Very good food. Laid back atmosphere. The stale bread reviewer doesn't know good Italian bread. It is supposed to be a little crunchy. Some do like that actually as opposed to soft doughy bread. Tuscan shrimp app was great. Entrees were too. Broccoli rabe and sausage for me and seafood risotto for my woman. Best part of all was the pistachio tartufo. Enjoy! read more

They must have gotten a new chef. Ordered clams in white clam sauce. Not as many clams as previous, not as much garlic lacked flavor. Not as much linguini as previous. This was early bird. read more

When we approached this restaurant from the Main Street at the front door, we were somewhat skeptical. But we are so happy we went inside and experienced this amazing restaurant. Italian at it's finest and freshest. The appetizers were amazing....the non name salad is a meal on its own. The bread is very good, crusty and light and delicious coupled with the olive oil on the table. Both the bolognese and linguine with meatballs were tasty and memorable. I am a snob when it comes to meatballs because I'm Italian and have been making my own gravy since I'm a kid, but I have to say the meatballs are very, very good. The house chianti was very good. Service was exemplary. I cannot say enough about every aspect of this restaurant. I hope to eat here again next year when I am back in Long Branch for the NJ Marathon. read more

Terrible meal here tonight. We live a couple blocks away and used to come here once a week when the place was under the old ownership. Ever since then it's gone down hill. Came in tonight for a simple Caesar salad and spaghetti and meatballs. Meatballs were dry and flavorless like they had been left out since Sunday night and the sauce was burnt. Even the salad was disappointing. For the money you are better off at Tuzzio's, or even Attilio's or Scarpetta. And stay away from the antipasto. The pantry cook slices the meat with his bare hands while handling any other number of other food products and dirty dishes. read more

Let me preface this by saying the reason for 2 stars was for the food...not the service. if the food was not excellent, there would have been no stars. We arrived for happy hour at 5:30. The bartender was rude and unattentive. We sat for dinner at 6:45 and it took 45 minutes for our order to be taken. Then waited another hour for our appetizer to be served. Waited again for our dinner, then waited 20 minutes for our empty dirty plates to be cleared. It is now 9PM and just now ordered dessert. Awful experience. Thank goodness for our awesome table of friends. This was very disappointing! I do not recommend. read more

We ordered for appetizers eggplant rollatini and calamari. Both dishes arrived cold or lukewarm at best. The eggplant rollatini was delicious however, the calamari smelled fishy. It was tender but you knew it was not freshly made especially that it arrived at the table not hot. For the main course I ordered the osso bucco pork it came with risotto and sauteed spinach Again, it arrivred not hot. the demi glaze on the pork osso bucco was a generic gravy I would rate it good not excellent. The spinach was swimming in oil. The owner did bring me a side of spinach and risotto which was steaming hot and he apologized. My husband ordered a chicken dish and it arrived hot. My grandson ordered a bowl of angel hair with butter and it arrived not hot. Also, they charged $8 for the angel hair a little steep I thought. The other dishes were priced very fair. Now for our waitress she was very unfriendly and never came to table to see how we were doing. The place is dark and it has carpet which I feel does not belong in any restaurant. Needless to say we will not be returning. One more thing the bread for an Italian restaurant was just not good. Cannot put my finger on it but it may have been stale. Not quite sure. read more

When Piancone's (Bradley Beach) was sold, we were disappointed that our favorite restaurant was no more. Then we find out they have a new restaurant in Long Branch. Same great food, cool smaller setting. Brick Walls with cool art hanging on them set a cool modern setting for what is one of the best Italian Meals around. It is a must try for anyone who enjoys real authentic Italian food. read more

Came here while visiting the area. The happy hour is one of the best I have ever been to. The drinks are great ( watermelon margarita). The happy hour food options are plentiful which could be difficult for someone as indecisive as myself. I tried the calamari, mussels, margarita pizza, arugula salad and the lamb chops. The only thing that wasn't great was the pizza, the crust was very doughy so I ended up taking the mozzarella and tomato off and eating it as a salad which was tasty. Everything is so affordable not one dish was over 10 bucks on the happy hour menu. This place is so good I'm returning on my final night in town. The server Justin was great and he took great care of us. read more

