meal. I think this might be my new favorite restaurant and date night spot. The ambiance is classy, romantic, but not pretentious, with amazing food. I'll be sure to bring a bottle of vino or drink of choice and enjoy another amazing dinner with my hubby! read more

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This place is beautiful. Excellent service and very classy. It's also BYOB. The food can be a hit or miss. Some of it is delicious, others fall flat. I had the: Whipped Ricotta: loved the ricotta, didn't love the bread that came with it. Caesar salad: very good Gnocchi: delicious, very soft read more

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BYOB, very cute small restaurant. In a shopping complex with a liquor store. It is very loud inside, the aesthetic is very romantic. We were celebrating a birthday for a friend. They brought complimentary shots and an appetizer out for us. All the food was very good. Will definitely be back. Our wait staff was amazing and wrapped up our food at the end of the night as well, very attentive. read more

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It was surprising to see how elegant and modern the interior is given the outside was relatively ordinary in a large plaza next to a thrift store and yoga studio. Flatware was changed between every meal, service was quick and top tier. Perfect for a date night or meeting with friends to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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Super cute spot, friendly staff and large portions of food! They were kind enough to take us for a 9:15pm reservation and were very attentive. However they were really on us to box everything asap. The risotto is good just needs more garlic, Brussel sprouts are good and the Branzino was fresh however it was just served with a lot of butter, undercooked potatoes as sautéed spinach. The spinach was delicious! The food is good and well priced however was not completely blown away. The staff from the hostess, our waiter, food runners etc were all very friendly and attentive. The inside is nicely designed with pretty chandeliers and there was lots of social chatter about the room. The specific table we sat at had lounge chairs which was cool but it was hard to eat because you had to lean super forward and the table was pretty tall. Next time I'd like to come earlier and sit somewhere different, think my experience would be different. Also I think I would stick to a pasta with shrimp and get a side of cauliflower for my meal. read more

Il Leone - Fungh risotto - Italian Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

This place can easily be missed as it is located in an uninspiring strip mall. The inside is small with darker colors and dimmed lighting which I guess tries to make it a more intimate setting. Regardless, the food and service were great. I really have no complaints except that the bread with the whipped ricotta was a little too garlicky for my taste. The carbonara was excellent and came out with wonderful aromas. The panna cotta is a must for me if the restaurant has it and I enjoyed the panna cotta at this establishment. If you are in the area, check this place out! read more

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We went there last night and was immediately welcomed & seated by Ari. Once seated, our server Paul came over and greeted us. He was very professional, friendly, and attentive. The food came out and was fresh, hot & absolutely delicious. I am 100% Italian and is very picky about Italian cuisine; however, I have to say the food was beyond outstanding. I would DEFINITELY recommend this restaurant, with a reservation. When you go, make sure to ask to be seated in Paul or Ari's section. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Had the absolute best experience at this beautiful restaurant!! Met some friends for a day after Christmas holiday lunch. The food, service and atmosphere were all 10/10. BYOB is a definite plus! No question we will be back!! read more

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

Food, outstanding,staff outstanding, ambience outstanding. can't wait to go back. Great place for local restaurant.

My daughter and I went last Friday night The entire dining experience was excellent. The food was delicious We had baked clams, pasta carbonara, pizza, zucchini appetizer All were delicious. The staff, the owner all were so friendly. A happy vibe with awesome food Can't wait to go back Greg T (Sea Bright) read more

The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and to start, we were greeted and seated immediately upon arrival, which set a great tone for the evening. While waiting for the bathroom, I even got a peek into the kitchen and it was spotless which really says a lot and added to the great first impression. We ordered the baked clams, which were delicious, along with the ricotta served with bread and honey. While the bread itself was a bit dry and not my favorite, the ricotta was absolutely outstanding and more than made up for it. For our entrées, my husband ordered the lemon chicken and I chose the pesto gnocchi. We both really enjoyed our meals. My dish was presented a bit more elegantly than his, but overall the food itself was flavorful, well-prepared, and absolutely delicious. We left already talking about how excited we are to go back. For dessert, we shared a cappuccino, chocolate mousse, and Italian cheesecake all of which were excellent and a perfect way to end the meal. It's BYOB, which is convenient since there's a liquor store in the same plaza. The only minor downside was that our server frequently reached in front of us while we were eating to refill drinks, which was a little distracting. Next time, we may ask if the drinks can be placed on a wine bucket stand if available. Overall, a wonderful dining experience with great food, a beautiful atmosphere, and we can't wait to return. read more

