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    Il Leone

    4.3 (50 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Il Leone Photos

    IL LEONE ATMOSPHERE

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    Lindsey R.

    This was a solid 3. I'm shocked to see the other great reviews. Nothing stood out or wowed our party of 4. The whipped ricotta came with soft bread. The calamari is a mix of rings and peppers. That was a nice touch and it was all cooked well. The pizzas range from $20 and up. $28 for a pepperoni pizza seems a bit much. It was just OK. There are much better options elsewhere. For dinner I went with the chicken Milanese because everything else just didn't stand out. Salad on top was good but the cutlet was lacking flavor. They should focus on making a few dishes well instead of going over board and adding burrata or cream to dishes that don't need them. The service wasn't great. Our waiter barely came to us. We ordered our appetizers and didn't see him again to order dinner until our plates were cleared away. There was a large dinner party and a few other big groups so hopefully they were just very busy and we came on a bad night. Only positives- BYOB and they having parking right in front.

    Cheesecake
    Miguel R.

    This cozy Italian spot is a hidden gem with a warm and friendly staff. For appetizers we had fried calamari, flaky, crispy and soft inside. The chicken dishes are cooked to perfection with rich and savory flavors. Save room for dessert because the homemade tiramisu is light and creamy, and the cheesecake tastes amazingly fresh. It is a wonderful place for a great meal.

    Beautiful
    Kimberly C.

    This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza. It's a BYOB and there's a liquor store a few doors down to pick up your bottle of wine. Just had dinner here with my family and friends to celebrate my husband's birthday. We arrived for our 4:45 reservation. It definitely gets packed on a Saturday evening so make a reservation. (When we left around 7, all of the tables were full!) The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and different dishes. They don't have an overwhelming menu, just several dishes for appetizers, second, third, and pasta of course. We decided to share family style ordering the margarita pizza, pepperoni/hot honey pizza, spicy rigatoni, bolognese, chicken franchise, Brussel sprouts, and the arugula salad. My pick and favorites was the Spicy Rigatoni! Now I've had Mario Carbone's spicy rigatoni at Carbone Beach last Spring. And their version is just as good... maybe slightly better?!! Everything was delicious and crafted with care. Husband said it's even better than some NYC Italian restaurants. I'm still thinking of the Spicy Rigatoni as I write this review. For dessert, we had the cheesecake, panna cotta, and vanilla sorbet (for the kids). The panna cotta was milky, jiggly, smooth, and the perfect end to an amazing meal. I think this might be my new favorite restaurant and date night spot. The ambiance is classy, romantic, but not pretentious, with amazing food. I'll be sure to bring a bottle of vino or drink of choice and enjoy another amazing dinner with my hubby!

    Damage was done
    Ebeny Jazelle T.

    It was surprising to see how elegant and modern the interior is given the outside was relatively ordinary in a large plaza next to a thrift store and yoga studio. Flatware was changed between every meal, service was quick and top tier. Perfect for a date night or meeting with friends to celebrate a special occasion.

    Caesar Salad
    Marina S.

    This place is beautiful. Excellent service and very classy. It's also BYOB. The food can be a hit or miss. Some of it is delicious, others fall flat. I had the: Whipped Ricotta: loved the ricotta, didn't love the bread that came with it. Caesar salad: very good Gnocchi: delicious, very soft

    Patricia Z.

    This BYOB restaurant has been on my list for a while. Definitely recommend making reservations as the place is small and gets very busy for Saturday night. It's inside of a strip mall and there is a liquor store If you need to get a bottle of wine.. when we entered, the chic decor and the cozy chairs with the first things I noticed. I made a reservation for 8 PM. I'm not sure if there was a problem with the reservation because they asked me twice for my name. We were finally seated and I have to say Service was very slow. Nothing at all like the other reviews I've seen they opened our bottle of wine and then we didn't see him again for quite a bit before appetizers were placed to open we started with the meatballs, which did not blow me away and the Caprese salad, which was just OK.. The Pizza looked good, but we decided to go with two pasta specials, the spicy rigatoni which I thought was not spicy. It was very bland, and the capellini my husband like that. Overall, I would go back because it's BYOB and the prices were very reasonable.

    Cappuccino
    Jennifer S.

