Fantastic restaurant with excellent service. I have been to la griglia several times for lunch and also dinner. I've dined at the bar, where the fabulous bartender serves excellent cocktails. Also, there is a quiet dining room upstairs, but the downstairs dining area was a great place to feel the vibe and bustle of service last night. We started with a pomegranate martini and a gimlet, which was great but on the sweet side. The regular vodka dirty martini was the best drink, plenty stroclng with blue cheese stuffed olives. For $16.75, the Cau Cau Red wine came in a small carafe and equaled 1 and 1/2 glasses of this light but well-balanced wine. The dinner menu had 2 pasta options under appetizers, which I love to see, since I didn't have to choose between a pasta and entre cause I had both. The pasta dish came with velvety sauce with plenty of chantrelle mushrooms and bacon. The pasta was 4 ravioli like cylindrical dumplings with cheese on the inside. This dish was phenomenal and paired well with the wine. For an entre, the 4 meaty lamb rib chops cooked medium rare were perfect served over some tasty, lightly cooked greens and potatoes over a sticky red wine reduction. The spicy chicken parm was a huge portion of 2 large cutlets and fresh pasta shells. The dish was good, but it was not as great as everything else we ate tonight since he chicken was just missing a bit of crunch After the meal, we were stuffed and passed on dessert so we could savor the food memories. However, the waitress sent us off with 2 canoli's which tasted really good the following day. read more

La Griglia - Spicy Chicken Parmigiana - Seafood Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

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The best Italian place!!!! The service is amazing and the food is sooooo gooood! Everything was SOOOO fresh and amazing!!! I love this place the atmosphere is amazing read more

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Came here yesterday for Father's day! The interior was low lit and had new decor. We sat upstairs as the place is quite large. Our server was friendly and made recommendations off the special Father's Day menu. My girlfriend had the halibut with rissoto with cherry tomatoes and i had the baked gnocci with broccolini and white beans. We also shared a caesar salad and for desert we had a warm flourless chocolate cake w ice cream. All in all a great experience! read more

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I brought my friends to celebrate their 50 Th wedding anniversary last night, where can I start to say how fabulous your establishment is starting with your friendly staff Danielle I mentioned we were celebrating an anniversary she immediately took over and treated us like a friend she knew.Food was outstanding and the table setting said so much about who's you are and how much effort you aim to please!Thank You we will return again keep up the great work, God Bless!! read more

Service at this restaurant is unmatched! In addition to the elegant, dimly lit and welcoming dining experience, the staff and quality are what set this place apart. The staff, from the host to the servers are helpful and absolutely kind. The owner, when on site is out on the floor and attentive to new and returning customers alike. On more than one occasion, we've had the staff share complimentary dishes to taste, a gesture rarely experienced these days. Food portions are decent sized, but do not compromise quality at all. Food tastes fresh and quite Italian/ traditional. Dishes, appetizers and entrees alike taste comforting like an Italian home-cooked meal made with love and care. Amazing place, totally worth the visit if you're looking for a new level of hearty and flavorful goodness. read more

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1st came here several times late 2000s always a 4-5 star experience then if you read my 1st update back in 2019 not quite as good & haven't had a chance to do a further update on that last visit I got a meat item to go for Mom. She was highly disappointed because it was like a marionetted(held it up by the multiple strings of grizzle). I contacted them, they apologized & sent what was supposed to be a $25 gift card to cover the cost but when I checked it a few months later I came to find it had no balance. Keep in mind this was 3 years BEFORE the pandemic started. Figuring maybe it was an oversight I reached out, didnt hear back & checked it several more times only to no avail so not appreciative of a bum card to make me "go away" I seriously doubt I will patronize this place again read more

They offer free valet but please tip. All pasta is made in house fresh daily. We feasted today and I was so full!! The food was good I'm not sure if it was the best I've had but the service was impressive. The restaurant is nice a bit on the older side but decorated nicely. read more

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My first time here and I was blown away. So many different Italian dish options. The pastas were unreal. Loved the seafood risotto and lots of delicious drink options. Place also has plenty of seating and staff were awesome. read more

La Griglia - Pappardelle with Braised Short Rib - Seafood Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

