Costa Verde has one bartender who basically IS the restaurant. Watched her single-handedly run a dining room of close to 100 people -- not flustered, not frantic, just completely in control. She can be a wise ass, but she's got the smile and quick wit to back it up so you can't even be mad about it. She's the best thing in the building. They know it, too. PS: I love the vegetarian paella! read more

This past weekend we celebrated my mother in law's birthday with lunch here. It was my first time dining here. It's a family owned Portuguese bar/restaurant that has been in business over 30 years. They have parking on site. The food was delicious, especially the fresh bread basket and chorizo appetizer. My food was good, but could have been served hotter. I was let down that their tiramisu was actually a cake and not served in a cup or dish. They were very accommodating with the menu and our server was great. Overall, worth the visit. read more

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We are regulars at this place. Close to home with great Portuguese food! We always sit at the bar, comfortable laid back environment with all the games on. Jeannie gives outstanding service she is the best of the best! If you are in the area you should stop by! read more

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Happy Wednesday Adventurers! I've stopped here a few visits and every single time the service was impeccable. Greeted at the bar, offered menus and water, and specials. I usually order the caipirinha because it's my type of drink; it's well done and tasty. The calamari was huge plating considering its an app. We also ordered the garlic shrimp---so good using the bread to dip in the sauce. I'd recommend this spot as a casual evening for tasty food and bar service. read more

Costa Verde - Calamari | #intenselypassionatephotography - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

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Do not eat here. If you do, do not use a credit card. Food was fine. Service was AWFUL. We left a 3 dollar tip. I always take a photo of the bill that I sign and leave at a restaurant. Checked my credit card statement, and sure enough they added a 1 to the tip making it 10 dollars more than the amount I left. I called, they never called back. Of course my credit card will handle but why should I (or anyone else) have to deal with this? Guess they don't know what fraud is. read more

They have continuously gone down hill the past few years. Tonite Christmas dinner - and they were not busy. I called last night to order 2 salmon dinners. No rice, sub roasted potatoes and it comes with fresh veggies. I get there and she says oh they just put it one tin. Fine no big deal. I get home there's no veggies, and it's ice cold! They tell me to come back. I'm not going back. My gas money and my time. I'm not going there anymore. Way too many misses these past couple years. Shame. Nice family and I worked for them years ago. However their food has gone down hill badly. read more

Costa Verde - 2 pieces of ice cold salmon. Dried out. One eh, and one fishy. Missing vegetables, and that's potatoes for two? I'm totally done. - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

I did enjoy the food and the inside is very roomy. Portions are enormous, be careful. Good to come with big party read more

I was so disappointed, the restaurant was empty on a Saturday night, that should have been an obvious sign. The appetizer was stuffed mushrooms, We sent them back, very old rancid taste. For main course I ordered the Seafood paella in their special sauce, the seafood was limited and of poor frozen supermarket quality. My husband and friend ordered steaks, cooked right but quality wasn't good, tough and fatty (strip). All around not a good experience. Wouldn't recommend. read more

Decided to try Costa Verde's signature seafood paella dish, the veal marsala w/ mushroom white wine sauce, and a grilled rib steak dish. To compliment our meal we had a pitcher of red sangria. The veal was delicious and on point w/ the mushroom wine sauce, the steak was cooked to our preference and was very tasty on its own or with the mushroom wine sauce from the veal. And now for the paella this dish was massive and had a below average amount of shrimp, lobster, clams, and scallops (too tiny.) The dish overall was good but the mix with the seafood made the massive amount of rice too SALTY. Somewhat disappointing, but we plan on adding more of our own rice to balance the saltiness at home. The ambiance was a 5 star for we were in the back dining room area and our waiter was super nice. This place gives huge portions and would try other choices again. The sangria was on point too. They have a full bar and with guests this restaurant is lively indeed. read more

What a great meal tonight! I haven't been here in years and we will definitely not let time lapse before our next return. Such a bargain for great food and service. We started with an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. I think they were okay but my date really liked them. I had the pork chops with garlic sauce and they were so tasty. The garlic sauce was aooo good I wish I had more to drink. LOL. My date had the stuffed shrimp and he really likes them as well. I had a pitcher of red sangria and it was delicious as well. Our server Aldo was great and always attentive to our needs! read more

