This is our third visit to this restaurant and each time we had excellent food and service. We made reservations for the eary dining. The ceaser salad was crisp and seasoned just right. Crab soup was creamy with enough crab to signature it as authentic. The beef short ribs with gnocci were fork tender and enough for two meals. Dessert was a choice of chocolate cake or homemade bread pudding. i chose the bread pudding and was pleasantly rewarded with a unique apple and delicate syrup laced pudding that blended perfectly. We had a nice selection of coffee or tea to end a perfect meal. I always pay attention to the type and quality of bread served with the meal, and this bread was hot and crusty served with a flavorabe herb butter, an accompanying delight. Its this attention to details that puts this restaurant into a higher category. The waitstaff service was attentive but not intrusive. The one negative was our table next to the window with the setting sun reflecting through the blinds. Next time we will request a table by the inside wall. BYOB read more

Kate & Ally's - A great dinner at Kate & Ally's - New American Near Me - Forked River, New Jersey

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Brides, please read this long review. You'll want to hear this. To start, I have never in my life left a bad review, but unfortunately, I have to. My experience was truly devastating and they nearly ruined my wedding. Thank goodness we found another caterer. My advice to you- do not use Kate and Ally's if you want to be treated fairly. The super short version: They approved our venue, then months and months later, just two months before our wedding told us that they could not perform the service (due to an oversight on their part) at the venue we selected and they approved, unless they "prefab" a kitchen which would cost many extra thousands of dollars, and the price of tents they were renting for us went up astronomically. They also raised the prices of food from the time we booked and signed a contract. And even though we had a signed contract and were paid in full, they sent us a bill for the money we "owed" them (the difference per person between the old cost that we signed a contract for, and the new cost). In short, we were paid in full, then two months before the wedding, they told us it would be an extra $11,500 to cater our wedding and $1,500 travel fee to drive from Lacey to Medford, NJ (an hour-ish drive). They were not going to give us our money back either when we told them we couldn't afford another 11K. (In other words, they couldn't cater our wedding due to an oversight on their behalf, and weren't going to refund us.) We fought, and they did give us a refund, but we were left with no caterer two months before our wedding. Here's the full story: We booked Kate and Ally's for our wedding back before Covid existed and before Covid, they were great to work with. Kathy, who I believe is no longer there, was our direct contact who helped plan all the details. She was wonderful and I wish we continued to work with her. Important note: their food is truly very good and their prices are very fair BUT their service and the way they treated us speaks volumes. Don't let yourself be treated this horribly and please find another caterer (we ended up using Just Between Friends Catering and loved them). We booked them, and because of Covid, our date changed three times. Our venue also changed due to indoor gathering restrictions. We selected a new venue and let them know. All was good. (At this time I believe Kathy left her position there.) Months and months later, with 2 months to go until the wedding, another woman called to blame Kathy for an oversight (telling us that venue was okay. In fact, they could not cater our wedding at the venue because there was not an adequate kitchen, but not to worry because they could "build" one and they'd share the cost of that- there was never any sharing of costs though). At this time they also revealed the tent rental price (tent rentals were through them), and it was much higher than anticipated. The "prefab kitchen they had to build on sight" plus the tents was $11,500 extra dollars, sprung on us last minute. They also then let us know that their food prices went up and they'd be charging us the new price, even though we had a contract for the old price and were already paid in full. We also added on a few people as our wedding plans changed and we could fit more people at our new venue. They were going to charge us the new price per person for the new people as well (this was unfortunate but more understandable than them tacking on extra money to the guest we already paid in full for). I spoke a few times on the phone with Maralyn, the owner, and my mother did as well. She was not accommodating at all and I remember being in tears multiple times because of their unwillingness to work with us in these Covid times. They did not handle anything with compassion, and really did their customers wrong. Yes, Covid was unfortunate for their business I'm sure, but they were not even willing to work a little bit with us. Again, their food is good, but the way we were treated was really so unfortunate. I hate to be this harsh, but they nearly ruined my entire wedding by stating they couldn't perform the service and they wouldn't be giving us a refund (again, we were paid in full and they were going to keep that money and not cater for us. I've never heard of such a thing like this!) We only got a refund because my mother fought hard for it. Covid was a very unfortunate time for businesses and brides, and they had a devastating impact on our wedding. Please do yourself the favor of finding a different caterer. Kate and Ally's treated us horribly during Covid because they were driven solely by money, not by customer satisfaction, and I believe that says a lot about what they think of their customers. read more

