Food was pretty good! They definitely have an interesting menu, although I hated how dark the restaurant was, it was really odd to me. The service was fine, but this place wasnt anything to rave about. But would I eat hear again? Well only if someone else is paying again, if not I would pass. read more

We had a holiday party here for work! Food was good and the waiters were great! The waiters were constantly at our tables asking if we needed anything. They were very accommodating! They even danced with some of my coworkers. They were a lot of fun! The food was good not great. Pasta primavera was very basic...nothing exciting. But overall everything was good! read more

The concept of an Italian place plus sushi intrigued me. While curious, I thought, the sushi can't be very good. It's like when you go to a Chinese/Korean/Thai place that pretend to be a good sushi bar, it always fails. But I was only 5 minutes away and craving sushi, and it's 9pm, so let's give it a whirl. I should've trusted my instincts. The place sits at a corner street across from a canal, lovely spot and great atmosphere inside. To the left was the bar and I pulled up a seat upon arriving. The first bar tender was not too friendly, "What do you want?" Well, this is a restaurant and I'm sitting down, so...."Can I have a menu?" The menu doesn't fit this place, it looks like a big flyer type that's wrapped in plastic, like you would find at Friendly's. I browsed the menu, obviously a good wine place, with cocktails, not so much beer. There are many Italian items on the menu, but also standard American fares, and then the sushi. It was quite a mix. I had to again wave down the bar keep to order a glass of wine, which was a very healthy pour. She still wasn't too friendly as I ordered the sushi/sushimi dinner, which had way too much sushi I couldn't even finish. So quantity is a plus. This is when the manager started tending the bar, and she was the most friendly server I've had in a while. What a change in attitude! The sushi came. It was a lot like I said, but tasted a bit blend, just okay. I would definitely come back and try something Italian or the burgers sounded good too. read more

Business dinner of 4, good food but high price. The olive and cheese for the table was a nice treat. They know. How to do the "nice Italian dinner" It was rowdy when we went, but that could have been a one off. read more

I went to Ovations for the first time yesterday to celebrate a friend's birthday. The bar has great happy hour specials including $5 glasses of wine and martinis, $2.50 domestic bottles and $3 appetizers from 4-7. There was a big group of us for dinner and I was so surprised with how quickly our food came out (usually with big groups, it could take hours from beginning to end). They have a concise menu that at the same time offers a lot of variety. I ordered an avocado roll to start and the steak sandwich with salad as my main. Everyone seemed to like their food and I thought mine was very good. The staff also treated the birthday girl to a round of shots for the ENTIRE table, which was very nice of them. I wouldn't mind going back in the future for both happy hour or dinner. read more

Tony the manager is the best! Always treats us like special guests and takes cares of us! Love coming here, the atmosphere is fun and classy, the food is great! read more

From the moment we walked in everything was superb: the host greeted us with the warmest welcome we've ever had. He offered 2 starter drinks on the house and sat us down at his "favorite" booth. The beet salad was delicious and the entrees were spectacular. I ordered the salmon special with risotto and my friend ordered the short ribs. The risotto was perfectly cooked and the Short ribs were fork tender. The host, Tony, checked on us often and chatted a bit, which was nice. I definitely recommend Ovations to anyone who visits the area. read more

Lobster bisque was not very creamy (+) and lots of chunks of lobster but too much salt Need a better wine by the glass menu but its passable Scallops and shrimp risotto again was too salty but it did have good flavors (- the salt) and texture Fast service (sat down at ~615 pm) Stylish ambience with attractive hostesses to match 4 stars - salt = 3 stars read more

I can't write enough about what a wonderful find this sophisticated elegant establishment was. One of the warmest receptions I have received in a long time and the dish I let Tony order for me is outstanding. If I lived down this way it would be a home away from home. Thank you Ovations. read more

Ovations - This is the dish Tony ordered for me and it is wonderful. Chicken Ovation. Can't believe how nice everybody is here. - Italian Near Me - South Bound Brook, New Jersey

