As of the first of March 2026 Grandma's Meatball is now permanently closed. Farewell to Anthony! FYI A new Italian restaurant has now opened at this location. read more

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Better service, more professional and better food. Our server was awful, not friendly, not professional, never came back to the table. read more

We went to Grandma's this past weekend to celebrate our parents 25th wedding anniversary. There were seven of us plus an eight month old baby so not a small party, and I made our reservation about three weeks ago to ensure that we'd have a table to accommodate all of us. Everyone I spoke with over the phone leading up to the day of our dinner was very nice and helpful, and made sure to let us know that it is byob, and a tight space so they do not allow strollers or high chairs but we were welcome to bring a booster seat or car seat for the baby which was great to know beforehand. They also confirmed our reservation via text when I called a week or so before. When we arrived the gentleman who I believe may be the owner came out to greet us and informed me that he'd been the one I had spoken to over the phone, which I thought was very kind and they also allowed us to put some photos of our parents on the table. The place itself is very elegant, intimate, simple and nicely done - not over the top but just enough so you feel appropriate wearing a nice outfit. (Would be great for a date night, Valentine's Day etc.) The ambiance is warm and relaxing but the focus is appropriately on the food and the service, and that was really the best part. Our server was very sweet and not pushy at all which we love. She gave us all the specials and described anything we wanted to know about, and seemed knowledgeable about the food. She was on top of our drinks and clearing appetizers, plates etc. without ever being in the way which is very impressive given the small space. I was glad to have her. The bread and appetizers were amazing - we shared the fried calamari and the spiedini (that was phenomenal!!) I highly recommend trying a few. But the entrees were also so so good- the portions were absolutely enormous, I had to take the rest of mine (I had the Fetuccini Alfredo) home. My husband had the special with the Italian sausage and a giant meatball. He was very happy! You can definitely tell the pasta is homemade. Everyone at dinner raved about the food and our parents were so thrilled. We are so grateful for the beautiful presentation, wonderful service and delicious food that made our parent's anniversary so special. I'm so glad this is where we chose to bring them and we definitely plan on coming back in the future. Many thanks!! read more

Small, intimate restaurant that is off the beaten path. Grandma's Meatball is located in a tiny strip mall near a dominos. There's parking on the side and rear of the building. It's a BYOB which I love. It was jersey shore restaurant week so we tried the price fix menu. We selected one appetizer, one entree and one dessert each. We picked the meatball sampler and fresh mozzarella to start. The meatball sampler is AMAZING and I highly recommend everyone try it. There's an eggplant meatball, rice ball, traditional meatball and a Sicilian meatball, which was my favorite, with pine nuts. The fresh mozzarella was also very good but nothing out of the ordinary. For dinner I had the homemade pasta rigatoni with a bolognese sauce and it was delicious. My husband had a spicy sauce, he loved, with homemade spaghetti and a side meatball. For dessert we selected a cannoli and chocolate cake. Both were good. Service was excellent and very attentive from our waitress to the busser. Remember to bring cash if you don't want the credit card fee. read more

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Excellent Excellent Excellent!!! Just go. Food is amazing. We had the meatballs. Then the eggplant. My husband had the cod puttanesca. Truly exceptional. We will definitely be back. read more

Great service! Great quality- fabulous menu! Wednesday and Thursdays have special pricing for 3 course meals! And they take reservations! read more

This place is such a hidden gem! I was on a work trip in new jersey and decided to give this place a try. It was spectacular the prices were great and the food was amazing. I would travel 2,000 miles back to new jersey JUST for grandmas meatballs alone not to mention the exceptional customer service from Rhoda and Desiree! If your local its a must try! read more

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Had been almost a year since we'd been here & sorry we waited that long. Superb meal tonight & the young lady that provided service was so pleasant. We shared a Meatball Sampler which was enough for 3 people. For entrees my wife had linguine & clams in white wine while I tried the rigatoni carbonara. Both meals were very tasty. The bread was warm & crispy. Also as I said in a previous review this is a BYOB with a liquor store within walking distance if you forget to bring a bottle. Overall I highly recommend & it is small so make a reservation to avoid being disappointed read more

Hadn't been to Grandmas Meatball in a while and the food was as good as I remembered. Love finding BYOB spots with solid menus and this place is worth a visit. read more