Wonderful food and great service. Clams and garlic shrimp were so delicious. Went on a Wednesday evening and it was nice and quiet

Food was great! Even though it came back a bit burned . Even the fire alarm went off. Service wasn't as I expected for being a fancy place. WAITER #1 did not speak at all and took my beginning order wrong. I asked for 2 sodas and never asked what sodas we wanted and brought back only one. WAITER #2 came to get our food order and spoke to us very fast as if he was in a hurry and when I asked him a question about the dish I wanted he replied with an attitude as if!!! Then I noticed that my cup w soda had a previous lip stain on it. Also there was a hair strand in between the napkin by my plate. My first and last time going to this place. read more

Bunch tried this new BYOB restaurant last night, what a great experience. The food was amazing. The Atmosphere, Service and the owners were all wonderful. Definitely we will be returning. A+ read more

Il Leone - Awesome BYOB - Italian Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

All was AWFUL!!! First, I ordered the Risotto with shrimp, RISOTTO FUNGHI on the menu for $34. I did not know the idiot waiter bought me RISOTTO PESCATORE whic translated means FISHERMAN'S RISOTTO for $44, which I did not know till i got the bill, but for the $10 more BUT there were only 2 shrimp in the platter!! This place is not upscale; it is FRAUD hiding in upscale. Go at your own risk and aggravation for very poor service and rip-off!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!! Also, if you notice, repeat reviews and all from NYC? Relatives? I Wish I saw that sooner! read more

I have been there twice for dinner once for a party. The food is good, and the service was excellent much better than the first time we went. It would be nice if they expanded their menu to offer more vegetarian options. Best to ask for a table that is not in the middle of the floor, too much traffic from people walking by. Also, if it's just two people ask for a larger table, a table for two is really too small to relax and enjoy all the delicious food. read more

Our whole experience, the he sevice , the food, and the restaurant itself was fantastic

Food is just ok and overpriced. Service is good, but rushed out at the end of the meal. Owner and staff started clearing out the table while we were still sitting. Found this to be rather rude. Very loud. It's a struggle to have a conversation with the person sitting with you. read more

We had a nice time celebrating my husband's birthday tonight and were excited to check out the new local hotspot. The restaurant was beautiful and very cool vibe. Our service was however very rushed, and the first thing I asked was, what is this photo on your website, do you have this meal? See photo.. he said oh yes we have that meal it's the lamb chop special! I said wonderful, since it doesn't look like it comes with sides I'll also order the Brussels sprouts. I was disappointed when a completely different dish came out, see photo. Wasn't made aware it would be different and wasn't even told what it was I am guessing horseradish and maybe pistachio since it was green? I was even more disappointed and surprised when I saw the bill and was charged $68 for my 4 lamb chops. Other meals included the spicy rigatoni which I had seen reviews for and was excited but it was not spicy and I didn't see or taste any peppers. Brussels were tasty and panna cotta was prepared nicely. I would go back, but I wouldn't order a special again. Why was this your first photo on your site if it's not even a meal you offer? read more

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Restaurant just opened in the marketplace off of route 34 close to our house! We had few hours to kill while our kids were at an mma Christmas party so decided to check it out ! The ambience, food, service was great!!! And bonus, it's a byob with buy rite a few doors down! We got the Caesar salad, rigatoni veal ragu and the pollo martini! We started with toasted garlic bread too! Everything was delicious and our server was great as well! Would definitely recommend this place and wishing them the best of luck! Can't wait to return! read more

The ambiance in this restaurant is so chick! Love it! It's a BYOB, with the choice of juice or soda. The food is clean and flavorful! So delicious! I look forward into coming back. This restaurant doesn't disappoint. read more

Great service. Food was fresh and excellent. Nice portions. Was not rushed. BYOB. Will be back. read more

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Excellent food and service. I will be back soon- Owner was attentive and a BYOB was the bonus round!!

