Great atmosphere. Food was very good the two times we have gone. Attentive staff. Highly recommended.

Mediocre to say the least. I wouldn't waste your money. Capone's downtown is better than this place. Not worth it.

I used to come here with my mom and dad, and I loved it so much. I haven't had a chance to come back until now and I remember now why I loved it so much! We had the most wonderful meal. I had the paccheri with peas prosciutto and mushrooms. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The flavor was fantastic. It was creamy and cheesy. And the serving size was incredibly generous. My salad was fresh and the Caesar dressing was nice. Service was on point. The restaurant is pretty and we sat next to the fountain with a view of the rest of the dining room. Honestly this restaurant is worth the drive. Next time we are down the shore, we are coming here. read more

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This was a superb meal. My girlfriend's dad used to live around here and they used to come all the time. She has been telling me forever that I need to come here. Now I understand why. This is some of the best Italian food I have eaten in a restaurant in very long time. I had the stuffed rigatoni in vodka sauce special. The sauce was so delicious. It has tiny bits of sausage in it and was creamy and complex. The bread was fresh and crispy. I highly recommend this lovely restaurant. read more

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It's okay. I have nothing really bad to say but I have been. My pasta was over cooked and the chicken was just okay. Service was nice! We have like 3 different guys waiting on us. It seems like a fancy place but you can also come in casual. Dad: this place wasn't like omg, I would come back or sell my kidney, but it was yummy. I like Olive Garden read more

Il Giardinello Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

Lovely atmosphere. Service was excellent. The vegetable and bean soup was disappointing. The veal dish was good and the special halibut dinner was very good. read more

Il Giardinello Ristorante - Halibut - Italian Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

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Food is awesome Service is good Ambiance is lovely. They are a little pricey but it's worth it. read more

The food was great. Not alot of salt and the waiters were very attentive. Was here for a birthday dinner party, desserts very yummy. Nice atmosphere, good bread. The whole spread was delicious. Def recommend if you want a nice Italian dinner in a ristorante atmosphere. Oh and plenty of parking read more

Fried calamari appetizer was light, not Gracie, and not overcooked so that the calamari was tender. They give you hot tomato sauce and regular tomato sauce. My husband liked the hot although he added more Tabasco to it. I had the regular, which was very good. I got the eggplant Parmesan for dinner and my husband got the cod special with clams muscles on it and he really liked it instead of pasta he asked for the mixed vegetables which they do charge extra for the substitution. Their fresh bread was very good. It was warm. Our waiter named Bill was very informative and professional. there is a lot of staff cleaning off your table and pouring your water and you don't have to wait for anything. The ambience is casual. We made a reservation in the summer and on weekends. It's a good idea to call ahead and do that The owner Genaro came to our table to check on us and if we were happy with the food and he was very friendly. We will definitely be going back. read more

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Overall, a great meal the lentil soup was a little disappointing, truthfully to bread and butter was a big highlight the Butter was a creamy butter was so good. Another disappointment was the olive oil and garlic was an add-on appetizer. The fact that the Parmesan cheese was a shaker and not a grater was a little bit of a disappointment as well I got the Italian trio which was meatballs, sausage, and egg eggplant over pasta. Everything was perfect all so good my partner got shrimp Parmesan, which she loved so both of our dinners were a 10 out of 10 dessert was a little bit disappointing the carrot cake was not up to what we wanted. It was a thicker cake with a lot of raisins which we don't like but other than that the dinners were fantastic. read more

Maybe 1 star is a bit harsh but..... I don't get all the praise and 4/5 star reviews. This place is a bit of an anacronym. Old school Italian, lots of red sauce, locals, servers that have been there for ever. Speaking of servers, while effusive and charming to others, out server Billie was nothing but cold to us. He even seemed annoyed. Barely attentive, he didn't offer an ice bucket for our wine, disappeared for long periods. He barked more than spoke. Repetitive when describing every entree. (OK dude! I t get you offer, angel hair, rigatoni, blah blah blah!)The restaurant was full when we arrived. It was clear they needed more then 2 servers for the entire room. There are just too many tables in the room. Re: food. My entree was described as "spicy." Couldn't be farther from the truth. Pasta was overcooked. Sauce was uneventful. Other dishes lacked finesse in their presentation. Prices are high given the quality of the food and service. I have paid the same and gotten more. Decor is tired. Bathrooms are beyond dated and sad. Desserts? Meh! Had to ask for the check. We tipped 20% just because. I have no idea why. Peer pressure I guess. Do better! Be better! We went across the street for cookies and treats. LaScala bakery offers way better product and service for cookies. Shout out to Angela. read more

As I went to leave this review I noticed I did so 9 years ago, my first trip here. Nothing has changed - the food is top rate, dining room is cozy - but what sets this place apart from all others is the service. When we told our server Ray that it was our Mom's 85th birthday, he fussed over her all night. Had bruschetta app special and calamari, both delish. For entrees we had shrimp scampi, seafood fra diavlo and veal parm, all fantastic. The tiramisu was great too and their coffee is outstanding. The owner stopped by a few times to check in, which was appreciated. We felt spoiled and never rushed. We will be back of course!!! read more