Actually, this is my second visit to GM - I don't know how I missed posting a review as the first visit was as good as the second! We had reservations at 7:30 and were seated immediately. The place is small and was 3/4 full. Our server was cordial, efficient and patient (we were the last patrons to leave the restaurant). The Appetizer selections are numerous and we finally settled on the Broccoli Rabe and Sausage along with the Spedini. Both were delicious and came out in a timely fashion and were piping hot. I found the broccoli rabe to be quite tasty and was not as bitter as some I have had. the Spedini was excellent! Entrees also came out piping hot and together. We all enjoyed Rigatoni Carbonara, Cod Puttanesca, Frutti di Mare Fra Diavolo and Chicken Parmigiana. We shared a Pistachio Tartufo and it hit the spot! The restaurant is BYOB and my only criticism is the fact that they will charge you for an additional order of bread. I didn't take a star for this but I find it to be a little offputting. Definitely worth a try - reservations recommended. read more

We have tried to get into this restaurant 3 times. Finally, the 4th time worked! Quaint restaurant, great music, and pleasant staff. The food was delicious. We decided on the meatball sampler- absolute perfection. I chose the cod puttanesca - it was a lot of food, so I took home the side of pasta.We didn't have room for dessert. I highly recommend to make reservations in advance! Looking forward to taking friends here! read more

Nothing stands out. High prices, you need a reservation. Service was good. Pleasant ambiance, but no reason to come back

Right from the start we noticed how clean the place was and that the ambiance was was warm and inviting. We were greeted immediately by a very friendly gentleman and seated promptly. Our server was wonderful and very attentive. The food was just delicious and well presented. Our expectations were high because Turnpike Mike talked the place up and they exceeded all of our expectations! read more

Loved this hidden gem in spring lake/manasquan. Very good Italian food here. Chicken Parm was great. Meatball sampler was awesome. They cook their pasta a bit on the firm side which I don't really like but it's still good. Red sauce is great here. Beet salad was very good. Call for a reservation and eat here. Byo and there is a great liquor store right next to the place that you can walk to. read more

This place has amazing homemade italian food .. carbonara as good as in Italy !! I had flounder francaise over pasta - all homemade pasta, light as can be. Freshly prepared and smiling happy servers that are helpful with the menu. Everything is made to order. Had fried calamari and clams casino as appetizers .. truly outstanding .. one of the best, most authentic italian restaurants around .. go there and go there now .. Richard is the host and it's his joint .. welcomes you with open arms as Sinatra and 50-60's music soothes you.. read more

Grandma's Meatball - Flounder francaise over homemade pasta .. delicious - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Mom and pop byob restaurant. The food was great- meatball sampler was excellent as well as the homemade pastas. I only wish they had a child-friendly option- even one. I have a picky eater so there were no options. They said the chief wouldn't even substitute penne in place of spaghetti. Standard chicken fingers or plain penne would be my recommendation to add for kids. read more

We had a reservation for 6 people @ 7:15pm on a Saturday. We were seated promptly...service was quick everyone liked their food. Loved BYOB and stayed until 9:45pm. It was a lovely evening. read more

My family heard of this place due to the fresh pasta. This is a small restaurant and does require a reservation, so I recommend it. Also, the sign is very difficult to see. No light on sign. Just look next store for the Dominoes Pizza sign. You will miss it. We received fresh bread and butter. I thought it was hard to chew so wasn't the best. My appetizer Spiedni was excellent. It's a stuffed bread with mozzarella with a white wine sauce. Everyone thought this was the best appetizer we ordered. My Shrimp Scampi was terrific. The pasta was terrific and the shrimp was a nice size. Everyone else's also enjoyed the meal. The fresh pasta is noticeably harder then normal pasta but I don't mind it. I finished off with a delicious cappuccino. I recommend coming to this place. I wouldn't come with any kids since they don't have high chairs. This is a nice Italian restaurant with friendly staff. It was enjoyable night. Only minor things gave it four out of five. I was a little surprised there wasn't more meatball items on the menu considering the name of the place. Next time I come back I'll try the meatball sampler. read more

Grandma's Meatball - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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Food is good. Ambience is okay. I love that the owner is hands-on ensuring a good dining experience.

