The last time I visited Stefano's (prior to a couple of weeks ago) was probably five years ago. Ever since then, each summer, I practically begged my parents to bring us back (Black Whale or Pinziminios won out each time). Finally, after years of guilt trips, my parents gave in and we went to Stefano's for dinner. I would like to point out that they have been back multiple times in between and even brought my brother with them. Favoritism, am I right? So anyway, on a Saturday night, my parents treated my best friend and me to an Italian meal in LBI. We were on standby for a reservation and they called us the morning-of to offer us a spot, which was nice. We were seated promptly upon arrival. Overall, I was a bit disappointed that I went in with such high expectations. The food was good - not outstanding - and while there were certainly parts I enjoyed, I thought that the meal was overpriced. The good: -The homemade blue cheese dressing is absurd. I have no idea what they put in it and I don't want to know because I'm sure it'll ruin it for me. -The fish was super fresh. One of the highlights of my meal was the crab on top of my dish. -The Mac n cheese (served with the scallops) was awesome. The OK: -Most of the rest of the food fell in this category. Nothing that blew us out of the water, but nothing awful either. My lobster ravioli were OK. -The service was OK too. There were a few hiccups, nothing serious. The not so hot: -Why is it so dark in this restaurant? I could hardly read the menu. The menu was also gigantic and overwhelming. -The bread in the beginning had a tasteless red sauce on it that only served to make it soggy. -PRICES. I know LBI is pricey in general, but everything seemed expensive for what it was. -I am 90% sure I found a hair in my food. I didn't want my mom to have a total meltdown (or, even worse, a laugh at my expense since I've been asking to come here FOR. LITERALLY. YEARS) so I didn't say anything. Probably contributed to my only eating 2 of the ravs. Fact of the matter is that my expectations weren't met. For the prices, I would go to Black Whale or Howard's over this place, even though I tend to gravitate towards Italian food anyway. Maybe I caught them on an off night; I would be interested to see if I would enjoy it more next time. read more

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We come here during our family vacation and it's ALWAYS AMAZING! The sea bass is the best I've ever had and I look forward to it every year. read more

Stefano's - Sea Bass with vegetables & garlic sauce - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

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This was my first time at Stefano's, but the rest of our party has been there multiple times & always has raved about it - let me tell you, it lived up to the hype! Their outdoor tent setup was super nice & comfortable. We started with the Burrata Cheese Plate and Mediterranean Calamari - both were full of flavor and delicious. For meals, the Flounder Francaise, Garlic Steak, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Scallops over Risotto & Veal Chesapeake were all ordered and enjoyed by everyone! We then indulged in their delicious desert selection. read more

Our server Hannah is a rock star! Friendly, efficient, and energetic! I know a whole lot of servers (and bartenders!) on LBI that should take a page from her book! The food is good too!! read more

This review is based off of food alone - we got take out from here (thanks Covid). I'll save the 5th star for service once we are able to dine at the restaurant. It's still early days of opening so we opted for take out. Food Was Delicious. What did we order? The Mediterranean Calamari Tuna Siciliano - Rare Frutte de mar Milano Salad - I'm a sucker for gorgonzola cheese The calamari (appetizer and in the frutta del mar) was perfectly tender. The Tuna was medium rare but assuming that's due to sitting in the hot to go container. The tuna and the frutta del mar both had a crab risotto that was yummy. The only critique that my husband had was "too much olive" in the Tuna Siciliano but based on the description (olive crusted topped with olives) it makes sense that there were a lot of olives... He enjoyed it non the less!! Licked the plate clean. Portions were generous and everything was perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures - Next time... because there will definitely be a next time. read more

Every single thing we ate was really amazing. Tons of seafood in every dish and fresh! The sauce on the steamed clams appetizer was so good dipped in bread. The Seafood Abbondonza was unbelievable. Also the we subbed out the penne on the Flounder Francese for lobster mashed potatoes... need I say more? The service was great too. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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Our waiter was great. The ambiance is fine, food is flavorless, bland and not good. For these prices I expected much better. Better sauce in a can. Meatballs were dry and flavorless. Everyone in my party said their food was flavorless. read more

Ordered the barnegat Bay seared scallops There were three scallops overcooked on the outside and undercooked in the inside on a better risotto that was served lukewarm and not even hot extremely disappointing meal and very expensive. read more

This was our second year in a row staying in LBI and we knew we had to return to Stefano's because the food was amazing! We started with the eggplant special, and then my husband ordered the Seafood Abbondonza and I got the risotto Del Mar, both were excellent, (pictures are from last year since we ordered the exact same dishes again). We are looking forward to returning next year. read more

Stefano's - Seafood Abbondonza - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