Been to Ovations a couple times and have not been disappointed. The atmosphere is done very nicely, having a modern and trendy city feeling to it. The food is great as well. I loved their Endive Salad so much that I've taken to recreating it at home. Their Vodka Sauce is also very good, having a nice balance of acidity and creaminess with perfectly cooked al dente penne and shrimp in it. The staff is very nice and attentive and no matter what you ask them for they do their best to accommodate you. I would definitely recommend them! read more

Great food ambiance and terrific service. Bartender Eric was outstanding and made a great manhattan read more

Ovations - Sushi chef - Italian Near Me - South Bound Brook, New Jersey

I've been here a number of times. I walked in and a dishelved woman behind the bar flung her hand to tell me to sit down at the table when i asked for a table of one. She was rude and not the caliber of appearance I'm accustom of at this restaurant. I asked my waiter what happened to the customers being seated. The food was still good but when you spend $50 for lunch the caliber of service and food must be spectacular. read more

2.5 stars, mainly because service is terrible. The bartender disappeared for about 20 minutes and seemed generally annoyed to be there. Flies swarming the lights surrounding the bar. Lights turned down stupidly low at 5:15 almost too dark to even read the menu. We also weren't told about any specials, we heard other people being told as we were leaving. The food was really pretty good, so it's really a shame. Won't be back. read more

June 2018- I ordered food for delivery through an app. (Grub hut if I'm remembering correctly) After I placed the order, I immediately called to push back the delivery time because my fiance was running late. They said that they can not do that as they already started cooking it. 30 seconds after I hit place order? Okay. Not a big deal. Delivery was as scheduled. The food came hot, however, it was not good at all. I ordered penne a LA vodka with chicken. The chicken was chewy and inedible. It's a shame because the pasta was cooked really well. The sauce was too creamy for my preference. Overall I was disappointed that I spent so much money for food I ended up trashing. 3 stars for the delivery temp and accuracy of my order. Maybe dine in is better? read more

Cool and trendy spot to enjoy a drink and amazing sushi. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend

Took my boyfriend for the first time for dinner on a Wednesday night as I myself used to be a frequent flier here a few years back. Its better than I remember and he enjoyed it as well. A good crowd for an early Wednesday dinner with a super attentive server and just overall friendly staff. Great decor with a cool vibe and the food...well there was nothing to complain about. The calamari was great along with the seaweed salad and spinach salad. I ordered sushi and my boyfriend some chicken concoction that was delicious. So glad to see this restaurant has gotten better with time! read more

Good food but I think it's too pricey for the quality. The drinks are great and the happy hour makes them worth the price for sure. Definitely be aware of the time when you go. read more

After hearing what a wonderful place this was, I was completely disappointed with my visit. The food was good but the service left a lot to be desired. When we attempted to discuss our disappointment with management, it was evident that our point of view was not important. It will be a long time before I visit here again. read more

Great food, wonderful atmosphere, and fantastic service! There is no doubt I will be back again, again and again!

I cannot even state how bad this experience was. Let's start with the watery mac and cheese, with absolutely no flavor. Then move on to main course waited an hour or more for an over cooked dried out burger, congealed pasta, and 7 lettuce leaves they called a 10.50 salad. The manager said they were busy for Christmas parties and only had one chef. Really Christmas comes the same time each year. This used to be a great spot, I would run away read more

Started off with the sake flirtini. Don't let the name intimidate you,it's an awesome drink. Sushi was decent from a non-sushi restaurant.The only disappointment was the portion size.It left me unfullfilled read more

I got here at 8:15 expecting to have a appetizer and a entree. The sushi roll I had was excellent ( Hi Hater Roll) I was having fun and laughing with friends went to order my entree and the waiter said the kitchen is now closed -_- it was 9 o clock on a Saturday night!! I only had two martini's and one sushi roll and before i knew it they walked over with the check. Good sushi ( and the one piece of flat bread I had from my friends plate) but why closing so early on a Saturday!? read more

