We had a spectacular evening at Vidalia last night. My birthday dinner (a big birthday), and we had 17 people in all. It was the very best. Food was delicious (five original, creative, tasty courses), service was outstanding (the wait staff could not have been any better), the ambiance (décor, surroundings) was perfect. We've been there several times for dinner (just the two of us, and always enjoyed it), but never for a major event. Chef Salvatore worked with us to fine-hone the menu (appetizers, salad, pasta course and dessert were served family style; main courses were individual [and there were about five choices guests could choose from]), and it was all as good as it could possibly have been. All the guests we're blown away with the quality of the food and how it was served - it all felt so personal and unique. Our guests were our adult children, some relatives-who-are-friends and other couples, some of whom we have known for 40 years, and some for just a few. And it all worked perfectly. So, I am so happy to recommend Vidalia (in Lawrenceville NJ, just off Route 206, the main drag) to anyone planning a dinner party in the future. ... read more

We sat outside in a relaxed setting that was nicely covered and contained with greenery in this byob. I've known about this restaurant but never had the chance to try it. It was perfect. The calamari in red sauce app was soft and fresh in a delicious tomato sauce. Could be a touch less salt but nothing noticable to most. I had the organic salmon for $36 after deciding between the Sea Bass special $55. Yes I asked the waiter even though I wasn't paying. Curiosity and I use to waitress and I always told the prices It's the right thing period for lots of reasons. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I love that they don't give you bread. That is the worst thing we do in America before you eat for health reasons. The ceasar uses a blend of canola and olive oil like most restaurants even if some say they don't. But so far they are all saying they use a blend. It's just cheaper and non the wiser unless you ask. Like I do. We didn't get it. I make it at home from scratch several times week. I learn as a server where else made it in a few minutes table side. Coddled egg yolk, pinch dry mustard, crushed garlic, worceshire sauce. Vinegar, anchovies. Organic Xtra virgin olive oil first cold press from one county optional. read more

Stopped by Vidalia's over the weekend for dinner and was a little underwhelmed. The place itself was very cute, it was small but had cozy Italian vibes. The service was great, no complaints there. But the food left me wanting more. The calamari was delicious but the portion was tiny in comparison to the price and compared to other similar styled restaurants. I ordered the chicken parm and I was hoping to try the best chicken parm i've ever had but it wasn't. My partner tried the chicken marsala and was on the same boat. The food was okay, just not the exact flavor we were hoping for. read more

Vidalia Restaurant - Chicken Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey

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I've been coming to Vidalia for years! My family loves this place! We had my sister's bridal shower here and it was beyond gorgeous. The food is incredible! The service and staff are amazing. If I could give 10 stars I would. Great place to host your next event or just to have dinner! Thank you so much to Sal for working with us to make my sister's bridal shower dreams come true!!! Highly recommend! read more

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what a cozy, tasty, wonderful little spot! to start, fresh & crispy, yet soft, garlic bread is brought to the table; very flavorful & great for dipping or eating with other dishes! we ordered the puff pastry wrapped filet, off the specials, which had creamy goat cheese inside! very tender, melted in your mouth. also ordered the fried burrata! the greens and diced orange were delightfully refreshing! yum yum yum. for entrees, we had the chicken parm & sea bass (off specials) which came with risotto. both were very happy with our meals!! the risotto was creamy and cooked just right and the bass was buttery smooth. got the chocolate lava cake with vanilla gelato & a cappuccino. delicious!!!!! the cake was so rich and airy yet dense. gelato was perfect. cappuccino was Quality!!!!! mmmmm. fantastic! holly, our waitress, was very friendly! no service complaints. looking forward to returning in the future psa, don't be like me and forget your leftovers!!!!! you will regret it. double-triple check your table! my apologies for leaving them behind xx read more

Food was good I had the chicken cacciatore and my wife had the pool short rib recommend going.

