Thanks to a Yelp friend of mine, my wife and I found this fantastic Italian restaurant in Chester. Benito's is set in a little off Main Street and is beautiful place. The inside is decorated nicely, and there's plenty of outdoor seating. The service was excellent! We were promptly greeted and the staff was attentive throughout the meal. This is a BYOB and we started off with our wine and the burrata appetizer. Served with prosciutto and arugula, it was excellent. For entrees, my wife had the Veal Caprese and I had the Gnocchi. The breaded veal was outstanding, and I loved the red sauce and shrimp the gnocchi was made with. For dessert, I had the homemade tiramisu and my wife had a piece of limoncello cake. We couldn't have been happier with the entire meal. After dinner, the owner, John, came over and spoke with us. This restaurant has been here for 25 years and is certainly doing it right! read more

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Enjoyed a wonderful price fixed lunch for $23.95 in a lovely setting with great service. BYOB. Started with the tri-coloure salad & some wonderful & plentiful bread. Veal marsala was my entree which was a fantastic serving & ended lunch with homemade tiramisu & coffee - really good. Definitely coming back here! read more

Benito's Trattoria - Homemade tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

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Came on a weekend night with a reservation and it was packed! Highly recommend having a reservation. Service was friendly and timely. Menu is extensive with multiple options for different meats, fish, apps etc. BYOB is always a huge plus! 1. Mussels - Nice a spicy in a fra diavolo sauce 2. Pollo Benito - Very flavorful with their sauce, mushrooms and red pepper 3. Tiramisu - Flavorful, light and a big piece Overall, I would come back here for a great Italian dinner! read more

Solid elevated Italian, in a charming house in historic Chester. We met friends who frequent Benito's and really enjoyed it. Despite the cold winter weather outside, it was warm and cozy, and festive for the holidays inside. Starter Asparagus Parmigiano - coming from California, we don't typically see asparagus in the winter, but it was delish. Main Course Cavatelli Calabrese for me! Ricotta pasta with sausage, broccoli rabe, cherry peppers in garlic and oil - hold the peppers Cavatelli with broccoli is my go-to pasta and reminds me of my Grandma. I must order it whenever it's on a menu. It sparks joy and floods me with happy memories. I asked for no peppers but my friend got it with peppers and loved it too. The guys tried a few of the veal dishes and licked their plates clean. Dessert We ended the night with classic, delicious cannoli, lemon cake, and espressos. This is a BYO restaurant so be sure to bring wine if you want any. The friendly staff will open and pour for you. read more

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I host a monthly dinner and chose Benito's for the group. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the staff was attentive. I have already scheduled the next dinner in August. read more

Went for lunch yesterday, first of all they do a great deal for lunch at $25 for a 3 course lunch. I had the tre colore salad to start and it was really nice. I then had the chicken parm with rigatoni marinara and it was fantastic. A really big portion and for lunch as well, not expected. Then finished off with chocolate cake. My wife had the same starter but then the farfalle vodka pasta, word of warning it has very small pieces of chicken in (which the lunch special menu did not disclose, but was disclosed on the main menu - we didn't look there). We had to send it back and they removed it from the check, what we had tasted it was really nice. She finished with the tiramisu which was nice but wish they had not sprinkled cinnamon on it. Wasn't needed. All in all a really good lunch and will definitely return. It's BYOB there as well. read more

Food is always stellar and service was exceptional. The ambiance inside is intimite and outside is casual but upscale.

Service and food are spot on. We had a party of 10. Reservation of course. Everything was setup perfectly. Very busy for a Friday night. But Alberto made sure we were taken care of. Everyone's meal came out at the same time and all was hot and fresh. This is a top favorite of mine in the area. Will return . read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in the area. Phenomenal service, food and ambience. Thank you, Benito's for consistently exceptional dining. read more

Solid Italian place, somewhat upscale. It can get really busy and crowded. We have taken family here and they really enjoyed. Definitely worth checking out. Could also be a good date night place. read more

