Panini Bistro

Phenomenal meal. From the char-grilled octopus to the cavatappi with short rib, to the coffee after…read morethe meal, DAYENU! Dining companion had the beet salad with shrimp which she found "lip-smacking." Not much by way of atmosphere, but great service. We'll be back.

Every dish I've ever had at Gusto Grill has been lovely - their pasta dishes are great, the burgers…read moreare juicy and flavorful, and they have an interesting mix of delicious apps/small plates. On our most recent visit, we sat at the outdoor patio seating area during happy hour - the happy hour sliders were super soft & flavorful, and the dirty Gusto chips were great. We also enjoyed a few ffordable drinks ($8-10 each) from the happy hour menu. I loved the fried goat cheese app from the regular menu - two decent sized pucks of goat cheese, fried with a light/crispy outer crust, served with a honey-fig reduction. For the entrees - the truffle Gouda smash burger had a unique blend of flavors, and the loaded mac & cheese is one of our usual favorites - soft cavatappi pasta spirals, super cheesey, and delicious salt bacon sprinkled throughout. The ambiance is casual and calm, but still more elevated than your run-of-the-mill chain restaurants, and the service was attentive & friendly.

Interiors

Fries here are delicious!

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Red Sangria

MJ's Restaurant Bar & Grill

3.4(139 reviews)

0.5 mi

I have been to the Matawan location a million times so my expectations were super high. I was…read morereally disappointed in comparison. This location does not have outdoor seating, they did not have some of the items to make the drinks on the menu and the food just wasn't the same as the matawan location. That being said, the service was incredible. Everyone was so nice and friendly and attentive. I would definitely give them another shot though

MJ's in Spotswood had the 'Dowden Brothers Band' for last night (5/29) on their website, but in…read morereality only one person was singing and playing an acoustic guitar in the bar area. Is it a false advertisement or an "one man band"? Very disappointed to say the least since we went there so we could dance to a full live band. Having one person playing in the bar area just adds more noise. A full live band is loud and energetic which drowns the noise and gets people on the dance floor and sit there tapping and/or nodding their head. Before 2026, MJ's in Spotswood had full bands playing almost every weekend. Now it is just the other way around with one or two musicians. You really need a drummer to get people on the dance floor. The Cabin restaurant in Freehold on the other hand always has full bands playing every weekend and the dance floor is always packed as well as the rest of the restaurant. We like MJ's in Spotswood since it is close by us and our friends. We hope it will bring back full bands on the weekends regularly. Also, We went to MJ's in Spotswood last Tuesday night (5/26) for their prime rib dinner special. It didn't come with a salad. Asked for an end cut but they said they don't serve them. The prime rib on both plates had globs of un-rendered fat and gristle but no crust. We spent half of our time trimming the fat and gristle away. The cheese on the baked potato was not even melt. The bacon bits on the baked potato were so dry and hard. No butter or sour cream. The only thing good on the plate was the green beans. So not sure their prime rib dinner is worth the price.

Chicken wings and fried calamari

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Garlic Parm and Honey Thai wings 12 Piece On The Bone with Sauce

The Doughfather

4.1(49 reviews)

1.3 mi

A friend and I grabbed some lunch at The Doughfather and overall, it was good. They offer indoor…read moredining near their pizza counter if you are just there to grab a couple of slices, but also have a separate dining room for the full restaurant service. I had a Stillwell slice and buffalo chicken slice, both of which were fresh and tasty. The buffalo chicken slice however was not spicy at all, so I'd consider getting a side of buffalo to dip/drizzle to add a kick. I also had their in house orange soda which was very good! My friend had a Sicilian slice, grandma slice, and root beer, all of which he enjoyed. We also grabbed 3 plain slices to go and the total was a little over $40, which was a little higher than expected. They have a large variety of slices which is enough to draw me in for another try. See you soon!

