frequent visitor at first. Ever since about 2-6 months ago, it started to go down hill. 1) bread is inconsistent. sometimes, it is good, sometimes it is poor enough for me to simplyleave it on the table. 2) I specifically requested no cheese, no butter. !st time about 6 months ago. I always reminded the waiter about that despite the menu did not say any cheese, nor butter. Even the watiter would sometimes have to state, "the menu did not say cheesse, so no cheese. .." So, all the sudden, one night, I was told that it was my mistake that i did not explicitly as no cheese no butter. That was after I have ordered ithe same dish for about 2 years of visiting the restaurant every 2-3 days, and was told there would not any cheese, nor butter as it is not said in the menu. Just 2 months ago, I was given a dish of blatantly filled with cheese dish. The poor waitress said she did remind the kitchen about that and did not know why they would make that mistake. So, then, ok with us, as I thought mistakes happened. Then about 1 month ago, it happened again, despite of the fact that I did explicitly say no cheese, no butter. Besides, they gave my husband a wrong dish. Well, neither one of us wanted to make a fuzz, so he took a few bite. Took the rest home and threw that right to the trash. Just today, it happened again. I again explicitly stated no cheese, no butter. But athe dish came out with heavily butter taste. Even my husband was shocked with the amount of heavy butter taste. As I told the waiter about that, he insisted that there was no way any cheese, nor butter. So, I told him not to worry, I will pay for it, but i can't eat it. Well, the WHOLE dish was returned to the kitchen, but we are still charged for it. I think I have given it 3 trials. Even after 3-4 years of frequent visits, I have to call it an end. apparently, it is trying to tell me that they could care less about the fact that I do not want cheese, nor butter in my dish. The do what they see fit. read more

This used to be one of our favorites but we are done. It started with ordering drinks and dinner. I ordered a martini for before dinner. 20 minutes later the food was arriving and no martini. cancelled it. I got veal parm with a salad. The salad seemed as if it was sitting with the blue cheese dressing on it for a while. It was warm and wilted. The veal was burnt. My wife had a buffalo chix pizza. She said it seemed it was a regular pizza with a few pieces of chicken and drizzled with Franks hot sauce. Very disappointing and a waste of money. We wont be back read more

Tried again...veal Milanese and veal Sorrentino were both good...as was salad with cranberries and walnuts...wine fairly priced. The wait staff was friendly and competent. Expansive Italian menu, all good. read more

Used to enjoy this spot a bit more but in the past month or two it's gone downhill. Over Labor Day weekend we went here and waited 10 minutes without anyone coming to take drink order or provide bread (which they do usually within first few minutes). I went to the hostess to mention maybe there was a miscommunication about who was in charge of the table. She apologized and said someone would be right over to take drink order...we waited another 5 minutes and then we decided to leave since we went 15 minutes without a waiter/waitress. We went back this evening since we figured maybe it was an off weekend. I ordered the eggplant rollatine and my husband had a zazone. My eggplant seemed like it was premade and reheated, as the center of it was warm at best. It was also overseasoned throughout the cheese with dry pieces of oregano. My husband's zazone had a very dry crust (he thinks maybe it was missing it's usual oil?). I told the waiter about our concerns and he was quick to talk to management who offered us a free dessert (we declined just due to time constraints). Overall, this server was very nice and took good care of us(paying attention to drinks and doing things in a timely fashion), but the food was not really enjoyable--it was OK at best. Looks like we might be looking for a different local spot...it's a shame because although we've always felt it wasn't authentic, amazing Italian, we felt it was at least a good local spot read more

Food was okay. Waiters aren't extremely friendly but wasn't a bad experience. Good selection of food. Quick service!

I quite simply love this place. I have been going there for years. The best Bensi in the chain by far. Large portions at reasonable prices. Food quality is excellent for the price point. Not giving a five star because of the staff turnover and inexperience in the wait staff in some instances, but you can say that about any restaurant. Kitchen management could use some work too on how the orders are processed. Allow plenty of time and go hungry and you will not be disappointed. read more

Not necessarily authentic Italian, but it is fresh, consistent, and tasty. Penne Bensi has always been yummy. Last night's Thai calamari special was delicious...hope to see it on their menu again next time we go! The place has a bar, which is nice if you're into that. read more

Here's the good... the portion sizes are big and our waitress was great. The bad... the Calamari were not as tender and tasty as I remember from years ago when this Bensi first opened. And I have to agree with the other reviewer... the red sauce is way, WAY over salted. My husband likes salty and he said it was too much for him. When we lived in the area, we loved this restaurant. Will not be eating here again. read more

Great, consistent italian food. I have eaten in often as well as ordered out on many occasions. Nothing outrageously good, but i have never been disappointed. PIzzas are great. Many of the pasta dishes are delicious. Service can be hit or miss. Seems to be a bit of a local bar during the afternoon hours, usually has a pretty steady dinner crowd. I have never waited for a table here. read more

Great atmosphere, music was awesome, and food was pretty good. We have a 3 year old and it was perfect for us. The wait staff was also very friendly. read more

