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    The Pine Tavern

    3.7 (323 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    The Pine Tavern Photos

    THE PINE TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Pine Tavern

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    Italian sausage ring with long hots
    Geneen G.

    Our first time here! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super impressed with the menu and the atmosphere is very comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our waiter, Luis C was fun and quite personable! He kept our visit running super smooth. Our pre plan was burgers. Reading the menu was very challenging because we literally wanted to try everything! A great reason to keep coming back, and that we definitely will! Awesome and delicious. Thank you!!

    Meat balls
    Deborah W.

    Haven't been here over 40 years. Had a reservation for 6 people for 6:30. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated right away in a comfortable location where you were able to hear each other talk.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started off with drinks and appetizers. Drinks were on the mark and the appetizers were delicious. Had fried calamari, sticky chicken wings and meatballs. All three sides were very tasty and more than enough for all 6 of us. Disappointed that they had no more guacamole . Our waitress was very attentive to all our needs. She gave us space to review the menu and answered all our questions concerning our orders. When the food came out, everything was to our liking and hot. We had salads, burgers, pork chop, shrimp/chicken francaise and fajitas. All delicious Yes, we did have desserts and coffee. Cheese cake, gelato and coffee. A great experience and would go back

    Baked Goat Cheese
    Kristin E.

    This is one of our favorite dinner places in the area. The baked goat cheese is the star of the show. Every time we come here, this HAS to be on our table!! The staff are always wonderful, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the environment is so welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This is a wonderful restaurant to have local. Every dish we get here has exceeded our expectations for years.

    Mac and cheese
    Paloma D.

    Decent place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have a huge parking lot and a good amount of tables inside as well as a patio for outside dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is efficient and this place doesn't seem to have a slow time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I came at 4 in the afternoon and it was still busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's great for a casual bite or a date night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is varied and seems to lean more toward a Spanish vibe. It doesn't knock your socks off but it's not disappointing either. A reliable place to stop by for a drink or some food. I have been here 3 times now and I keep coming back

    Seafood beast!!!!!
    David S.

    All I can say this place is always packed, and there's only one reason. It's great food. Everything that comes out of that kitchen is just delicious. I'm a big fan of the skirt steak with mashed potatoes. Make sure to ask for a side of their homemade gravy. I guarantee you will love the experience.

    Boom Boom Shrimp
    Steve S.

    My girlfriend and I came here for some dinner on a Saturday evening. It was crowded, but we only had to wait like 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we ordered the Boom Boom Shrimp as our appetizer. This was delicious. They gave you so much shrimp. And they were high quality shrimp as well. I absolutely loved the sauce they used for these shrimp. This was so good. A must order. After chatting for a bit, we then ordered our meals. We went with a tavern burger and a skirt streak meal. Once the meals came out, we were speechless. Everything looked so good. After trying a few bites of each, we loved our meal selections. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium. It was so juicy and flavorful. I didnt even need to add ketchup. One of the best burgers I ever had. The skirt steak was so tender and delicious as well. It was outstanding. Loved the sauce it came with too. And the fries were really good here too. Overall, everything was amazing and delicious. Highly recommended. I will be back to have some more delicious meals here.

    Lawrence C.

    This place is really busy, reservations are for 6 or more. Saturday night party of 4 the wait was about 1hr. Little longer than I thought but when our turn came we were able to find out why. Service was outstanding, our waiter was the best. Food was excellent. Appetizers were expertly prepared, so many choices. We all shared everything that hit the table and it was all delicious. The paella was perfect, plenty of ingredients and not to much rice. The wagu beef was very tender and delicious. The porterhouse pork chop was another good one. Would recommend any of these. Desert was also spot on along with the cocktails during our dinner. This place is worth the visit.

    Lifechanging Mac n cheese
    Han I.