I love this spot. My boyfriend and I come once every few weeks... in the winter it's the coziest happy hour with great food & bartenders, and in summer a great escape from the heat. We are locals and popped in Sunday and idk what it was but the foood was sooo on point. From the arugula salad to the gnocchi special, delicious. Bartenders always friendly and attentive. This is my go to spot. Almost hate to recommend bc I don't want to blow up my local favorite! read more

Had a great dinner with my family. We made a late reservation for 7 and upon arrival we were seated promptly. The service was excellent and the food was also great! The only reason for a 4 out of 5 stars is I believe the price point listed on yelp is incorrect... I believe the max $ is appropriate for this restaurant. read more

This place reminds me of a north jersey Italian restaurant. The food is excellent and the bread....oh the bread. I think they have a bread supplier from Italian heaven. You can make a meal out of the bread ots that good. We were there for Christmas Eve dinner and several times prior. Great atmosphere, good servers, very pleasant management. If you are craving southern Italian...you have to hit this place read more

I will keep this short and simple. The atmosphere inside is excellent and the only thing better is the food. Absolutely delicious! I would recommend Johnny Piancone's to anyone looking to have a really nice dinner with someone for a special occasion. read more

This was my first visit here, it definitely won't be the last! the service was impeccable. started off with this Spiedini, possibly the best I've ever had! then I had the Zuppa Del Mar, fresh seafood and plenty of it! Cooked to perfection. if you're hungry you won't be disappointed. they also had a nice selection of wines. I will be back! read more

Great food and friendly, not overbearing service; comfortable atmosphere which makes it a great place for casual dinner or for a small special occasion gathering. Went for dinner two times - both times were great read more

Great Bread Great Food and Great Service...Round table... the only negative thing was that it was somewhat noisy for us to talk as some of us are getting up there and hearing is not as good as it once was. read more

This place is a hidden gem! We were recommended by friends and were so pleased that we will definitely come back again and again! The portions were excellent and taste was like homemade! The Happy Hour is fantastic and reasonably priced! You won't be disappointed! read more

I was really happy with everything and this restaurant is highly recommended for a nice Italian option at your next stay in Long Branch. The service was excellent and the waitress was very sociable, friendly, and made great recommendations. The portions are huge and I liked that I had so much food on the plate that even I couldn't finish it all. I ordered the shrimp and calamari fra diavolo that had a little spice to it. The salads are big and meant to be shared. The dessert menu had several options and it was difficult to choose only one thing off of it. I will definitely be back on my next visit in town. read more

Food was great. We went for the "early - bird" special, which cut the price in half basically. Small restaurant so service eas good. Only reason they didn't get 5 stars is it was VERY loud in there. read more

Trusted these prior yelp reviews at a very last minute basis because all of the other fall back places were packed. Lets all be honest the italian restaurants in this area are all pretty crap but this one takes the cake. First of all portions are ginormous , they are actually sickening. No one needs that much food , not even the football team from Monmouth U down the block. Second the wait staff was slow and un professional. The decor was bleh typical tacky "italian" Monmouth county restaurant . The reason for my one star though is the fact that the food was so outrageous I needed to comment. My dad ordered sunday sauce and his meatballs were the size of softballs , I mean there were two and they took up the entire bowl. There was no pasta at the bottom either like about five pieces of rigatoni . This did some serious damage on his digestive system later that night. Next onto my moms food she had gluten free pasta with shrimp and spinach, sauce was over cooked shrimp were decent and the pasta was not much to be desired. Lets just say she walked in the door when we arrived home got sick once , then got sick again about five minutes later. Believe me if you enjoy good italian food go to a the city. but if your so dazzled by monmouth county and must entertain yourself for the night and need a decent place : basil tees in the middle price and if you want awesome food spend the darn money and go to undici you will not be disappointed only your wallet will be . read more

I'm writing this review after my first time here.. my only regret is not knowing this place any sooner! This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to! I must have told our servers that the food was absolutely delicious a dozen times.. it's sooo good! A bit pricey but so worth it! Already made plans to go with friends soon, I know they'll fall in love with this place too. read more

