Had such a great experience at Patricia's of Holmdel! The ambience was lovely and really made the…read moreevening special. The food was honestly so delicious - everything we ordered had amazing flavor and you could taste the quality. We left completely satisfied. Service was great too. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for good Italian food in a nice setting. We'll be back for sure!

Came here for a 1 year old's birthday party and I was impressed! They are BYOB, but they got a…read moremocktail menu, which was nice. We had the private dining room that also had a large skylight for natural sunlight making the space feel even more welcoming. The food was all delicious. The fried calamari was crispy. The meatballs were tender. The Caesar salad had the right amount of dressing. The Brussels sprouts were really my highlight. The honey sriracha on the bacon gave it a sweet, salty, and spicy bite. Desserts were great as well. The cannoli leaned on the sweeter side, but the cheesecake was excellent. It was creamy, velvety, and with the right amount of tang from the cream cheese to keep it balanced. Overall, they nailed both the food and the hospitality. The service was exceptional. Anytime we needed something the servers were right there to accommodate.

Nana's Kitchen is a beautiful restaurant! It's not your usual jeans and tee shirt place. The dining…read morearea is immaculate and beautifully decorated. There's some interesting art on the walls. The tables are set nicely. Keep in mind it's a BYOB place. The service is great. You are seated by the hostess and your waiter is classy and very cordial. The menu is limited but I bit upscale. Expect some interesting specials. We had the Fra Diavlo and the Vodka sauce. Both dishes were excellent. Tips here are make a reservation. Bring money! This place is a bit more expensive than it should be. That said it's a nice place.

Went for uncles celebration. An angry woman st the host stand who told us that her name was Joseph,…read morecame by to check on us and coughed all over our food for an extensive period. Quite unpleasant.

Pizza plus restaurant hidden in Middletown…read more Cute little restaurant and pizzeria in a little hidden section of Middletown, New Jersey. Super friendly staff, large selection of premade pizzas by the slice. Perfect for a grab and go. Stopped in tonight to pick out five slices to take home before the unprecedented apocalyptic snowstorm. Had to try out a slice when I got home, the chicken Parm was amazing. Will definitely go back for more. Follow me on IG: @noodlesoupr as I travel the world for the perfect dining experiences.

We had such a bad experience. here at Toscanella Villgae Cafe. We were sat promptly but that was…read morethe only good thing unfortunately. The place was not busy at all when we got there. Our order was taken and it took forever for my boyfriend to get his soda after I received my water. The server kept forgetting it. After our order was taken we finally got our soups that came with the meal after 40 minutes of placing our order. One would think that that is something that just gets scooped out from a crock in the kitchen. At one point our server came by our table and said you still didn't get your soup? We said no and then it came about 5 minutes later. That was a long time to wait for soup. The dining room was getting packed now. It seemed like everyone was waiting forever for soups or salads. About 35 minutes after we were finished with our soup our meals finally came. We had the shrimp francese and chicken Marsala. My date did not care for his shrimp francese. He said they were kind of blah and just thrown in sauce. I liked my Marsala but I didn't feel well later on from it, I think. We believe our server was maybe a manager helping out or something. He seemed to be running around everywhere, maybe even cooking in the kitchen. They were definitely understaffed that night. We unfortunately will not be back.

Food excellent & fresh! Service excellent and attentive!…read moreAmbiance was perfect! Homemade pasta was excellent! Chicken parmigiana was best ever!

