I had no idea what to expect since I had never heard of this restaurant until I looked up "Italian restaurants Edison NJ" on my phone. Villa Gennaro seemed legit and I was very pleased with the food and especially the service! I ordered a "Classic", Parmesan Chicken, since I couldn't decide what to get. I got angel hair pasta underneath the chicken, and everything was delicious. The serving sizes were huge though, so I had lunch for the next day! Reasonably priced for a pretty nice restaurant (not too casual). Everyone else enjoyed their food as well. The service was excellent! Our server was friendly, attentive, and conversational - but not too conversational. Just enough to be comfortable. There were also always other servers attentively clearing dishes, refilling water, etc. which was great to see. The best part was that every server looked like they were enjoying themselves - this is always good to see. Villa Gennaro is not the best Italian restaurant I've eaten at, but it was a wonderful experience, and if I'm ever in Edison I'll come here again. read more

Villa Gennaro - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Very nice place. Quite and plenty of room between the tables. Plenty of vegetarian options. good value for great food. Byob plenty of off street parking and easy to get to. Will be going back. read more

Villa Gennaro - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

I love this place and their veggie pizza! One of our Friday night take-out favorites!

What a great spot to eat! Super friendly staff, cozy clean atmosphere. We really enjoyed lunch eggplant parm, Caesar salad! And pizza! Super delish- would come back read more

Service is good the food is decent but not great. I got the primavera which tasted alright but was way too expensive at 18$. I know it's common for Italian food to be expensive but for 18 it could have been much better. The bread they gave as a freebie was great though. The service was also good! read more

I come here all the time and I will say the food is amazing!!! First, I love how there are specials Friday- Saturday that are read out loud by the waiter ( apps and entrees ) If you are craving seafood for dinner, the Rigatoni Ala Gennaro is super yummy as well as Zuppa Di Pesce . I can also recommend the Short Ribs Homemade Pappardelle or the Roasted Pepper Pappardelle from the dinner menu. For lunch, I usually get the Chicken Parm sandwich which comes very well portioned or any of the Salads which are huge and very fulfilling. The waiting staff & management are all super welcoming( literally everyone greets you) and its BYOB. read more

Never had a bad meal here. Food is always fresh and delicious! I really liked my red snapper dinner special this time. They have a nice menu and a great selection of specials in addition to that. I've been traveling a lot for work but always enjoy coming back here. Good food and a nice owners. Highly recommend! read more

Villa Gennaro - Snapper dinner - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

If you are familiar with the edison/metuchen/woodbridge area you know that there is a myriad of Italian restaurants (and this is understating the fact, you cannot drive more than two blocks without passing one) and I have tried them all. This place stands out from the crowd. I went there with my family for my birthday recently. The crowd ranges from young to old, and everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves. The food is so fresh. You can tell they do not use pre-made food service products. The dinner specials are some of the most creative recipes I have seen, you cannot get them anywhere but gennaros. The fried calamari appetizer was very fresh, and crispy fried. This was NOT the overly greasy frozen bag variety you get everywhere else.The homemade pappardelle pasta is amazing everyone at my table tried some, i had to keep my plate close, i didn't want to share! The inside of this place is beautiful, very comfortable atmosphere. The service, which in my opinion is the most important thing when I go out to eat, was impeccable. Our waiter was very attentive, and knowledgeable. He was able to describe the dishes in great detail. But most importantly the entire wait staff was so friendly, those that weren't waiting our table even said hello and asked how we were doing. It was a very refreshing experience. I've had my fair share of experiences in restaurants staffed with lazy teenagers, but not gennaros. The management seemed to make certain that the wait staff was properly trained before they allowed them to serve, and we were all the better for it, or perhaps they've just happened to staff only friendly, genuine people. Either way it gets five stars in my book. Overall Villa Gennaro was not just great food, but a great experience. I will definitely be returning. And would recommend them to anyone read more

Villa Gennaro - Amazing desserts - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Tremendous place. BYOB, phenomenal service and amazing food. Bread was delish, calamari was fresh and the main plate was amazing. I ordered the shrimp and scallops with garlic sauce and the noodles were sheet noodles and it was phenomenal. Speechless and out of this world! read more