We were just looking for a central location to meet our in-laws from Bergen county as we are in Ocean county. Saw good reviews and decided to try La Griglia. What a lucky find! Super friendly staff, convenient valet parking. The food was amazing! We had the short rib, Bronzino, pork chop and a pasta dish everything was outstanding! Our server Andrea couldn't have been any nicer and more attentive. It was my Bday and they gave us a nice box of cookies and a bday card to take home! We found our central meeting place and can't wait to come back! read more

Love coming here!! The food is always seasonal and delicious. We celebrated our anniversary and we were not disappointed. We had oysters to start and they were superb. My husband had zuppa de pesce and I had soft shell crabs, both dishes were amazing. Our waiter was attentive but not in our space..it's always special coming here..my only complaint was that I was seated under an air vent..so I asked if they would turn down the air they said yes, but they didn't. read more

La Griglia - Seafood Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

Great food, excellent service and an atmosphere of comfort. The ambiance is classy and yet relaxed. read more

Overall a good experience, food was excellent and service was great. The valet however was very unpleasant and took away from the experience. First, I came for an early dinner so the parking lot was empty yet they enforced mandatory valet parking. My friend had already parked her car in a spot and they told her they had to move her car. When I went to get my car at the end of dinner, the valet would not let me in the car until I tipped him. I felt they this was very off putting and rude. Now for the food, the clams with linguini was great and the halibut appetizer was also delicious. read more

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The best food I've had in NJ to date. Service was phenomenal. From start to finish everything was so delicious, I wish I had 2 stomachs to eat more . Best cosmo. Unbelievably tasty oysters. Osso Buco, chefs kiss. My fav, creme brûlée. I'm so pleased to have spent our 10th wedding anniversary here. I cannot wait to come back again. read more

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I hadn't been to La Griglia in almost 10 years until til last weekend, and it was just as delicious as ever. They have a good wine and cocktail list. The star of our meal were the apps - the Cajun balsamic calamari and hot burrata were totally drool worthy! My veal parm was pretty good as well, just wish it came with a side. I tried my wife's spicy chicken parm which had great flavor and came with homemade pasta. The table shared cannoli bread pudding for dessert. One star off for service. Although our waiter was friendly, he questioned my wife's choices both on wine and on her meal and she picked different options. She chose items she thought she would like originally, and it was unnecessary for the waiter to comment the wine would be too dark for her. She knows her wines! read more

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Kelly...Kelly....Kelly...., Food was really great but the service from Kelly was better than most restaurants we have been to in Jersey Very attentive and knew the menu...Drove an hour and will again read more

5 stars for the food -1 star for the valet. This is a truly wonderful place to eat. Warm and richly decorated, it is a great a place for a romantic dinner as it is for an every day trip to eat at the bar. read more

La Griglia - The paparadelle was off the hook. Pasta cooked to perfection - Seafood Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

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I've been here a few times and have always had a good experience. You have to valet your car, which is always a little annoying especially when it's a week night and there's ample parking and it's freezing outside; I could do without that. The staff has always been helpful and attentive. My only qualm regarding service is that they're a little quick to clear your plates (appetizers in particular) before asking if you're done or want anything wrapped. They have a full bar with a nice wine list and strong and tasty cocktails. We've never had a bad meal at La Griglia. They're known for their seafood, so definitely order some fish! I've had the dover sole, potato crusted snapper, and pan seared striped bass. The dover sole was definitely real dover sole and was very delicate and melted in my mouth. The sea bass is very meaty, almost steak-like tasting. It's perfectly seared and served over the most delicious lemon risotto with mushrooms and guanciale. You can't skip the desserts. You have to order some of their gelato, which they get from Piece of Cake in Rahway. It's truly gourmet and special with it's richness and intense flavors. The one that tastes like s'more is to die for. I highly recommend La Griglia! read more

La Griglia - Pan Seared Striped Bass - Seafood Near Me - Kenilworth, New Jersey

Have been going here for 20+ years and never have we had a bad experience. Staff treats you like family and the food is out of this world. The restaurant is warm and inviting, I've never felt rushed and the servers accommodate every request. Chris and his staff continue to impress year after year. If you have not visited you are truly missing out. read more

Great food and service! Classy and cozy ambience, perfect for date night or any night. read more