Not sure how so many people had bad experiences...Can't relate! I ordered the chicken francese. Contrary to previous reviewers, my food arrived promptly and they were moderately busy at 7 pm on a Saturday night. Perfect sized portion (left full but not starving or stuffed), very delicious. The lemon sauce was the perfect consistency, not too watery. Had the perfect amount of lemon zing to it. I opted out of the pasta on the side and ordered it with the mashed potatoes and green beans. Definitely made the right choice as those were both very flavorful and tasted wonderful with the remainder of the lemon sauce on the bottom of the dish. This restaurant is definitely on the pricey side but well worth it in the end. I will definitely return here! Glad I finally gave this place a try after driving past it for so many years. Side note: the staff were all very friendly and attentive. My waiter was phenomenal! Made the experience THAT much better. read more

In town on business so Im dining alone which seemed to garner poor service as I watched my server bend over backwards for a table of 8 or so. Had to ask to be read the specials as my first encounter with him was, " you ready?" As he passed by. Bread came the table. Served with Sriracha mayo. Odd combo. Odd restaurant (sushi, italian, fine dining). Ordered New England clam chowder special. Decent but not traditional. Had the lobster and crab ravioli entree. Pretty sure these were frozen. Pasta was undercooked, filling was imitation crab and tasted like it. Will not return. Coworkers who recommended this might be fired tomorrow. read more

Ovations is the absolute last type of place you would expect to find in South Bound Brook. In fact if you explained it to me I would guess it was a place in Manhattan. The decor of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful and although I don't put a lot of stock in way a place is decorated, it's clear the owners put quite a bit of time in to this and it shows. There are 3 clear sections of the restaurant. There is a very nice outdoor patio area which is great for enjoying a beautiful day and you won't be to distracted by traffic since the road outside is not a high volume area. There is the bar/bar tables area which I would choose if I was going out with a group for drinks or grabbing a quick appetizer. Finally there is the dining room which is best for a more casual, low key sit down dinner. The food here I would describe a mixture of Italian and seafood. I've never had a bad meal here so you really cant go wrong. One of the coolest things about this place is that they have a full sushi menu and a sushi chef on site. There sushi is first class and matches anything you will find in a dedicated sushi restaurant. Although I'm more of a beer or straight alcohol type of guy they do have a very creative bar menu. Tons of martinis and specialty drinks if that is your thing. They also have a bottle of cognac which is $150 a shot. Seems a little overboard, but if that's your thing go for it. read more

As it's near my office, it was at first a convenience option, but having been there several times the past few years, I've never been disappointed. Most of the servers like to put on a bit of a show, with their mile long specials list, but I kind of appreciate the number of options, to go with their adequate sized base menu to begin with. I'm a fan of both sushi and Italian food, so this fusion combo works for me. read more

This is the best local restaurant around. Manhattan style atmosphere and quality of food with great prices. No other restaurant around incorporates the quality fare combined with amazing sushi. The wait staff are great as well. The perfect place to bring a date read more

Unfortunately I have to post this negative review. My friends and I have been going here for a year now. We usually have a great time and spend a good amount. We tip well and get along with the staff. Our most recent visit wasnt as pleasant. We were sitting outside and the umbrella flew out of its stand and landed on my friend. My friend had to catch it as it knocked her beer all over her clothes. It could have hurt her! My friend was drenched. Her pants were wet and so was her top. All they did was take off the beer that spilled. They apologized but we left because my friend was soaked down to her under garments. I would think they would do more for us considering we are regulars and support their business. We are beyond disappointed with the service we received. read more

Ovations - This was the aftermath. And all she got was a beer that spilled and a sorry! - Italian Near Me - South Bound Brook, New Jersey

I ordered the Cajun Chicken Caesar wrap. It was regular grilled chicken, lettuce and dressing. The chicken wasn't Cajun and it didn't have the cashews or anything else it says on the menu. The side salad was just greens drowning in dressing. Nothing else on it. However the staff is extremely nice! read more

