This is a cute place for a date, well-decorated, nicely greeted. Came here bc of the Yelp reviews as the dishes sounded good and had to try for myself. Decent selection of apps and good variety of mains too. It's BYOB, and if you needed a drink, just hop to the neighboring liquor store. We got the burrata which was delish! The mains were okay, and seemed to have lacked some robust flavors. Waiter explained that they had to change up the flavors, which I believe they mean 'Americanized' it. My husband got the cacio e Pepe and just didn't have enough flavor... even using the black pepper grinder didn't seem to help too much. Might come back to try other food should we be in the area. read more

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Family owned and operated my in laws invited us for Mothers Day. Salmon, lobster and short rib entrees ordered. All were excellent. Creme brulee, lava cake, cheesecake ordered for dessert. Espresso was strong. Service was great. White table clothe linens. We will be back. read more

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Wonderful dining experience. Attentive staff, delicious food, great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We were a group of six that arrived on a Saturday night. Our friends Tom and Louise dined there frequently as we could tell with hugs from the staff. We were lucky enough to have a round table, which makes it so nice to have group conversations. We started with apps all around, including a melon/Prosciutto special. The burrata was incredible, honestly the best I've ever had. It was super creamy and incredibly well made. The fried calamari were HUGE and very well prepared. We were so full of apps that my husband and I shared an entree of Seafood Fra Diavolo and a wedge salad. The fish in the pasta dish was very fresh and not overcooked, as I've had a lot of rubbery Fra Diavolo in my life :-). A few of our diners ate the Salmon dinner special, which they said was prepared perfectly, and a Tuna dish, which they also loved. The portion sizes are ridiculous, and ridiculous is a good thing!! The fact that it's a BYOB keeps it so reasonable, which we love. The dessert menu had both coffees, after dinner drinks and quite a few different desserts. We have not had Tartuffo in years and it was delicious. Call and make reservations, as they were very busy on that Saturday. I am so impressed with this restaurant and cannot wait to return. read more

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We went here on New Year's Eve, although they were busy the owner was quick to greet us and come over to offer us a choice of tables. They opened our wine and gave us adequate time to review their menu. The menu was very good I would have liked to try several things. We started with the fried calamari which is something I usually don't order it was the best I've had. My wife had the tuna tartar and it was also amazing. The entrees were the Five spice tuna which they prepared seared and the seafood FraDiablo was perfectly spiced. A dessert of tiramisu which is my favorite was excellent. We will be going back here soon. read more

We ate 2 of the specials: Tuna Agrodolce- putting carmelized onions on top of seared tuna does not make it an agridolce. Tuna was cooked fine but it needed a sauce (I thought it would have had an agrodolce type sauce with it) Crispy Shrimp - the flavors were good. Buffalo sauce and bleu cheese crumbles were good however there was nothing crispy about the shrimp. It tasted very good but was expecting some kind of crunchy/crispy coating. Bread and dipping pesto was very good. Service was good and staff was attentive. When the menu was more Mediterranean there were more choices. There are other choices for Italian in the area. read more

Food was excellent. Atmosphere is relaxing. Server was great. Got gift cards for 2 of our adult children for Christmas.

Ari and Jim are awesome ! Food is fantastic! Highly recommend the chicken Janina!!!! read more

Janina Bistro - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

The braised short ribs and the cacio e Pepe are fantastic. Ari and his team are great hosts and very attentive.

Delicious food, friendly service, varied menu. What's not to like? We took our friends there for dinner; everyone was happy.

Amazing food, great service and a beautiful dining room. BYOB and there is a place next door..... The rumor is that the place went downhill but do not believe that nonsense. You will love it.....!... read more

Bf ordered take out let him choose for us we got filet mignon ravioli, baby greens & calamari. Ravioli was so delicious. Baby greens nice & fresh with pears was really refreshing. The calamari wasn't crispy when in a tin container I believe may taste better at restaurant, was a tad salty and soggy. Overall the food is delicious here read more

Janina Bistro - Filet Mignon Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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Tried Janina with friends and it is a hidden gem. Service and food was excellent. We enjoyed the ambiance and it's a great bring your own place. read more

A real nice restaurant with beautiful, updated decor. A cozy outside dining area as well

Everything...food, service and ambiance. My favorite restaurant in the area. Liked old menu better.