Villa Gennaro - Shrimp and scallops in garlic cream sauce - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

First time getting food from here. Probably the last. I was told the pizza was really good so I decided to check it out. Called it in and was told 20 min. Got there 20 min later and it wasn't ready. No problem- I was happy to get it right out of the oven. I waited about 10 min and the pie was sitting there ready the whole time. I get that people make mistakes and the kid making the pizza probably heard wrong when the guy who rang me up told him my order, but they didn't even apologize. And then of course the pizza was barely warm when I got home 5 min later. Also, none of the people in the kitchen had their masks on over their nose and some didn't even have it over their mouth. Pretty crazy for a restaurant to not be super careful. And the pie was just ok...way too expensive for just a small pizza. read more

This place was unbelievable. We went thete on a Monday and had 3 pasta dishes on special and they were all absolutely wonderful. Like NYC fine dining level amazing with reasonable prices. The service was impeccable as well, our server was friendly, unobtrusive and extremely attentive. We will make a point when visiting from phoenix to continue to visit this restaurant (Im a NJ native but currently live outside of the garden state and love good italian food). read more

My husband and I were very impressed with the food and service. I had the gnocchi and shrimp special and he had short rib pappardelle and they were both excellent with good portions. A pleasant atmosphere with reasonable prices.... A great value for the price. I highly recommend this place and plan on returning soon. read more

Pizza was outstanding. We ordered several personal pizzas with various toppings; all were cooked to perfection. The crust was thin and crispy and didn't flop over when you held it up. Prices were reasonable and service was fast. If you love classic brick oven style pizza, you have to try this place. read more

Villa Gennaro - Margherita pizza with balsamic glaze drizzle - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Food is always excellent great pasta dishes and the pizza is great as well I will be coming back again definitely

I have been going to Villa's for two years and they are consistent. Excellent service and great food!

Disappointed! I wanted to try a new place. The reviews said the place was great. Not so. I got lasagna and a side Cesar salad. The salad looked prepackaged romaine with the cheap powdered parm. Not what I was expecting given the reviews. The lasagna was not warmed all the way through. In fact, it was mostly cold. I was hungry and hadn't eaten since breakfast thus I ate all the lasagna but not because it was good. I'd recommend Aposto Italian and Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant in Highland Park over this place. read more

Came here for lunch on a weekday with a few co-workers. As another review mentioned, parking space may look small in the front but there's a lot of parking spaces in the back. They have lunch specials with dishes such as risotto and shrimp and salmon salad, which are at least $10 or more. I got the risotto and shrimp, which tasted a bit like my mom's seafood congee. It could've been a bit more flavorful and there probably could've been more shrimp but it was delicious and healthy. The portions are good to the point where you'll probably be 80% full. The staff is friendly and polite. They seem to be able to balance a lot of dishes at once. I'm not sure if this is standard at Italian restaurants or not but they gave us bread rolls. I would like to come back here to try their other dishes because they sound delicious! read more

Villa Gennaro - Lunch special - risotto and shrimp - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Every time I order delivery I'm always impressed with the quality of the food and service! Everyone who works there is very nice and always very accommodating to my wishes. I highly recommend villa gennaros for delivery or take out! read more

Villa Gennaro - Pepperoni Pizza delicious!! - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Villa Gennaro is an extraordinary Italian eatery. My friends and I come for dinner and we love that it's byob. The food is always fresh great portions and very friendly staff , I definitely recommend Villa Gennaros. read more

Villa Gennaro - Margarita Pizza, long hot Italian peppers - Italian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

As a former New Yorker either you serve pizza or you are a restaurant but this place surprised me. The food was on par with a very good New York Italian restaurant, the wait staff were amazing and attentive to our needs, the decor was warm and inviting in the dining area but it still looked a little strange to have a soda display case and a pizza area in the midst of all of this but that didn't matter because the food was that darn good! The zuppa di pesce was really delicious with the right amount of heat and the seafood was cooked to perfection, and our appetizers (stuffed mushrooms, mozz & tomatoes & calimari) were a knock out. Will I visit again? In a heart beat! read more

Food , service , excellent, loved pasta piccata w penne and the cake omggggg, I to die for ! when I went again I didn't care for the wings to be honest ... way too salty and breaded ... but I will continue to go when I want good Italian food they also have outside seating and byob read more

Service was fantastic and quick . The food was healthy and delicious, full of flavors . Desert was amazing

Anna and Alexa were awesome! Great customer service. Came here after work with my mom.... And it was perfect.