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We had a wonderful time during our first time here. The food was good, but the marinara on the veal parm could have been better. The best part of the night by far was our server, Hannah, who was so friendly and passionate! Will keep this place on our list of places to go when on LBI. read more

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Really great service and food. Stefano's is a BYOB, so make sure you bring your wine and beer to really enjoy this place. The decor is bright, airy and coastal. We ordered the fried eggplant special and the mussels app. Just delicious!! The mussels app was so insanely delicious that we did not have enough bread to sop up that delicious garlic broth!!! I had the veal piccata, my husband had the scallops and pasta dish, daughter had chicken parm and other daughter had the seafood risotto. We all loved our meals and even tasted each of our dishes. Service was amazing, server checked on us quite often and gave us wonderful recommendations. For desert we shared a deconstructed tiramisu and the lemon cake though all the desserts looks delicious, I had little room for dessert. Both items were melt in your mouth, just amazing deserts. I will happily return to this establishment. read more

My favorite dining on the entire island. Top notch service and the food is incredible. Everything was fresh and pasta cooked perfectly al dente. Added bonus is it is BYOB which we didn't realize but a liquor store is minutes away. read more

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Been to many fine dining places on LBI in the 8 years I have been coming down here and this one is up there with a pretty decent Italian meal. Sure there were a few areas that could of been better but in all this was a decent menu with all sorts of selections and even some tasty specials. The place is not that large and seating inside and outside. Parking here is very tight and you either have to park in their tiny lot or on the street, don't even think about parking in the Verizon lot across the street or Dairy King next store. Place here gets pretty packed so wise to make a reservation. Service is prompt and attentive and pretty helpful and friendly. Food here is not just your standard past, but all sorts of Parmesan dishes, some pasta, a lot of seafood pasta and risotto dishes and also some chicken and steak dishes. Appetizers were delicious and bread brought to table is hot with garlic butter or olive oil. Entrees are large portions and there is a side salad with every meal. I ordered veal Parmesan and it was huge and tasted good, could of done without the plain boxed tube pasta underneath but in all not a bad dish. Dessert was very good with all sorts of selections which were delicious. Prices here, well its one of the finer dining places on the island and you will pay handsomely for this benefit so bring your wallet. Not a bad meal out of not many great places to eat on LBI. read more

Refused service with a Service Dog On August 30th, a Tues evening, I decided to go to Stefano's after reading the reviews and it was near the hotel I was staying. I called before hand asking about reservations. The woman that responded said that even if you don't have reservations, you can wait outside for a table and it's usually a 20 minute wait. I'm a woman 61 years old, polite and well dressed. I approached the outside desk with my service dog and immediately showed them his card. The girl said she had to get the manager. The manager came, in fact it was the owner that looked at me, then looked at the dog and said, "I'm sorry I cannot allow dogs". I told her he's a legitimate service dog, showed his card and she said "I'm sorry but I'm not allowing it". Also she said he's kind of big. He's not as big as a person!! I told her this was discrimination and illegal. She was extremely smug and just stood there shaking her head. Of course at this point I wouldn't dare eat a lettuce leaf at this place. They need a course on accommodating people with disabilities. SHAME ON YOU!! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46292-d852336-r857667037-Stefano_s_Seafood_Pasta-Beach_Haven_Long_Beach_Island_New_Jersey.html# read more

This is year 38 for me vacationing on LBI- that being said it was my 1st time to Stefano's! I must say, it was the BEST dinner experience I've ever had on LBI. The food, service and ambiance were stellar, in fact we decided to go a second time later in the week because our first dinner was so amazing. Do not waste your time or money anyplace else... this is the real deal! I will be back next year with my family and I look forward to enjoying our special family dinner at this Restaurant for years to come! Thank you! PS- make reservations in advance! We got lucky on night 2 but secure a reservation so you don't miss out. Also it's BYOB! read more

Another fantastic meal last night with great friends! The Veal dishes at Stefanos are fabulous!!

Food was really good! Service, outstanding! Outdoor dining was pleasant (besides the flies but there isnt much you can do about that) Cant complain about anything, just make sure you have a reservation!!! Definitely recommend!!! read more