    If there were 6 stars, I'd give them. Let me tell you about the lifechanging experience I had with the macaroni and cheese here last night. This is how it happened. I glanced over and saw a kid next to me with a bubbling bowl of golden, cheesy heaven. I leaned over like a nosy neighbor and asked my waiter, "What did THAT KID get?" Mac n cheese, he says. Well, I ordered it. Best decision of my entire adult life. When the waiter brought it out, it was like he was presenting the Holy Grail. Creamy, gooey, perfectly cheesy. Im convinced angels were harmonizing in the background. I thought I had reached peak happiness, but then the waiter casually strolls back over and sets down ANOTHER bowl in front of me. Talk about service! And well, at that point, I knew I'd never look at regular mac & cheese the same way again. This is, without exaggeration, the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had in my life. I am now a better person because of it. Pine Tavern, you've ruined all other mac & cheese for me and I'm not even mad about it.

    Mango sangria
    Maria B.

    Repeat visit for consistently great lunch. For appetizer I got the perfectly grilled octopus with buttery garlicky bread. I love the salad menu and this time got the salmon with balsamic dressing salad. The mango sangria was refreshing and not overly sweet. Service is always attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is always bright.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you remember the old pine tavern forget it. This new pine tavern is my favorite lunch spot.

    Grilled octopus appetizer. Comes with garlic bread.
    Scott B.

    Went there today for lunch with my better half. We shared the grilled octopus appetizer which we've had before. It comes to the table still sizzling in a cast iron pan. Sprinkling fresh lemon juice on it makes it sizzle more and the smoke carries the amazing smell throughout the near vicinity. Deliciously charred, tender and very flavorful. Not chewy at all. My wife had the salmon and goat cheese salad. I had the apricot arugula salad with grilled chicken and an apricot dressing. Both salads were unique and very tasty. Would order all items again.

    E B.

    Have you ever found a screw in your food before? That's what I got in my taco bowl on 7/10/25 during a lunch here. Biting into my salad I thought maybe it was a chicken bone boy was everyone at the table surprised when I spit out a screw! Manager showed no concern other than hmmmm...i wonder how that got there. We will try and find out how that got there. Never once asked if I was ok. We all sent our food back and they didnt even try and charge us. The lack of concern and no apologies are you kidding me???

    Blue Sangria

    Service was top notch. Blue Sangria was excellent! Lunch was wonderful. Sloppy Joe Pastrami, Pork Milanese, and crème brûlée for dessert!

    pear salad, pork chop
    Lindsay S.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]We've come here so many times it is always packed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service is great and the restaurant is clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] we got the pork chop in all the time. It is amazing. i got the pistachio salad with grilled chicken. The vinaigrette was delicious

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    6 months ago

    Food is very good. It's a little expensive, but the food is very good. We have a friend who eats her all the time, they love it.

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    5 months ago

    The food was delicious. The service was excellent and [[HIGHLIGHT]]it has a warm, friendly atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will be back!

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    Page 1 of 9

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    Jasper Stone Italian Steakhouse

    Jasper Stone Italian Steakhouse

    4.3
    (165 reviews)
    6.5 mi

    Walked into a beautiful place. We stated with a great bread basket. Maybe the best I've ever had…read more And the great food continued. For appys, we had a wedge salad w/ a slice of bacon, which my wife enjoyed. I had baked clams, which I loved! For dinner, my wife had Filet Mignon and mac & cheese on the side. The meat was cooked perfectly and the mac & cheese was great. I had a Wagyu rib eye cap and Brussel sprouts on the side. The meat was perfect, and so were the sprouts. For dessert, my wife had the affogato, which both of us loved. The only disappointment of the night was the Tiramisu, not flavorful at all. The service was top-notch, I appreciated that the waiter was not a kid, which so many places use these days. It's very expensive, $380 for two (BYOB), including tip. As great a meal as it was, I don't think I will be a regular. If I come back, it won't be for the steak, mine cost $115. The mains don't include sides, it's all a la carte. If the money doesn't bother you, or it's a special occasion, I highly recommend this restaurant. Somebody in that kitchen, knows what they are doing!