See Photo they say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is how much Broccoli Rabe and sausage you get for $17.00. Four small slivers of sausage and barely enough Broccoli to even cover the bottom of the tray. read more

Grandma's Meatball - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

I highly recommend Grandma's Meatball of Manasquan. We were gifted our meal for Christmas & it did NOT disappoint. We each ordered from the 3 course menu & everything was delicious! Our meals were prepared with care & served with a smile. The restaurant is cozy & spotless, too. read more

A cozy Italian restaurant located in Manasquan. With a lot of specialty dishes the main one being Grandma's Meatball for meatballs that are absolutely delicious it's BYOB with a excellent waitress staff and Matt who will make your night. And from personal experience, the pork chop is to die for. read more

Chances are you wouldn't notice GM as you drive by but even if you don't, it's worth looking a little harder. This is a very classy, albeit small place that, is situated in a strip mall. Once inside all thoughts of strip mall are gone. It is furnished, lit, and designed very nicely. The only thing that mars the ambiance is the noise. While not oppressive, it's still there. Four of us dined here on a Sunday evening and experienced great service from our waitress. She was very attentive and informative regarding menu items, specials, and options. My wife I split the burrata salad with pignoli, arugula, and prosciutto. This was excellent. As an entrée I got the Sunday gravy which consisted of homemade pasta with red sauce, bracciole, sweet sausage, and their signature meatball. While the was pasta al dente, and the meat was great, I didn't care for their sauce (gravy). I thought it was too bitter. I don't know if this is a one off but I would certainly return. read more

Went first time as family group of 10 after the beach and they accommodated as a guest seating at 4:30. Our server Tierny was fun and attentive and we took all her recommendations.....and we ate a lot! The calamari, penne vodka, Sunday sauce, and all the food was very good. A bit pricey so expect to spend about $50/person if you get apps otherwise about $35-40. Anyway, have 4 stars only because coming from families with long line of Old country mothers was hard to compare but worth the visit. read more

Grandma's Meatball - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Awful. Went to go buy my mother a gift certificate for her birthday and was rudely turned away. Their website says they sell them. Asked the waitress if we can buy one and nope we don't have those we ran out. Never have I ever heard of restaurant refusing money. What a strange hole in the wall place. Will not recommend. It's a shame since our mom did like the food. An F for crummy service. Didn't want to be bothered. Don't worry we won't be back. read more

PHENOMENAL. A+ Everyone in NJ knows good Italian food... and this is by far one of the best meals I've had down the shore in the 16+ years my parents have had a summer house in Point Pleasant. The rigatoni bolognese reminded me of my summer I spent abroad in Sicily. The mozzarella appetizer was perfected and tasted so fresh and complimented the special house salad perfectly. The pistachio tartufo also gets an A+. The restaurant is quaint and cozy and you really feel like you're getting a home cooked meal from your grandma. read more

Heard a lot about this place & finally got here with friends who had been already. It would be easy to drive right by the place considering the GPS says it's on Taylor Ave which is actually Route 71 in Manasquan. The place is small but has a very welcoming air about it. Service was very good on this Sunday. The size of the restaurant made it a bit noisy but it was manageable. My husband & I shared a burrata salad with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, argues & pine nuts. It was fabulous & large enough to share. For dinner I ordered the Bolognese. It was excellent & a large enough portion for leftovers. I really liked GM & am glad we finally got there. I will definitely return. read more

Grandma's Meatball - Rigatoni Bolonese - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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Went again last night with my BF. omg the meatballs are delicious! We loved all four variations. Last night I tried the blackened salmon. The salmon was very fresh and seasoned perfectly. To be honest, I really didn't care for the salad bed underneath. It was very bland. I would have preferred vegetables or sautéed spinach instead. My boyfriend had the Chicken giambotta and he loved it. The tartufo dessert was the perfect ending. read more

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We arrived for our reservation and was seated immediately. Service and food was all excellent. Will definitely return.

It's restaurant week and we finally made it to Grandma's Meatballs, a BYOB that's been repeatedly recommended. We see why! Large portions of delicious HOMEMADE pastas, tender meats and very tasty apps. Not a big cake person but blown away by the lemon mascarpone cake, delicious coffee and espresso. Hubby had Pork chop Milanese and I had light as a feather manicotti with s large tender meatball. We wil return... probably next Tues for 30%as long as dinner includes an entree and pay with cash. Bon appetite! read more

Grandma's Meatball - Lemon mascarpone cake. - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Best kept secret. Great ambiance . service excellent. Food is delicious. It's been in Point Pleasant for eight years and we just discovered it last year 2022, a relative casually mentioned we should try it! we've been there several times and we highly recommend Grandmas Meatballs which are huge and the pasta is made fresh, marinara sauce is delicious. It's small place which I prefer it's quaint nice place to go to when you want homemade food, and the service is impeccable. We had the good fortune to meet the owner and his story is so unique, how he began. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. Outstanding, I give it 5 stars! read more