Such a cute lunch/dinner spot in the town!! Here's what I loved about it: Parking: Lots and lots of it! On a Sunday for lunch, I was easily able to find a spot. It's also 3 minutes from Alstede farms which is a great place to head to for a wholesome activity after food. Drinks: BYOB! Make sure you pick up if you want some. Service: Very very nice. They check in on you periodically - make sure you have everything you need. They changed our plates between apps and main course, gave new utensils and brought out all the condiments I asked for. Loved how attentive the staff was, it's always appreciated. Appetizers: We got the fried mozzarella. It came with 4 pretty large crispy, hot pieces. MY FAVEEE PART OF THE MEAL! Make sure you get this if you go! I've never had fried mozzarella like this before, it was almost like a little sandwich with a flakey and crispy exterior, without being too oily. Everything about it was perfect. Chefs kiss. Main course: Cheese ravioli- amazing, the sauce was smokey and super flavorful. The ravioli tasted fresh you could tell it was made in house! The dish was served piping hot and fresh. The parsley garnish was the perfect finish, I was in love with this dish. We ate most of this! Penne arrabbiata - this wasn't on the Sunday menu (they have a diff lunch menu on Sundays and its more limited than the other days) but they were kind enough to make it for it! It was a fresh cheesy pink sauce. I threw on some red pepper flakes for the perfect kick to the dish. It was delicious. Be careful taking the first bite- it's going to be HOT. Which I loveeeeed, it always makes me feel like it's cooked properly when it comes out piping hot and you have to give it sec before you eat it. Overall, the two entrees and app costed $68 after tip, which is pretty reasonable! We both have left overs (I went with one friend for lunch). Just note, they charge you a split cost if you ask to share a plate-- instead just get two entrees and do the split yourselves if you choose to. I'll be back to this place!! 10/10 recommend. I literally got hungry writing this review. read more

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Always a go to in Chester. Been going there for years and never had a bad meal or experience. Can't recommend highly enough. Chicken dishes are great, so are pasta. Seafood risotto could use a little more flavor to the risotto, but still good. read more

The food is excellent. BUT, the noise level is intolerable. The wait staff is rushed. People waiting for a table right next to you. Instead of A relaxing Saturday night birthday celebration (total of eight), it was a stressful nightmare. read more

Benito's has long been one of my favorite restaurants. Their Italian cuisine is exceptional, their restaurant is elegant and their service is top notch. Recently I had a large party for 50 in my home and I discovered that Benito's does catering. They did an amazing job! Everyone is still raving about the food! John helped me with the menu and delivered the perfectly cooked food precisely on time. I give a lot of parties, but I have to say Benito's was the best caterer ever! I would give them 100 stars if I could. read more

Not really a great Anniversary dinner... First off, the person opening our sparkling wine did it pointing at my wife to which it unfortunately spilled all over her. We get this happens and took it in stride, but it's how the manager/owner reacted to this that left a sour taste in our mouths. The owner / manager came over and immediately asked "Did you shake it?" We thought it was a joke until he then asked, "Was it in a car?" I answered, "Of course it was. We drove here." To which his response was, "Oh then that must be why." His entire approach was accusatory and not once did he apologize (the server did). And I'm sure some will wonder if anything got comp'd as an apology, and it was not. Top this off with the bread being rock hard and the calamari being rubbery... Needless to say, we won't be back. read more

We went to this restaurant by accident on Dec 31st. We had party of 8 and this was last minute available restaurant. However we were really positively surprised at the food, patience, and service. We had several guests that had different diet restrictions and each server was so so nice to take time and accommodate us. Thank you! Food also was delicious: their pasta were so flavorful. We shall definitely be returning back! read more

yum!!!! we went on xmas eve and it was great! byob. the waiters were so nice! food was EXCELLENT!

Lovely restaurant!Great service,terrific food. We will be Adding this to our favorites. BYOB read more

Great service, good food - large portions so good leftovers! Atmosphere is warm & delightful!

Great Italian place located in Chester. The fried calamari appetizer was great. I have had several dishes off the menu. They were always seasoned perfectly and brought out hot. Service has always been great. The restaurant is noisier than most other restaurants. Reservations certainly help. Prices are fair and not overly expensive. I will definitely be back. read more

The food was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was perfect. We sat in the back left corner. I loved the ambience. The service was excellent. I would definitely recommend. read more

This is a great BYOB in Chester. Food was excellent and service was good. The only issue was sound and acoustics. This not a place for a nice quiet dinner when full. read more

Yelp only allows integer review numbers, but my score is 4.5 stars. We had been to Benito's for lunch before and we were not impressed. However, dinner last night was a totally different experience. The (1) Lobster Bisque, (2) Vitello della Casa (Veal sauteed with porcini mushrooms and shrimp in a cognac sauce), (3) Lobster ravioli, and (4) the Cannolis were fantastic! The (5) berry tart was excellent, but it would have been even better if it were slightly sweeter. The (6) Pasta Fagiolo soup was very good, and while my wife liked it, I thought that the lobster bisque (which is the best I've had outside of New England) blew it away. With a total of 6 dishes and BYOB, the price for 2 people before tip was $110 (including tax), which was well-worth the cost and is actually a bargain for what you get. The meal was better and less expensive than most of the other white tablecloth Italian restaurants in the area. The restaurant interior is well-appointed, and the service was excellent. read more

Very nice restaurant. Delicious mussels. The chicken milanese was very good too. Nice servers very attentive. Will definitely go back