The Doughfather had a smaller spot, but it has since moved to a larger place with a sit-down…read morerestaurant that's truly romantic, classic and special. The inside has the typical takeout pizza counter for quick, casual dining. The sit down experience you need to be or should dress up. Perfect for a family gathering, or a date with your special one. The owner and the staff know are profesional, they're funny and engaging. *The food quality: they only put the best ingredients- and you can rate it *alfredi pasta is incredible.. just amazing *the calzone is ridiculously huge -- My favorite experience was when i ordered a calzone with a ridiculous amount of pineapple and i love pineapple on pizza too

Calzone

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Sándwich

Arooga's

3.0(448 reviews)

2.0 mi

My husband and I decided to stop here for dinner as we always see everyone raving about Arooga's…read moreand we constantly pass it on 18. I can see this place being packed on game days as there are TV's everywhere even in the bathrooms which I thought was funny haha. Unfortunately, we couldn't sit on the patio since it was rainy when we came here. I got the chicken fajitas and them came out on a sizzling plate which was a nice touch. The chicken wasn't anything to write home about. It had a nice grill flavor but other than that not much depth. The cheese was just shredded cheese from a bag and it seemed like the salsa was from a jar. My husband got old bay wings which he loves. He said they had the perfect amount of old bay on them as many places usually skimp on the seasoning. I would come back again if we were meeting up with friends to watch a game but probably not just for dinner.

Buffalo boli and chopped salad are both delicious, but the menu is full of delicious options to…read moretry. Service is always fast and ambiance is great to watch for a night with friends or watching a sports game!

Crab dip

Lava flow

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Amish pierogis

General Saloon

3.4(158 reviews)

1.8 mi

I specifically came here because I kept seeing social media posts about their bar pie and I just…read morehad to try it. It is very off the beaten path, an old timey, local pub. I can't tell if the theme is western or nascar haha. There wasn't a hostess so we just picked a table to sit. We came here on a Sunday at 5:30 PM. Good thing we came early because by the time we left around 7:00 PM it was absolutely packed. My husband and I got bacon and pepperoni on our bar pie. They don't skimp on the toppings and the cheese pull is pretty good. The crust is nice and thin and reminds me of Frederici's in Freehold. The pizza was a bit oily but nothing a blotting napkin can't fix. One thing we were really surprised by was the Spinach and Artichoke dip. Not only does it come with tortilla chips but also a fresh crusty bread roll for dipping. The dip was so creamy and delicious, almost like a soup. We loved it! If we have a hankering for some pizza pie or dip we will return.

A nice small town type of spot to grab a bite and a drinks. Came here for dinner to just unwind and…read moregrab a cold one. Enjoyed a pie, some potato skins, and chicken parm. If you're looking for a low key chill spot, try this place out.

Dining area

Sweet Potato Maple Cheesecake

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French onion is so good.

Al's Grill Spanish Food and Fried Chicken

I stop here for breakfast from time to time and the breakfast sandwiches are always on point. If…read moreyou're in the area, I highly recommend.

Had a bacon egg and cheese sandwich and it is one of the best fresh sandwiches I've had in a very…read morelong time.

Belgian Waffle with Syrup

Pancakes with Syrup

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Mexican Crispy Chicken Tacos with Pixo De gallo, Sour cream and Salsa

IHOP

2.8(109 reviews)

2.4 mi

Went to IHOP with my fiancé, and unfortunately, it was a miss. Ambiance was a typical ihop. The…read moreservice was mid, but the food was the real disappointment. I ordered the sirloin steak tips & eggs with crepes. The crepes were weirdly thick, rubbery, and just not good. As for the "sirloin steak tips"... let's just call it mushrooms with a sprinkle of steak.The whole dish was greasy and underwhelming. My fiancé got the waffle combo, and even that was just... meh. Maybe they were having an off day, who knows. If you want to try your luck, I won't stop you but personally, I won't be going back.

On the day of the huge blizzard we decided to check out the nearest IHOP for a great breakfast…read morebefore the storm. The place was packed especially given location to a Hotel. Service was good although a hint for the hostesses to leave extra napkins and serve a hot pot of decaf coffee in the morning. As seniors e had the rise and shine and it was cooked well (reminder offer jam with the toast). The Manager greeted us when we arrived and left.