Okay...we've driven by Stefano's for years without thinking of stopping in because of its prices. After all, high prices don't always translate to high quality in food. But this was our anniversary dinner so we decided to splurge. We made reservations well in advance because apparently they have a "first come, first serve" policy. Our arrival at 525pm for a 530pm reservation was accompanied by loud claps of thunder...foreshadowing? The hostess was in the midst of turning a four-top into a table that accommodate a party of five on the outside patio. She was more concerned with herding the busboys than she was to us, a reservation, waiting by the counter. We waited at least five minutes for an acknowledgement. Perhaps this is a minor point to most people but not to us. Both my husband and I were servers, bartenders, caterers, hosts, etc. We know how important it is to greet customers PROMPTLY. This applies to servers as well. If a server doesn't approach and acknowledge a table within the first five minutes, they're not doing a good job. Our server greeted us in a timely fashion. She got a gold star. Let's tackle the food issues. Red sauce entrees for $30???? To put this into South Jersey vernacular..."Are ya sh---ing me?" The meal started out with bread and an excellent garlic butter. My arugula salad was also delicious with a hint of lemon zest. My husband's house salad came doused in dressing. We were not lucky with the entrees. My shellfish ala creme was so flavorless that it only became palatable with a lot of salt and Parmesan cheese. My husband picked at his meal. I don't remember what it was called but it was so laden with tomato sauce that the flavors of the seafood melange was totally lost. We did not stay for dessert. We were really hoping for a fine dining experience that we could indulge in once a year, "downashore," but for us, Stefano's isn't it. Yes, we're picky. Yes, we don't agree with the diners who adore this place. We will not be back and that makes me very sad. read more

Really enjoyed this place. Service wasn't so great, but it was Labor Day Weekend. BYOB

No reservations last night -- no problem. Our server Virginia did an excellent job helping us and managing several tables under the canopy. She told us about the appetizer special and it was phenomenal! Eggplant and tomatoes with melted Gorgonzola cheese--began the meal extremely well. Then the main course of Frutta Del Mare --every bit of seafood in the restaurant --lobster, scallops, calamari, shrimp, mussels, clams, fish, crab and risotto--the sauce was great and it was in the top 3 meals I have had all time. Bread was a perfect addition to the meal --and I nearly finished it --but saved a bit for lunch today to savor the memory of a fabulous meal and my last night on Long Beach Island-- Bravo Stefano's -- see you next summer-- read more

Stefano's - Frutta Del Mare - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

We ordered and picked up: they forgot half the meal and we had to go back. By the time we actually ate the seafood was ice cold. Food quality starts with follow through! read more

Our favorite fine dining on the Island. Such an elegant spot, great meals and always great specials too. Service is always wonderful as well. There Scallops Samantha their signature dish is delicious! Tried the half chicken & half sea last time- also delicious. read more

Stefano's - chicken & sea over angel hair - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

Service was excellent, atmosphere was excellent, food- bread & garlic butter great, main course was bland & needed more flavor, veal piccata & veal Chesapeake tasted the same, Chesapeake had abundant amount of crab meat read more

Ok, well i have to give this place two thumbs up. One for the quality and freshness of the food and second for portion size. I had risotto with seafood. Excellent Laura had a steak which was perfectly prepared, delicious. Service was great,i think her name was Nicole maybe. My biggest issue here is how quickly they are turning tables , it gets a little uncomfortable feeling a little presure to pick up the pace. Overall, if you can get in then go. It is a Byob read more

Been coming to LBI for years and last night might have been my sixth visit to Stefano's. It's always a solid experience for sure, but this was the best meal and best dish I've ever had there. On a Thursday night deep into September the restaurant was packed and lively. Had the lobster ravioli. Going to focus on this because it shows the care and expertise of the kitchen. In my experience, ordering this anywhere else means they've bought frozen basic ravioli filled with lobster. Stefano's version was incredible. The pasta was two tone, unusually shaped, and super fresh. It had been obviously made right then and was cooked perfectly. Inside was fresh lobster that actually tasted like lobster. But the most surprising part was that there were many sizable hunks of lobster meat scattered on my plate. For a lobster lover, this was the jackpot. It was finished in a creamy red sauce. This wasn't just good for LBI standards: this was a dish that I will now compare against any future lobster ravioli anywhere in the future. Oh, and always get the coconut cake. We love it so much we served it at our wedding. read more

Let's be honest...there are not many places in LBI with amazing food. It's typically overpriced and just average good. BUT, it was my birthday last weekend and on my sister's recommendation, we chose Stefano's for dinner. I'll start with the only slightly negative, which is even though we had a reservation, we had to wait about 15-20 minutes. But, I understand that sometimes it happens, especially when you're a large group, and there were 11 of us. I won't go into specific entrees that we had but everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. Everyone had a seafood entree, except one had a steak. The apps were great...calamari was some of the best I've ever had. At dessert, they put a birthday candle in my DELICIOUS chocolate lava cake! :-) Our waitress and all the wait staff were awesome! The waitress had help from at least two bus boys helping to clean up the table and nobody was lazy and behaving like they hated their job (doesn't that irk you? I hate that!). It's a little on the pricey side but that's to be expected in LBI...at least Stefano's delivered great food and great service for the price. We'll definitely be back! read more

