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.

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.

@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!)

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.

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.

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.

What an amazing night we had celebrating my son's Confirmation. There were at least 3 other…read morefamilies doing the same thing and the Restaurant and staff recognized each kid individually, playing Hallelujah, and setting off sparklers. The food was amazing! Everyone cleaned their plates and it was some of the best veal parmesan I've ever had. We all felt really at home. The staff could not have been friendlier and more attentive. We will definitely be back and I'm so grateful for Patrizia's making my son's celebration so special.

We stopped in for a delicious Italian dinner, and we were absolutely not disappointed. The…read morerestaurant was beautifully decorated for the holiday season, creating such a warm and inviting atmosphere. They also have a pizzeria conveniently located right next door, which is a nice bonus. The service was outstanding--Alessandro was the best! He recommended his signature cocktail, the Orange Cosmopolitan, and all I can say is WOW. Perfectly made and dangerously good--they definitely sneak up on you! He checked in on us throughout the evening, always friendly and engaging, which truly elevated the experience. The food was just as impressive: Pollo Milanese - a perfectly cooked chicken cutlet topped with fresh mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, onions, shaved Parmesan, and a bright lemon vinaigrette. Pollo Carbonara - topped with prosciutto, spinach, peppers, and fontina cheese, served over penne pasta. Alaska Chicken (special) - stuffed chicken with shrimp, roasted tomatoes, spinach, and cheese in a rich cream sauce, served with saffron risotto. Absolutely delicious. For dessert, we shared a toasted almond cake and a caramel cheesecake cone--paired with cappuccinos, of course. The perfect ending to a great meal. It was a wonderful evening shared with wonderful people, made even better by Alessandro's exceptional service. Highly recommend this restaurant, and we will definitely be back to try more dishes!

I recently stopped by this place after work. I ordered 2 Buffalo Chicken Slices to go. They looked…read morevery good from behind the counter. Actually, all of the pizza slices looked really good here. Nice and thick slices, which I like as a change up. When I got home, I ate these slices so quickly. They were delicious. The chicken tasted great, and had alot of cheese on it too. A mild Buffalo sauce used, but that didn't bother me. Very filling. Overall, I really enjoyed this pizza. I can't wait to come back and try out some more of their pizza slices and options!

One of my local favorites! This place is consistent! We frequently order pizza, sandwiches, GF…read morepizza and my all time fav Chicken Francese from here. I do suggest ordering any pasta al dente. This is one of my favorite chicken Francese entrees in the area! Since it's my favorite dish I've probably ordered it hundreds of times in NJ. The chicken is thin and cooked well, the sauce has the perfect amount of lemon, and the pasta when cooked al dente pairs great with the sauce. The staff is always professional and service is typically quick. Since this establishment does primarily takeout, expect to wait longer Friday-Sunday. Expect to use street parking, which can be a little tricky when it's busy for a quick takeout order (however I rarely have trouble except for a Friday or Saturday night). This is a classic pizzeria style restaurant. It's nothing fancy, but the food is delicious.

The service is great, always checking in to see if there's anything they can do or grab for you…read more The owners are amazing they truly know what they're doing which shows me how much I can trust them in their work. The ambiance is well with some seatings and a welcoming area. The food is awesome I love their pizza and other items they have available. Romeos food is quick and delicious which is perfect!! I enjoy coming here!

This pizza is absolutely delicious! Great service too. But the pizza was SOOOO Good, I ate it so…read morefast lol, good sauce, good mozzarella cheese & perfect sauce to crust ratio! Dining establishment is casual with no waiters etc. typical pizza place.

We had such a delightful dinner at Neapoli this week!…read more The restaurant was warm and cozy on a cold rainy night. Just what we needed to warm up! Jenny was our server and she took such great care of us. From providing menu recommendations to keeping the food flowing, she really added to our dining experience. My husband had a really nice caesar salad with salmon on top that he loved. I enjoyed the spicy rigatoni with fried chicken and it was very good and plentiful. I couldn't finish my meal so now I have a nice portion of leftovers in the freezer when I have my pasta craving. Tiramisu dessert and a perfect cappuccino was also very good-- so much food and so good. We will definitely be back.

Super pleasant staff and owner at this BYO pasta house! We had a leisurely lunch outside, and the…read moreserver, Jenny, was very accommodating. The owner came out to show us the days fresh baked bread. We would love to go back to try the brick oven pizza! We enjoyed the Rigatoni Bolognese - Skirt Steak Bowl and Zucchini Chips appetizer. Took home a leftovers! There is an open kitchen and the inside is comfortable with lots of space - great atmosphere all around.