A little more than we usually spend on dinner, but the food was way above average. The caramelized whole onion appetizer was great. It is stuffed with sausage and red paper. I had the pork chop and it was cooked very well. My husband had pasta with shrimp. He liked his as well. The servers were very pleasant. They have a small interior dining room where we ate. It was very pleasant and not overly lit. Visalia has a bigger "outside" dining room. It is enclosed and heated. There were a lot of people eating there on a 23 degree night, so I assume the heating was sufficient. We will go back. read more

Wonderful restaurant! Food is amazing. The calamari was some of the best I ever ate. The menu is varied so there is something for everyone to enjoy! read more

I returned to Vidalia for the second time for a family dinner last night, and we had a wonderful time! Top notch service, our server was very kind and informative. We brought some champagne because they are byob. We ordered a few calamari appetizers for the table, delicious and tender with tomato dipping sauce. We all ordered different entrees and everyone was pleased with their selections. I ordered the crabmeat stuffed sole entree and I was extremely impressed with it! Absolutely delicious, with so many different elements all perfectly cooked and flavorful. We ended with a few different desserts, including the tiramisu and creme brûlée which were lovely. 10/10, we can't wait to return again! read more

Vidalia Restaurant - Crabmeat stuffed sole with mussels, asparagus and Parmesan risotto special - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey

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Wanted to try this place for a while. Right away, we really liked the small cozy atmosphere of it essentially being in a small house with an enclosed porch. They had it very nicely decorated. The hostess greeted us right away. The inside seemed very loud, however we ended up getting seated in the enclosed patio. In the summer they open it up and expand the outside seating. Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating. I wanted a dish off their previous menu and they made it no questions asked. They give you complimentary garlic bread to start. We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp in a bourbon sauce for an appetizers, and a special that was panko breaded burrata over arugula with a homemade dressing - both very good. For entrees I had the bone in pork chop saltimboca (prosciutto and mozzarella) and my wife had the sea bass with parmesan risotto - both very good. We finished it off with coffee and shared a crème brûlée. All in all, we would definitely go back and look forward to trying more on the menu. Byob was also a huge plus! read more

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Outstanding food. Last nights Chilean sea bass and seafood ciopinno were first rate. A little pricey but they were specials. The limoncello marscapone cake is to die for. Neighborhood gem. read more

The food is amazing, fresh, beautifully presented. I would back again as I was very pleased. We ate outside and it was pleasant, not too crowded. Service was a bit slow but then we realized we were finishing up at closing when the staff was busy setting up for the next day. read more

I really enjoyed the chicken marsala. The atmosphere in the indoor/outdoor dining room was really nice.

The food and service were amazing. It was a special treat when the chef/owner came to our table. I like the cozy atmosphere. It's a homey vibe. Our only mistake was forgetting to BYO wine. Parking can be tight around there, especially at lunchtime. Recommend reservations, cuz the place fills. read more

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Good food and a little tight in the restaurant- don't use online ordering, call instead...

Haven't been to Vidalia for awhile so was looking forward to it. Had to sit inside so VERY VERY noisy. Our waiter (Joey?) spoke very loudly also so added to noise. The short ribs/ risotto was excellent--or so I thought. the half I took home was 80% fat. I thought $44 was pricey for the amount that was eatable. Other fish special was $55. Nice to be BYO & wait staff usually customer oriented but rationalizing prices is difficult. read more

Cute and cozy Italian restaurant. Everything was great down to the Tiramisu and cappuccino for dessert. The vodka rigatoni is absolutely phenomenal. Place is BYOB which is a plus as well. Highly recommend. read more

Had a delicious anniversary dinner here last night. Great ambiance...cozy and inviting. What wonderful service from, Joe, our waiter. He is a friendly, cheery guy with beautiful smile. Will be back. read more

I came here to celebrate my retirement with a friend and my sister, and was happy with my choice of venue. We booked an inside dining room weekday 11:30 a.m. table, since I don't like to dine anywhere during crowded weekends. Everything was perfect - the restaurant was calm, relaxed and charmingly quaint; waiter Joe and his team were friendly and efficient; the food was delicious; and it is BYOB. Also, it is nice that the free municipal parking lot is right behind the restaurant, making it an easy place to meet with friends. We spent two and a half hours and had three delicious courses. The bourbon shrimp was delicious and unique, and I conclude it must be one of the chef's signature dishes, since I tried to find a recipe to replicate it and could not find an exact match. The onion stuffed with fennel sausage and vegetables was also outstanding. Being copycats, all three of us ordered canneloni entrees and thoroughly enjoyed the dish. We finished with cappuccinos, limoncello cake, and lemon custard tarts. My guests and I really enjoyed my retirement lunch here! read more