This is tough. It was a holiday, which is the only reason I am giving 2 stars and not 1. I'm trying…read moreto give the staff a little grace. We arrived and were seated quickly- our table was nice and in a comfortable location. Our server came over promptly and asked if we would like a drink. The room is dimly lit, which was fine for me- but tough for my father (who is in his 70's). They did not have chocolate milk but we were offered hot chocolate instead- which I thought was an odd alternative. It was a limited holiday menu, and each entree had a price next to it. For example- the penne vodka was $59.99, chicken parm was $69.99 and steak was $79.99. It was not explained to us that we also would choose an appetizer and some form of dessert would be provided at that price. I had to ask the server and she finally confirmed what I thought was the arrangement. I did expect higher prices due to the holiday, and would have no issue paying those prices if the food and service were both fantastic. We were brought a basket of bread with no butter and no oil. I had to flag someone down after 10 minutes for butter. We received our sub par appetizers quickly (mine was Mozzarella en Corozza- but it was a grilled cheese ... and not a good one- very bland). The appetizer choices were okay, but my husband's "Mozzarella di Buffao" was literally 3 slices of tomato and 3 small pieces of cheese. No exaggeration. We waited 30 minutes for our entrees after our appetizer plates were cleared. 30 minutes. AND they never brought my elderly father's Chicken Marsala. He waited while we all sat with our plates. I think his dinner came out 20 minutes later. We were never offered any courtesy (complementary side dish or ANYTHING) for his dinner never being delivered. We had to ask 3 times for it until the issue seemed urgent. We were never offered grated cheese or pepper for our entrees. I normally wouldn't complain about that, but when you are paying over $500 for dinner, these things matter. The wait staff was less than accommodating. The only people who seemed like they cared were the busboys. The steak was the only entree that was raved about. My chicken parmesan was not good. The chicken itself was over seasoned with rosemary. The sauce was completely flavorless... almost like they just dumped a can of plain sauce on top of the chicken and pasta. My son ordered penne vodka, which was also bland. It was a very small portion for such an expensive price. After being at dinner for over 2 hours, and ignored for most of that time, my 8 year old was getting antsy. My husband asked if it was possible to take our desserts (which were included in the outlandish price), to go. Our server suggested we ask the food runners to pack them up when they bring the food out, but then flippantly said "I'll just do it". We weren't asked what our choices for dessert were- they just threw little pieces of a few things in a to go container. We didn't even care at that point and wanted to just leave. We asked for the check- which took forever since nobody was glancing in our direction. I immediately put my credit card into the check folder and stood it up on the table so it would be easily seen. I waited. I sent my family outside to get into the car.... and still waited. Finally 10 minutes later, another staff member pointed out to our server that I was ready to pay. She came over to me and said "I will bring this to the hostess for you". Is this a diner? Was I expected to bring my check to the hostess stand? I was confused. She acted like I was an inconvenience. I just got up and walked to the hostess stand to sign the credit card slip. Gratuity was included. $82.00 of gratuity which was not at all deserved. I understand it was a holiday and things happen. I understand a lot of that is beyond the control of the server. Being ignored, spoken to like you are an inconvenience, not being offered pepper or grated cheese - are not. I worked in the service industry for many years and I found that most of our experience at this restaurant was unacceptable. I will not be back.

Finally tried Lubrano's, had heard good things from friends. Decided to just go the take out route…read moreso no comments on dish presentation. We ordered the Pasta Al Forno as an appetizer & Chicken Scarpariello for the main dish. Was quoted 35-40 min when I called it in, arrived ~30 min, paid & food came out near the 40 min quote. The pasta - for us the cheese on top was perhaps over toasted as it was on the dry side. Flavor was fine otherwise. Not sure I'd order this for a main dish without added protein though. The Chicken Scarp - excellent. The chicken & potatoes were very tender. The mild sausage makes this dish come together, it adds a level of savoriness to complement the balsamic sweetness in the sauce. I also like the long angled slices of sausage nicely seared on each side, it was not expected vs other versions that I've had. Meal also came with bread to soak up that chicken sauce. Also noting the place seemed packed, only 2 spots on their lot were open plus it sounded busy inside. Will try it next time onsite with one of my many fine bottles of wine. :)

This location is right off the highway with plenty of parking…read more Cute little place with a diner kind of vibe. We had the calamari and the sausage and broccoli rabe for appetizers were delicious. We all had different entrees, we were all happy with our choices and had enough for lunch the next day. The service here was to par very attentive. I will be back.

We came back for another Father's Day early dinner. Service was gracious since they accommodated…read moreour group to a more comfortable area of the restaurant. Food was good overall. Appetizer Artichoke Meatballs Eggplant rollatini Fried calamari Caesar salad Entrees Salmon Dijon Chicken Milanese Osso Bucco Cheese ravioli w Vodka sauce- they had a miss by adding Mozzerella on top n then briefly putting in the broiler. Dessert NY Cheesecake Ricotta cheesecake Ice cream Desserts are not made in house n just ok. Assagini is a good spot for Italian at reasonable prices. BYOB

I was in the area and found Assaggini using the restaurant feature on my gps. It is located inside…read moreof a shopping plaza and there is adequate parking. From the outside it looks like a simple storefront but on the inside, it was a beautifully decorated restaurant. We were welcomed and seated promptly. The server came over and greeted us and asked if we had a bottle for her to open, which we didn't. Unbeknownst to us the restaurant is BYOB. When we shared that it was our first time there she gave us some time to look at the menu. I ended up ordering shrimp parm with linguini, and I asked for the linguini to have white sauce as opposed to the red sauce. She brought over water, a bread basket and bruschetta for the table. I usually prefer lime with my water. They didn't have lime, but she did bring over lemon wedges. While waiting for our meal my company had to step out and by the time the food arrived they weren't back. I asked the sever if I could get a plate to cover their food and she was super accommodating. Upon my companies return the server, even offered to reheat the food for them, which I thought was a nice touch. We declined, but we were still appreciative of the option. My food was very delicious. The white sauce for the linguini was amazing. One of the better Alfredo sauces I've had in this lifetime. The shrimp Parmesan was so so. I felt like it could've used maybe a little bit more seasoning but honestly paired with the pasta. I had no complaints. The restaurant definitely has a family feel and I got the impression that a lot of the patrons are regulars. I don't live in the area, but if I'm ever there again, I would certainly return.

