The service is consistently attentive and friendly, adding to the easygoing, comforting mood that great 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. read more

SamVera 476 Route 520 Marlboro, 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 read more

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My wife and I love SAM VERA restaurant as the owners (Steve/Sam) and staff are genuine people. The food is always excellent. Their prices are a wee bit high but "you get what you pay for!" They have a full bar and lots of wine options. If your a soccer lover, Steve/Sam will warm towards you even more LOL. I believe they have been in Marlboro 24+ years - impressive!!!! That speaks volumes. read more

This was our first visit to SamVera. I saw an add on FB and it looked interesting. First impression was that it was very big, almost like an old house. We were greeted at the door and shown to our table. The place was packed! We started with drinks, a Cosmo and vodka martini. A plate of crostini, red peppers, parmigiana cheese, green and Kalamata olives and pepperinci were placed on the table. We ordered baked clams and spedini as starters. Both were excellent although I found the spedini a little heavy. My main course was pollo SamVera, which had asparagus, artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes...outstanding! My wife ordered Saltimbocca à la Romano, veal topped with prosciutto in a wine sauce over spinach. Also very good. We shared a dessert of a hazelnut cake which was also very light and tasty. We also had a glass of wine each and I had a double espresso. I thought the bill was very reasonable at $194. Overall, I can see why the place was crowded with so may regulars. The wait staff was very friendly. Dinner was prompt but not rushed at all. There is no doubt we will be back. The only downside is that we found it a bit noisy but what restaurant isn't any more. Definitely a home run! Sorry but we have no pictures. read more

Love the atmosphere. Staff are many and personable. Food always great..my favorite is Branzino. Drinks are always perfect. Been coming here for over 20 years. My favorite!!! read more

If you're looking for a comfortable, classy Italian restaurant with a broad menu and great service, Sam Vera is a solid choice in the Marlboro area. I recently dined at Sam Vera in Marlboro, and overall it was a memorable experience worth recommending -- especially if you enjoy classic Italian cuisine with a bit of flair. From the moment you walk in, the ambience feels elegant andwelcoming. The restaurant is housed in a beautiful building with antique-style décor, soft music, and a comfortable cocktail lounge that sets the tone for a relaxed but sophisticated meal. I recently read more

This is one of my favorite places to go and now I DoorDash from them. I have had events there as well. The owner, Steve always greets you with a smile and is so easy to deal with. The staff is so professional. The drinks are generous and well made. The food is clean, not rich. Traditional and delicious. The pricing is at or below all similar in Monmouth County. One of the best around. read more

I attended a party here. The service was attentive, the food was enjoyable and the owner checked on each table. There is a private parking lot. Overall good experience. read more

The place has very good atmosphere and staff mostly pleasant. Unfortunately, the food this time was so-so. One complaint, it was very bland. They offered to remake the order the pasta dish special as a way to charge for the plate. I did not want them to remake it but they did. It was still bland and that time I lost my appetite. Of course they charged me anyway. Second time I was disappointed read more

Great place ! Love their food. Family atmosphere. Service attentive. Totally recommend !!! Had my birthday party there as well. Tremendous hit with everyone. Definitely give it a try !!! read more

I would probably give this restaurant at least a three or maybe even a four until we got the check earlier today. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the service was excellent. The food was a little bland but very good. One of the "additional" specials was dover sole. Three of the four of us ordered it. Okay, three tiny pieces along with a potato croquette and a few veggies. Like I said earlier, a little bland but OK. When we got the bill - $59.95 each ! When I questioned the waiter he said we should have been told the price. A little too late I think. One place we definitely not return to. read more

We celebrated New Year's Day at Sam Vera for lunch. Having driven past the beautifully restaurant hundreds of times we made it a point to finally try it out. We were very happy with our decision and enjoyed everything from the ambiance to the service and of course the food. I had the dishes shown in the photos below. The sea bass was filleted at the table side and it was quite tasty. Overall, we recommend coming here if you haven't already been. read more

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I can't believe I had never heard about this place. We don't live close but it was well worth the trip. They start you with a plate of cold antipasto on the house. The wine list was amazing. The service was outstanding too very old school and on top of everything. The food was also excellent. We had the hot antipasto for appetizer which was very good. I had a veal with mushroom special which was outstanding. My wife had veal parmigiana which was also excellent. They also will make any changes you want to the entree which was awesome. Dessert was also very good. The atmosphere was also very nice. We will be back. read more

Excellent food friendly service entrees to desert was excellent Family atmosphere Lots of parking read more

Amazing all around ! Food is delicious. Service top notch. Ambiance is great! Menu has a lot of choices to choose from!