We really enjoyed our evening at Vidalia Restaurant. The food was great and the staff was perfect. The two young servers who spent the evening with us were fantastic and helpful. Lots of our friends called to tell us what a great evening they had! We will definitely be back there! Thank you. read more

Like most of you I have to admit that I like going out to eat. With the exception of the local pizzeria and the storefront Chinese joint, take-out just ain't my thing. So, it was with great expectation that we decided to try a new place (for us) Vidalia in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. This quaint Italian bistro comes with impeccable Yelp credentials and a word-of-mouth following that has been in the wind for years. So why the two star beat down? The place may be quaint but it's not inexpensive so the atmospherics I'll accept when I'm scarfing down a calzone at Rocco's Pompeii Palace just isn't cutting it at this price point. We made an inside reservation at 4:30 on a Sunday and were never told there was a private event occupying the entire inside dining room. So here we are "inside" a make-shift plastic enclosure that would have easily embarrassed FEMA. Maybe my mood would have improved if we were at least offered some morphine and a tourniquet. We weren't and it didn't as we were left to shout over a portable heating unit that had two settings - unplugged and prepare for takeoff. The food you ask? It was terrific. We shared some Veal Pulcinella and Cannelloni. Under conditions less suited to a natural disaster both would have had me punching in five stars. However, when you make a reservation there should have been far more transparency about available seating. At this late stage in life I'm just not going to start supplying my own morphine. Besides, the government always gets higher grade junk. Two stars. read more

Went back for first time in years. Service was very good but food was not up to the high end pricing and what you would expect. I have a mix seafood over pasta and it was all completely over cooked. Not sure we will be back soon read more

A complete trifecta! Excellent service with Joe, all dishes were cooked to perfection, huge selection on menu. Dessert also terrific, had the lava cake. read more

Do not book a group event here. The owner Salvatore Scarlata scheduled our luncheon back to back with another large group for dinner and cut our agreed time short by 1 hour. The staff literally started removing tables from our room as people were leaving and essentially pushed us out the door 1 hour before our scheduled departure. The other people from the group were arriving as our tables were being taken away and moved from under our guests feet. It was a horrible experience. Several of our guests mentioned to us that they felt pushed out. When I questioned the owner why he did not allow an additional 30 minute buffer, he gruffly replied that we are not the only group that day and could not care less. The 2 wait staff for our 40 plus guests were truly lovely but completely overwhelmed. They did not ask for drink orders even though sodas were included in the package deal. And even missed serving several of our guests their meals. Instead of enjoying our big family birthday party, I had to personally get up non-stop to ask for food to be brought to people, etc. There should have been 3-4 wait staff for such a big event. Shocked they have not figured this out yet. We were so disappointed. And heartbroken. It is a shame as all Salvatore Scarlata needed to do was bring on board 1-2 more waiters and schedule the next event 1 hour later and they would have likely gotten an enormous amount of business from our guests. Instead we have not been back. And likely never will. read more

It was the second time my friends and I stopped by this place, and it still is such a wonderful experience! We got a chance to sit outside, which really added to the relaxing atmosphere. We had a large group, so we all got a selection of appetizers to share. All of which was delicious and well prepared. I got the La Caponata, which was well cooked and well sauced. Also very filling haha. Other standout entrees include the short rib and the cannelloni. We all had a great time, and the staff were so accommodating. Absolutely love this place - can't wait for our next visit! read more

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Can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. The staff is always nice and accommodating, the seating even outdoors they've made a good space to dine. Would love to see a nice Bucatini all'Amatriciana or other Guanciale dishes but besides that the place is aces. Bravo read more

Vidalia Restaurant - THE Osso Buco di Maile - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey

It's been a while... (yeah, I know, kids, I'm supposed to say "it's been a minute". So sue me :) Happy to report they still serve great food. I eat a little differently now, had two appetizers for dinner. Started with Insalata di Barbabietole, which consisted of a tower of diced red beets surrounded by a BUNCH of fruits, and topped with walnuts, goat cheese, and a surprisingly good honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing. This was perhaps the best salad I've ever eaten, definitely one of the best. My "main dish" was listed as an appetizer, though quite generous sized - Cozze Fra Diavolo (mussels fra diavolo.) Hot, spicy, fresh! Mussels were very good, and made perfect by a heavenly hot marinara tomato sauce. I chose those two dishes to avoid pasta and other carbs, and ended up asking for two little table loaves of Italian bread because I loved the sauce so much, AND I took the remainder home in a take-out tub. If you have a chance to eat here, and you do not, you are making a HUGE mistake. PS - owner/chef is a really nice guy, was our server. read more

Torn on how to rate this bc the first time I came here it was for a rehearsal dinner and the second time was for a special occasion. Both times food was out of this world. Loved every single bite I took! However, during our second visit our waiter was not the best (like at all). Not sure if he was new but he took forever to come to our table, we had to keep following up on our food order, and he never asked how we enjoyed our food. The table next to us didn't seem too happy with the service either. Would have given this review a higher rating but service was so disappointing. Awesome food & restaurant is BYOB. read more

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The original indoor seating area is limited here but the enclosed patio is nicely done. Specify your preference when you call ahead. Service can be slow giving you the impression they are understaffed (maybe?), but friendly and efficient enough that you won't be here forever. This is one of those local "nicer" places, great for special occasion dining or a date night. I believe all the pastas are made fresh in-house and there is sufficient variety for those who need some creative options as well as plainer-Jane options (you know which category of diner you are ;). Most recently held a work lunch here and personally ordered the salmon BLT, would order again. Everyone was happy. BYOB is a great feature as well. read more

We dined this evening at Vidalia's where the service, ambiance and cuisine did not disappoint! Our entree selections were delicious! The eggplant parm served with pasta was very good and the chicken with sautéed mushrooms and figs in cognac light cream sauce was amazing!!!! Salvatore, the owner was visibly present..... making sure his dining guests were satisfied and pleased! The hostess, Chrissy and waitress, Mary were exceptional! We're definitely returning where it's surely an awesome night out! I need to vent one observance....there were a few tables near us where cell phones of the guests were visibly present and in use. If you're out dining to enjoy time together.....simply do that and turn your phones to silent! Enjoy each other.... Teach values to your children and appreciate each other! read more

After living in the area for nearly 4 years we can say hands down that Vidalia Restaurant is in our top 3 and we've dined out hi and low in the region. Decor, service, food quality and presentation, value, BYOB, parking, online reservations, and above all the incredible dishes that come out of the kitchen. See our other reviews, see our food photos and notes. Last night was probably the best yet, a quick run through so that you can make your next reservation and ask for Diana, she remembered us, its been a while, she lite up, made our B-day celebration dinner a night to measure all others but others will not even come close. The experience started when we received a phone call confirming our 5:30 open table res, but I was still on a work call and it was nearing 5:15, I asked if we could push out to 6 pm; no problem, we'll see you then the hostess said. We were welcomed upon arrival, given choice of a table, cold water brought over, ice bucket for our wine, a basket of warm baked bread and Diane came over to share the specials with us. We started with their incredibly tasty Beet Salad, Diced red beets with figs, raisins, apricots, and walnuts, done tower style in our honey balsamic vinaigrette, topped with greens and goat cheese see photo, Diana had the kitchen spit the salad app into two plates, it was so refreshing and full of flavor. For our entrees, my wife ordered the Pulcinella with sautéed and topped with roasted red peppers, asparagus, and fresh mozzarella with a sherry wine sauce and a side of linguini and loved it. I tasted, was tender and full of flavor and boy I loved the spears of asparagus. I ordered off the specials menu, had the Lover Scallops- was a piece of culinary artwork--- alternating shrimps and scallops going around the outer edge of the plate garnished with many types of fresh fruit drizzled with balsamic vinegar and in the center was a piece of baked bread curved into a circle and inside was a tasty fresh arugula salad with cherry tomato halves and pieces of real crab. I have gone to food heaven with this meal. We were out of room when asked about dessert; however, Diana knowing it was my wife's birthday, and knowing us from past dining experiences, brought us the most special dessert with Happy Birthday drizzled on the plate. So special and boy was this a super tasty dessert from the specials menus. All in all a FABULOUS evening. Vidalia now moved up in our restaurant rotation. Be back soon. read more