What an absolutely delicious dinner. The hospitality from the moment we drove to the valet, to the…read moreproper entrance with the hosts and throughout the entire meal was purposeful and thought out. The employees here care about your experience. My wife and i have only lived down here since January. We've explored restaurants from Red Bank through the shore. This was #1 so far, I would actually look forward to dining here again. Alan, our server, you're very good at what you do. Thank you for that. Get yourself a nice bottle of wine, head here. Order anything and sit back and enjoy the experience. It was absolutely beautiful inside for my 45th!

Falcone in Lincroft is basically what happens when someone spends 95% of the budget on interior…read moredesign and 5% on the actual food. The restaurant itself? Beautiful. Gorgeous lighting, trendy aesthetic, romantic atmosphere. If your goal is taking photos for Instagram or pretending you're dining in Manhattan for the night, this is your place. The food, however, was wildly underwhelming for the prices. I ordered the "short rib" bolognese and spent half the meal trying to locate the short rib. It looked and tasted more like regular chopped meat sauce than slow-braised short rib. I've honestly had pasta dishes from local pizza places with more flavor and authenticity. And the candles... there are approximately 47,000 candles in this restaurant. So many that at one point a waiter leaned dangerously close to one and I genuinely thought his vest was about to catch fire -- meanwhile he had absolutely no idea. That pretty much summed up the overall dining experience: chaotic but aesthetic. Also, why is there forced valet in Lincroft? Even when you self-park, they still ask for your keys like you arrived in a Bentley instead of a Honda Pilot. Another strange touch: it's BYOB, yet they keep your wine bottle off to the side somewhere instead of leaving it at the table. The whole point of BYOB is being able to pour your own wine whenever you want without having to flag someone down every time your glass is empty. It felt unnecessarily pretentious for no reason. The biggest issue was that the restaurant never actually felt authentically Italian beyond the decor. For a place charging premium prices and branding itself as an upscale Italian dining experience, there should be a stronger sense of Italian hospitality, personality, culture, and presentation throughout the service experience. Instead, the whole thing felt more staged than genuine. Communication around the specials was difficult, nothing was written down, and the service lacked the polished confidence you expect at this price point. Ironically, the teenage valet outside gave more authentic Italian restaurant energy than the dining room itself. My suggestion? Lean harder into genuine hospitality and authentic Italian dining culture instead of just the aesthetic. Right now it feels like a beautifully designed movie set where the food and service never quite match the image. Overall: probably a nice place for cocktails, dessert, and ambiance before or after a night in Red Bank. But if you're going specifically for an amazing Italian dinner worthy of the prices, save your money and hit a really good local pizzeria instead. I promise if you change the wait staff to people who have a little more command of the English language... the word on the street would probably improve.

This restaurant creates experiences I genuinely value. The team members kept our glasses full and…read moreregularly asked if everything was meeting our expectations. This restaurant combines good environment, attentive staff and delicious dishes. The food follows authentic traditions. Thank you for the good time. And for the entire experience.

What goes great with beer? Meatballs!!! Hubby and I happened to come upon Your Sister's Balls, the…read morefood truck when we went to Alternate Ending, a local brewery. What a wonderful surprise! Two ladies who run the food truck have great homemade seasoned beef balls (their OG Sisters Balls), seafood balls, sausage meatballs (Tony's Balls), turkey balls (Gobble Gool Balls), Rice Balls, vegan mini balls, and even mini calzone aka "Italian empanadas."  All are topped off with their signature San Marzano tomato sauce.  If meatballs aren't your jam, they also offer specials such as eggplant parmigiana and zucchini flowers. We ordered the following, Gobble Gool, OG Sister's Balls, Tony's, and their famous OG Sisters Balls. All were perfectly seasoned and savory!! Your Sister's Balls, the food truck, serve their balls in pairs with a slice of fresh Italian bread, to mop up the delicious sauce in to-go containers. If you plan on eating right away, they do offer a paper tray, lined with aluminum foil. It should be noted, The Sampler, which includes 3 big balls, please note the seafood, vegan, and mini calzones are not included. If you want to know where their food truck will be found, you can check them out via Instagram or FaceBook. One of the ladies even told me you can sign up for their email list for updates, promotions, and where they will be to follow them. Can't wait to try out more of their specials. I've got my eyes on their eggplant parmigiana!

@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!

After taking time to process our experience at IL Leone on Mother's Day, I feel compelled to share…read morewhat 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!)

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.