This restaurant has lovely ambience and great service. My wife and I went here last night for date night. We started out with a couple of cocktails which were well made and had a nice pour. For appetizers my wife had the garlic shrimp and I had the grilled octopus. Both were excellent. For mains my wife had the branzino and while she said it was really good , she didn't like that it wasn't served butterflied and had several bones in it. I had the striped bass special that was delicious. My only complaint is the price point. We each had one cocktail and no dessert or coffee and with tip dinner was over $200. read more

Really really good. Excellent service, delicious food, and a great ambiance. Nowadays everything costs so much and lacks quality but we didn't feel that way at all eating at La Griglia. A great experience. read more

Never had a bad meal & I was a Rahway Police Officer therefore i knew exactly where to go

Went to this place with my friends and it was good . I was surprised at the almost house full crowd. Valet parking and you get in . They have a bar in the entrance if you have to wait for friends. Not many options for beer, but they just had few lagers on tap. They also had few IPAs in bottle . They did have a good range of wines and hard liquors. Food was good. The quantity was a lot though. There was limited options for vegetarians , and mostly was good . Once the starters were done , the main course was good . Lots of seafood options and very few chicken dishes . It was a bit pricey but good for an office meet or business get togethers. Service was awesome . Quick and perfect. Overall a good restaurant, if not for the price . Thumbs up read more

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Another amazing experience at La Griglia. They never disappoint!! Chris and his staff made us feel welcome and valued, attending to our every wish. The food here is consistently delicious "from soup to nuts," and served in an atmosphere that somehow manages to project a vibe that is both comfortable AND chic at the same time. We opted to forgo alcohol and rather than feeling like we missed out, ended up having two of the best faux-cocktails we've ever tasted! And fellow diners, you won't want to miss the inspired fusion of flavors and textures in the Roasted Honey Nut Squash & Caramelized Fig Salad special- it's just fabulous! A big Thank You to everyone at La Griglia! read more

The restaurant offers cozy elegant ambiance and delicious food. However be warned that if you book a reservation close to closing time you may be rushed by the servers. Their posted hours say they close at 10:00 yet they offer 9:30 reservations. We had 8:30 reservations and once the appetizers arrived we were asked at least 3 times by different staff if we were finished. The same occurred with the entrees. This was despite the fact that the plates were clearly full of food. My date eventually said she was finished and the bus boy removed both of our dishes without confirming with me. The waiter asked numerous times if "we were still enjoying everything". This is different than asking "how are you enjoying everything?" Again the implication is "you need to hurry up" They removed our dishes right before 10:00 and I asked for dessert menus as the waiter did not offer them. We ordered 2 desserts and I asked for espresso only to be told the machine was cleaned and shut down. I told the waiter he probably should have warned us before we ordered our meal that coffee would be cut off at 10:00. I am used to restaurants accommodating their guests after the kitchen closes to allow them to finish their meal in peace. I expected the same from La Griglia especially when paying $50 per entree. If you are so anxious to close the doors and aren't willing to allow customers to finish their meal without being rushed, you shouldn't take reservations past a certain time. This is misleading. In their defense it was All Hallows Eve so maybe staff wanted to leave to go trick or treating. read more

Food and service was excellent. Glad to see that hasn't changed. It been a few years since we had been here. We look forward to returning. Valet parking and a coat check were much appreciated on a very cold night. read more

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Haven't been here in years ... Excellent food, drink and service ... pricey but you pay for what you get! Definitely a place to treat yourself or your loved ones to. Chris our waiter was excellent we the zucchini flower appetizer special and the garlic shrimp I had the Branzino ... very good... comes with potatoes Truffle fries for the table. Yum Others had linguini with clam sauce, lamp chop and chicken parm Dessert was cannoli bread pudding and mascarpone cheesecake... all yummy I had the final tour gin cocktail which was super delicious- I had two Definitely a place to come back to read more