There is no better place for service than here. The food is great. Never had a bad meal. All servers work together. No waiting on your waiter here. Steve, Sammy,Becco, and the rest of the staff are amazing. The pork chop is the best around! Tony makes great drinks as well. Everyone enjoy! read more

After passing Same Vera's many times over the past few years and reading reviews, I figured I would give it a try. Although the service were very good, I was disappointed overall with the food and atmosphere. The food was mediocre at best. The bread was stale. Certainly not what I expected from a higher end Italian restaurant. The atmosphere was dark and dated which was surprising from the looks of the exterior. Conclusion. Not horrible, but not worth the price and many other better restaurants in the area. I won't be returning. read more

Sam Vera has been around for a long time, and there is a reason for that. They serve classic Italian food and it doesn't disappoint. Steve and his staff are welcoming and warm, and you always feel at home. They go beyond to provide exceptional service and I always have a great experience. Try the veal chop, baked clams, spaghetti carbonara and napoleon for dessert. If you haven't been in a while, go back! read more

The food was great, the service was great and the atmosphere was great. The owner came by personally to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. What more can I say. read more

Our birthday celebration for my husband could not have been any better. From start to finish, the staff, the food, the room itself were all just superb. The staff were so accommodating, polite, friendly and wanting everything to be just right for each guest. The food was delicious and hot and we all got served at the same time which is often challenging. What else can i say except that we will be celebrating our occasions again at this warm, welcoming establishment in the future. read more

This place must have been wonderfull back in the day and I wish I was there then. Its a really nice looking restaurant with a large bar. It appears to be family owned - and for thier sake I hope they can turn things around, needs a new chef, new menu, Gordon Ramsey! Food was like bad weding food - Blah and over priced best of luck to Sam read more

gone there many times food is good service is excellent the Decour is excellent and all the employees very good people. Very classy place at a reasonable price for what you get. read more

As always Sam Vera delivers!!! My wife and I had other plans that fell through last minute, so we called Sam Vera At 6:07 on a Saturday Night and They Told us to come at 6:30!!! At first we thought really? On a Saturday they can accommodate us on such short notice when we got to the restaurant it was packed every table was filled and they were still greeted us and welcomed us as if we had a standing reservation, Our Table was Fabulous, Joe our Waiter was Great and The entire Staff was So welcoming and PROFESSIONAL! The Food was Fresh and Delicious , we had a Great meal, would Recommend and we will be back. read more

This is my go to restaurant. I go 2-4 times a month and it never disappoints food wise! Good wine selection and knowledgeable and friendly staff! read more

We went to Samvera for dinner late on a Saturday night... there were 5 in our party when we started but we shortly became 7 when some friends came in for a drink. We were with some regulars and were warmly greeted by the staff and immediately given a table in the bar area. The complimentary antipasto plate is worth five stars alone. In addition, we started with their stuffed artichoke which was delicious as well. I went with the prawn special that was served with a salad - it was more than enough food. Other meals at the table included veal chop, seafood salad, chicken with sausage, and fettucine alfredo. Luckily I didn't pay the bill as it was a bit on the pricey side... however, the group left satisfied. Not sure if it was just the night we were there, but this place caters to a real Jersey scene if you know what I mean. (Picture jumping right into dinner with the Sopranos). read more

Went to dinner here for the first time and had a great experience there. Read all the comments and wasn't too impressed with what I read but my wife wanted to go there so off we went. Atmosphere was very nice and clean. Servers were polite and efficient. Food was delicious and average priced. All in all I would love to go back read more

Pros: good Italian food, not great. The restaurant has two sides, one with the bar and one without. The service is attentive which is always nice. I love the dish of antipasto that they give you after you're seated. The cheese and olives are delicious and so is the bread. The specials are very good. Cons: It isn't a BYOB. The specials are better than the regular menu but there's no prices. So when the bill comes and I'm thinking I know pretty much what it will be - I'm way off. SamVera is ok once in a while because it's in the neighborhood on route 520. I see a lot of business people in there probably because they can charge it to the company as a business dinner! read more

Pass. Unless you have endless time, pass. Should dinner on a Saturday night, 1/25/20, take 3 hours plus? I think not. Endless 'I'm so sorry we are backed up'. Food not worth the wait. Papardelle bolognese, even my three kids didn't like it. Chicken Marsala --bland is overstating . Vibe inside you ask? Well let's just say that an actual fight broke out in the restaurant between patrons ...too many F Bombs to count.. waiters just laughed it off.. too many other good choices around. Pass on this former funeral home.. read more

Wow! The service is impeccable and the food is simply fantastic. We went after our trip to RED TANK BREWING in Red Bank and it was just fant