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Fully enjoyed our visit for dinner. Food was fresh, piping hot and delicious. Out with family for a relaxing dinner, this Portuguese restaurant offered a wide variety of dishes, seafood, beef, pork and poultry all at extremely reasonable prices. Interesting to see the menus with prices penciled in, you also get handed an iPad with images and descriptions of each dish. Nice touch for visiting a restaurant for the first time. The dining area is large, lots of tables, clean but nothing really special. I had the seafood paella which could have fed two or three (I ate it all, it was that good)! Table enjoyed all the main entrees and as a side note the bread was amazing. Service was very attentive. Overall a great dinner. Actually was a bit surprised based on the 3 star review. Worth the trip. read more

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Ordered delivery to Edison. Food came fast, hot, yummy and perfectly cooked!! Delivery was fast, efficient and friendly (Uber Eats) read more

Costa Verde - Seafood Paella - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

Shrimp in the croquettes still had their crap in them. Not cleaned out. Too fishy also so they had to be bad. Charcoal pork sandwich had no taste. Like it was boiled. French fries were good. Wife seemed to like the chicken. Probably the first and last for us. Sorry. read more

If I could give zero I would. Three of us went to eat there we got there around 3:15 should have realized the 1st clue ..no one was there. We got menus we had to ask to see specials yes service was very sub par, I ordered grilled rib eye ,,another one in my party ordered ribs and the 3rd ordered veal chops. Here goes food was served cold Veal was like shoe leather and ribs were un chewable and tasteless rib eye chewy. I complained to waiter he did nothing might add very hard to understand him worst place to eat! I don't recommend you will waste your money. Actually the place should close worst ever!!! read more

I've been eating here for almost 30 years. Joe the owner and his staff has run this place into the ground. I usually order between 150 and $200 per order. The last three in a row have been completely messed up the wrong things even ignored food, allergies when I talk to the owner on the phone wouldn't even apologize. Kept telling me that I was wrong. I offered to bring back the food and I did not ask for request for any discounts. Any free males? I threw everything in the garbage to. Another popular Portuguese restaurant.!! I highly recommend never going here and only recommend it to friends that you hate my mother actually got sick because the kitchen staff can't read ..... if this elderly woman wind up in the hospital tonight I'm going to press charges against the restaurant They clearly do not care about their client or customers, but they sure happen to collect your money .... read more

Missed the mark The food was ok at best However the staff was attentive and polite The Sangria was weak and tasted like juice even after asking for a replacement pitcher Will not be going back read more

Could be better. Granted we went on a busy Sunday afternoon, the servers were frazzled and lost. We were told we couldn't order appetizer before deciding our entrées because that confused the kitchen...what? But ok. Some of the entrées were hit or miss. Rack of ribs were over cooked, fish and chicken were underwhelming. The picanha steak was done well and the goat stew was devine. Sides were all the same for all entrees, rice, spanish potatoes and veggies. All were lacking flavor. read more

First time here. Amazing and delicious portions, service was excellent and overall wonderful experience! Will be back.

Yummmm portugués cuisine! This is one of my favorite spots in town to have lunch. Their lunch specials are a home run every time. The dinner portions are huge and could probably feed 2/3 people. When i go, we always sit on the bar side of the restaurant. The dinner/restaurant side is more formal dining with white table cloths. My absolute favorite menu item is the portugués picadinho because you get a variety of different flavors from the shrimp, sausage, steak, olives, and pickles. The restaurant has definitely changed a little bit over the years but local customers seem to enjoy this spot as their "go to" place to grab a bite to eat and some adult beverages. This place does get very busy but I think the bartenders/servers do a good job of making sure you're taken care of. I recommend this lunch spot if you're looking for some yummy grub. read more

Costa Verde - Portugués picadinho - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