    BYOB, very cute small restaurant. In a shopping complex with a liquor store. It is very loud inside, the aesthetic is very romantic. We were celebrating a birthday for a friend. They brought complimentary shots and an appetizer out for us. All the food was very good. Will definitely be back. Our wait staff was amazing and wrapped up our food at the end of the night as well, very attentive.

    Fungh risotto
    Kristen H.

    Super cute spot, friendly staff and large portions of food! They were kind enough to take us for a 9:15pm reservation and were very attentive. However they were really on us to box everything asap. The risotto is good just needs more garlic, Brussel sprouts are good and the Branzino was fresh however it was just served with a lot of butter, undercooked potatoes as sautéed spinach. The spinach was delicious! The food is good and well priced however was not completely blown away. The staff from the hostess, our waiter, food runners etc were all very friendly and attentive. The inside is nicely designed with pretty chandeliers and there was lots of social chatter about the room. The specific table we sat at had lounge chairs which was cool but it was hard to eat because you had to lean super forward and the table was pretty tall. Next time I'd like to come earlier and sit somewhere different, think my experience would be different. Also I think I would stick to a pasta with shrimp and get a side of cauliflower for my meal.

    Meatballs, whipped Ricotta, and Caesar salad
    Selina M.

    This place is such a hidden gem! The food was amazing and it has such a cozy modern vibe. The wait staff were so nice and attentive. We got the meatballs, Caesar salad, whipped ricotta and spicy rigatoni and it was all delicious. Definitely want to go back to try other stuff on the menu.

    Whipped ricotta

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    Patrizia's Of Matawan - Best Money Bags in NJ

    Patrizia's Of Matawan

    3.8(46 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    We stopped in for a delicious Italian dinner, and we were absolutely not disappointed. The…read morerestaurant was beautifully decorated for the holiday season, creating such a warm and inviting atmosphere. They also have a pizzeria conveniently located right next door, which is a nice bonus. The service was outstanding--Alessandro was the best! He recommended his signature cocktail, the Orange Cosmopolitan, and all I can say is WOW. Perfectly made and dangerously good--they definitely sneak up on you! He checked in on us throughout the evening, always friendly and engaging, which truly elevated the experience. The food was just as impressive: Pollo Milanese - a perfectly cooked chicken cutlet topped with fresh mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, onions, shaved Parmesan, and a bright lemon vinaigrette. Pollo Carbonara - topped with prosciutto, spinach, peppers, and fontina cheese, served over penne pasta. Alaska Chicken (special) - stuffed chicken with shrimp, roasted tomatoes, spinach, and cheese in a rich cream sauce, served with saffron risotto. Absolutely delicious. For dessert, we shared a toasted almond cake and a caramel cheesecake cone--paired with cappuccinos, of course. The perfect ending to a great meal. It was a wonderful evening shared with wonderful people, made even better by Alessandro's exceptional service. Highly recommend this restaurant, and we will definitely be back to try more dishes!

    Noisy, slow service and a rather small main course. Too many large parties and unfortunately the…read moresmall tables of 2-4 get overlooked. The main course we had was delicious but we left hungry!

    Photos
    Patrizia's Of Matawan
    Patrizia's Of Matawan - Linguine with Clams

    Linguine with Clams

    Patrizia's Of Matawan - Dining room

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    Dining room

    Via Sposito - Nonna pizza. Could use more cheese, but still tastes great! One is plenty!

    Via Sposito

    4.3(181 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Via Sposito in Old Bridge, NJ is incredible. A family run restaurant with great people and the most…read moredelicious food. We have eaten there 3 times in 6 days. Absolutely amazing!!! Appetizers to die for - fried calamari, clams oreganato, everything is DELICIOUS. Pasta dishes that make you cry they are so delicious. Now let's talk about the pizza. True Neapolitan pizza. The crust is light and crispy and so special. The margarita pie is killer, the Emiliano - with prosciutto, Arugola, truffle oil and Parmigiano Reggiano is the best pie in Old Bridge. It is not even close. Via Sposito is a hidden gem and among the best restaurants in NJ. Get there as soon as possible. You will be blown away.