Great service and great food. we went there for my dad'a birthday and my parents both enjoyed the food read more

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Have been their several times and never disappointed. And always with a friend so being women did not change the service. It was exceptional and food was deligios. I could fill up on there pesto dunking sauce and bread. Don't know what they do but it is the best I ever tasted. Went there January 30th for a friend's birthday celebration and they were closed/ So disappointed but they were redecorating. It has reopened but I saw a limited menu with new items. I am going again next week and I hope they have some of the regular items as well since everything they had was delicious. read more

The recently renovated Janina Bistro has great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and A+ service. We come here several times a week for a relaxing dinner. It's both elegant and kid-friendly. 5 stars!! read more

Owners are Albanian and they serve some of the best Italian food ever. They did such a wonderful job with takeout during COVID quarantine that they had to be our first pick for formal outside seating. We started with burratta salad. I had veal chop with Gorgonzola sauce (ask for it to be medium rare) and he had veal osso bucco. We finished with decaffeinated cappuccinos. It was amazing. read more

Janina Bistro - Lamb shank and mushroom risotto - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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Food, service, and ambience was all amazing. Plus it's BYOB! We made a reservation but didn't need one for 7:30 on a weekday. The servers were very attentive and all the food was delicious. They give you fresh bread with a pesto dipping oil which was great. We started with the crab cake and burrata salad which were both delicious. Entrees we got a risotto and mixed grill special and the lobster ravioli. Both were very good. Lastly for dessert we got the limoncello cake which did not disappoint. read more

Janina Bistro - Lobster ravioli - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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Fabulous food and great service! We will definitely return to this great restaurant! The outdoor dining area is a Great experience, such wonderful ambiance!! read more

Janina Bistro - Friendly staff and great food!!!!! - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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Early evening dinner for two and a baby on hot summer Friday. Two and a baby were shown exceptional hospitality. The outdoor space as well done and comfortable. The menu was solid but small, which we can appreciate. We got the special beet and burrata appetizer which the staff kindly put on two plates for us as we were splitting it. Chicken Alba (crispy chicken with arugula and other veg on top) was a great choice and the vodka penne was robust in both size and flavor. We will definitely go back. One piece of constructive criticism is that the pace was a bit slow. With a baby it's best to be in and out, but others were enjoying the relaxation of their meals. read more

Janina Bistro - Vodka penne and chicken alba - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

The food, service and menu you will never disappoint, BYOB, liquor store is next door down. Beautiful dining room.

This place was excellent. We went for dinner with a group of six and had a blast. It's BYOB and there is a liquor store next door. We started with appetizers and hubby and I shared a perfectly dressed delicious Caesar salad and beautiful shrimp and vegetables. Other table mates got the burrata and beet salad and were quite happy. Entrees included the peppercorn chicken, asparagus, eggplant chicken, ravioli and a few other dishes. Pretty much every plate was practically licked clean. We also got dessert which is where the tiny slip up occurred. The Italian chocolate molten cake was overcooked and the center wasn't really molten anymore. Still tasty just over done. The tiramisu was clearly frozen and still not thawed when it hit the table. Again tasty, but could have been executed better. Toasted almond gelato fantastic and mousse cake was pretty good. We would certainly return! read more

I wish I could give 10 stars!! I had dinner here with a friend yesterday (his suggestion) and couldn't have had a better time! The place is adorable and reminded me of an outdoor cafe in Europe. The staff is very friendly and attentive while still giving customers their space. We were not rushed at all and were given all the time we wanted between courses and getting the check (my friend and I hadn't seen each other in awhile so we were there for close to 3 hours). But the BEST was the food. I had the coconut shrimp for an appetizer & my friend had the crab cake which we both thoroughly enjoyed. For dinner, I had the Veal Funghi & my friend had the Shrimp Scampi. My dinner was so delicious and included hearty mashed potatoes and al dente veggies. The sauce was to die for and the veal was so tender you didn't really even need a knife. Our portions were definitely ample. I typically can't finish everything but I cleaned my plate on this one (I'm still thinking about it - it was that yummy!!). The Shrimp Scampi included nice big shrimp with yummy pasta melding together with the scampi sauce. They have a wonderfully diverse menu which is fairly priced. The restaurant is BYOB but we were still offered a glass of wine and a shot of Sambuca with our expresso coffee to go with the dreamy, decadent piece of cheesecake that we both shared. DEFINITELY recommend! I live in Pennsylvania but will happily drive an hour to go here again!! read more