It never starts out well when you get the table right by the kitchen. They gave us some very tasty bruschetta and water on the table to pour ( it was a little warm probably because no one wanted the worst seat in the house). The atmosphere was nice but there were lots of people walking around , I wasn't really sure who was our waiter or waitress. This seemed a little chaotic. I like dealing with one waiter and maybe one food runner, anything more is just too much especially when it is a small place. The bread was delightful , warm with a butter and herb spread. The appetizer was underwhelming, we got the "award winning" crab tacos. They give you three but you can get 4 for an up charge. Don't get them is my advice, 13 dollars for a little crab , French dressing and cherry tomato slices on a fried won ton. Get the dressing on the side with the salad, it was overdressed but it was a nice looking salad and the dressing was good. The main course was where it was at here. Lobster lasagna was very tasty. Crepes filled with lobster in a cream sauce, excellent. Papardelle homemade pasta with shrimp and crab , spinach too. This was very tasty but the waiter said it was a white wine and garlic sauce and it came out very creamy. Shrimp was a nice size and tasted very fresh. The crab was a little hard to find. The fresh pasta was delicious. We will go back and try a steak or pork dish, they looked fantastic. We didn't get them tonight because the vegetable was Brussels sprouts, not a veggie I would get out. read more

My parents hosted our engagement party at Kate and ally's. Everyone was so easy to coordinate and work with right from the beginning stages of planning. Our servers were great day of. The food was absolutely amazing, our guests had a great time. We are so happy! read more

I was invited to a bridal shower at Kate & Ally's. The venue is very nice. The food was ok. I know businesses rely on feed back to make their businesses successful. Being a business owner myself, I am very aware of how you should treat people that are hiring you for an event. I have encountered either the chef or business owner twice now. The first time was a couple years ago and she was rude. I figured she was having a bad day. Today I encounter either the chef or owner and again and it was a very unpleasant encounter. When someone comes into your place of business they should be made to feel welcome. It is a hospitality business! It is one thing to be able to cook and present a pretty table. But when you are made to feel like your bothering someone (when your paying them to use their business) or you are spoken to like a child. Is a completely different story. I was torn on writing this review but after leaving the event and having the feeling I had when I left. I just needed to say this. If your having a bad day, leave it at the door. Being gracious and smiling at the people attending the event in your venue shouldn't even have to be addressed. I hope this small piece of advise is taken to heart. I sincerely wish you the best in your business. Robbin R. read more

Kate &Ally's catered my husbands 70th birthday party. The food was outstandingly awesome! Every guest complimented each dish & all came back for seconds even some for third helpings. Thank you Kate & Ally for helping to make the party a great success. No doubt I'll be using you again & my recommendation for your services is high on my list. read more

Went for a fantastic dinner last night. A very nice little place in Ocean County NJ, that came very highly recommended. Small quaint dining area. Great staff, very helpful and pleasant. Extremely clean as well. The place is BYOB so we had some beer and a bottle of wine. Not bad as there is a liquor store very close by. We started with the Beer Battered Lobster Tail with an awesome jalapeno sauce. It was meaty and delicious, the sauce had a nice kick to it. Absolutely wonderful. For dinner I had a phenomenal 8oz filet. I got a medium rare steak with peppers, spinach and a demi glace. The plate came with zucchini and mashed potatoes which were very tasty with the sauce mixed in. Honestly I would have loved another if I had room, but I left stuffed and satisfied. Great little gem in this area. Cannot wait to take my parents next time. read more