IHOP

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IHOP

Denny's

Arielle ( Starr) is amazing !!! Very friendly and attentive. I don't know how you guys only got two…read morestars . You deserve like 100. I come here about once a month and the quality has never failed with Arielle . Much love

Maria is the best waitress, she brings the food the fastest and remembers the accurate order! I…read morelove Denny's Strawberry Vanilla crepes! I wish they'd bring back the egg breakfast. That was a good deal for people that don't eat a lot. I love the nostalgic vibe of the restaurant.

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Stewart's Root Beer

3.2(72 reviews)

2.8 mi

Good service and PLENTY of veg and vegan friendly options. They are even identified on their own…read moremenu page. Had the vegan coney island dog, fries and some chkn tenders. Originally asked for nuggets but they were out. Tenders seemed a LOT like the gardein variety but were crispy and came with a honey mustard sauce. The coney island dog was ok- the veg dog was a bit rubbery - probably the light life brand? Chili had beans in it and the portion sizes were good. Fries were okay- they were hot and crisp but I am not a huge fan of the fries that have little kernels of batter on them to make them "extra crispy". Overall- a solid option for a quick bite if you are vegetarian and want a LOT of options to choos from. Note: My buddy had the fat wraps with tenders, fries and mozz sticks INSIDE a hollowed out sub roll and was a huge fan!

If you like eating your sandwich with a fork, this is your place…read more Shocking, really. I've been ordering fat sandwiches here for years without issue. So, the fellow on the phone explaining the reason for the floppy sandwich is due to the amount of condiments requested on the sandwich just doesn't add up. Chock it up as a bad night? Or maybe something changed within their operation.

Chicken cheese steak

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Vegan Coney Island Dog

Otilia's Cafe

4.4(116 reviews)

0.1 mi

World Cup must have.. go Portugal CR7 for life.. The…read morePortugal favor is authentic, I usually get take out because I have a toddler. I use to diner in BYOB and vibe is excellent. Highly recommended... it is for sure a hidden treasure..

Amazing food and a great value! I got a Piri Piri Frango bowl to go and I had enough left over for…read morea full meal the next day. I called in my order and it was ready within 15 minutes. When I arrived, there was one other party waiting for an order, but not too many dining in-person. I got the vibe that it's more of a to-go type of place than sit-down dinner-date establishment. I will definitely be back.

Chicken Empanada, Beef Empanada

Sweet Fried Plantains

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Shrimp in Whiskey Cream Sauce and duck with rice

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7 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Eleonora L.

6 years ago

I don't know what this girl Carol C is talking about. I also ordered over $80 worth of your food and it was amazing. It is a shame that their is always one person out there that doesn't know what to do with her life but ruin an amazing business. I will order your food any time. Also the pictures online are not fake. I ordered P19, Prosciutto and Truffle Oil and it looks just like the picture on your website. Thank you for your services and don't let one lady get to you guys. Keep up the amazing service and yummy food. Be safe. Elle T. read more

Nicolo A.

6 years ago

Very good. I have had there food many times. My family loves their food as well. I would definitely recommend going there. I just had the classic Italian cold sub last night and it was great as always. read more

John N.

2 years ago

zero quality control. employees admitted knowing food was uncooked but still serves it anyway! not one employee was wearing hairnets for the head or face. do yourself a favor and go anyplace else. read more

Jean T.

4 years ago

very happy with this place since it opened. I like the paninis and salads. easy pick up or delivery.

Louis S.

6 years ago

Excellent food, excellent customer service, this place is my go-to for breakfast lunch and dinner!

Tamika A.

6 years ago

Small local spot. Only picked up bread ! It was great. Can't wait to try some of the food items.

Kristy P.

6 years ago

We have ordered breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert from here and everything was amazing!

Panini Bistro - salad - Updated September 2026

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I cannot say enough about Maria's Pizza. We order from both locations, and they're always…read moreconsistent. We visited here for a birthday dinner and the food was insanely delicious. We ordered a bar pie to share with added sesame seeds on top - A MUST TRY! It is not a menu item (yet ) but if you ask for it, you will be obsessed. We also ordered the Chicken Gabriella Bella Foccacia and The Godfather Foccacia and both were so so good. Their rosemary Foccacia is freshly baked, and out of this world. The staff is incredible, and so attentive. Definitely a spot that you should want to visit!

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