    What an unfortunate turn of events. We arrived as a party of 4 on a Friday evening around 6 pm…read moreexpecting a well needed, well deserved, enjoyable meal amongst friends. I was especially looking forward to ordering the ribeye and lit up instantly when the server listed it as one of the specials. The server shared that he would need to collect the orders for all of our courses at the same time which was fine with me. I actually had more confidence in the timing of everything for that reason. Our server had a delightful energy particularly at the beginning of our visit. After we placed our orders, everything began to fall apart. It did get noticeably busy since we first arrived, but we ultimately waited for our main entrees for over 3 hours. 3 hours. The table ordered the charred octopus and the oysters to start. The oysters hit the table fairly quickly, but then we began to gradually notice how long it was taking for the octopus to come. I had only a slither of the octopus so that I could say I tried it. Everyone at the table raved about the taste. I did, however, agree that their oysters were delicious especially when dressed with a little bit of mignonette, lemon, horseradish and a touch of Tabasco sauce. I'm excited to now report that I am a fan of fresh oysters from the east coast, because apparently the coast matters. The table also ordered the canaletto stuffed with mascarpone, parmesan and another cheese, langostines and lobster with morel mushroom cream sauce, garnished with truffles. I passed on this one also as it was too adventurous for my taste buds; although, their delicious bread and our drinks did distract me for a little while. The restaurant is BYOB, so we had our wine to keep us company while we observed other tables come and go. We eventually asked to see the manager and was told there wasn't a manager on duty which was either untrue or a very poor decision on the part of the owners considering it was a Friday evening. Having someone occasionally check in with our table may have also helped to take the pressure off of the server who may have gotten overwhelmed or decided to prioritize other tables. Having a manager offer a personal apology may have helped us feel less forgotten about. After the three hour mark, we decided this was enough. I didn't have much to eat at this point, but I wasn't at all worried initially since I was there for the main event, the ribeye. I stopped a hostess who was walking past our table and asked for the manager. We were again told the manager is not here but can be called, if needed. I simply replied, "Please do". Shortly afterwards, I noticed our server who at this time was standing by the host stand briskly walk into the kitchen and then return to our table with our plates. I sent the food back which was a decision that was supported by everyone at the table. Let me tell you, that was a difficult decision to make, but I also was ready to call it a night. Our mood had changed, and I truly felt like we were derservant of having the same experience as everyone else that night. Our server apologized for his part to play in the ordeal which I appreciated since I know his intention was never malicious, but unfortunately we had to call this night a bust. He offered us dessert on the house, and our entire meal was comped which we felt was an appropriate resolution. I ordered the Cinnamon Toast Crunch bread pudding which was a favorite. Very good. Jasper Stone is a beautiful establishment with decorative yellow and white floral arrangements throughout the dining area. It is clearly a popular restaurant and has many positive reviews. I regret that I could not have a comparable experience.

    Photos
    Interior of restaurant
    Interior of restaurant
    TOP APPETIZER SQUASH BLOSSOMS OUTSTANDING!
    TOP APPETIZER SQUASH BLOSSOMS OUTSTANDING!
    Inside table

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    Inside table
    Steakhouse 85

