The pizza was absolutely outstanding. We ordered the broccoli rabe and sausage. All ingredients fresh and delicious We also tried the eggplant. The eggplant was cooked to perfection. The sauce was a tad too sweet for me. Lastly we had the pan seared chicken. I absolutely loved it it was hot for my wife lol, but again cooked to perfection. I loved the service and the food. We will be back again for pizza but will try the pasta. Was pleasantly surprised read more

I'm being generous giving 3*. Things started fine but were given a table on top of the bar where two gentlemen were standing inches from us which forced the servers, runners and busboys to try to squeeze through constantly bumping into us. A manager who also squeezed through should have asked the bar patrons to move over. Not much can be done with the high noise level. Pizza was good as was the salad. A special of chicken with spinach and artichokes with melted mozzarella was not much more than Chicken Parm but served as a stack of two overcooked chicken with a thin layer of filling, almost unnoticeable with a glob of melted cheese that was served warm, even cold in spots. Linguine with clams came out without clams so returned to the kitchen before being brought back with a few clam shells on a mass of overcooked or reheated linguine that was mush. Another chicken dish was finally brought out as we were half way finished. At least that dish was hot and fresh (the extra star). Our server apologized several times and said he would take care of things on our bill, he didn't but that's not what we were looking for. read more

There are incredibly rude hostesses who seem bothered to be there and wanted nothing to do with me when I arrived for my reservation. I was on time and kept waiting for about 15 minutes with no apology or explanation. Someone had left tools (odd) and a coat on the bench in the entry way which took up almost the entire seating area and when I asked the hostess, she said "they belong to someone"... ok obviously. She did not move them or try to be helpful or understanding that there was no where for our party to sit while we were kept to wait. There is no shortage of good Italian food in Monmouth county, and this place certainly isn't cheap for what they're offering. After the rude treatment, I won't be returning. I'd rather spend my money at an establishment that treats customers with respect. read more

We were in the area and decided to go to Locale for dinner. We didn't have reservations and the place was packed. Sat at the bar! Bartenders Chris and Kathleen were awesome! Able to order food and drinks at the bar! Excellent service! Food was yummy! Loved my cocktail! See you soon! read more

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Locale is such a great spot for fresh, flavorful food. Everything always tastes high quality, and you can tell they really care about ingredients and consistency. The service is friendly and efficient, making the whole experience easy and enjoyable. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a meal, Locale never disappoints. Highly recommend if you're looking for something delicious and reliable! read more

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I've been meaning to try Locale and finally got the chance enjoy it last night! I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. First, you really need a reservation, the restaurant isn't that big and if the patio is not open, as it wasn't last night, you will have a wait. The staff was extremely warm and welcoming and we were never rushed. Giuseppe, the owner came by our table and introduced himself. He was very warm and friendly and made us feel special since it was our first time; a very nice touch. The meal started with a bread basket and delicious whipped ricotta. So nice to see that they didn't charge extra for that as many restaurants are doing these days. Everyone had adult beverages which were great... beer, wine and cocktails! The food was very good. Our table shared the caesar salad and meatball appetizer, which everyone loved. For entrees we had a nice variety, ravioli, spicy pasta, pork chop, veal parmigiana, (which was absolutely delish) and so big it took over the entire plate ! That dish alone will keep us coming back for more ! It was exceptional. My cappuccino was excellent and all in all a great restaurant that you can tell, Giuseppe takes a lot of care and pride in every ingredient he puts into every dish. We will definitely be back! Oh and sorry no pictures, too much good food and great conversation going on. read more

Locale - Italian Near Me - Little Silver, New Jersey

Great food and great service. Definitely worth the visit, however parking is horrible. Would definitely not recommend for a group gathering. Best bet would be Wed/Thurs nights with a friend or two. read more

The food was very good loved the fresh bread and that whipped ricotta was amazing they put on the table. -The wait staff was wonderful and attentive -Bar type place - we all were not loving the very LOUD VIBE with/ high tops and regular tables around the bars inside. Also- outside enclosed heated porch ( November ) -VERY LOUD/ noisy!. Not a lot of ambience and we felt like we were more in a bar type place. read more

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I'm dropping a 5, though a true score is a 4.5 for me. Lovely room, well spaced tables, attentive staff, pristine restrooms. The food is well above most shore Italian joints. Carefully plated, tasty, nicely spaced courses. Not many places offer beef tartare, so I get it when I can. A nice tuna can sized cylinder of freshly, tender chopped beef mixed with mustard, capers-smear it on the toast and it's a mouthful of flavor. $28. My gf had the burrata panzanella and enjoyed it (ditch the black olive slices though), and her Bolognese pasta was terrific. My pizza was good too. Book well in advance, weekend fill fast! read more