Ugh...the service was horrible as was the food. I got some pasta dish and it was just terrible. Rubbery and warm at best. Between what they charge and what you get...I'll never be there again. read more

Great seafood dish in La Rosa sauce. (Cream and Tomato sauce) Huge pieces of scallops and shrimp. Waitress very inexperienced in what the menu and the restaurant offered. Couldn't guide us through. Too bad. read more

Went to happy hour and had a terrible experience. Service was great but the food was horrible. The Margherita pizza was basically a pita with sliced tomatoes and slabs of mozzarella on top. Completely tasteless and bland. The eggplant rollatini tasted like it had freezer burn. Clearly they serve a different menu at happy hour compared to the regular menu. Very disappointed to say the least! read more

The eggplant rollatini is to die for. Big enough for a meal. The sauce is delicious. Great atmosphere and attentive servers. One of my favorites down the shore. read more

I am so happy my boyfriend and I came here while we stayed in Long Branch. The food was delicious and the place is really cute. We shared the tortelloni Mac n cheese and OMG! It was amazing. We'll definitely be back! read more

You could miss this place if you look too fast. There is ample parking in the back lot. We got there early enough for Earlybird special and took advantage of it (my grandmother would be proud). I had Francaise and my friend had a Broccoli Rabe Pasta dish. For $17.95 we had soup, salad, entrée, homemade delicious dessert. My only complaint is the soup was way too salty. A few good glasses of wine made visiting this establishment a very nice evening. read more

I've only come here for the happy hour food and drink specials. The food is always so fresh tasting and the wine specials are great. Their sandwiches and salads are delicious. The bartenders/waiters have always been patient and helpful. I love this place! I just wish there was more room in the bar area downstairs (where you can get the specials) so that more people could fit. I would definitely recommend Johnny Piancone's. read more

This is a hidden gem. We stumbled across this place a couple of months ago and we love it. Great appetizers, great service and great prices. People of Monmouth County, support your local businesses and give Johnny's a try, as its a special place. Unbelievable portions and very down to earth people. Not to mention, how could it possibly be bad, we have the same first name! read more

Superb! Enjoyed dinner here this past Saturday night with my daughter and a couple friends. Service was excellent. Food was top quality. Wasn't rushed at all. Perfect timing between courses. Ordered off the price fix menu that they had offered for that night. Started with the Zuppa di Clams in a white sauce...excellent. Main dish was a pork chop milanese...it was huge. Could've used a bigger plate to serve that sucker!!! Greens with the dish were fresh and tasty. Finished with a slice of Italian cheesecake...WOW!!! I will definitely look to return to this place soon. read more

We went to dinner on a recent Monday night, no one greeted us at the door, so we sat at the bar.We ordered angel hair with pomadoro sauce and a side of meatballs. While they were large, they were heavy, and not fresh, the pasta was overcooked. My husband ordered The pasta dish that came, broccolli rabe ,sausage and beans, but he wanted only brocolli rabe the dish was offered for $22 but was charged $26 because we didn't have the sausage and beans? Makes no sense! A side order of red sauce was $6 ok. With one beer and a soda the bill was $66. and with tip $80 for two dishes of pasta with meatballs. Won't be going back. read more

I love this place. My family and I come here for Christmas Eve every year and we love it. The food is great and elegant and it is a treat for us to come here. We love the set price and getting the separate courses. Service is great. Waiters are super nice and the orders are always correct even if it's super specific. Very good food. The only problem is there are some seats that are kind of cramped. That is the only thing keeping this restaurant from being perfect. Would highly recommend for a nice evening out. read more

Old world Italian eatery. Ordered the Chef's antipasto. Large selection of Italian meats, (Prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, salami) Excellent fresh mozzarella, great provolone, olives, roasted red peppers and a great assortment of different vegetables. Could have made that my meal with the bread and a bottle of wine. Plenty for 4 to share. Wife had Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and sausage. Would have preferred sliced or whole sausage as opposed to crumbled sausage meat. Had plenty of flavor. I opted for the chicken Milanese. 2 large breaded cutlets with arugula, tomatoes and excellent shaved parmigiana. Topped it off with pistachio tartufo. Double check that espresso is regular or decaf. Stayed up most of the night with decaf. read more