Good lord! Hire these people! So, a big win is when your caterer brings fresh, hot, delicious food (so delicious, that everyone who came to our little shindig was begging to take some home - and Kate & Ally brought boxes to facilitate this!). It's a whole other win when it's the best Penne a la Vodka you've ever had (and you've had a lot). On top of this, Nicole was our server/caterer/everything and she was like a ninja - if you finished your food, she was there to take your plate or offer to get you more. If your drink was done, she was already standing in front of you to take your cup or refill it. And yet, she also managed to be behind the table to serve from the hot food as well. ON TOP OF THAT, she was adorable, funny and personable - she actually became a great part of our shindig, and we were very happy to have her. I can't imagine there are better caterers in the area. read more

One of my favorite restaurants anywhere. The she crab soup and the gnocchi appetizer are both amazing... I have eaten there over 20 times and look forward to my next meal there. The service is great and the wait staff is a joy. If you can't find something you like here, you should probably stick to Applebee's... read more

I can't thank Kate & Ally's catering for a last minute celebration of life the servers were exceptional and the food was fantastic! They went over and above for our family. I highly recommend this restaurant and catering to anybody. Bless you all! read more

Food was very good(4 stars). Service was excellent with the exception of the annoying practice of waitress asking if we wanted ground pepper on each dish. I always thought the chef should season the food. But the biggest problem was the ambiance (1 star). It was so loud in the dining area it was impossible to have a dinnertime conversation. Adding some sound absorbing materials to walls and ceiling would be a tremendous improvement. read more

The most amazing food in New Jersey! A hidden gem and never a disappointment! The soup is an ABSOLUTE must. It doesn't matter what the soup of the day is, it's going to rock your world! The steak with the crab on top is to die for! Hunters chicken is also another fave! Can't say enough good things about this place. I love the people and love the food! Oh and it's a BYOB! Win win read more

Kate and Ally's recently catered an event for our family at our house on LBI, The food, from the appetizers,(great scallops and slidders) to dinner and desert, was top notch. Professional and friendly staff who were willing to accommodate a tough to please crowd. I would highly recommend K&A and look forward to using your business in the future! Thanks again! Daniel Wrede read more

I had Kate & Ally's cater my daughter's Communion party. I also hired one of their servers. The food arrived on time and the server set up everything beautifully! Everyone raved about the food as well as our server! I will definitely be using Kate & Ally's for my future parties!!! read more

Had a very disappointing experience! Make sure if you book with them you review everything before the day of ! Booked with them at $21.95 a person to find out when we gave the tip they said we owed more and we didn't understand why ? They said there prices went up it was $28.95 a person. That's not what our paper said! Plus kids under 5 they charge same price as an adult! They ask for the full amount before the party so if people don't show up , YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY BACK! Servers were not nice very straight faced the whole time , did not introduce themselves to me as the bride of my party so couldn't even tell you there names. The servers didn't ask once if I needed anything . My party was a buffet and 25 people with two servers no reason to not make us feel welcomed they deff were not busy! I am a waitress and do parties more then 40 people i go out of my way to make sure the hostess are happy! As well Ten days prior never went over prices over the phone they called for final head count and what we wanted for food. Contract was made when we first booked in the contract the price was not written per person price and the contract was originally written for 40 people... all I'm saying is if you book with them make sure everyone shows up and the prices are correct and didn't go up so your not surprised! If I could add a picture of the paper that was given to us with the price $21.95 I would! read more

Kate & Ally's - New American Near Me - Forked River, New Jersey

Kate & Ally's catering business practices are not customer friendly and they were not easy to work with. I called about hiring them for catering a memorial service repast and after planning the entire menu I was told they would not deliver the $1000+ worth of food I was considering. In addition, I was informed they would charge an additional 4% for credit card payments. I told them I was going to search for someone who would deliver, but asked them to please hold the date as a backup. They said no problem, but neglected to tell me that I would be charged a $100 fee if I cancelled. When I called back to cancel, and explained why, the woman (one of the owners, I believe) was nasty and rude and told me I would be charged a $100 cancellation fee. I told her I didn't know about this fee, but was too stressed out to make a fuss about it. When I mentioned my displeasure about the 4% up charge for credit card payments, she told me "everyone does it" and essentially told me that's just the way it is. After I hung up, I immediately received a call from the other owner trying to make things right (which I appreciated). She did not charge me the cancellations fee and explained the original person I booked with was a new employee. This is the only reason they received 2 stars instead of one. Hopefully their restaurant service is better than what I experienced with their catering. read more

I went to a party that had food catered from here and it was really good! I would definitely consider them for parties.