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I cannot believe I have not left a review for this spot. This place is amazing. From the hostess to the wait staff to the owners, all top notch! I have been her about 4 times already, each time it gets better and better. What should you order? EVERYTHING! All kidding aside, their apps of meatballs, eggplant caponata, anitpasti for two (more like 4-5 people it can feed) and caesar salad are terrific starters. Their pizza's which can be a starter or meal are melt in your mouth delicious! My kids who are kind of picky said it's the best pizza they have ever had which is saying a lot since they have been all over the state for good pizza. The hot honey, margherita and white clam all stand out as being sensational! Entrees we have ordered their gnocchi, chicken parm and veal chop parm (its pricey but worth it). Do not leave without getting dessert! We have tried them all as each time we visit it's for a special occassion. Service is impeccable. Plenty of parking nearby (train station lot next door). They have a covered patio for warmer weather (it's heated when it's cold too). Their drinks are made perfectly - manhattan on the rocks please! Overall it's a great spot for families, date night or just hanging at the bar solo. ENJOY! read more

Had a really great experience all the food is very fresh. The owner came over and introduced himself. Definitely will be going back.

Locale doesn't just serve Italian food -- it seduces you with it. The meal opens with a Margherita pizza that nails the holy trinity: blistered, leopard-spotted crust with a satisfying chew, bright San Marzano tomato sauce, pools of molten mozzarella, and basil that perfumes every bite. It's simple, soulful, and executed with confidence -- the kind of pizza that reminds you why restraint is the ultimate flex. Then come the pastas, each one richer than the last. A creamy spaghetti glistens under cracked black pepper and fine breadcrumbs, indulgent without tipping into excess -- silk on the tongue, deeply comforting. The baked rigatoni arrives bubbling and bronzed, blanketed in béchamel and cheese, fork-tender and unapologetically decadent, finished with a rosemary sprig that whispers old-world charm. The seafood salad brings balance: crisp celery, briny sweetness, delicate citrus notes, and freshness that cuts through the richness like a perfectly timed palate cleanse. And just when you think you're done, a golden, cheese-crusted entrée lands center stage -- crackling on top, impossibly tender beneath, finished with olive oil and snow-like Parmesan. Rustic. Elegant. Completely crave-worthy. Ambiance? Warm, intimate, and effortlessly stylish. Wood tables, low lighting, the hum of conversation -- the kind of place where time slows, wine flows, and every table looks like it's celebrating something. Final verdict: Locale is the kind of restaurant you plan your week around -- not flashy, just flawless. Come hungry, linger long, and trust the kitchen. This is Italian food done with heart, heritage, and serious skill. read more

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If you like pizza inedible and burnt. Then order here. How they let pizzas leave this bad, when there is a dozen pizza places around. Beyond me. read more

Locale - Burnt. Third time. Don't Oder pizza take out. - Italian Near Me - Little Silver, New Jersey

This review is for take-out only. We opted for a take out to taste what all the hype is about. We had a margarita pizza, eggplant parmigiana and a Caesar salad. The pizza was good but didn't stand crisp when held ala the Dave Portnoy test. Still, it was tasty. The eggplant parmigiana was served with spaghetti- good. Onto the Caesar. When I checked the order, I saw what looked like a chopped salad w croutons and cherry tomatoes with a very small portion of dressing on the side. I questioned if this was a Caesar and the gentleman said yes but added more salad to the portion. If this is their version, it's WAY off. Hopefully the dine in will be better. read more

Locale - Italian Near Me - Little Silver, New Jersey

After hearing and reading some good things about Locale we decided to give it a try and glad we did. They are very popular to say the least. Reservations were required several days in advance for an early seating at 5:30. We arrived just in a nick of time to find two seats at their cozy but small bar. The locals are supporting this place to the hilt. We met a few nice people and enjoyed a drink and conversation before we sat down at our table exactly on time. Overall, we were impressed with this restaurant. The ambience was really cool, the service was first class and most importantly the food was delicious. Please see my attached photos for a description of what we enjoyed for dinner. Bottom line__ Great addition to the Little Silver area and we will return again for sure. read more

