Our server, Ellie, was just absolutely phenomenal so friendly and welcoming. She was the best! Food…read morewas tasty as well!

This was a great dining experience.from the service staff Erica to the kitchen farm to table…read moreperfectly prepared dishes dining areas both outdoor and indoor.and so much more. Thank you for helping celebrate my wife's birthday

We happened to be in the area and stopped into the Black Swan for brunch. I had heard great things…read moreabout the place and was eager to give it shot. From the moment we entered the pub, we were transferred to the United Kingdom with its tavern-like decor. They had a quaint dining room, a bar area with soccer team schwag hanging overhead, a dainty tea room, and a dimly lit space inside what used to be a bank vault. We were seated at a high-top table in the bar, which was fine, as there was a large party with rowdy children in the dining room. Thankfully, the layout allowed us to avoid the majority of their loudness, though their sheer party size clearly held up the kitchen, since it took a while for us to get our food. There was a specific brunch menu with some breakfast-forward items like Loaded French Toast, but we were also given their full-day menu with many more options. I decided to get two smaller dishes to count as my complete meal. First, I had the Chipotle Chicken Chili, which was apparently a recent addition to the menu. I omitted the scoop of sour cream that was supposed to sit on top of the mound of soup, but I did not feel like I was missing anything by doing so. The smoky broth was packed with kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, and chunks of ground chicken. I thought it was delicious, but a bit thin and oily. I also sampled a side of the Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts, which were similarly greasy, but crunchy and well-flavored. In fact, they could have used a bit more marinade to really pop. My companion had positive things to say about his burger and fries. We really enjoyed the casual atmosphere, friendly service, and tasty food at the Black Swan, and I would certainly return to try some of their other traditional, European dishes.

Quick and friendly service. A bit expensive but good food…read more Tater tots & scotch eggs: probably the biggest tater tots I've ever had. Crispy and hot. Scotch eggs were good. Pasta: can't remember the name of the pasta I got but it's the one that was recommended by the waiter. It comes with burrata which made the dish so so good. I would get this again.

The service is consistently attentive and friendly, adding to the easygoing, comforting mood that…read moregreat diners pull off so well. I've ordered the bronzino here countless times, and it remains a standout. The fish is always cooked just right--tender, flavorful, and nicely complemented by thoughtful seasoning and bright, fresh accompaniments. It's one of those dishes you anticipate every visit, and it never disappoints.

SamVera 476 Route 520…read moreMarlboro, NJ 07746 Vongole Oreganata SamVera Pollo Located near the intersection of Route 79 and Route 520 directly outside the confines of the Marlboro Shopping Center is a family owned two-story Italian specialty restaurant. Manager Sammy introduced me to a fine two-course meal. Vongole Oreganata: These little neck clams were covered with Italian bread crumbs and simmered in white wine and garlic sauce. Although encased in a hard outer shell, these clams have a firm, chewy texture. Feel free to add some lemon to enhance the flavor. Enjoy them by hand or with a seafood fork; the choice is yours. SamVera Pollo: Named after the restaurant, this plate consists of grilled chicken breast with a vegetable medley. There was an overwhelming variety of produce and that is certainly a good thing; a small sized potato is also included. The chicken was pounded thin and sautéed in white wine sauce. It was very easy to cut into, which is why it had a tender and juicy texture. In addition to having a full service bar, there is also a wine cellar. This cellar may be narrow in size, but it is stocked with over 1,000 chilled bottles featuring high quality vino from all over the world. While you are dining, admire the beautiful arrangement of attractive wall art, sculptures and autographed sporting memorabilia. Not only is SamVera an ideal location for date night and family gatherings, it is also a perfect spot to host large get-togethers or special occasions. There are additional private party rooms on the second floor. SamVera received a positive media spotlight, which accounts for my perfect dining experience. #samvera #samveramarlboro #samverapollo #vongoleoreganata #ItalianDiningExperience

Adorable hipster bar with the coolest looking people. The bartender was awesome and I saw they…read moreserve food! Came here on a Saturday night and there was a DJ. The music was good and the vibe was awesome. I had a good time here with my party of 4.

This place was GOOOOOD. Honestly blown away by this establishment…read more Was in town for work & everyone from the area to told me to come down to this area for dinner. Walked around & landed on this place. Such a swanky cool kind of new age hipster but also vintage vibe? Lol No idea! But I sure was digging it! The bartender was super sweet in helping me make a decision for dinner, because I wanted to try it ALL. I folded on the Lemony Shrimp & Bean stew (absolutely spectacular and this is coming from someone that doesn't like being or vegetable type soups) the leeks were so yummy but the shrimp was the star, just look at how huge they were. Sliced Flat Iron - SO JUICY. Such flavor! Literally haven't had any steak til this day that could replicate that flavor of the scallion chimichurri and celery root purée. It has been over a year now since I've been here, and I still CRAVE, I'm talking I have full on dreams about having this place again. Can confirm, I AM Homesick.