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We have lived in the area for 15 years and never made a visit here until our neighbors decided to take us. Our neighbors had been here many times and wanted to introduce us. Valet parking was mandatory but complimentary. There was a coat check room. We had reservations for 6:00 on a very busy Saturday evening and they were honored on time. The restaurant has multiple dining areas and we were seated upstairs. The restaurant is much bigger than it appears from the outside. Once you place your order, they bring over a complimentary basket of bread with oil and olives. Bread was very fresh. Our table began with the Cajun calamari. Very tasty, fresh, the right amount of heat, and the portion was very generous. Our entrees included the linguini vongole, two orders of the potato crusted red snapper which came with sauteed spinach, and the pork chops with potatoes, and sweet and hot cherry peppers. We also had a side of asparagus. Each of the meals was very tasty and cooked fresh. The linguini had a tremendous amount of fresh clams which came in their shell, the two pork chops were large, cooked perfectly, and the peppers added a nice heat to it. I heard rave reviews with the snapper meal. All the portions were extremely generous. For dessert, the table ordered a plate of biscotti. The biscotti were thinly sliced and a variety of chocolate and vanilla. As coffee snobs, the coffee was very good. The prices are on the high end. Service was excellent until we had to get our check, then it took a while. An excellent introduction and we'll be back again. read more

This is such a hidden gem. I have passed by this restaurant hundreds of times and never thought to try them out. I read that they had the best crab cakes in the area and knew then that I needed to give them a shot. They didn't disappoint. We've been here twice. The first time, we arrived early and were the first people seated. The hostess seemed a tad annoyed but I couldn't tell if she was having an off day or if it was us. Our waiter was very attentive and did a great job. On our 2nd visit, our waitress was much more thorough in giving over the menu and helping us decide what to try out. We've had the crab cakes, meatballs, garlic shrimp and raw oysters for appetizers. Crab cakes were absolutely delicious. They bring out salt with the bread. They don't seem to add a lot of salt to the food but it's easily accessible on the table if you need it. The entrees were great. They don't skimp on the portions. We always have plenty to take home. The prices are great considering the food and presentation. It's like being at a nyc restaurant but without paying a ton to get into the city. This will definitely be a regular spot for us to try. There are so many different options on the menu. read more

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Food was well prepared and the portion sizes were more than adequate. Server and staff were responsive and fast. Only complaint was entrees arrived too close to the appetizers plates being removed. We have dined here several times previously and the quality of the food and service remains very good. read more

This place has some real authentic Italian roots with beyond excellent service even on a crowded Saturday evening (we had 16 people as well). The food is all made with great care and the freshest ingredients. There us no bite I ate that was bad. Truly a must go if your craving great Italian food. Parking lot on premises. Definitely will come again! read more

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3.5 stars. The food was OK. Italian food. Went there for my birthday in October. Not as good as before. Ordered the burrata cheese and it was bad had to send it back. No complimentary read more

5 stars for ambiance. Filet mignon & short rib were just ok. Truffle fries were good. Service was good. Great for a date. Valet available. read more

Came back after a year . Impressed with service and manager. Enjoyed my lamb chops as made perfectly. Warm ambiance. Was busy for Tuesday night. read more

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After a lot of research, I decided to take my family to La Griglia for my mom's birthday. The host was extremely accommodating about my reservation time changes, so I appreciate that so much. The waitress was so kind and knowledgeable. The restaurant felt very welcoming and I felt like we were over someone's home for dinner. I ended up getting the white peach martini - I did not expect it to be that strong lol I got a mixed red wine for my parents and it was delectable! As my meal, I ordered the seafood pasta which was cooked perfectly with lots of seafood. The scallops and shrimp tasted very fresh. The pasta was a bit well done, which many people may dislike, but I loved it! The portions are large, so we all had leftovers! I had a piece of my dad's t-bone steak and it was cooked to a perfect medium rare. I put in the Open Table message that we were there to celebrate a birthday, and they made sure to put a candle in one of the desserts we ordered. This was extremely sweet and I appreciated it very much. Lastly, my parents had a good time so I left being very content. We will definitely be back! read more

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The food and the service was fantastic. Highly recommend Male waiters, nice atmosphere

Decided to check this place out on a Wednesday evening and it did not disappoint. Heard good reviews from a friend and this spot lived up to the expectations. From the bread with various toppings, to the extensive menu. Not pictured - short rib pasta that was the best bite of the night ! read more

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One of the best restaurants I've ever been in! Great food, great service and great atmosphere. read more

Good food, had the house specials, which were terrific. The rating staff was right on the money. Very happy to go there.

Great place, beautiful service. Everyone was smiling and were happy to have you in their presence. read more