Chain Italian food. Being in NJ I'd say to try something more authentic, it's not difficult to find in the area. If chains are more your style, I'd say to drive to Bridgewater to go to Maggiano's-much better. read more

We have been to this restaurant many times. The food is very good. We really enjoy the Italian specialties. Very attentive staff and also a full bar. We would highly recommend Bensi. read more

I was here last night with my boyfriend and we had the worse $60 meal ever! The first problem here is that every server is probably under the age of 18 and extremely inexperienced. There are a few older servers(which I've never had) that look attentive. So first off we ordered a seafood salad and also 2 regular salads which came with our meals. Upon receiving the regular house salads we assumed the seafood salad was coming. Instead, the entrees came. Never did our seafood salad come. THEN as we start eating (I ordered the shrimp stuffed with crab meat) tasted like stinky feet and old farts. And I'm seriously not just trying to be funny. I'm writing an honest review. It was the most disgusting thing ever. My boyfriends fish wasn't too bad though. Small portion so we ended up sharing it and the bread basket. My bf eats anything and he couldn't even swallow it. All I can say is thank god there's a bar cause the glass of Cabernet helped get rid of the bad taste in my mouth. NEVER AGAIN....McDonald's is better than this! read more

We had a delicious meal of crab stuffed filed of sole and perfectly steamed veggies with a beautifully crusted potato croquette. Paired with a Pinot Grigio. Yum!!! read more

Horrible pizza burnt and greasy horrible service waitress on the phone the entire time no napkins no cold soda no business from me one star is too much read more

Family dinner on a Saturday night. Service was great, ask for Emily! Buffalo calamari was fantastic and salads were great. Portions are big, had to bring food home. Atmosphere was very nice. read more

Enjoyed the Calamari and I liked the menu, plenty of choices and I was seated rather quickly and our waiter was very friendly and attentive which made it a good experience. I have had better Pizza at other places but I did like the ingredients tasted very fresh. read more

There are so many items on the menu that are excellent to choose from. The Penne Bensi, Cranberry Romain salad and Chicken Francese with artichokes are all family favorites. The prices are reasonable and food consistently good!! read more

I am updating my earlier review based on our most recent visit. This time all was much better. The service was good, the salad was crisp, and the entrees were tasty. The place is clean and pleasant. For a 'local italian' its fine. Maybe last time they just had a (very) bad night. read more

The food was good but the management and staff was lacking. My chicken was a little over cooked but the pasta was good. They had a nicely stocked bar and it was a nice atmosphere but not authentic italian food. Wait staff was ok. But this place overall was alright read more

My wife and I dined on 11/25/14 with 7 friends. We both ordered Veal Parm. Everyone's food came out. Five minutes later, the waiter said "it's coming". Twenty minutes pass, no food and everyone at our table near finished. I walk to the kitchen- waiter tells me "soon" , I say "what? !-"Our table is done and we've been eating bread". He said " You don't understand, veal takes more time". I disagree, telling him that as an Italian, I make it "often." I ask for "consideration" on the bill. Get nothing off. Waiter either forgot to put in order or gave it to someone else. Imagine this scene- we watch all of our friends eat and then all eyes on us as we eat. Nice. Food was just ok, I rate it a "C". Wine by the glass is overpriced. Bill comes, nothing off. They automatically put in the gratuity- lucky for him, he would've gotten zip. Now comes the icing on the cake. Next day, I call and ask for the manager. Gal who answers asks why, said he stepped out for 5min to go to Kings. I tell her what happened the night before, she says" you'll definitely be compensated with free meals." Takes my # and says he'll call. NEVER DID. That says a lot. Don't dine there. My friends and I gather in a large group 3-4 x a year. Not at Bensi's in Whitehouse Station again ! read more

It hurts to see what this restaurant has become. Bensi used to be a vibrant place with great service and very good food at reasonable prices. At one point, I was eating lunch there with a work buddy at least once a week and grabbing a salad to go the rest of the week, plus occasional dinners. After Sandy, they were the only open place and basically fed half the town. But I think the 2008 crash and the closure of the large office building down the street really hurt this restaurant, and they have not responded well. Food quality is still ok, though not quite what it once was. Service is friendly but uneven depending when you go. The actual restaurant is in serious need of updating: everything is very worn. Even the paper menus are all ripped up. Today at lunch they were playing a Trump rally on the tv, and the host made a sour face when I asked him to put on something less political (no one was watching it, we just got seated right near the tv and could hear it). And through all of this, prices have gone up to where you could nearly get a luxury meal for about the same cost. It's so sad. I think they stay in business solely because they have no real competition: this town has a bunch of Chinese takeout, a few sandwich shops, and approximately three thousand pizza places, but really no other casual sit-down restaurants with easy parking and simple food. I continue to stop in when I need quick takeout, but it's less and less these days. I wish they would just close up, end their misery, so we could get a better restaurant in that spot; it's sad to see an old favorite wasting away like this. read more