So I forget when it was. A few weeks ago. I ordered a margarita pie and a few apps. The food wasn't the issue though (food is a 3 out of 10). But when my delivery driver came I had my windows open and he was screaming arguing with someone on his phone out front for atleast 7 minutes. All I know is short white make, about 5'10. I don't think you shouldn't eat their food because it's good when your out of options! The man in the blue car cursed so much in front of my house before knocking that is my only concern. Teach your delivery little boys to have respect, Generos, this is John r. And I have rated u read more

Sorry. Had their pizza and it was pretty bad. Not much flavor and terrible crust. Salad was described as earthy, and not in a good way.

The food and hospitality was top tier.The ambience/atmosphere very relaxing and inviting.

Have gotten a personal pies a few times now and really enjoy the pizza and the cheesey bread sticks. Nice place look forward to trying more of the menu. read more

Stopped by at Villa Gennaro after a long time.. as usual great food and relaxed atmosphere...always my fav for italian food as it gives good veggie options, it's BYOB and it feels like you are in real Italian restaurant.. This time our server was Lulu, very vivacious lady with great attitude and excellent service that made the experience even better. read more

It's one of our favorite Italian place. Been there many times in last 5 years and food is always great. Service can be hit or miss. Waiters aren't friendly but food is really delicious. Must try place! 5 star for food. read more

My husband and I passed this place on the way to work everyday so we decided to try it out one night. We were very disappointed. The food was bland and had absolutely no flavor. I had a pasta that was supposed to have a spicy sauce but it just had no flavor at all. We were never quite sure who our server was, and were attended to by no less than 3 different people. The only good thing I really have to say about this place was that the atmosphere is nice, and the interior of the restaurant is very nicely done. Otherwise, you're better off going to a chain italian place. read more

Came on Friday night with my girlfriend and her friends to celebrate some birthdays. So I am going to start off with a pet peeve and something that did not get my visit to Villa Gennaro started on the right foot. We get to the restaurant at 7 and have a reservation at 7 for a party of 10. Our table is all set up and ready to go and.... "Sorry, we can't seat you until everyone is here." I understand that's your policy, but let's be honest, you aren't using the table for anything else, and the restaurant is small and standing room is cramped. Ok, I'm over it. I didn't knock the restaurant because I understand a policy is a policy, but for those who have friends who are consistently late, be prepared to stand. The ambience was nice and our waiter, Geo, was phenomenal. Very attentive, funny, and all around just a great server. The three star review is strictly for the food. For the appetizer we got clams casino, calamari, and tomato & mozzarella. Out of the three, the tomato & mozzarella was surprisingly the tastiest. Well dressed with the right ratio of ingredients. The calamari was disappointing, although cooked nearly to perfection, the breading was entirely too thick and any texture or flavor from the calamari itself was lost. For entrees, the dishes were varied, some got the short rib, some the pasta and short rib, rib eye steak, salmon, etc. I went with the osso buco and the girlfriend with the short rib (two of my all-time favorite dishes might I add). The sauces were very tasty, the meat tender, however in both dishes 1) the meat had a lot of fat, much more than I would have expected and 2) the risotto was slightly undercooked. Neither of these issues were huge, but certainly kept the dishes at a solid 3. The other dishes that I tried were also good, but nothing impressive. The only thing I will point out is that many dishes came with a side of sautéed tomatoes and some other greens. Each person who got this side said exactly the same thing, that it was too spicy to eat. Dessert was also good, but again, nothing that makes me running to come back here. Reading the other reviews, perhaps I ordered the wrong dish and would be willing to come here again. read more