Superb dining experience all around. The staff were wonderful and the food was authentic. Too many menu items to fully describe here so peruse the menu and select your preferences because everything is exceptional. This is definitely a local spot and it fills up rather quickly for evening dining so early reservations are best. As the saying goes: "che dorme, non piglia pesce". Buono apettito! read more

Excellent Italian food and ambience. Ray greeted us upon arrival and seated us at a nice table. Tom , our server was top notch. Informative, polite and personable . The whole staff was pleasant. The food is plentiful and delicious. We had eggplant parmesan, baked clams, zuppa di pesce..broccoli rabe..all fabulous. And the price was on point. read more

Fantastico! Traditional Italian done very well . I had calamari with linguine in their marinara .. was like my Mom made it !! Great place !! read more

BYOB. Tuesday night for 2. 10-15 minute wait. Service- attentive & punctual. Food? Really, really good. Zucchini Flowers & Artichoke Franchese for apps. Both cooked perfectly. Dinner, Chicken Scarpiello over linguine with same sauce, and the best damn Chicken Parm I've ever tasted over the same sauce. It's a sin to say this restaurant is less than a mile from us & we haven't been there in 15 years. That won't happen again...... read more

Nice ambiance, good service, byob and fairly priced, but food is just ok. Average portion size but their pork chops, fish, and pasta dishes are mediocre. Probably won't return. read more

Dined at the restaurant last night, not a good experience. First of all I only had a fork which was a little dirty and a turn off, had no other utensils. Pasta was a bit over cooked. read more

Our second visit and the food was amazing...lobster ravioli in vodka sauce was outstanding as was the chicken picata. Service was great. It's BYOB so bring your own wine to enjoy read more

Second time going went for Valentines Day, same menu same prices Had a 5 course special for 2

We are new to the area and went here on a recommendation when we saw two people walking out. We were not disappointed. Everything from start to finish was absolute perfection. We will definitely be coming back with friends and family . Thank you Gerry for making this a welcoming experience. read more

Always fantastic, the best Italian food in New Jersey, always packed I recommend you make reservations. Professional service from everyone, new owners but everything tastes the same. awesome red sauce and freshest seafood! Love this place, I won't even try another Italian restaurant in the area, I know I will be disappointed read more

On 1/4/2024 our celebration at IL Giardinello Ristorante 2nd visit was beyond our expectations. Our waiter Chris was a delight to interact with regarding the nights specials. The food, service and ambiance was spectacular. The food delivery was great. The bluish hue in the background created a fluid smooth and happy feel to the atmosphere. This night was a celebration that will never be forgotten. Thanks for helps us celebrate this special moment. read more

Il Giardinello Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

The food is always of the highest quality and your taste buds will feel like it's the Fourth of July. We were a party of 4 and ordered an artichoke salad, not on the menu. Tom our waiter checked with the kitchen and they were able to accommodate us. If you have never had it, try it, you will not be disappointed. We had 4 different entrees and all were tasty and delicious. Cacidipepe, veal Parmesan, seafood fra diavalo, spicy rigatoni w/ chicken. We had a reservation for 6 and were seated promptly. Tom our waiter was one of the best we have had since moving to the shore. He gave a very accurate and descriptive summary of our specials and was in touch with what the kitchen does. Gerry the owner/ manager?, checked in with us to make sure all was good,a few times The restaurant was not crowded for a Friday night but began to fill as we enjoyed our dinners. The room is decorated tastefully and the smell of the garlic and herbs made is even more eager to enjoy our meals. All staff is friendly and very efficient. They aim to please! read more

Under new ownership, and the menu remains intact - Very Good Italian food, with the sauce a little on the tart side but well made. Veal parm is a favorite, Clams Oreganato is always good & fresh raviolis. Not the best in Toms River (I would put them at #3 behind Fiore Russo & Villa Almalfi) but not disappointing in the least. Service is always up to par and the atmosphere is typical Italian..... read more

Excellent service food was delicious appetizer was excellent clams or eggnog and my dinner was absolutely delicious.

It had been awhile since we had been here. Lovely dinner tonight at this establishment. The service was prompt & attentive without rushing you. Food was excellent. My wife had the Veal Classico & I had the veal special which included sherry sauce, mushrooms, prosciutto & cheese with garlic mashed potatoes. Portions are substantial. Finally the owners Joe & Coleen circulate throughout the dining room making sure all is perfect. A great dining experience & a BYOB to top it off read more

Wow so happy we decided to come here. It's been so long and the food is just as good as it always has been. William our waiter was very friendly. The chicken franchase was so good. Just the right amount of lemon not to overpowering. Portion size was huge had the rest for lunch. The place was packed very busy and loud for a wed. read more