Came across this place on way back from Shore Points. Wanted something to eat, that wasn't too far off the parkway & that wasn't going to cost a fortune. Actually just googled restaurants near me, found this Portuguese gem that had good reviews and lucked out. When we walked in there was a decent sized bar to the left with tables around it and a dining room to the right. I thought we'd eat at the bat but my friend asked to be seated in the dining room. We arrived prior to five, the bar area had quite a few people in there watching sports and the other area had a few tables seated. We were sat by a pleasant lady who ended up being our waitress. We decided on stuffed mushrooms to start, which were delicious. Tables quickly filled around us with families having Sunday dinner. I noted lots of pitchers of Sangria & cokes. Made me want to try the Sangria, but I was driving. I, for my main had Seafood Bulhao Pato, spaghetti with clams, shrimp & scallops in a wine & garlic sauce, one of the best I've ever had! My friend had their prime rib special, served with potatoes, vegetables & rice; cooked perfectly. By the time we were finished with our meals, most of the tables were full, it was nice to see happy diners, couples, families, friends alike, out laughing & enjoying each other's company. The owner (I assume) was speaking to and checking on tables. We could tell people like this place and are repeat customers. We were too full for coffee or dessert, they had an extensive menu, with many specials, full bar. They also do catering and parties on premise. If you are in area or don't mind the drive check it out. I will say, not in the best area, sandwiched between gas stations on 35 South. But sometimes looks can be deceiving, especially part of the lettering that is missing & hanging off of their sign up top! read more

Costa Verde - Seafood Bulhao Pato - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

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I know why there are are less stars here it's not the food ; the service is lackadaisy I'm not sure if they're coping with being understaffed or if they've gotten use to coming to you at their own pace . I only took off one star because our waiter was nice and the reason for the visit the food was delicious. Everything we tried was fine perfectly. So if you're willing to wait it's worthwhile:) read more

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Came here with a friend last night for Valentine's (Galentine's) Day. Was DEF interesting lol. We both took Uber's to the place and upon arrival I saw part of the Costa Verde sign on the place lights were out. We also weren't sure which door to go in. The foyer area looks more like a hall way to the bathroom? Anyway, we were seated in the dining area. Large, brightly lit space - almost felt like a cafeteria or something but a little more decorative. They also have a large bar, that is darker with wooden walls next to the dining area. We were surprised by how many families and couples were dining as we got there around 9pm. The highlight I think were the staff - all the waiters were super friendly, funny and nice! My friend had the white sangria and I had their Cabernet. The staff was happy to bring us second rounds. Tried the crab cakes and garlic shrimp. The crab cakes were tasty but wouldn't say it was a lot of real lump crab in there. I skipped the ketchupy cocktail sauce it came with. The shrimp were tasty - in like a buttery garlic and I enjoyed that with the side of string beans I had. Appreciate the kind staff and it overall was a fun time. read more

Food is delicious; service is excellent. Staff is friendly every time I have a party; I order food. Everyone always asks where I ordered from and loves it. read more

Overall nice ambiance, however not the best place in terms of price vs quality. I love Portuguese food, and it can get expensive, however I feel they value quantity over quality. For the price point you would expect every ingredient to be fresh, however they served my wife what was clearly frozen veggies with her meal which was disappointing. Their seafood was really good though, so kudos for that. Their service was great and they were very attentive. The cocktail selection was good, which made the visit fairly enjoyable. read more

Wonderful food, great staff. Mariscada is one of my favorites along with shrimp and garlic and steamed clams.

Food was delicious, reasonably priced with a nice setting. Bar and dining room is very accommodating and large enough that you don't sit on top of each other. Must try. read more

the food taste like dog water... the service was terrible she spit in my water when i said it needed more ice. it smelt terrible like burnt or something. read more

Great place if you like being rushed, and enjoy eating average, bland food. Big pass.

The paella smelled fishy and the lobster in the dish was "mealy". My veal francese dish took a salt bath. Everything on our plates was overly salty. We sent the meals back. Fortunately they took both the meals off the bill. Won't be going back to this place. It's a pass in my book. read more

Came here cause a buddy of mine must have the stuffed lobster for the buddy birthday! I had the roast suckling pig with potatoes and oranges. The place looks like a converted house and ambiance is upscale but prices good. The lobster was one whole and a stuffing on top. It looked like a lobster with a giant crab cake on top! Waiters are attentive and ours was top-notched! Since this iS a Portuguese restaurant you get extra service if you can speak the language! The Sumol soda from Portugal tastes good and has less sugar and calories than the American brands. The orange flavored SumoI tastes like an Orangina! The roast suckling pig had skin that had the fat roasted out of it! The pork is meaty and tender and The plate had four large chunks. The potatoes were soft and tender and had good seasoning. It is listed as a Special. There are some fresh black olives sprinkled throughout! There was a dipping sauce which made the meat even more moist! A nice Chinese duck sauce would pair well with the pork. The breadbasket had some really authentic bread that tasted really delish! Not the ones that are air-whipped! There's a wine glass for water and nice white linens. The flan was eggy and not overly sweet. I really enjoyed the few spoons fulls I tasted. There is a swirl of whipped cream with a lit candle too! The flan was not charged to our bill! How sweet! The people were celebrating birthdays at the time so do get ready to belt out the birthday song if you visit! Each birthday table had a dessert of their choice and a candle too! There is a full bar in another room. I had to doggie bag my portion because it was huge. The chips that came with the lobster are fresh, light and crispy! If buddy wants stuffed lobster, I would come back! read more

