Will this restaurant within the wooded highway in Tinton Falls make you scream "Tally-ho?" Let's find out.
Brand: 4/5
As of writing this review, the family-owned Tally-Ho Restaurant breached its 30th Anniversary serving the Tinton Falls community. I hope that this eatery continues to display its simple yet unique aesthetics for 30 more years. The outside has a very unassuming look, while the interior has canvases of abstract art and country decor such as horses. The tiles and the walls themselves definitely fit the country vibes that works with the establishment, though I am not sure how long it can maintain this image.
Website: 5/5
The aesthetics have that classy aesthetic, with the straight, sans serif font, and the wine-red that serves as the thematic color. It immediately welcomes you to a reservation button, an email newsletter sign-in, and categories of the menu items. While the menu does not have images of the items, they do present themselves with transparency, since a few of the menu items do admit that market prices do occur.
Ambiance: 4/5
I came during the weekday afternoon, meaning that the establishment did not have a live customer presence. Indeed, I was the only customer to not seat myself in the dining area outside of the bar. I will credit Tally-Ho for having options in terms of space, whether you wish to drink in the bars, you wish to sit at the tables near the television, or you wish to simply eat in the dining areas, including parts where the booths have their own walled sections. Every part of the establishment has enough space. However, my table had a sticky surface and the television did get a bit noisy.
Service: 5/5
I did think it was a bit redundant to have a sign requesting any potential customers to wait before being seated, only for the owner to tell me that I could sit anywhere. Perhaps the sign is intended for happy hours or any time that involves lots of customers. The owner did accommodate me with a sharper knife for my meal, and offered me some soda, which I politely declined.
Wait Time: 4/5
I did wait a while for my meal to arrive, despite the establishment having a toned down presence of customers.
Food: 4/5
I ordered the Veal Parmigiana Sandwich with a side of fries, and a bottle of water. I will say that the presentation of the meal itself surprised me, almost resembling a pizza. However, it only worked against it because the veal eclipsed the bread itself. The well-melted Parmesan cheese gave its cheese stretch and the veal itself had a thick succulence as intended. The bun held its form despite the size of the veal. I simply had to cut the veal before I could eat it with the buns. The french fries had a lot of crispiness (a bit too much), though they did complement the sandwich quite well.
Worth The Money?: 3/5
The website described Tally-Ho Restaurant as a "hidden gem," and I can see how it would work for it. Indeed, its unique position along a wooded highway with a rural-coastal connection definitely works with its brand. It offers Italian food, while also maintaining its country aesthetics. However, I do not know how many people who would travel between these parts would become potential customers. It seemed to me that Tally-Ho has a central base of consumers that keep it going, which I can see working but it would not have long-term benefit.
The fact that I had to include a knife with my sandwich proves that the ownership understands that some meals need accommodation. I did have a pleasant time throughout my meal, since having my own booth did give me comfort, and the meal was appropriately timed. I do not think that the delayed wait time outweighs the ambiance, but only slightly. I am concerned about the future of this establishment, though nothing anytime soon.
I do not have any real suggestions except for the leadership of the establishment to ask based on what I wrote earlier about "What would Tally-Ho look like for 30 more years?" I do not know if I would make Tally-Ho my first or second choice, unless I intend to bring a lot of people for a catering event. I will say that the Veal Parmigiana Sandwich and fries did match the price.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
I had a pretty good experience and had no regrets coming.
Recommend To...
Anyone who wishes to eat at an Italian restaurant with space being the most important factor in your decision. Indeed, you have plenty of options as to where you sit (depending on the time of day of course). read more