Mambo Italiano is a phenomenal, authentic Italian sandwich shop that has recently opened in central…read moreNJ and I was absolutely amazed! They bring the taste of Sicily to Monmouth County - so good that you need to check it out for yourself. With imported cold cuts straight from Italy, and fresh Italian pastries from Brooklyn, I knew I was in for a treat! I tried the Al Pacino (#4) which features Genoa salami, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, arugula, tomatoes, and roasted garlic pesto. Each bite took me to an Italian paradise. All of the bread is made fresh in house, including the amazing focaccia that the sandwich was made with. Not only was it delicious but it was also huge and very filling! Anthony takes great pride in his food, his shop, and his heritage. It is evident in the nods to Sicilian culture throughout the restaurant, and the way he treats all his customers like family. He was kind enough to share a sample of the fresh mozzarella (which was UNREAL) with myself and some other customers while my sandwich was being prepared and that's when I knew I'd be well taken care of. I cannot wait to come back and enjoy more of what they have to offer!

My wife and I stopped into Mambo Italiano a few weeks back. It was after lunch on a Sunday. We were…read morewarmly greeted by the owner Anthony. As we waited for our order, we chatted with Anthony and learned that there are no shortcuts here. They do everything the authentic way by importing their cold cuts, using freshly baked bread, and offering a nice selection of desserts and coffee. Once we got home, we devoured the Gandolfini panino and cannoli. I can now say that that Mambo is not the real deal. We will definitely be back and can't recommend them enough

Every time I visited my friend in New Jersey, I passed by this place thinking, "How cute is this…read morestore?" I didn't even realize it was a small breakfast spot. One day, we finally decided to stop in for breakfast. The space is very cute and quaint, and they also have a small section selling snacks and little knickknacks. The way the place operates is a bit different, you serve yourself coffee, place your order deli-style, and pay upfront like a diner. They bring the food to your table, but there isn't much table service. It was slightly confusing at first, but it didn't take away from the overall experience. That said, it was a bit disappointing that the table wasn't clean. We had a baby with us, and when we wiped the table down, the baby wipe turned brown, not something you want to see. It may have been a busy moment, but cleanliness is still important.

In Colts Neck Township, you will find this store-and-diner after navigating a series of roads. I…read moredid not think I would include this as one of my trips, but I decided that I would come. Brand: 4/5 Colts Neck General Store is located in Colts Neck Township, which is initially a store that also acts as a diner. You will find many knickknacks throughout the walls and the ceilings. The red, barn-house walls definitely gives the store a classic look. The tall sign and the wall sign do have different fonts, with the tall sign having basic font while the wall sign had a more prestigious classic look. Wait Time: 5/5 I did not have any issues with the wait time, for it arrived on time. Ambiance: 5/5 As a store-and-diner, Colts Neck General Store has that unique appeal that I see in Monmouth County. You practically feel immersed into the small town appeal with classic rock playing over the radio at a tolerable volume. The food selection on their menu reflects the small town knickknack appeal, with its varying diversity. You will also find plenty of treats for sale near the counter. The dining area had plenty of space with wide tables, whether on their own or in the booths. Food: 4/5 I ordered the Aztec Specialty Omelet, consisting of jalapeno chips, fried onion, spinach, pepper jack. with a side of toast. Initially I ordered orange Juice, but also include a bottle of water considering the hot jalapeno chips and fried onions. Every well-cooked of the omelet definitely gives it a unique spin, though the buttered toast had an unassuming taste and crunch. The pepperjack cheese brings its hardy flavor to this flavor-packed dish. The Aztec Specialty Omelet held its form, even as I cut into it. Considering how Colts Neck General Store houses many unique knickknacks, I can definitely see how one of those items may have inspired this dish, for the Mexican influence has a pronounced presence. The time it took to prepare this dish accurately matched the waiting time, and the service behind it ensured that I received the meal with my choice of side dishes. The Aztec Specialty Omelet managed to satisfy for a little bit throughout the day. Service: 5/5 The staff managed to get my order without any issues, including asking me specific questions about which side dish I wanted. Based on first impressions, I will say that I felt accommodated while feeling immersed in a small town paradise. The wait time did not try my patience. I cannot say for certain whether the staff dust the knickknacks, but I will say that nothing about the ambiance irritated me, so I presume that they care for them. They also ensured the preparation of the menu items. Cost: 4/5 I will say that as a restaurant in Colts Neck Township, it did not become as expensive as expected. Driving across many varying roads, the arrival to such a unique eatery made the food worth it. I would definitely order differing menu items if I arrive in the future. I do think that having a website would help bring modern relevance to Colts Neck General Store without changing the restaurant itself. The wall sign better represents the store than the tall sign, and if the eatery did make a website, I hope it is used for the brand. Ultimately, the price of the Aztec Specialty Omelet and staying there was worth it. Rating: 4/5 Stars Right now, I will say that Colts Neck General Store has a niche presence in Colts Neck, with its unique ambiance and menu selection. I cannot say I would go back any time soon, but if so, I would enjoy any of the other menu items. Recommend To... Anyone looking for a diner with many knickknacks decorating its walls.