Used them for a small catering job around a year ago. Food was ok. Penne vodka was horrible. It was just regular sauce. Owner/cook was very rude when we went to pick up our order. Decided to give them another try. Called twice over a week ago for an order. No return call. Bad business etiquette especially when the food is mediocre. read more

Had dinner here last night and it was excellent. She crab soup and gnocchi appetizers were delish! I had the stuffed shrimp and my husband had the short rib special both were wonderful. Will definitely be back. read more

Friday night dinner, 1st time experience. Good food and service only negative was the noise level, acoustics could be improved. Despite that solid 4 stars. read more

Received a gift card to Kate & Ally's had dinner on a Friday nite; I would highly recommend this restaurant, the food is absolutely delicious. The clams with chorizo was packed with flavor and the salmon was cooked to perfection. My partner had the grilled shrimp which was good but skimpy he was disappointed only 4 shrimp was served with carrots and potatoes. We will definitely go back but we will ask the staff to be more specific regarding the portions, hopefully they will be able to help us! read more

I have been to Kate and Ally's for dinner numerous times since the time that they opened the bistro. The food and service has always been top notch and I have never had any problems with the owner. I can only speak about my own experiences there and with them, but I urge you to give them a try. Some of my favorites on the menu have become the penne with vodka (the best I have ever had) and the rack of lamb. Their fresh specials are also delicious. The fried calamari are always light and tender and their gnochi will make an Italian Nona green with envy. I have used their catering service as well and it was outstanding. As I mentioned before, I can only comment on my experiences, which have always been positive. To top off your experience, make sure to bring your own bottle of wine or other adult beverage, as they do not have a liquor license. This is not uncommon to the area and actually affords me the opportunity to buy a nicer bottle of wine to accompany the meal. Lastly, before I forget... please make reservations! This is a little place and can get full pretty quickly. Enjoy your evening out! read more

Excellent food! Everything is made fresh and the garlic butter bread is to die for! We have dined here several times and the food has always been amazing. The ambiance is cozy. You get very classy service, too. My tiny little complaint it that their website said that they were open Thursdays, so we got a babysitter and planned a nice dinner out....when I called to make the reservation though we were told that Thursdays aren't until mid April. Bummer. Next time...put a date on the website! read more

We both had the steamed clams with chorizo and penne vodka with scallops and shrimp. Very yummy. Great service, romantic atmosphere!

What a delicious meal my husband and I had here on Saturday night. The food, staff and atmosphere were perfect. My gnocchi was light and perfectly done. We can't wait to go back!!! read more

This is the best restaurant in Lacey, maybe even Ocean County! True fine dining! Food is always delicious and staff are so sweet. Their catering service is amazing, as well! I would definitely recommend hiring them if you're throwing a shower or going out to a very nice dinner! read more

This is our favorite restaurant in Lacey or for that matter almost any where in Ocean County.. A romantic ambiance, friendly service along with a great menu ranging from the teens to the low 40's...Always, a bruschetta starter, hot parmesan ciabetta bread basket, fresh crispy salad and a finely cooked entree are to be expected. Starters, soup of the night and the dessert tray will do you in. And BYOB makes it so affordable. Celebrate eating here. Jean B] Forked River, NJ read more

Kate & Allys recently catered our wedding on 6/8/19. We actually chose Kate & Allys because they catered a wedding we were guests at, and the food was exceptional. They did not disappoint at our wedding - the food and service was beyond amazing. Kate & Allys goes beyond being a caterer- they were our go between with our venue and our rentals and even allowed us to borrow any decorations they had. They were always attentive to our needs and emails, and really took that extra step to make sure our wedding was everything we wanted it to be. Our guests raved about the food (and the cake), and we continued to eat our leftover wedding food well into the next week because the food was so fresh and tasty. We will definitely use Kate & Allys for any catering needs and cannot wait to go back to the restaurant for dinner! read more

The food was very good. The prices though, we're extremely high. Service is excellent. But be prepared to spend $75 to 100, for dinner and 1 appetizer. read more

Great food and small restaurant feel. We had an appetizer and 3 dinners and all were great. The filet with crab was awesome. I'd like to see a greater use of seasonal local produce: tomatoes, corn, beans, etc. read more

Service was incredibly poor. We got our salads an hour and 15 minutes after we sat down. Was not a good experience

Had my daughters communion party there. Food was awesome. Highly recommend this place!!