    On a recent vacay to visit family, we met up with some north Jersey cousins for dinner at Via…read moreSposito. I loved that they accommodated our group of 12 with just a few days' notice. They're an Italian restaurant with a good selection of dishes to meat various diets: salads, pastas, meat dishes, etc. The food was also pretty good, and service was fine. Better Italian food can be found in NJ, not too far away, but the location, quality and price point served our purposes. The servings are generous. I had the "Sunday Supper" (pasta served with red sauce, braciole, sausages, meatballs, and ribs), which I shared with my husband, and even so we had plenty to take home for another meal! I found the decor unusual in that there was a noticeable religious motif. In fact, a life size statue of the a Virgin Mary stood in the corner behind our table observing our little reunion. Odd for a restaurant, but it made for some fun comparing of notes afterwards.

    Photos
    Via Sposito
    Via Sposito - Tiramisu. Heavenly light.

    Tiramisu. Heavenly light.

    Via Sposito - Tiramisu

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    Tiramisu

    Il Nido

    Il Nido

    4.4(268 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$$$

    I've had Il Nido on my radar for a bit and finally went on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is…read moredimly lit and tastefully done. It's divided into 2 dining areas. Service was good overall and we were not rushed. Appetizers Caesar salad Octopus Entrees Branzino served with gritty polenta ( they accommodated our request for the polenta) Veal Osso Buco Dessert Budino Zeppoles Good experience overall. We were surprised that it wasn't more busy for a weekend night. Hopefully they will remain for many more years to come.

    This hidden gem in a shopping center blew all of my expectations and was definitely on top of my…read morelist for my go to's now for Italian cuisine. We came to this spot after learning it from Joe Rogans podcast. Thank goodness I listened and actually took this into consideration this time. The ambiance and decor is definitely something you wouldn't expect. You walk in and it feels like a restaurant in the Italian countryside. Rustic and classy at the time. Great spot for formal occasions and dates. Thanks to our amazing waitress (Carmen) recommendations and service for our meal were top tier. For our appetizers it was recommended that we split the Wagyu Meatballs, Caesar salad and prosciutto with burrata. For the second round, we split 2 pasta dishes. Red wine parpadelle with short braised short rib and spicy rigatoni. Both dishes were amazing, however I can whole heartedly say that the spicy rigatoni was the favorite. Only bad thing I can say is that I wish there was more. Even though we had more than enough food, we foolishly ordered. A third round for entree which comprised of Ribeye with complimentary roasted bone marrow, filet mignon, seared tuna steak and Pork chops. All the entrees were exceptional and cooked to perfection. Owner (Anthony) and manager Norman were gracious enough to check in on us, making sure everything was to our liking. The staff here were very hospitable and really made our first time experience a memorable one. Will definitely be coming back with the rest of my friends and family.

    Photos
    Il Nido - Steak 4 two

    Steak 4 two

    Il Nido - Small antipasto

    Small antipasto

    Il Nido - Pistachio desert

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    Pistachio desert

    Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse - Tuna Tartare

    Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse

    4.0(524 reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$$

    I had a great dinner experience at Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse. I would recommend making a…read morereservation because it gets packed quickly, especially on a Saturday. Such a lively atmosphere with excellent service. The restaurant is spacious with beautiful decor and seating. There's valet parking, however, the restaurant is located next to other stores with a large parking lot. For dinner, I ordered the branzino with roasted vegetables. This was cooked to perfection. I really loved the branzino's flakiness. The roasted potatoes were delicious. My friend ordered the wasabi tuna. She said it was so crispy and cooked to her liking. We shared the broccolini side. This had a powerful spicy kick! There's a lot of cocktails to choose from. I went with the "Class Act" which was a spritz with St. Germain. For dessert, my friend and I ordered a pistachio martini, tiramisu martini, and Dubai chocolate bar. We saw that they have a special Birkin bag cake dessert. Looked super cute! Overall, a fun dining experience.

    I took an edible and went to this place and was at first was absolutely terrified due to it being…read morevery dark and hard to see. The waitress was an absolute sweetheart but because I was flying high she was making me paranoid, like I was thinking girl do you know me from some where? But then I ate the garlic bread, and maybe this is the edible speaking, but it was the best garlic bread I ever had. My husband and I both ordered steak frites, and I thought briefly that my husband and I had formed a psychic connection and were ascending together. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. Overall I think I had a spiritual experience here. Anyway 10/10 will go back sober.

    Photos
    Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse - Patio bar

    Patio bar

    Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse - Garlic bread and Caesar salad

    Garlic bread and Caesar salad

    Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse - Bar

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    Bar

    Il Leone - italian - Updated August 2026

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