Ok...It all starts when you walk in the door and you are welcomed like an old family friend. I actually think I have a family I didn't know about before. Such a great menu that is half Italian and half sushi...strange, but great! So, the 5 stars really fall on Tony and the wait staff. Ask Tony to concoct a shot for you. Even if you're not a shot kind of person, it'll be worth it. The attention he and the other wait staff gave was amazing. Seriously, it's like a big, funny, boisterous family meal without the sibling rivalry or fights over politics. Ask for Tony...just do it. read more

The desk at the DoubleTree in Somerset recommended this place; we shamed them into giving us an extra hotel cookie when we got back. Wine list, right up there with Ruby Tuesdays. Swordfish was fishy. Risotto was gummy. As best I recall, go to the Frog and Peach in New Brunswick read more

Ok how about an Asian-Italian fusion place run by Russians in a quite neighborhood in NJ. The initial shock wares off and the place is cool. The place is a converted house on a corner. The food is awesome, had the crab and lobster ravioli with pink sauce. WOW this stuff should be illegal. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. The food is amazing, staff is very friendly, attentive, and professional. The manager Tony is amazing! I feel the food is well priced and the sushi is out of this world! We booked a private party there for next month and I'll be sure to give an updated review once the even comes along. Great spot and perfect place for a date!!! read more

Modern and trendy nyc style look/decor which is nice. However, food is "okay" I probably prefer this place as a drinks and appetizer rather than a full meal place. Would I go back: Probably Would I recommend: Unlikely Favorite dish: Don't have one yet Tips: Avoid the chicken quesadilla read more

Had dinner here tonight. It was "ok". The ambiance was cool but that's pretty much where the excitement ends. The menu lack variety and I can assure you, they don't want children here. Brought my 5 year old and there was literally nothing for her. Anyway, the service was a bit slow (and we got there early). The appetizer (calamari) is better at my local pizzeria and likely cheaper. The main courses were good, but had way too much sauce added (I had the salmon and broccoli rabe... would have been excellent with the extra sauce added). Price is what you can expect when the place wants to act like they belong in Hoboken. And it was full, so apparently others don't agree with me. Enjoy. read more

Had to change my review. I had a couple of so-so dinners that I took out but eating in @ Ovations is always a great time. From Lobster Bisque, to steak tips, to sushi, this place really hits the spot. The food, service, and decor is the right mix. Looking forward to hitting up my old haunt with the hubby again soon! read more

In town for work and found Ovations again. So glad I did. The seafood rizzoto is excellent. Staff is very friendly and Tony, the owner, even stopped to check on me. Definitely becoming a must stop when I'm in town. read more

Went with a large group of friends - they made seating arrangements for us quickly - and this was the end of any positive service we received. A group of 15 people were given 2 bread baskets to share, never refilled. We were given 3 small containers of water for the evening - never refilled. I had a single cup of coffee - never refilled nor was one ever even offered. We were very rarely checked on even though it was not very busy. In the end, there was much confusion on the bill and I ended up charged multiple times (taken care of) - but it did take about 20 minutes to get taken care of once we had the bill. I typically start my tips at 25% and adjust up or down from there based on service. It is extremely rare for me to leave less than a 20% tip. I left a $3 tip for a $60 meal. Now with that said, if I could have tipped the cook I would have. The food was spectacular. I had smoked salmon and super white tuna sushi, followed by blackened swordfish, finished off with a chocolate soufflet. Every bite was wonderful from the beginning to the end. It was just sad that we had to be given such poor service. If we had even been given barely average service, I would have happily given 5 stars. Great food - not so great service read more

Another suburban New Jersey gem on a nice stretch of Canal Road. Great menu and wine list, prompt service, and classy vibe. Highly recommended if you're in the neighborhood. read more

My husband had the braised lamb and enjoyed it. I had the mushroom ravioli which was extremely salty. Our appetizer was a 'chicken' dish that had way more broccoli than chicken. I like to try new places in the area but I won't return here. read more