I always enjoy the meals here! No matter what I order. From the appetizers, entrees or dessert, I am never disappointed. The service is always great! It is also great that it is BYOB! read more

We came in rather later on a Wed. The place is so dark it feels like the lights are actually off and you can't see what you're eating, which is frustrating. We waited an hour for 2 basic entrees- branzino and linguine with shrimp. The branzino was flavorful but had bones despite being sold as boneless. It came with only vegetables. Not a starch to be found. I went in starving and left still pretty hungry. The bread, which we requested late after never being offered any, was microwaved and chewy. I don't recommend and I won't return. Staff didn't seem concerned with the fact that we waited and didn't finish our meals. read more

Dining here is always a pleasure. The food the ambiance and the staff are amazing . My friend and her husband have been dining here for over 20 years and I can clearly see why. It's my favorite place and I look forward to our weekly visit. read more

Benito's Trattoria - Benito's - Italian Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

Excellent food, and service. A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Restaurant is very nice, but on the small side. Make a reservation or it's a long wait. read more

I had lunch last week and was surprised by the price increase for the price-fix lunch. Aside from that, I had a salad with grilled chicken and when I got the check, the waiter told me that it had increased since the new menu was printed two weeks ago. So, he adds $2 to my check. Well, if this menu was new, why wasn't the new price for salads updated? At least tell me when I place the order that the price had increased by $2. Very bad business...I will not return. read more

Has been much better in the past. Showed up on a Friday night, with a evening reservation. Seating was unorganized and no one in charge when we arrived. Maybe a sign or something to guide people during these "Covid times". Was seated under the big top, in the parking lot. Waiter rip the cork out of our wine and proceeded to rapidly pour into glasses. Tablecloth looked like a murder scene with red wine splashes everywhere. Calamari was tough and cold. Salad was limp and too much dressing. Definitely nothing special about the specials. Not worth the effort or money. read more

The waiter left us to get a haircut while our party of 7 was still there during Friday lunch. What nerve!!!! The remaining staff forgot about us and we had to ask for our dessert that was included in our "pay one price" meal. We were very disappointed with their lack of attention to us. My friends and I all live in Succasunna and were so looking forward to this first outing after we all got vaccinated. We were very upset!!!! read more

Benitos is great the owner and staff are excellent. We just went to celebrate our 17th anniversary and food was amazing as always. Have been coming here for 20 years snd it's always excellent. If you haven't tried you have to!!! read more

Absolute worst visit I have ever had at a restaurant. Multiple parties were sat before us that arrived after us even though we had reservations and they did not. Multiple orders were incorrect, and when questioned they were not fixed. One order was completely forgotten. Absolute worst visit ever. I will not ever return. read more

Benito's was one of the first places The Man and I went to for date night after moving into our house. We figured we needed to try every restaurant in the area and happened to be in the mood for Italian, so we gave this place a shot. While not awful, this will not likely be a place we'll visit often. It was a Friday evening and it looked like everywhere along Main Street was packed. We were surprised that Benito's didn't look busy at all, but were really too hungry to think too much about it. We were promptly seated and left to look at our menus. I'm a pretty patient diner, but it was quite a while before a server came over to take our order. By this point, my stomach was howling, so I was hoping service would be faster since we were now alone in the restaurant. I ordered the ravioli alla casa and The Man chose the pollo arrosto. We sat in the dimly lit restaurant and waited as patiently as we could for our meal. We sat and we waited. And waited. After what seemed like an eternity (about 20 minutes), our food was set down in front of us and we dug in hungrily. The Man liked his meal quite a bit. The chicken was not overcooked and the saltiness of the cheese and proscuitto gave it a nice flavor. My ravioli were... okay. I've definitely had worse before, but these just weren't hitting the spot for me. Maybe it was the combination of cheeses they use, but dish just didn't taste right to me. I tried to tough it out and made it most of the way through the dish out of sheer hunger, but I can't say I really enjoyed my meal. While the ambiance of the restaurant is alluring for a romantic meal, I could really only give my evening 2 stars, The Man's 4-star assessment of his dinner is the only reason I can see us coming back. With the plethora of options for Italian food in the area, I just cannot see this being our go-to place. read more