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My wife and I went to a new restaurant tonight, Locale in Little Silver, and had an incredible dinner. Kelly had gazpacho and pesto gnocchi with shrimp. I had an appetizer of sweet Italian sausage and cannoli beans and chicken parm as my entree. Our waiter, Axel was knowledgeable and accommodating. We were both incredibly happy and as we told Giuseppe on the way out, we will be back! read more

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I normally get food from this restaurant when I go into it and have lunch with friends however, last evening I decided to get it delivered to our house. It was absolutely disappointing. The salad had just lettuce, no cheese, barely any dressing and was $24 to catch a Pepe had one scoop of spaghetti in it and that was close to $30. The grandma's chicken cutlets were delicious, but I would never order from them only go to the restaurant. We were extremely disappointed. read more

Locale - This is after I added lettuce too the salad because it wasn't enough for two people to eat even as a side - Italian Near Me - Little Silver, New Jersey

The Halibut was amazing! Such a nice blend of veggies, potato and fish. Would def return to try the lobster! Service was great! read more

Had dinner there last night Very good apps are awesome clam pizza was just ok- need more flavor will be back again and try other mains read more

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Back room of pizzeria faire trying very hard to pass itself off as elevated Italian. Noise level from passing NJ Transit commuter rail is disturbing to even the most casual conversation. Wrong appetizer delivered, setting back the dining experience 15 minutes. When the sausage and beans finally did arrived, we wished we had opted for the incorrect alternative initially delivered. Beans and sauce were very good, but the sweet sausage was dry, as if it spent the afternoon sunning under a heat lamp. Special tagliatelle was overcooked and the guanciale was crisped to the point of uncomfortable crunch. Risotto was the highlight, tasty and well prepared. Patio seating is very uncomfortable and reminiscent of the scene in Animal House where the Delta bros, in this case hostess, did a weed out on sight, separating those they connect with and sending the rest to the patio hinterland. Policy states inside seating is first come, first accommodated, but parties were clearly being seated in the patio despite suitable tables for the party size being available in the main dining room. Mediocre food led us to the decision to pass on desert. If your looking for elevated Italian, Anjelicas or Tramas are far superior choices. Dusals in Freehold is a better alternative for pasta and red sauce standards. Food level does not support the attitude of this establishment. read more

overpriced and does not live up to the hype as advertised...the appetizer polpo was sent back because it was tough and covered in a thick red sauce($31.00) the shrimp arrabiata was ok but not worth $29.17...All items were billed plus 4 % on the final bill with no explanation. The chicken parm arrived as 2 VERY fried cutlets on top of each other without anything else-dry and overcooked, Spaghetti pomodora was not an Italian tomato sauce-rather a flavorless red sauce...A bottle of wine -1 order of gelato and 2 coffees were ordered after there was no follow up from the waiter to ask if everything was to our liking. We did ask for an additional glass of wine after being disappointed with our food...and we were charged $17.71 per glass,!!! The noise level far exceeds "normal" and this was lunchtime!!!! There is no mention about the upcharging and At the end of the day the bill was $227.70 plus a $45 tip totaling 272.70...had the polpo been acceptable that would have been another $32.24 to make this bad experience $304.94 for lunch!!!!! The biggest plus was they do have a wine list! AND no bread was served as mentioned in other diner's reviews..nothing came with the chicken...ot did not look at all as pictured !!!! read more

Food selection is authentic and varied as well as extremely well prepared. The staff are amazing they recognize us every time we arrive and treat us like good friends. The vibe is well... locale .. pun intended this place is a gem highly recommend read more

The vibes weren't vibing Positives: The servers were very friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. 10/10 Negatives: We had a reservation for 5:30, arrived on time, and proceeded to watch four parties come in after us and get seated before us while we had to wait for them to "get a table ready". There were a few children running around unsupervised and screaming in the main dining room which was very much not the vibe. The tables and chairs were cramped and uncomfortable. I think it's also worth mentioning that the other customers were very rude- some guy pushed me out of the way to get into the restaurant which was super off putting. When we were finally seated, another party was seated right next to us a few minutes later and were helped/served well before us. 0/10 Conclusion: If you don't mind being in a super uncomfortable atmosphere then go for it. I would not say it's a top contender for date night. Maybe if you want a breakup/divorce. Godspeed. read more

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Ordered food from this place ! Wow it was so bad I tossed the order! Heard good things but wow! Ravioli were so tough. The dough was over worked. Soup With lead tortellini. Zucchini bland tasteless. Pomodoro was horrible. Very very disappointing! read more