We recently attended a rehearsal dinner for a wedding. The group consisted of about 25 people; ages ranged from 1 years old to 70s. This party was booked months in advance. We arrived for the dinner for 6pm (Friday), at that point there was barely anyone in the restaurant. I will start by stating some good things, the food was pretty good (when it finally got to the table), and the waiters we had for the table were very friendly and tried to do their best under the lousy circumstances. Now to the issues.... It took over an hour to get the first course, a small plate of an extremely small crab cake (probably the size of a quarter), one spinach ravioli, about 4 gnocchi, and one small piece of mozzarella and tomato. The next course probably took about 30-45 minutes...it was a simple salad... At this point the children in the group were extremely hungry. We asked several times after the waiting for the appetizers, for the kids food (chicken fingers and french fries) to be brought out ASAP. The waiter kept saying it was on the way, or a little longer. At one point we even asked for the chicken fingers and french fries to be made to go and they told us it would be a half hour. At 8pm, the families who had children left because of how late it was and the kids still not eating. This is where the even larger problem arises. The host of the rehearsal dinner, and elderly woman, politely asked to speak to the manager. She is the mother of the groom and this was supposed to be a special night that the manager assured her they could accomodate months prior. The manager immediately began aggresively speaking to her after simply asking about the delay. He stated that, it was Friday and it was busy. He went on to say that normally they have younger parties and they want to take longer to eat. He was unapologetic and lacked one ounce of hospitality. It was disgusting the way he was speaking to her, everyone in the party was witness to this. The dinner was finally served around 8:30pm, and not all at once. One guest waited almost until everyone was finished eating to receive her food. At the end of the night the manager wound up taking off ONLY three chicken fingers/french fry meals from the bill. This place, although good food, is not equipped to handle a large party, especially not on a "busy" night. The manager is the larger problem in this situation. I am repulsed by the way he acted, not at any point was anyone rude to him or staff while waiting such a long time for the food. read more

Food and service always excellent. Been here a few times and the staff never disappoints.

I hate to complain but...Went there with friends on a Tuesday night around 6:30. Our order was taken around 7, but we never received our diner till almost 8pm and that was after we inquired about how long it was taking to be served. We were told it was because they were serving a party, although it looked like their dinners were finished when I checked on our order. We didn't leave the restaurant till almost 9, because they were also slow in giving us the check. The owner did give us a free desert, but we really just didn't want to be ignored. Maybe it was because we were 4 women. read more

Attended a dinner here recently. The food was decent was did not stand out from a typical Italian menu. I had a steak which unfortunately was a bit tough. While I might give it another shot, I would certainly order differently next time read more

Wow what a real gem of a place! Amazing service and staff and the food was unbelievably good. Man this was a good meal and the dessert you can't miss. I came in late on Monday evening and they took care of me like family. Didn't even realize I was there after hours. Again staff was amazing and the food excellent I could image a better high end Italian restaurant than this. read more

This is our go to place when we want a consistently good meal that is fairly priced, served in perfect portions by attentive waitstaff. Crisp white table linens, replacement of eating utensils between courses and elevated place settings await one at each table. Conveniently located next to a wine/beer/spirits store, one can bring their favorite tipple in to enjoy with their dinner. BYOB is such a NJ bonus. We started our meals with the fried calamari and marinara. Served piping hot with a light coating, it was exactly as we hoped. Luciano, our server, ensured that all our glasses were topped off as we enjoyed the beet salad and Caesar salads for the next course. We were able to share the salads leaving us room for entrees. Our entrees were a salmon with freshly cut vegetables served with a lemony beurre blanc sauce and a classic spaghetti bolognese. Both entrees were well seasoned, appropriately sized and delicious. Our last course was a shared dessert. We chose the Limoncello cake which consists of a sweet, moist cake made with a lemony fIlling and frosting. The cake was light and the berry compote drizzle on both the cake and accompanying vanilla ice cream scoop was the perfect ending to our meal. I have to mention that this was a weeknight following a long weekend. The staff were very helpful and in true European style, they let us linger and have our conversations before, during and after our meals were long gone. One has to ask for the check which is so much better than having the check and a table eviction notice placed on your table whike the dessert plates are unfinished. Thank you Ari and Luciano for hosting us so well. Our compliments the Chef and the entire team at Janina Bistro. Well done! We will be back again soon! read more