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This place is nice and is always quite busy year round. It is an above average Italian American restaurant, but this depends on what you order. The meals have never been consistent with me. I may be a bit touchy here but my perception is my reality. So on with the review: René and Bill handled most of our dinner needs. They mostly corrected each other when one was not present. Bill seemed to be the antagonist here. Go figure. So this schism seemed to mitigate itself when only Bill was present. I ordered a fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato salad as antipasto. I know it's not tomato season but the tomatoes were dry. The pic I took did them justice. The salmon and grouper specials were definitely pricey and ok, but salty on the tomato sauce. Most of the reviews will be in the four/five star range. This reviewer just couldn't echo those. read more

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I love this place they always Accommodate my needs and allergy I have Celiac and they always make me a great dish with no breading. The waiters are great and the owner is very attentive of the customers requests Ray is a great guy too! Will always recommend this restaurant! read more

The phone call to make the reservations was a pleasant one. Friendly greeting. We booked a 6:3pm Sunday evening dinner for 4. We were seated immediately. Nice table with linen table cloth and clean cutlery & glasses. It is BYOB. The bottles where promptly open & put on ice next to our table. The waiter named Vinny gave us the rundown on the Special meals. We ordered the Chilean Sea Bass on a bed of spinach and a garlic sauce topped with toasted leeks (my favorite meal). Next Chicken Parm. And lastly the Chicken Capris. Bread, butter & salad to start. The most delicious stuffed mushrooms which was cooked to perfection. read more

We went here based on the Yelp reviews, we were hoping to find a hidden gem, we did not. The service was good, staff were friendly, the restaurant was cozy. My appetizer, mozzarella en coroza was good, my girlfriend had the boccacini salad, canned olives, sundried tomatoes out of a jar, not the worst, but, not great. I had the rigatoni vodka, it was flavorful, but something tasted processed in the sauce, like buttered flavored liquid, my girlfriend had the flounder oregonata, bland and chopped frozen spinach with garlic slices in it? If you are not willing to wilt fresh spinach, do not serve it, especially at $28.50. The deserts are also the pre made type. Unfortunately, we will not be back. Not sure how anyone is giving this restaurant a 4 or 5 stars. read more

This is a small cozy restaurant in a strip mall. The outside is unassuming, but once inside, you see the charm of the place. The host was pleasant, the servers were available right away, and tables were all set, with white cloth tablecloths and napkins. You must make a reservation ahead of time (at least a week in advance). The place is a favorite with the seniors-need I say more? When the seniors come, it's got to be good! Menu was great, I had the Veal Parm, and no regrets. Pasta or salad for your side - get the salad, the pasta was too al dente for me. Everyone took home a doggie bag, and even though full, we made room for dessert. The cannoli was to die for. Great little place, not cheap - But it's a BYOB, so you save a little on that. Bronzino was a special that night - if it is when you go, try it! read more

So this restaurant has new owners and are not accepting the gift cards that were purchased previously. Sounds Like family members bought the restaurant. I personally think this is wrong. Didn't know this til we went to grab a takeout order. read more

Consistent selections, daily specials, professional wait staff, owners on site observing and assisting. An all-around pleasant evening.

I live in another state. Trying to order food for my mom who lives alone. I called and say they are taking orders to deliver and to call back when I am ready. Well I was ready when I 1st called. It gave no true direction if I had to call a different number. When I called back. No answer. read more

I had gone there for lunch and ordered the veal saltimbocca. Quite pricey and it was very distasteful. I was extremely disappointed since so many people have told me this was a good place to eat Considering I paid $30 for lunch it was nothing to rave about read more

The food was excellent, and the staff and service was exceptional!! Nice clean ambiance i will definitely be visiting again!

After a long week we were looking forward to meeting up with my Brother and Sister in law . The four of us arrived for a 730 reservation about a half hour early. They seated us right away. The waitress. came over went over the specials gave us time. to order explain. Explained all the specials and made recommendations from appetizers to desserts. Everything was fantastic and waitress gave us time to talk and it was a very relaxed atmosphere would highly recommend. read more

If you're in the Toms River area and are in the mood for some good Italian food, this is the place. Went for the first time with some good friends and had a great time. We were seated on time and at beautiful table for 4 on a raised portion of the dining room. The first thing I have to mention is the service. Our server, Tom, was top notch. Friendly and attentive, he definitely made our evening even more enjoyable. For appetizers we started with a Hot Antipasto and some Fried Calamari, both excellent. The calamari was lightly battered and tender. The hot antipasto was filled with stuffed mushrooms, baked clams, shrimp, mussels, artichokes, roasted red peppers and eggplant rollatini. For our main courses, I went with the Grouper & Shrimp special. The grouper was lightly battered, served over spinach and in a light cream sauce. This was delicious. My wife went with the Chilean Sea Bass special with fried leeks, also over spinach with a light sauce. My wife loved it. Finally for dessert we definitely ended on a high note. I ordered the White Chocolate and Raspberry Tartufo, which was not only one of the best desserts I've had in a while, it was too good to share. My wife and friends had an Affogato, a dessert not on the menu, but something we put together by pouring espresso over ice cream, always good. This seems to be a popular spot, especially on the Saturday we went. Made early 5 o'clock reservations and the place was already full. And, when we left there were people lined up out the door. Definitely can see why. read more

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