It disappoints me to write a bad review, especially when it's a mom and pop place, but I have never been made to feel so unwelcome in my life. The lovely ladies at Well Bred recommended Benito's (amongst a few other places that I already know and love), saying the food was awesome and they're dog friendly. So we went with high hopes and hungry bellys. When we got there, I waited outside with my dog, while my mom went in to request a table. The girl at the door asked if my dog is a service dog...and had to see the papers, since she wasn't wearing her vest. Now, technically it is illegal to do that, but since she's registered, I have no problems showing them. The manager came out, looked everything over and then said he'd seat us. I told him seating us outside was fine, since I understand some people have allergies. He sat us at THE OTHER TENT, away from their outdoor patio section! It was 5pm and empty of anyone, so I was a bit put off about that. So, the waiter came over to give us the specials and take our drink order. He was so busy waving and smiling to other people in the parking lot, avoiding looking at us or even in our general direction, he just rambled off the specials and walked away. The busser gave us water, bread that was rock hard and 3 tabs of butter. Our illustrious waiter then decided to grace us with his presence after 20 minutes. My mom ordered, I ordered and then I asked for a bowl with some linguine with butter and a plain piece of grilled chicken for the dog. His eyes literally bugged out of his head and his fast response was "No, I cannot serve the dog! Especially not on a plate or bowl. Our customers would be horrified!" My mom asked him if they wash their plates, why would anyone be horrified? He just kept shaking his head and saying no. Finally a to-go container was settled upon and it took him another 5 minutes just to grasp (and write down) linguine with butter and plain grilled chicken, no salt or pepper. Apparently this is difficult, what with the complicated menu they have Appetizer came out quickly...and the busser came back within 10 minutes to clear it, even though I was still eating. After another 25 or so minutes, our entrées came out. Two pasta entrées and a tin foil to-go container with linguine and grilled chicken. Not once did the waiter stop by to check on us. The bus boy asked twice as he was passing us to get something for the customers in the regular outdoor seating area. But after 15 minutes, they were there clearing the table, even though my fork was still in my hand and I was clearly still eating (my plate was still half full). He literally took my plate, saying he would pack it up, but did we want coffee? Wrapped food was promptly brought back and another guy shows up with the bill. And stares.me.down. waiting to see how I paid. Practically ran over to take my card, hustled right back out with it, dropped it on the table and walked away. Oh, and the icing on the cake? Charging me freaking $15 for plain pasta and 1 piece of plain chicken cutlet!! I have waitressed off and on for 20 years, from diners to upscale eateries and everything in-between. I can understand many things and make reasonable excuses for a lot, especially when it comes to the waitstaff. But this whole experience left such a terrible taste in my mouth. Was this about the dog? Because honestly, I would have understood and came back another day. But to be treated like complete crap... I've never had any kinds of problems at any of the other places in Chester. This town is notoriously dog friendly and the first time I take my own dog here, this my experience. Pre-pandemic, I'd come here weekly with my friends and their dogs and never experienced even a side eye. What sucks even more is that the food was actually pretty good! When I was looking at the menu driving there, I was saying to my mom that I couldn't wait to come back when I'm not on a soft food only diet because so much sounded so good. Now instead, I'm crossing this off the list and telling people to go somewhere else. read more

Our favorite restaurant in New Jersey. Awesome food and they will make anything so long as the have the ingredients. We have been there just the two of us as well as a group of 12 and the service is always excellent. John, the owner, is super nice and always greets us as if we're family. Great place we highly recommend. read more

We stopped in here thinking it was a casual spot to grab a quick bite. The outside seating was a lovely draw in, but misleading. Though the food was enjoyable the service was slow, I had to go inside and ask the waiter for the check. The Linguini Siciliano was the silver lining. read more

My wife and I found this cozy place Saturday night. Place was packed , good sign , 30 min wait for inside. The waiter asked if we minded eating outside , which was set-up with portable heaters. We accepted, very comfortable and the food was fantastic we will definitely be back! Thank you JP read more

The service was terrible. We sat for about 15 minutes without even a greeting or a menu. It took over 90 minutes for our food to come to the table and during that entire time no one came to check on us to report the status or to ask if we needed anything. The atmosphere is mediocre and noise level is very high. I would recommend somewhere else. Anywhere else. The salmon finally came out and it was raw as raw can be. They corrected it and didn't charge us, but ugh! Really? read more

What a stressful place to eat! Went on a recent Saturday night with two other couples. Benito's was PACKED. This place always seems to be in crisis mode, but this was ridiculous. All the wait staff was running around and literally bumping into one another, like chickens with their heads cut off, rushing here and there but it still took forever to get our waiter's attention to get our orders in. Twice I had to get up out of my seat to get serviced. It made us all very anxious to sit there and watch this take place, plus we noticed the woman at the front desk (the manager???) was texting all night long! How unprofessional. Personally, I can't stand it when I see any restaurant employee texting while on duty and it's totally unacceptable on a busy Saturday night. Anyway, we sat there for 2 1/2 hours, exhausted, and could not wait to leave! Food was "OK" but the experience was totally awful. I've had more relaxing meals in airport restaurants! Benito's is not worth the stress... What a madhouse and I don't think we will be back for a while. read more