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The service is lovely. I had a special short ribs on risotto. It was OK not milf in your mouth. Delicious but certainly something I would go back for. read more

We stopped here on the way back from a dance rehearsal - it was recommended by a friend who lived in the area. Excellent service, food, and cozy atmosphere having a late dinner on their outside patio. Highly recommend the stuffed mushrooms with sausage and red peppers as an appetizer! Looking forward to going back and trying more options. read more

Vidalia Restaurant - Funghi Ripieni - Stuffed Mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey

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If you want to spend 2.5 hours to eat dinner and don't mind watching other tables eat this might be for you. We had TERRIBLE waiter service, a manager with an attitude, food that took over an hour to arrive, and a forced 20% tip since we were a group of 5+. A dog (not a marked service animal) sat and shook in fright at the table behind us. The food is decent and most of the group liked (not loved) it, but the consensus agreed: a bit salty. Been here a few times each time thinking the negative experience was a fluke; as a result of many experiences with each getting more negative, I plan to not come back. read more

Having lived in Lawrence township for so many years, we never came across this cute little restaurant on the Lawrence Main Street. So glad we finally tried it. As soon as you enter there's a lovely charm to the place, small but beautiful, they even have outdoor seating which is what we chose of course, on a summer evening! Service is impeccable and waiters are very knowledgeable about the what is being served and the specials they have for the day and will give you all the details that you want. The beetroot salad was delicious, never would I've imagined myself enjoying a beet salad :) We also got the days Special bruschetta which was very refreshing but also very filling. We got the Genovese pasta which was pretty delicious with the mushrooms and asparagus but was a little too heavy/creamy for us and we felt the peas really didn't go well with the pasta. Overall, a delightful meal in a beautiful setting. Definitely recommend for a intimate dinner, and don't forget to get your bottle like we did! read more

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Great apps, solid entrees, BYOB, fun desserts, and a solid capachino. What more do you need? Thank you, Salvatore, McKenzie, and crew for a great start to our weekend. read more

Vidalia Restaurant - Best. Wine. Ever. BYOB. - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey

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Arrived they had several six chair, customer tables. But we only walked in with two people so they said they could not serve us at all. Very unexpected because we heard they had great reviews. read more

If you ask me other Italian restaurants should really be taking lessons from these folks. Everything from the atmosphere which is just so welcoming to their unbelievable dishes and for what you get very reasonable prices. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available which is very nice depending on the season. We love that this place is sort of off the beaten path on a side road because it ties into the whole theme of this tiny eatery that packs a big punch in the tummy. Great business and great contribution to the community. Highly recommend! read more

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Wow. We were here several years ago and the place is - deja vu - the same. Still well-prepared food, happy, helpful servers etc. that we still liked but what has changed, or should I say deteriorated are the digs. Not comfortable inside seating at small, fake wood-flooring tables (I could be wrong but last time the tables had tablecloths).. Sorry, shabby chic is one thing -- but just unappetizingly grubby. Our table was right behind the service area and on the constant sightseeing tour to the small bathroom. Glad for Salvatore and his team for the good food that brings in the customers, it certainly isn't because of the ambiance. Bottom line? We'd still go back for the food. read more

We came for the first time during the Covid crisis and they have plenty of outdoor seating. We had a party of 4. It is a BYOB which is very nice because you save money on the drinks Service was fantastic and responsive. The meal started with some garlic bread. We had 2 appetizers. We had the special seafood Newburg and some calamari. The calamari was a bit small. I had the lamb chop and was big and cooked perfect. Food was delicious, we will be coming back. read more

Vidalia Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Lawrence Township, New Jersey