I'm being generous giving 3*. Things started fine but were given a table on top of the bar where…read moretwo 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.

There are incredibly rude hostesses who seem bothered to be there and wanted nothing to do with me…read morewhen 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.

What an absolutely delicious dinner. The hospitality from the moment we drove to the valet, to the…read moreproper entrance with the hosts and throughout the entire meal was purposeful and thought out. The employees here care about your experience. My wife and i have only lived down here since January. We've explored restaurants from Red Bank through the shore. This was #1 so far, I would actually look forward to dining here again. Alan, our server, you're very good at what you do. Thank you for that. Get yourself a nice bottle of wine, head here. Order anything and sit back and enjoy the experience. It was absolutely beautiful inside for my 45th!

Falcone in Lincroft is basically what happens when someone spends 95% of the budget on interior…read moredesign and 5% on the actual food. The restaurant itself? Beautiful. Gorgeous lighting, trendy aesthetic, romantic atmosphere. If your goal is taking photos for Instagram or pretending you're dining in Manhattan for the night, this is your place. The food, however, was wildly underwhelming for the prices. I ordered the "short rib" bolognese and spent half the meal trying to locate the short rib. It looked and tasted more like regular chopped meat sauce than slow-braised short rib. I've honestly had pasta dishes from local pizza places with more flavor and authenticity. And the candles... there are approximately 47,000 candles in this restaurant. So many that at one point a waiter leaned dangerously close to one and I genuinely thought his vest was about to catch fire -- meanwhile he had absolutely no idea. That pretty much summed up the overall dining experience: chaotic but aesthetic. Also, why is there forced valet in Lincroft? Even when you self-park, they still ask for your keys like you arrived in a Bentley instead of a Honda Pilot. Another strange touch: it's BYOB, yet they keep your wine bottle off to the side somewhere instead of leaving it at the table. The whole point of BYOB is being able to pour your own wine whenever you want without having to flag someone down every time your glass is empty. It felt unnecessarily pretentious for no reason. The biggest issue was that the restaurant never actually felt authentically Italian beyond the decor. For a place charging premium prices and branding itself as an upscale Italian dining experience, there should be a stronger sense of Italian hospitality, personality, culture, and presentation throughout the service experience. Instead, the whole thing felt more staged than genuine. Communication around the specials was difficult, nothing was written down, and the service lacked the polished confidence you expect at this price point. Ironically, the teenage valet outside gave more authentic Italian restaurant energy than the dining room itself. My suggestion? Lean harder into genuine hospitality and authentic Italian dining culture instead of just the aesthetic. Right now it feels like a beautifully designed movie set where the food and service never quite match the image. Overall: probably a nice place for cocktails, dessert, and ambiance before or after a night in Red Bank. But if you're going specifically for an amazing Italian dinner worthy of the prices, save your money and hit a really good local pizzeria instead. I promise if you change the wait staff to people who have a little more command of the English language... the word on the street would probably improve.

Oceanhouse has some of the best food in Monmouth county!! I love going there for lunch during the…read moreweek. The service is always amazing. I recently had a friend's birthday party there and the room upstairs was perfect.

SEA BRIGHT: Ocean House is a casual spot in town with great food and drinks! There are a few dog…read morefriendly outdoor tables in front of the building with beachy artwork and the area is perfect for people watching. We were lucky to have Brie as our server (yes, a lovely young lady with the beautiful name Brie), who was very attentive to us as the lunch rush poured in. We enjoyed a very large Bavarian pretzel and a couple of cocktails and they have a full American-style menu that has something for everyone. Check social media for their live music schedule.

We enjoyed our first dinner at ESQUINA last night. Beautiful restaurant and very nice staff. We…read morestarted at the bar but learned that the full menu not served there-only the small plate side of menu. We had guacamole, tuna chifa, cauliflower tempura and corn salad. All very delicious. While we sat there the hostess indicated a table was available so we moved. There we had the lamb chops which were OUTSTANDING! Our server was a lovely young woman named Elizabeth who really made our evening. At the bar was Javinder (sp.?)who takes his cocktails seriously and who is excellent. Only critique is I wish they had more of a wine list but we did enjoy a Nero D'avola. We look forward to returning !

They did a very good job with the ambience--the place has a great feel, and the food was excellent…read moreand unique. I really hope this restaurant is around for a long time because it has a ton of potential. That said, a few things need to be addressed for it to have real staying power. It's very expensive for fairly small portions, and the wine and cocktail pours were surprisingly light. It feels a little too obvious that they're paying close attention to the margins, and at these prices, guests shouldn't leave feeling that way. Hopefully they make a few adjustments, because the food, atmosphere, and overall concept are excellent. I'd definitely like to see this place succeed.