    Steakhouse 85

    4.1
    (677 reviews)
    9.5 mi
    $$$$

    I am not good with written words, but here goes;…read more This is a shout-out to Manager Monica and the employees of Steakhouse 85. I visited Steakhouse 85 for the first time on Thursday, March 19th. We all know the food is fantastic, but what impressed me even more was the employees. When I walked in, I was greeted by the hostess, who had a big smile and bright eyes. She showed us to our table swiftly, and during our time there, her smile and warm welcome continued as she greeted other incoming diners. Our waiter appeared quickly with the first question would you like something to drink, water, etc. After the initial greeting, and now ready to take our order, he excitedly told us he had the pleasure of tasting most of the items he suggested. His excitement about the food he had the "pleasure of tasting" (his words) was apparent. Also, I had the pleasure of speaking to Monica, a manager at Steakhouse 85. She was kind, thoughtful, insightful, and well spoken. I could easily see why she holds that position and could have talked to her as I would a good friend. How a great manager like Monica gets those around them to react positively is by example; in other words, it's the ripple effect. It is easy to see that she is the type of person who, no matter what she does or where she goes in life, success will follow. Also, I want to say thank you to the owner and all the managers because hiring the right employees, from the cooks, busboys, and servers, is not an easy job in itself. The key to success is not just about the food; it's also the employees who add to the establishment's success! Great Job To All Of You! Kindness should never be taken for granted these days! Frances

    Meh...I think that about sums it up, sadly…read more We stopped by Steakhouse 85 after hearing so much hype about the place. Sadly, I don't think it hit the mark. The steak was a bit over cooked and didn't taste like the best made. Ultimately, forgettable. The potato au gratin was a gut bomb, and my wife's scallop dish was over-salted. On the flip side, the drinks are very well-done. The service very nice and welcoming, and the overall vibe very comfortable and not stuffy at all. We enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a true steak place, there are better options in the same price range (e.g. Roots, etc).

    Photos
    Steakhouse 85
    Baby Iceberg Salad
    Baby Iceberg Salad
    Dirty martini and glass of whiskey

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    Dirty martini and glass of whiskey
    618

    618

    4.7
    (977 reviews)
    12.2 mi
    $$$

    618 was the perfect spot to celebrate my mom's birthday this year. We started with the grilled…read moreflatbread -- loved the combination of mushrooms and goat cheese. I ordered the burger, which was pretty big and juicy. The fries were nice and crispy as well. For dessert, we got the banana dulce de leche gelato and ice cream cookie sandwiches. The gelato was so unique and rich. The ice cream cookie sandwiches were perfect for me and I loved the side of Nutella with nuts on top which added a nice crunch. Their commitment to hospitality beats most restaurants I've ever visited. In our reservation, I noted that we were celebrating a birthday. When we were sat at the table, a birthday card was waiting for my mom. Our waitress Bailey was so nice and accommodated my mom's request to not draw too much attention to the celebration. I also adore the atmosphere in 618. The lighting is so elegant with the many chandeliers and the flowers on the walls. 618 has easily become a top restaurant for me.

    I've recently been mesmerized by sister property Mezcal, and haven't been back to 618 in some time…read more Last night we were in the area and decided to swing by for a cocktail and appetizers. Very cool that Venue 618 was the only NJ restaurant to make the recent Yelp Top 100 restaurants in the US. Sitting at the bar, we were served by Zoey, Steve, and Mike. They've re-done their cocktail menu to include beautiful color illustrations. I enjoyed "One in a Melon," a well-balanced whiskey cocktail with Frank August small batch bourbon, melon, poblano pepper, Aperol, and lime. This was followed by a tasty whiskey sour. My wife ordered a Lemon Drop martini, followed by a decadent chocolate-pistachio dessert martini. All of the cocktails were well-balanced and delicious. On the food side, I munched on a baked macaroni & cheese with chorizo. It was perfect! The Death of Hospitality brand thrives on personalization and unexpected surprises. Mixologist Steve, realizing that I'm a whiskey afficionado, surprised me with a small pour of Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel bourbon. This is a difficult bottle to find in New Jersey. Rock Hill Farms was incredible, with a super long finish. Thanks for the memories 618!

    Photos
    Inside festive!
    Inside festive!
    Artichokes
    Artichokes
    Drink

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    Drink
    Fernandes Matawan

    Fernandes Matawan

    4.1
    (59 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    This was my second visit, and it was just as amazing as the first! The staff is always friendly,…read morewelcoming, and attentive, making every visit a great experience. The sangria was delicious, and the food was absolutely on point--everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. If you're in the area and looking for a great meal, do yourself a favor and stop by. You can thank me later!