Had lunch with some dear friends I haven't seen in years. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, the outdoor seating area was great. Would not hesitate to come here again! read more

Janina Bistro - Grilled shrimp on Mediterranean Salad! - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Small, intimate BYOB restaurant with reasonable prices and outstanding food and service. The owners, Ari and Jim, are incredibly personable and go out of their way to make your dining experience both enjoyable and relaxing. Don't miss this small gem with gorgeous, serene outdoor dining and delicious food. read more

Such a great date night spot. The ambiance is beautiful and warm. The staff has such great attention to detail and hospitality from the second you arrive until the very end. I never feel rushed out, they really know how to make the evening special and let you know they appreciate you as their guest. The food is delicious, and it's byob which is another reason we frequent this establishment regularly. read more

We had a lovely dinner with friends last Friday evening at Janina Bistro in Lebanon. My wife had a delicious mixed baby green salad and for her main course the pappardelle pasta with sun dried tomatoes, asparagus and shrimp. The pasta was al dente and with a lovely sauce. I started with a fantastic Caesar Salad - one of the best I've had in years. Followed by the same pasta as well. Delicious. We closed by splitting a limoncello cake and coffee. Lovely. The service was very professional and exacting. Busy but not overwhelming. It's a BYOB so that was great. We will return again for another nice local evening of delicious food and great service. read more

Food was petite and flavors a little on the bland side. For this type of food for the area I would give 4 star but compared to places similar 10 minutes away it's a 2-3 star. The meals arent bad, so it's not something to totally avoid. read more

Tonight I had the pleasure of eating at this fine restaurant as my sister took me for a birthday surprise. My sister was greeted outside by one of the owners and the greeting and welcoming was so warm and sincere. We were seated and attended to immediately. From that moment on I had no idea it would be one of the most enjoyable and delicious dinners out I've ever had. The food was incredible and flavorful, I even snitched food from my sisters plate to sample even more delicious food. Then, who can resist dessert......not me! My sister had informed them it was my birthday, so out came my dessert along with a candle and a trio (or more) of lovely people singing me happy birthday. What a wonderful and memorable experience. Meeting the owners was just the icing on the cake of our evening adventure. From start to finish this was just what the doctor ordered for this gal visiting from Wyoming back to New Jersey for the first time in 7 years. Would highly recommend this restaurant for every aspect of a fine dining experience all the way around. Additional note....went back to my sisters home and told my niece about our experience (she has been and was disappointed she couldn't go), so we made reservations for the following week - the night before I left and she invited a friend. Blown away again!! Service, food, everything- perfection. The owners once again took time from their hectic schedule and attending to each patron and still made time to stop and chat with a noisy bunch of young and old girls. Wonderful in every aspect. Truly genuinely men who are going to go far and care about their customers and their restaurant. Wishing you all well in this endeavor, you WILL go far. read more

Place was just okay. Limited menu and on the pricey side. I had the meatball appetizers (by way unless they corrected it meatball was spelled wrong on the menu). The metaballs were decent but cold. Seems they were microwaved warned up. I had the chicken parm which the breading was greasy and the chicken tough. The oily breading left a bad taste in my mouth. They so have outside dining for the warm weather which is nice. My friend had the scallops and they were rated as average having better and worse. There were also annoying flies around the table inside constantly around us swatting. So all in all I wasn't impressed with what I had and won't be rushing back. read more

What an absolute gem of a place. The food was incredible, the darling patio and lovely waiters, everything. We will come back again and again! read more

Janina Bistro - Patio dining - Italian Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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I read a review that said "eating on the patio was like eating in Italy". The patio was lovely and food 100% was amazing! I would prefer a nicer bread but the oil was quality and the prices were very reasonable. Portions were great that you could get an app and entree if you came hungry. Service was a team style and very attentive. read more