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Hit or miss. 4 stars for their Branzini. However the last two times, it's been either too salty or overcooked. It is good when it's not overcooked. The paella isn't worth it. The seafood they use is predominantly frozen: frozen chewy shrimp, foul smelling mussels, frozen chewy lobster, and tiny scallops. There were clams if you like clams, which I don't. I didn't mind the tiny scallops as those were the only things edible. It was mostly a lot of rice. I do like the taste of saffron rice so I'd honestly order the saffron rice on the side. It's already paella minus the frozen seafood. read more

Costa Verde - Very fresh branzino/branzini. - Portuguese Near Me - South Amboy, New Jersey

Food I had stuff mushrooms it so dark looking I sent it back,then I had chicken Marsal tasted so salty,my guest,had chicken and rice so dry,I will never go back* read more

I've been going to Costa Verde since I could remember. It's a staple Portuguese restaurant in South Amboy. Birthdays, holidays, you name it we came here. I always get the lobster. You can get it stuffed, grilled, lobster tails or you can get it served with shrimp or steak. With nothing but butter and house made chips its perfect. Great place for families and large groups to eat for holidays. Desserts are always fantastic as well, definitely try out their Irish coffee if you're interested in an after dinner drink! Service is very attentive as well, did take a little while to get the check this past time we went. read more

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My cousin got a kids cheeseburger, which contained plastic and had soggy bread. I ordered the red snapper filet with rice, vegetables, and chips. The red snapper was beyond chewy and tasteless. I was embarrassed that our guests were also complaining about their paella because it was also extremely chewy and tasteless. Their presentation is impeccable, but the flavors and cooking techniques are not worth your money. Their servers had no personality and didn't seem to enjoy their job. read more

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This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I brought friends and family and we enjoyed the food and greet service. We had a server named Vorges take care of us and he was very attentive to all of our needs. They served us large amounts of food with much to take home. I will certainly return and eat at the large bar with many TV's to watch a game. read more

I've been coming to Costa Verde for years and enjoy the food. We get catering to go trays for parties. The portions are generous and prices are reasonable and it tastes good. Today I had to write a review. I asked for shrimp without oil and they made it with oil. I sent it back. They redid it and it was still oily so I told him never mind. The owner came and I told her I was ok but she insisted and had it made again. Come to find out since it's peel and eat shrimp, the natural oils in the shrimp shell when it's cooked is what I was seeing. I usually have it without the skin so I didn't know. I apologized but she was so sweet and determined to have me eat a nice dinner. Thank you! Will continue coming here!! read more

Service was very good. Atmosphere nice. Wife and I shared a paella. Amount was plentiful and tasty however lots of small shards of lobster shell and chicken bones made it not enjoyable to eat. read more

We honestly forgot about this little go to. The Jersey diner equivalent of a Portuguese restaurant. This is not a bad thing. Sit at the bar for a delicious casual dining experience. Today was the first time we experienced Portuguese snails. Absolutely delicious. For over 25 years this place has consistently fresh, well prepared food. We are fortune to live so close we can make it our neighborhood bar. read more

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Generous portions of delicious food! My go to spot when I want authentic tasty food for a good price. Fairly priced and overly generous sizes usually good for 2 people, Always kind and respectful staff. I really recommend this place. read more

I've visited with a group of about six in early Fall. The staff was very nice and helped us arrange a table alongside the restaurant. They also had a large white tent behind the restaurant as an outdoor dining area. Because we were such a large group we wanted to sit a little further away and the restaurant was more than happy and accommodating us. They have really amazing food and we left with extra full bellies. We started with fresh bread on the table. We ordered two of their mixed platter appetizers to split amongst the table. I could've stabbed there because they were large enough to be dinner. All dinners were served with rice and vegetable. I highly recommend that Portuguese steak. read more