    Horrible experience, such a disappointment. This restaurant does not shows what's a Portuguese…read morehospitality is. Let me share my last night experience, arrived at restaurant at 8:53 pm (restaurant closes at 10pm), was not crowded probably 4 tables on the outside patio, where they were showing a World Cup game. We got seated quickly and put the drinks order in right away, and then was when everything went south, in not more than a minute the server came to take our order, we ask for a couple more minutes as we just got the menu and were looking at it, then right behind the table 3 servers start to talk bad about us and saying things like they better hurry up, we need to go home to watch the game, tell them that we only have quick bites or else we not going home tonight ( all in Spanish but we DO understand the language) . Will never go back to this place or recommend it. It's a shame places like this ruin the reputation of great Portuguese restaurants. Also menu is extremely overpriced compared to other Portuguese restaurants. Stay away..

    Photos
    Wine selection
    Wine selection
    Paella  Marinera
    Paella Marinera
    Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini
    Brinia’s Sazon

    Brinia’s Sazon

    4.4
    (16 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    This place is a hidden gem So my husband I LOVE Dominican food, we used to drive to other towns…read morebut now we don't have too! The food here is 5/5, not to mention the rotating menu and the, the empanadas, tres leches cakes, and their soups. They make soups in Thursdays a d Sundays, but they usually have the pernil, like 2 beef dishes and they rotate ribs, chicken, and beef steak. Yuca, white rice, black rice, and the rice and beans are usually there every time I have went. The service is attentive, they ask you what size large or small and they start with the rice, then over to the meats. The restaurant smells so appetizing upon entering. It is newly renovated, clean and organized so you can dine in or take out. The staff is very nice and I have come here about 5 times since they opened.

    I came here for takeout a few times recently. There are buffet style trays arranged and you choose…read morethe protein and rice that you want, so it's very quick. There are also some sides available. I always got oxtail. It's good, but a bit pricey for the amount of meat you get. Others have ordered the pepper steak before and the portions for that are great. The rice is definitely on the salty side, but is good overall. I do appreciate that the lady working there is always generous with pouring extra sauce on our rice as well. We also tried the tres leches during our last visit and would get it again. It had the perfect texture and sweetness.

    Photos
    Oxtail with rice
    Oxtail with rice
    Bistec encebollado
    Bistec encebollado
    Pernil (shredded roasted pork) Rice w pigeon peas Plantains

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    Pernil (shredded roasted pork) Rice w pigeon peas Plantains
    Gusto Grill

    Gusto Grill

    3.9
    (553 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    This was a disappointing and embarrassing dinner. We took out-of-town family here for a graduation…read moredinner and it was bad all around. Service: everything took very long. Our waitress was great but she was working the entire side of the restaurant where we were sitting. This was especially pronounced because one of my guests couldn't leave late. Food: subpar. We were here a few times a few years ago and I remember it being much better. The wings were good, especially the sauce. The sticky ribs were too salty and the ribs, while tender, tasted dry and overcooked. The pastas we ordered were overcooked and soft. The beef bulgolgi wasn't great. It was ok. Overall, a disappointment. Price is high for quality of food. Ambience: I remember this place being more lively and full. This time, on a Friday night, at dinner time, it was half empty. Other: trauma alert- read at your own risk. Once read, it cannot be unread!! When my daughter opened her napkin with the utensils, a spider jumped out at her and she was screaming! It took a while to get another set of napkins and utensils but when we finally did, I had to open the napkin for her because she was afraid to open it....