We are sooooooooooo happy Rick is back in the restaurant business! Food is excellent - as always - and happy hours can't be beat! We feel like we're back home again every time we walk through the doors. Staff are all welcoming, and whether or not they have met you before, make you feel like you are a long time customer. Setting is beautiful, tastefully decorated, and the kitchen is impeccably clean! We just can't say enough about it ... you won't be disappointed. Can't wait to have a reason to book the upstairs room ... read more

This is a tough review to give. We have been here twice and have had totally opposite experiences. Our first time here we sat upstairs, which was a very cool atmosphere. Everything we ordered was superb, including the sicilian chicken wings, which were absolutely incredible! Our meal was great and so were the drinks and beers on tap. Our waiter was extremely young, but was very friendly and was there to help at all times. Unfortunately, our second trip back was the exact opposite. The service was very poor, there was a ton of confusion as to what they actually had on tap or even bottled, and the food was subpar at best. I tried ordering a Palm beer and a Blue Moon only to be denied twice because they made a mistake ordering that week. Really?! The Sunday sauce (which I was very much looking forward to) was tasteless and honestly had me wondering if the meat was bad. I'd never tasted Sunday Sauce that had so little flavor before...especially at a place that I had such a good meal at in the past. Maybe it was an off night at the restaurant our second trip back, but either way it was very disappointing. Not sure that we'll ever go back, but if we do I will update! read more

We just moved to Long Branch a few months ago and took my parents, who were visiting us from PA, here for dinner last night. It was SO GOOD! The decor was so nicely done, the service was perfect and the food was AMAZING! The portions are really large and everything was extremely fresh. We had the Sautéed Shrimp and Scallops Pomodoro, Lobster Ravioli topped with shrimp and scallops, Chicken Parm, and Pork Murphy. Everyone at our table raved about their food. If you can, save room for dessert, the red velvet cake and cannoli are to die for! My husband and I will definitely become regulars. : ) read more

Always have a great time there, whether drinks and apps at the bar, or sitting down for a complete meal. The staff is friendly and competent and try to make your meal enjoyable. The guys in kitchen never stop trying to present quality offerings. Tonight I had the best Chocolate chip mint ice cream I have ever had. Don't tell John. read more

Went for Happy Hour and they have an extensive menu for food. Everything was good. The drinks are light. Not thrilled with the bartender or the manager. Not very personable and I feel that it is important. They almost had an attitude. Not sure if we will be back. read more

It is simply the BEST really authentic Italian restaurant ,loved there food going back soon

Been there a few times however last visit was absolutely great. The sauce for the calamari was over the top with a lot of spice. My son had a steak that he couldn't stop raving about. Lobster fri Diablo that again was terrific. Deserts were just " ok" which is fine by me. Service excellent and the most impressive thing to me is when you look in the kitchen you could tell one guy was clearly a chef not just a cook. The only negative thing I can say is the tables are tight and the wait staff must have bumped into my chair about 10 times which is annoying but I understand they have to maximize space. Place is great definitely will visit many times this summer. read more

Called vJohnny Piancone's to see if we needed reservations for this evening. I had been referred to by the sister of the owner, found ourselves in the neighborhood and thought we would it a try. The "receptionist" put me in touch with John the co owner, a curt, nasty unprofessional, dismissive individual. He curtly explained that it was restaurant week and they couldn't accommodate two additional guests. After hanging up, I realized how much my interaction, or lack thereof,bothered me. So, I called back and spoke with John explaining my displeasures at first he was giving me the bums rush but I held my ground. He explained that he did not intend to offend but continued to make excuses for his behavior and neglected to acknowledge the customer is always right. Sadly, we most likely will never patronize this establishment,a loss for the owners and others turned off by John. John, if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. When restaurant week is over perhaps you will be kinder to those who can enhance your businesses in quieter days. BTW my restaurant club is crossing this restaurant off their lists of where to dine. read more