We had a wonderful time at Grandma's Meatball for dinner tonight. Ordered the fresh mozzarella appetizer, which was absolutely delicious! For our entrees we got the rigatoni bolognese and the eggplant parm. The portions were reasonable and the homemade pasta was delicious. The best part was actually our Belgian chocolate mousse cake for dessert - heavenly. Just make sure you make a reservation beforehand; tables fill up quickly. read more

Grandma's Meatball is A+, hands down my favorite restaurant !!! I have never had a disappointing meal here. The frutti di mare was outstanding...a warm, rich heat, lucious sauce, homemade linguibe and lots of seafood. Each seafood item was perfectly cooked. And the veal parm continues to be among thr best I've ever had. Super friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff. Bravo, Anthony! read more

Grandma's Meatball - Veal parm over homemade spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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KATHY K. I feel the need to respond to your post. During COVID our country is struggling to survive. Especially small business owners and people like you are making it harder for them. If you had a bad experience just move on. Restaurants aren't able to operate at full capacity so there putting time limits on diners. Deal with or stay home. I've been to grandmas meatball many times during COVID and have always had a great experience. The food is always great, the staff has always been friendly and knowledgeable of their menu.. read more

Everything Fantastic, cant wait to go back with friends. If it wasn't for restaurant week we would never have known of the restaurant. They also offer prices fixe some week days. read more

Food is freshly prepared to order. All pastas are homemade. Many great items to choose from. Excellent service. This is a BYOB restaurant. read more

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Food is excellent and service is great! BYOB so bring your favorite wine! Small and intimate.

Great meal with family !! The homemade pasta makes a huge difference and the appetizers and everything was fabulous. Leave room for desserts

Really nice (small) space that is really welcoming. The staff makes you feel welcome from the minute you walk in. Everyone looks like they are having a good time. I wonder how this place is during high season. Apps Fresh mozzarella salad (Fresca) was tasty We had to try the meatballs since it's the namesake item Classic was good, Sicilian was great, arancini was creamy and good, eggplant was ok (give me another Sicilian) Entrees Special shrimp and flounder francias was gone before we could ask how it was Chicken parm got good marks as well Ordered the Giambotta but with veal Was a good choice but next time I'll ask for it over pasta because the homemade spaghetti was getting raves from the table Desserts were nice and made in house Ask for that in house made run down Great food great night will return read more

While checking out Jersey Shore restaurant week menus we saw Grandma's did a Tuesday special. 20% off your bill if you paid in cash and bought 2 entrees. Hiding money from the IRS are we? Anyway, we normally avoid BYOB restaurants because they overcharge for their food to make up for lack of alcohol sales. Disadvantage to the non drinkers. 20% off probably makes it a wash however. Prices at the restaurant were higher than what was listed on the website. The staff was over attentive to the point of being bothersome and insincere. They pestered us to get some wine at the liquor store next door or have a soda here. Were they missing out on a corking fee? We settled on tap water they put in a bottle on the table. From time to time the server would take the bottle and unnecessarily fill our glasses up as if we couldn't do that ourselves. The bread was small but good. If you wanted more bread $2.50. Looking at the menu I asked if I could make a substitution to the $39 Fritti Di Mare Fra Diavolo and was told NO. I don't like muscles and clams. Eating internal organs of shellfish creeps me out. A lady behind us asked for a different sauce on her entree and was also told NO. Wow. It's Grandma's Meatball so we started with the $20, four meatball sampler. 5 bucks a meatball. The classic meatball was cold as was the sauce the meatballs were sitting in. The other 3 meatballs were hot. The riceball I liked. The Sicilian meatball had an odd taste. The eggplant meatball tasteless. My wifes $29 chicken Marsala was terrible. The chicken was cold but the spaghetti underneath was hot. Since NO Substitutions, I reluctantly got the Chicken Parm. Same thing. The chicken was room temp, but the spaghetti was hot and I have to say, a perfect Al-dente. There's nothing special here. Obviously there's a timing problem back in the kitchen. There's was only 3 other people in the restaurant when we ordered. 80 bucks wasted. Spanos and La Mondina so much better and better priced. read more

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