Cute Italian restaurant on Rt 27. The restaurant is deceptively small looking, but is actually very spacious inside, plus they have a nice outdoor dining area. The place isn't overly fancy where you'd feel uncomfortable walking in with a t shirt and jeans, but nice enough to go to for a special occasion - my family and I had Father's Day dinner here the other night. As soon as we sat down, we were brought a complimentary plate of bruschetta, which was very garlicky and yummy. We had the fried calamari with fresh tomatoes/scallions/honey ginger glaze appetizer, veggie personal pizza, shrimp scampi, chicken parm, and stuffed flounder. The menu is very extensive, and everything we tried was delicious. I also appreciated that the waiter was very knowledgeable about all the specials, and made suggestions for us as well. We finished off the meal with a huge slice of raspberry chocolate mousse cake, which was amazing! Cozy atmosphere, great service, delicious food, and decent prices...will definitely be coming back. read more

Service was good. Cute spot. Food was a bit disappointing. The gnocchi was gummy. Sauce was good. Overall just ok.

The first time I came here I ordered the braised short rib paparedelle which was pretty good. Also came on Monday night and they have a special $9.95 pasta menu, which also comes with a salad. Great deal! Service was also prompt and friendly both times. This place is also BYOB! Will be back for sure. read more

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Stopped in here to pick up a pizza and antipasto today, I was sooooo pleasantly surprised. Beautiful restaurant and so clean! I saw cannoli so I couldn't pass those up, also bought a piece of a large sausage & peppers roll. Everything was really very very good. I'm thrilled I have found a new place to go that's delicious, clean and very nice people!! read more

The Edison area has been lately lacking in the local pizza game, but thank goodness for Villa Gennaro. Fo the last ~3 years Villa Gennaro has been my local pizza fix of choice in Edison. There really are few to no other options unfortunately. Villa Gennaro has stellar pizza- the toppings and ingredients are fresh, the cheese is wonderfully melted, and they use a medium amount of sauce. I enjoy the house salad as well. Take-out is speedy and the sit-in is a cute casual area. I have not explored the rest of the menu because I am always satisfied with the pizza. One day I will have to try something else. read more

Great find . Nice place , open kitchen . Yazmin was very sweet , knowledgeable and accommodating. Salad was fresh and not overdressed. The pappardelle with short ribs ... very , very good . I didn't finish it because I saw the dessert tray !!!!! I don't like whipped cream so Yazmin gave me a little cannoli cream next to my Limoncello cake . My cousin's Frutti di mare looked amazing . Will definitely go back. BYOB !!!!!! read more

Had dinner here tonight with my wife and daughter. This was my first time here. Needless to say it will not be my last. From the moment you walk in, they make you feel welcomed. Do yourself a favor and try this restaurant. You will not be disappointed. The wait staff was very friendly as was the owner. We started with the Mussels Gennaro as an appetizer which was very good. I had the stuffed squid over black linguini in a spicy red sauce. Loved it. My daughter had the penne vodka and she said it was very good. My wife had a Rigitoni with shrimp dish which she enjoy. The restaurant was extremely clean. It's a BYOB. So grab your favorite bottle of wine and make it over to Villa Gennaro for dinner. I can't wait to go back and try their brick oven pizza. read more

THUMBS UP ALL THE WAY!!!!! Our new #1 place to eat when in the Edison area. Dined there last evening with friends. The food was amazing and the service fantastic. What a wonderful dining experience! Huge thanks to our servers KERRY and LULU!! Impeccable service and always with a smile. They were a delight. . . The food: HAD to try the brick oven pizza. WOW! Fresh burrata and pesto. DELISH! Baked perfectly!!! On to the entrees: My friend had the eggplant parmesan. She's not a big eater but last night all that was left was a scoop of pasta. Very impressive. The hubbys both had the chicken dish with sausage, peppers, onions and roasted potatoes in a sauce that they couldn't stop raving about. I had the veal francaise with a side of vodka pasta. Tender and rich. Scrumptious. As if that wasn't enough we went for the dessert. Two to share. Generous slices of carrot cake and German chocolate cake. Yum yum yum. We most definitely will be back hopefully in the not too distant future. Also love the fact that they are BYOB and we were able to dine outdoors. It truly was a perfect evening! read more

I was invited at a birthday party in this location and it was great. The food was delicious and warm. The service was really nice . We had music in background and everybody enjoyed everything so much. I would recommend for the service and the environment offered. First, ground floor and outside space. read more