    It's been too long since I've been to Gusto Grill but it ended up being the perfect spot for a…read morereunion with some friends. All of us with very different diets ended up finding something we loved. All of the good: -There was no trouble for 4 of us to get a table around 2:30ish on a Saturday. The space is huge, and it looked like they were even holding a private party upstairs. -A big menu with lots of options. We had everyone from vegan to basically carnivore at the table and the only trouble came when we realized most of their bread options had milk in them. The friend with a vegan diet knew to ask, but this would have been totally missed by me. She ended up getting a noodle dish and we all ate very happy. -My veggie burger was pretty good! As much as I love them, I can be a veggie burger snob. It's one of those things that need to be done right and the Gusto Grill veggie burger was done well in my opinion. Loved that it was a bit different with edamame as one of the bases. A great meal and a great time getting together with old friends. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Interiors
    Interiors
    Fries here are delicious!
    Fries here are delicious!
    Red Sangria

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    Red Sangria
    Luca's Ristorante

    Luca's Ristorante

    4.4
    (724 reviews)
    12.0 mi
    $$$

    Absurdly good. This place has been a staple in the area for a long time, and they really make the…read moremost of their space. The strip mall itself isn't anything special, but the surrounding area is beautiful , and once you're inside, the restaurant feels warm and inviting. The food is fantastic, and the variety on the menu is impressive. The chef clearly knows what they're doing because every single dish we tried was genuinely delicious. It's the kind of spot where you can't go wrong: date night, dinner with friends, or anything in between. We brought our own bottle and had a great time. Our waiter was super knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. The staff even joked around with me when I forgot my to‑go bag, and yes, I absolutely took it home because the food is that good. I also appreciate that they don't act like offering takeout is beneath them; even the takeout bag was nice. I honestly wish my meals were this good every night. I hope everyone who works here is paid well and enjoys what they do, because they're running the place exactly how a restaurant should be run. It feels like a true community staple somewhere that transports you a bit and makes the whole experience feel special. Lovely all around.

    Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people…read moreabout--because then you'll have a harder time getting a table. Luca's Ristorante is a hidden gem that proves you should never judge a restaurant by its parking lot. Not long after we were seated, we were greeted by Luca -- a Luca and not the Luca. Still he was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about his restaurant, taking the time to walk us through the menu and checking in throughout the meal without ever hovering. Luca's has a partial liquor license, offering a modest wine selection but is otherwise being BYOB. As we were told with a smile, they're much more interested in what's ON your plate than what's IN your glass. We started with two excellent appetizers. The arancini, already a family favorite, were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and disappeared from the table faster than anyone was willing to admit. The Polpette, Luca's signature meatballs with pine nuts and raisins, certainly earned the praise they've received from NJ.com as some of the best in the state. Even if raisins in meatballs sound unusual, trust the process. The restaurant proudly calls itself "A Taste of Ischia," the beautiful volcanic island in the Bay of Naples, and the seafood absolutely lives up to that promise. My squid ink pasta with octopus (the Polypus) was outstanding, with perfectly tender octopus and beautifully balanced flavors. The scallops were buttery, sweet, and cooked to perfection, while the Ischia -- loaded with mussels, clams, and calamari -- was every seafood lover's dream. The rest of the menu proved just as impressive. The Pappardelle, featuring burrata and a rich Bolognese sauce, was a huge hit, while the Romolo, a comforting combination of chicken, pasta, bacon, and sauce, was another winner that had no leftovers to speak of. If you somehow still have room after dinner, Luca's offers a nice assortment of gelato. But do yourself one favor: don't leave without ordering a cappuccino. Rich, foamy, and expertly made, it's the perfect finale to a memorable meal. If you find yourself in Somerset, just a few turns off Routes 287 or 1, make the stop. You'll be greeted by a wonderful staff, treated to outstanding food, and very likely leave wondering how a restaurant this good has been hiding in a strip mall all along.

    Photos
    Luca's Ristorante
    Depth of Field Shot of the Polpette (Voted Best Meatballs in New Jersey)
    Depth of Field Shot of the Polpette (Voted Best Meatballs in New Jersey)
    Romolo Pasta

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    Romolo Pasta

    The Pine Tavern - steak - Updated August 2026

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