Stefano's - Softshell Crab, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

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Still over- the-top good, we had an excellent experience again, and I'm happy to update the review. If I could give then more than 5 stars, I would. Great food, hot, fresh. Tasty, served professionally, timed precisely. The sliced tuna was incredible, as was the NY strip. Well priced, you get your money's worth. If you haven't gone, go. They're on top of their game read more

One are our favorite place to eat on the island food is delicious and the staff is excellen. They made my wife something that wasnt on the menu. Just make sure to make a reservation. read more

Stefano's - Crab cake on top of the steak filet. Was delicious - Seafood Near Me - Beach Haven, New Jersey

Very mixed review. Lots of good, but plenty not so good as well. Was definitely a happening place. Ether make a reservation or hope to get very, very lucky to get seated. We got lucky and had a great seat outside. The hostess was fabulous. And really looked to accommodate everyone that she could. Prices were steep but the entrees do include a house salad. Be sure to get a cup of New England chowder. It has been voted the best in NJ for seven years running. The bread and salad were excellent. I had a NY Strip over lobster mashed. The steak was undercooked and the mashed were too plentiful and a actually had too much lobster. In general, the portions were too large. The servings should be scaled back as well as the prices. Other dishes included scallops, tuna and lobster ravioli. All were very happy with their entrees and said that they would gladly return. Desserts looked great though we had no room for same. In the end the place was decent, but don't go in with expectations too high. read more

Great food, great service, a must for us every visit to the island. My only wosh is that they sold wine by the glass, they sell it by the bottle. read more

Excellent food and service delicious Italian food- Highly recommend when on LBI and want delicious Italian food

With so many great options on the island, we won't be visiting here again anytime soon ... When we arrived the hostess was friendly and timely with seating us Unfortunately the moisture from the air-conditioner was dripping on us. Instead of just moving us they wiped the ledge above us, which would be okay if the a/c wasn't still running and they didn't come back to wipe it again in about 3 minutes - yes dripped on us again. We tried moving the table ourselves, so it would drip into our food when it came. We then ask to be moved, which they accommodated quickly. The steak was ordered at medium-well and came out rare. After waiting quite a bit, we ask one of the busboys to get our waitress and her only response to our asking to send it back because it was not medium-well was that she wrote medium down -- either way, it was rare ! :o( We sent it back (without replacement because our party would be done eating by the time one arrived) and they did take it off the bill, but didn't seem to care much that one of our party was without a meal. The others did say that their seafood dishes were great and did bring home the leftovers which they ate the following day - so maybe get takeout and avoid the steak :o) read more

Great food , excellent service, best calamari on the Island. Seafood dishes are amazing . Scallops are a favorite and always prepared perfectly! This should be on your list of places to dine on the Island ! read more

This was my big splurge of a meal that I got while I was vacationing. I compared other menus in the area and decided this sounded the best. I ordered a filet mignon topped with crab with garlic mashed potatoes and an extra side of the lobster mac n cheese that was a special. It was thee absolute best meal I've had in a long time. I realized about 20 minutes after I ordered that I asked for a similarly named dish as opposed to what I actually wanted. My waitress, Gretchen, was more than accommodating and although my food was about ready to come out she was still able to get it fixed the way I wanted. Everything was absolutely extraordinary! Definitely not affordable enough for everyday, but if you're looking to treat yourself look no further. read more

1st time coming here. Based upon reviews, chose this place for my birthday dinner. Everything was AMAZING! The service, the food. We are huge Steamed Mussel lovers. Best we ever had! They have gorgonzola cheese on top, can you say...perfection! Will definitely be a new go to for us when staying at LBI. read more

I ve always had a great meal at Stefanos. However, this past week was different. I left hungry and I don't eat a lot. I ordered my usual fish entree with roasted vegetables. When my dinner arrived the Chilean sea bass was half the size from previous visits, 4 small bites and gone! . I understand that everything costs a little more but this was ridiculous. Also,since when is a side of roasted vegetables mostly sautéed mushrooms? read more

By far our favorite restaurant on the island. Calamari is outstanding, and we get it every time. Every entree is cooked to perfection. The fresh strawberries napoleon was as unique and flavorful that we have ever had. You will never be disappointed. read more

Food was really good. Service was good We came in without a reservation and they were able to get us a table for 3 quickly. It got really busy so I would recommend making a reservation. read more

The food is very good here. The service though is less than mediocre. I felt the waitress didn't attend to us at all. Sicilian style menu and the quality is why I give it four stars. Seems like the staff doesn't really care tho IMO. read more

We go to Stefano's every summer to celebrate special occasions. The food is always consistently delicious and service is great. Easily one of the best BYOB restaurants on the island. read more