Very nice place, Food was excellent and so was the service. Beautiful restaurant but the noise level is too high. You can't have a conversation without yelling. It really needs some kind of sound dampening installed and no need for the loud music playing in the background on top of it all. read more

Great service, ambiance and food. The owner and his wife are both lovely and although the restaurant is booming they both take the time to walk around and ensure that their customers are taken care of and happy. read more

Pasta , pizza, entrees all top notch. Shoutout to the owners for bringing something to old bridge/Matawan . You wont find a better spot in the area. read more

When you walk inside you immediately forget that this used to be a Dress Barn in a strip mall. Beautifully decorated, everything looks high end. The place may seem expensive to some but you have to remember that this is elevated cuisine. My wife had veal osso bucco and I had shrimp francese. I'm pretty sure I spelled both of those wrong but trust me when I tell you that everything was delicious. When we arrived for our 6:00 reservation, there were only two other couples there. By the time we left at 7;30 they were packed. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I give Il Leone my highest recommendation. Enjoy! read more

Amazing ! Awesome ambiance, delicious food, exceptional service. The owner is top notch! Had dinner with friends we were a party of 8 and everyone loved their food. I had the Bronzino special, the arancini appetizer and calamari were all amazing. BYOB and don't miss out on this gem read more

It was the last minute surprise birthday party for my husband! Ari made everything possible to make this party of 12 people happened! Very cute, beautiful atmosphere, nice family oriented place! Great team work! Great Service! Great Food! My family enjoyed it very much and my husband was shocked and really surprised with his party! He was happy! Thank you Il Leone Family! Mariya L. read more

Just tried. EXCELLENT! Food was delicious. Try the calamari, carbonara, spicy rigatoni, pollo martini, chicken milanese , veal ragu! Service perfect. BYOB Loved and will most definitely go back. read more

The best thing was the bottle we brought from home.. Nice waiter though...Pulpo appetizer was inedible but they took it back and off our check. Baked clams were good and the risotto dishes were just ok.Focaccia bread they put out was good dough but definitely under seasoned.. Small place and tables very close.. read more

I wanted to love this place... it has gorgeous decor, and the menu looked promising. We ordered off of the specials menu. Maybe that was a mistake. I usually assume the specials are the best of your menu and meant to wow. They were VERY underwhelming. The pasta special was supposed to be in a white wine sauce. There was nothing saucey about it. It was literally a broth. Water that was slightly flavored. Then we had the fish special. Again, supposed to be in a lemon white wine sauce. It was the same watery broth as the pasta. The fish was also watery and bland. We actually had to request salt from the kitchen to flavor the food. The broccoli rabe was also unimpressive. For a restaurant that touts itself as being Italian, I was extremely disappointed. I felt they should have at least offered to remake it. I didn't finish my food and left there hungry. They tried to make it up to us with a free dessert and limoncello but by then we were already over it. Then they brought us the check and charged us double! Thank god I double checked the price and had them rerun the ticket. Needless to say, we won't be back. It's worth mentioning that the wait staff was very attentive. read more

Not sure what's so great about this place. Food is bland, overcooked, salty. Didn't even bother to look at the dessert menu. Will not be coming back! read more

Went here for the first time last night and more than pleasantly surprised. The ambiance was perfection. The service was of the highest I've ever received dining out. The owner interacted with us on more than one friendly and hospitable occasion and our server was knowledgeable attentive and matched our sense of humor. On top of all that, the food was phenomenal. The baked clams, the arugula salad, spicy rigatoni, pollo martini... were beyond excellent. Their desserts are made fresh daily and we split the tiramisu which was the best I've had in a long time. We were treated like family here. As a current restaurant manager I was unbelievably impressed on all fronts and would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. By far the best dining experience I've ever had. Great staff, great food, beautiful restaurant. Can't wait to go back! read more

service, food, ambiance, all make for a great experience. it's cozy but not small, food is not over complicated and great tasting. an excellent addition to the neighborhood read more