You can never go wrong with Jersey freeze. There's so many locations but this one is in a nice…read morecolts neck strip mall with more than ample parking. My husband loved his double chocolate ice cream so much so that I realized I didn't take a picture. I ordered the soft cold brew and it was amazing. I never had soft coffee ice cream and this didn't disappoint. I only had a kid size with no toppings and it was perfect. Definitely enough ice cream and nothing took away from the delicious coffee taste.

New location opened up this summer and they did not disappoint ! Every month's specialty shake…read moreSLAPS - along with their ice cream pies. The holidays call for the delicious Italian rainbow cookie ice cream pie-- order before they sell out! Such a hit with everyone, it's the perfect bite. They also have delicious shakes, boats, unique ice cream flavors like captain crunch, etc. Clean inside and nice staff. The owner is also the owner of 618 and Mezcal - they know hospitality. Make your way to Jersey Freeze if you haven't yet!

Do you like streaming police body cam videos on YouTube? This place has a couple on there (not for…read moregood reasons). To start, this review is 2 years late as we stayed there in May of 2024 for a show we attended in Red Bank. Property was used as a state funded shelter to house homeless / welfare recipients. I can't confirm or deny this is still happening in 2026. We checked in, exhausted from our 6 hour drive. At first glance, we were impressed with the hotel's charming decor and couldn't wait to crash. The first impression quickly faded as we headed to our room to the sounds of screams and N bombs billowing through the halls. Great, this was our neighbor. Walked into the room and couldn't even hold a conversation with my wife as the obnoxious voice in the next room was overbearing. Hadn't even been in the hotel 5 minutes and I'm already back at the front desk requesting we be assigned another room. The front desk clerk advised the property was full but assured us she'd speak to our neighbor and tell her to pipe down. Apparently she knew her personally. Did that work? Yes....for exactly 10 minutes. Then it was back to screams, n words and "yo yo yo yo m-fer this m-fer that." Could've sworn Cardi B was in the next room. Demanded our reservation cancel at this point with a full refund. Front desk lady told us she would boot the woman from the property. This is where it gets spicy. Front desk lady and woman are now involved in a full-scale verbal shoot out in the hallway. The clerk then summoned another staff member for assistance. Apparently, they didn't get along and were bickering back and forth in the midst of trying to evict this woman from the hotel. Doesn't get more professional than that. Police were called and finally after a 2-hour song and dance the woman vacated the premises. The police seem to be regular visitors there, the staff highlighted their frequent pop ins. Spoke to the Manager the next day, who seemed empathetic to our experience. We were promised a refund for the eventful night. When we returned home, I emailed him to touch base about it, never to hear back from him again. Moral of the story? Don't let eloquent settings fool you from the ratchet bowels that lie within the walls.

The location and the price for 1 night midweek were both perfect for our needs. We had a family…read moreoccasion about 20 minutes away, there was no problem with our coming back around midnight, and for under $100 (before tax) it was a good deal. First of all, right on Rt. 34 S, not far off the GSP, and plenty of options for dining in the area. "Continental breakfast" was breads, bagels, a few cereals, Activia yogurt, bananas, coffee and tea, OJ. We were happy to have Cheerios, an unsweetened choice. There were a microwave, a mini fridge, and a TV in the room. The shower in the room was good. I found the bed and pillows mildly uncomfortable but it was just the one night and fine. Our room was right around the corner from the reception desk, and right across the hall from the laundry room, with windows open to the parking lot, but aside from 1 very loud conversation in the hallway right after we went to bed, it was quiet enough. The ambiance of the hotel is cute, reminiscent of an older era, nicely decorated. Of course Colt's Neck was (maybe still is) known for horses, hence the name. For me, the highlight was actually the next morning after we checked out - it's barely a half mile from the Central NJ famed Delicious Orchards. We drove back to NYC with more than 5 lbs of fresh autumn apples, a fantastic apple turnover, and a pkg of apple cider donuts!

Highly reccomend this place, it's always busy, but it is worth it. The coffee is delicious and so…read moreis the food. We love the speciality donuts. They also have indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy their offerings. Coffee / Lattes here are a must.

Ahh I really hate giving a low rating, but I honestly have no choice here. While it was our first…read moretime here, we tried a few different menu options and none of them hit. It feels a bit more style over substance in my opinion. Let's start with the positives first! The place itself is very stylish, and we loved the holiday decor! Honestly, just walking towards the building felt like you were being transported into a mini Christmas village. The menu is vast and looks enticing. The place has a great vibe, with a good amount of seating (indoor & outdoor). Definitely makes for a great meeting and study spot! Now onto food and drinks...the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Frappuccino was not good. It was so overrun with cinnamon, you could see the chunks throughout the drink. I love cinnamon, but that's all you tasted and not in a good way. We barely got through it. The serving was large considering the $8 price tag, but the quality was just not there. The pistachio latte was definitely a bit better, but not great. You could taste that bottled syrup flavor and it just wasn't done right. The pistachio croissant was decent. Definitely fresh, with a nice, soft texture, but the Pistachio frosting was super sweet! I think I probably would have preferred it plain. The place definitely has potential, so if they can up their drink game a bit, I'd be open to possibly giving it another go!