Prices were crazy! Service was very good Jorge was so personable! My husband had the lasagna he loved it. I had shrimp dish very good large shrimp. Meatball app and the calamari were very good. Very cozy even sitting on outside porch great heaters. read more

Authentic Italian, from pizza to all pastas, lasagna of all kinds outstanding, generous portions, great variety Service friendly and attentive! Ambience very comfortable, just enough background sounds from upbeat crowd! read more

Love the ambiance. Love the pizza. Happy to have this as an option. Such a cute place

The only thing better than the food was the service~ shout out to our waiter, Axel. What an absolutely awesome and sweet guy! The food here was amazing and the ambiance indoors and outdoors was cute and comfortable! Definitely order the meatball appetizer, chicken parm entree to split and the desserts! Cocktails/ mock tails were also delish ! read more

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All of the above! Food, service, ambiance - all 10s. Beyond a delicious dinner, the pizza is incredible! P.s. never had better calamari

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Locale in Little Silver is hands-down one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to -- and I've been to many! Let's start with the food: everything is incredibly fresh, never frozen, and you can taste the difference. They source vegetables straight from their own garden, and their seafood comes in almost daily & it shows in every bite. The pizza is next-level! Perfectly crispy, flavorful, and topped with the freshest ingredients. The chicken parm? Absolutely massive and insanely delicious, easily enough for two people, and the sauce is what really makes it. You can tell it's homemade and crafted with love. Some must-tries: the octopus appetizer (so tender and flavorful it'll ruin all other octopus dishes for you), the burrata panzanella, and the cacio e pepe or spicy vodka pasta, both are absolutely amazing. Bonus: you can order side portions of pasta, which makes it easy to try a few and share! But it's not just the food that makes Locale so special. It's the people. The owner, Giuseppe treats you like family the moment you walk in the door. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about what they do. The servers, Axel, Alphonse, Jesus, and others are so attentive, kind, and personable. If you come often enough, they'll even remember your name and favorite order. That level of care and consistency is rare. Locale is perfect for a cozy date night, a family dinner, or a celebration with friends. It's the kind of place that stays with you long after the meal is over. We always leave full, happy, and already planning our next visit. 10/10 recommend. This place is a true treasure!!! read more

Chopped Caesar salad was. Fantastic. Cacio Pepe was perfect just like Tuscany Service could not be better Beautiful restaurant read more

Don't believe the positive reviews of this place. Staff is inattentive and rude. The ambiance is obnoxiously loud. And the food is overpriced, greasy and bland. Don't waste $200+ to sit literally on top of the Little Silver train station. Lots of better restaurants less than 10 minutes away in Red Bank. read more

The service was fine but we felt rushed, as if they were eager to turn over our table. The food was decent, nothing particularly special/memorable. The indoor area was overcrowded and noisy, making conversation difficult. I would consider going back if I could sit on the patio, but I'm not in a hurry to go back there's so many amazing restaurants in the area I'd rather go to. read more

From the beginning I entered ,I felt at home.The whole crew on hand that works for Joe Jr.really know what they are doing. And the food is fresh and just what I wanted. The best by far. read more

We live next door to this restaurant. We love that little silver finally has a restaurant with a bar ! They can pour a proper pint of Guinness and their cocktails are delicious. The food has also been very good. Service great, too! It can be a little noisy, but the place is hopping. read more

Food was very good, both Apps and main course. Service was outstanding, very attentive, efficient, veery friendly with one of owners coming over and sitting with us. We loved the feel, look and total ambiance of the place. Will definitely return soon. Tom, Linda read more

Not only do they add 3% for using a credit card, they also charge 3% if you use a debit card which takes the money from your account and sends it directly to their account. No processing fee! Thievery!!! read more

The food was outstanding...large portions. Service was also excellent. First time there (from Southern Ocean County) will definately go back

We were a party of 2 dining on a Friday night. The interior is beautiful, but cramped and beyond loud. The service was friendly and attentive, but we waited for over 2 hours for our food to arrive. We were patient until they began to serve 2 other folks who came in after us, that needs to be better managed. The food was just ok, but was expecting better. read more

Very disappointed in the food. Was expecting very tasty and flavorful food and frankly while the food looked amazing if I was to post pictures of the meals, it tasted mediocre at best. The service was fine and the server was very attentive with the water but the kitchen killed the server by having entrees come out for four of our group of five and it took a solid 7-10 minutes for the last meal to come out. Environment was great. Beautiful weather and we sat in the outdoor space. I would not return as the price does not match the quality of the meal. read more