We've eaten at Sam Vera several times over the past year. This week we went during the week. The food, service and atmosphere were excellent. We were seated in the "brighter" dining room. We had a fresh, well chilled fish salad, a cold antipasto with an delicious Argentinian parmigiana cheese, assorted pickled peppers and olives, and the lightly floured fried calamari with a marinara sauce. Entrees were red snapper with mussels and clams in a light red sauce, tasty pasta Alfredo with grilled pancetta, a light cream sauce and fresh peas, I had the well seasoned and spicy shrimp over a homemade pasta. Desserts are pricy and portions are small. Reservations on weekends and it's busy, noisy and the service is slower because of many orders in the kitchen. read more

Went here for a girls holiday dinner...passed it many times but always thought it was catering hall. His niece owns a trattoria in Jackson that's really good & told me! Glad we finally made it...everyone was nice...my gnocchi was great...portions were big so I took some home & had room for dessert...which was sensational! Xoxo read more

My family and I went for dinner at SamVera Restaurant for Mother's Day. The service was great. The waiter and servers were also very nice. If you are Italian this is definitely a place to go. The food was excellent and I would definitely recommend the vongole arreganato and orecchiette cime di rabe. Also checkout the yummy desserts!! Tartufo is the best. read more

SamVera Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Marlboro, New Jersey

We were a large group. The dining room is very loud. We had to yell across the table to hear those sitting across the table. I'm not sure how the service is organized. One person took our order, another person served half of our food. My food along with my dinner companions' was over cooked. One dinner companion's dinner came out 10-15 mins after everyone else's at the table. Half the diners' dirty dinner plates sat on the table for 20 minutes after the other half of the table's plates had been cleared and doggy bags had been delivered. Dessert came and coffee came almost 1/2 hour later. A confused server walked around asking tables eating dessert if a dessert was theirs, not knowing which table had ordered it. Many waitstaff alone does not make fine dining. read more

This is a fine Italian Restaurant! The welcome by the owner, (maitre' D) upon our arrival was very pleasant. (It was surprising not to be welcomed by a teenage girl, busy playing with her phone and clearly annoyed at the interruption caused by any arriving costumers distracting her ). The food was delicious and prepared with original recipes. The waiters provided perfect service and the atmosphere is classy and pleasant. I think the prices are reasonable. A perfect place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. This is one of two terrific restaurants I have had the pleasure to find, since I moved to NJ from NYC three years ago ! Thank You. read more

I wish I could give negative stars. For the record, I joined Yelp for the sole reason of writing this review to help the greater good by warning all others to never go to this restaurant. We had the hands-down WORST pasta dish we ever had (how do you mess up pasta bolognese?). Other than that, the shrimp was slimy, the bread was stale, and the pasta tasted like my 10 year old son's first experiment trying to make food. I have nothing else to say other than go ANYWHERE other than this restaurant. The one topic that kept coming up during dinner was "how could this restaurant still be in business?" OMG. read more

This place is a pretty nice restaurant! It's a stand alone restaurant so they actually have their own parking! It's definitely a romantic little spot for date night on a Friday or Saturday! read more

Sam Vera Restaurant located on 520 has an unbelievable location and has the potential to be great. When you get inside the atmosphere, lighting are great and has a great Italian feel to it. The Service is top of the line. Next thing you know the food comes out..... this is where the 2 stars come from. Very bland, we had a party of 8 and we all had a variety of food but all received the same side of Carrots and String beans, kind of felt like you were at a Wedding. Not one person enjoyed their dish. It was very disappointing. I should have realized going there on a Friday night and seeing only 4 out of the 20 tables have been sat. In conclusion a very pricey restaurant with Dry, boring food with great service. read more

I'm not sure why people like this place. Within 5 minutes there are two hands down better restaurants Osteria and Cuzzins I honestly think the food was bland at best and both uninspiring mushy risotto and Bronzini had no flavor. Sadly I haven't been here in two years and now I remember why. Not good. read more

How does this place stay in business? I guess by catering to regulars. Went for a quiet dinner with my adult son to catch up. Dining room was 1/4 full & we were seated next to a mixed table of 8, loud as could be. Should have moved immediately, but son was embarrassed to. Not the diners fault, just poor decision by staff. Perfunctory greeting by host, quick order by unengaged, uninterested waiter, verging on rude. Shrimp Fra Diavola was mediocre, son's veal very good. Waiter never asked if we wanted drink or water refills. Main Complaint: No one, waiter or maître de ever asked how our meals were. Isn't this restaurant 101? Skipped dessert, which seemed to aggravate server. I've never left less than 30-40% for good service, but left 15% here. Shame, because we live ~ 5 mile away. read more

Been coming here for many years. Good food. Good service. The staff is very friendly, and is always accommodating. If it's not on the menu, just ask. It does get a bit busy on Friday and Saturday nights, and the service suffers somewhat. But it's still always enjoyable, and very consistent. read more