Stopped when I was driving home cause we passed by Delicious Orchards. I had seen many times the…read morefrozen apple cider slushy, so I decided today would be the day I go and get it. The place is huge, full of fresh fruits and veg, eggs, meats and cheeses. And the baked goods - there's hundreds to choose from. at least a dozen flavors of pie, so many breads, donuts, you name it, they got it here. I clove walked around for hours. We even had Self serve samples of the delicious apple cider inside.I got the slushy, it's the same cost with or without ice cream. We did an apple cider slushy with ice cream and a lemonade slushy no ice cream. It was a vanilla, apple-y dream. Cold and refreshing after a beach trip! I absolutely loved it. Got home and found out my mom used to go here growing up with my grandmother, so it made it that more special to me to have visited

Beautiful sunflowers this time of year that are cut fresh from the orchard…read more The place was hopping! There is a deli section, prepared foods, produce, cheese, coffee and bakery with lots of pies and breads. It's seems to be a bit pricey because there isn't any competition around them! And they are known for their apple cider. It was a nice stop. Plenty of parking, lots to choose from

Conveniently located next to Rook so you can grab a coffee next door and come here for a bagel…read more Also this is part of a plaza of stores so there's plenty of parking. I got a sausage, egg, and cheese on plain bagel and it was sooo good. The meat and egg was cooked perfectly, and the bagel had the perfect amount of slight crisp without being overly toasted. The service was quick and friendly, and the size of this bagel is no joke! I was full for hours after. Tip: I grabbed some ketchup packets to dip the bagel in, chef's kiss.

Consistently good bagel spot, and very nice staff. Doesn't have as many options and frills as some…read moreother bagel spots, but haven't ever been disappointed with my breakfast sandwiches and bagels.

An ambitious menu that crosses the usual boundaries of "Mexican" food. Fresh and authentic. Always…read more Period.

Nice looking and casual restaurant located in a great strip mall with plenty of parking. Many of…read morethe businesses or food establishments are open only during the day which leaves more spaces and less crowds for the evening. This restaurant was rated well and I thought what could go wrong? Although, service was fine there is a language barrier so I don't know what the dip with the chips was and it's definitely not the usual salsa. I had a salad delivered and it's a very simple salad with French dressing. I wish they jazzed it up with a poblano dressing or something in theme. My tostadas came with another bowl and I don't know what it was. My tostadas were bland and dry then suddenly a small amount of sauce appeared on the right side of my tostada. I wish it was on the whole tostada to take away the dryness. The dish came with potatoes which tasted fine but were so greasy. My husband ordered the trio fajita and wasn't impressed. He said his meal was tasteless and overall we weren't impressed. Unfortunately, we won't be going back.

Second time coming here. Awesome experience. Had Sicilian Pizza. Last time got a few slices of it…read more Was so good , we got a whole pie this time which you save money on rather than ordering slices. The guys in there are so nice , friendly & very professional. The place is clean as a whistle. Everybody who comes in is greeted by the front guy with a super friendly welcome & attitude. Then , you eat incredible , fresh & hot pizza. I highly recommend the Sicilian , although I'm sure everything there is delicious. The guy came around to ask how the food was. In today's day & age, that's kind of rare. We ate 8 out of the 9 slices and we were 3 people. Id say this pie is perfect for 3 or 4 people. On the way out , your thanked for coming in & once you leave you already start missing it & plan your next trip there. Highly recommend this place.

I'll make the 15 min drive to enjoy my favorite pizza. Grandma pie ‍ so good! Definitely grab a…read moreslice after leaving delicious orchards or order delivery while you're enjoying a drink at the distillery!

Sharing a great experience my golf partner and I had at this establishment recently. Despite…read morearriving late after our round, we were warmly welcomed. We sat at the bar and ordered a burger along with one of the specials. The food was excellent, and the bartender was both friendly and responsive throughout our visit. I will certainly be recommending your restaurant to others and look forward to visiting again soon.

Met my parents here for dinner with my wife and son. It was a weekday night so we got seated right…read moreaway. The women who was our server was very friendly. I had ordered a Reuben and fries. My wife had ordered the beef sandwich. We debated getting something off the kids menu for my son but he's only two and it was like $12 and we figured it would be worth just giving him some of what we ate and that actually sufficed. If your child's older probably would make sense, but for a little one, juice isn't worth the squeeze.. The food came out pretty quick, and it was really good. I really liked my Ruben. It was a closed face sandwich but they put a fair amount of meat on there which you can't complain about. The inside of the place was clean and what you would expect of a bar. The sit-down sitting area didn't seem too large but but large enough and we were there. We had the section to ourselves. The bar is actually pretty large and has amplementing in it. All in all, not a bad stop. If you're in the area it would be worth checking out.