OMG, we LOVE this place! They recently remodeled and it's so nice and cozy now! The food is OUTSTANDING! I hate to give our little, hidden gem in Lacey. BYOB. read more

Was just asked for recommendation for caterer on LBI sorry I didn't write this sooner, but we hired Kate & Ally's for an outdoor celebration they were amazing! Soup to nuts and my home was cleaner when they left, efficient, delicious and pleasant!!! read more

We tried this restaurant for the first time tonight and will definitely be back. The gnocchi appetizer was delicious and my stuffed shrimp entree was outstanding. The servers were all attentive and friendly. Thanks for a great experience. read more

Great food and service! Streak portion was very large and excellent. Pasta was tasty and a nice amount of seafood. Ambience is nice. Thank goodness byob! Expensive however I still recommend as a good spot. read more

Always heard good things about Kate & Ally's so we decided to check it out for my wife's birthday. Definitely make a reservation because this place fills up. Overall it was ok. I wish the menu had a little more variety. It doesn't have to be a lot of options just variety. What I mean by that is 90% of the dishes had shrimp and crab in it. I love both as much as the next person but I just wasn't feeling it last night. We had our two 7 year olds with us and asked if they can turn the chicken cutlet dish with motz and vodka sauce into chicken parm for the kids. We were told no. Then I said "you can just make it with marinara instead of vodka sauce?". The response we got then was "oh yeah we can do that". Waitress then says "ok two of those". We then preceded to tell her it's for the two 7 year olds and we were told "well there is a slight up charge to split dishes". We said fine. I get the upcharge for adults but I'm not ordering two $20 plates for kids who are going to eat 5 bites. It was a little tacky and it seriously turned me off. The other thing that was slightly annoying is that they only do two vegetable sides a night. Last night was carrots and mashed potatoes. My wife wasn't feeling mashed potatoes so asked if she can replace it with another veggie. The answer....no. "You can have double carrots". So my wife got the filet with a side order of a bushel of carrots. We felt like there were a lot of "no's" and we weren't asking of anything that was that off the wall. Seems silly but when you wait 25 mins for a waitress and you get those responses it made me wonder why we came here. Food came and it was good although my wife's filet was cold and raw inside when medium was requested so it had to go back. Overall it's a decent spot and wouldn't deter someone from going but I doubt we'll be back. One of the main reasons for that is that we were sitting my a 4 top and the one guy is apparently a regular and all I heard was this guys voice. Holy shit was this guy annoying. Loud and obnoxious doesn't describe it. I still hear his voice in my head. I can't deal with listening to that guy for another 2 hours and therefore will probably avoid Kate and Alleys shrimp and crab house as a result. read more

First time at Kate & Ally's, & just sorry it took so long to try this awesome restaurant. The staff was very friendly & professional. The menu choices were great. Prices are on the high side & there is not much of ambiance in the décor, but.........the food was amazing!! There were 4 in our party, & each one of us was more than happy with our meal. Everything was piping hot, & fresh, & tender, & seasoned just right. And the plate presentation said it all. You won't be sorry if you go to Kate & Ally's, & for sure you wont be hungry when you leave. Kudos to the chef! read more

We used Kate and Ally's today for my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary party. Among the food were the pasta primavera and beef tips with noodles, both of which were fantastic. We had leftovers tonight for dinner, and the pasta primavera is even better as a leftover. All food was good, delivery was prompt, and the prices were very reasonable compared to others we researched. I highly recommend them. read more

Surprised there aren't more reviews on here. I have been happy every time ive been to kate and allys for dinner, I have never tried their catering service but would if I needed one. The food is always good and cooked properly, and the service is always right on! Glad they are local and saves me from going to applebys where i don't want to go. I have picked food up here also and its just as good and why would i pay the same price at a local pizza place for penne vodka with chicken when I can get it here. read more