Molto Bene! Calamari is phenomenal along with the bread!…read moreFriendly staff and attentive on refilling drinks Great indoor and outdoor seating options. Pizza is def prepared fresh with fresh ingredients. Nice little feel of Italy in NJ

Wonderful, reliable and delicious restaurant. Hard not to order the pork chop as they do it so well…read moreand it is my favorite! But this time I changed it up and switched to the Merluzzo Oreganata (cod with crab meat in a creamy lemon sauce)...omg it was a great switch. I substituted brussels sprouts for the creamy spinach. It was all amazing. My Daughter picked the Christina's Pescatore which is seafood over linguini in the white wine sauce. It was a reliable choice and not spicy like the other choice of red sauce. I appreciate the dinner salad and basket of bread. So many places don't do this anymore. Monday night and almost every table full...impressive. Service is always right on, portions are generous, food is fresh and seasoned/prepared perfectly. It is a reliable and delicious everytime. My only complaint is it isn't in my neighborhood! Haha. I highly recomnend.

Ravello in Robbinsville never disappoints. And last night was no exception. The food was on point…read moreas always. We started with the octopus and tuna tartare, both were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. For entrees, we had the tagliatelle with short ribs, vodka rigatoni, and ravioli, and every dish was delicious and cooked to perfection. Great atmosphere, excellent service, and consistently high-quality food. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

Tucked within a completely non-descript strip mall along Route 130 in Robinsville may be the best…read morehidden gem Italian eatery in New Jersey. Intimate without being fussy, Ravello delivers meals portioned for adults prepared with the love and care of my sainted grandmother (if she ever learned how to cook.) Sorry Nonna. My spicy cavatelli with sausage and sun dried tomatoes was simply amazing as was a Caesar salad that could have been a meal all by itself. Ravello is already on speed dial and I'm counting down the days until our next visit. Don't let the strip mall fool you, excellence awaits within. Five easy stars for this BYOB classic.

Absurdly good. This place has been a staple in the area for a long time, and they really make the…read moremost of their space. The strip mall itself isn't anything special, but the surrounding area is beautiful , and once you're inside, the restaurant feels warm and inviting. The food is fantastic, and the variety on the menu is impressive. The chef clearly knows what they're doing because every single dish we tried was genuinely delicious. It's the kind of spot where you can't go wrong: date night, dinner with friends, or anything in between. We brought our own bottle and had a great time. Our waiter was super knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. The staff even joked around with me when I forgot my to‑go bag, and yes, I absolutely took it home because the food is that good. I also appreciate that they don't act like offering takeout is beneath them; even the takeout bag was nice. I honestly wish my meals were this good every night. I hope everyone who works here is paid well and enjoys what they do, because they're running the place exactly how a restaurant should be run. It feels like a true community staple somewhere that transports you a bit and makes the whole experience feel special. Lovely all around.

Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people…read moreabout--because then you'll have a harder time getting a table. Luca's Ristorante is a hidden gem that proves you should never judge a restaurant by its parking lot. Not long after we were seated, we were greeted by Luca -- a Luca and not the Luca. Still he was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about his restaurant, taking the time to walk us through the menu and checking in throughout the meal without ever hovering. Luca's has a partial liquor license, offering a modest wine selection but is otherwise being BYOB. As we were told with a smile, they're much more interested in what's ON your plate than what's IN your glass. We started with two excellent appetizers. The arancini, already a family favorite, were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and disappeared from the table faster than anyone was willing to admit. The Polpette, Luca's signature meatballs with pine nuts and raisins, certainly earned the praise they've received from NJ.com as some of the best in the state. Even if raisins in meatballs sound unusual, trust the process. The restaurant proudly calls itself "A Taste of Ischia," the beautiful volcanic island in the Bay of Naples, and the seafood absolutely lives up to that promise. My squid ink pasta with octopus (the Polypus) was outstanding, with perfectly tender octopus and beautifully balanced flavors. The scallops were buttery, sweet, and cooked to perfection, while the Ischia -- loaded with mussels, clams, and calamari -- was every seafood lover's dream. The rest of the menu proved just as impressive. The Pappardelle, featuring burrata and a rich Bolognese sauce, was a huge hit, while the Romolo, a comforting combination of chicken, pasta, bacon, and sauce, was another winner that had no leftovers to speak of. If you somehow still have room after dinner, Luca's offers a nice assortment of gelato. But do yourself one favor: don't leave without ordering a cappuccino. Rich, foamy, and expertly made, it's the perfect finale to a memorable meal. If you find yourself in Somerset, just a few turns off Routes 287 or 1, make the stop. You'll be greeted by a wonderful staff, treated to outstanding food, and very likely leave wondering how a restaurant this good has been hiding in a strip mall all along.

We were faithful customers at Mamma Rosa's, but when they closed down in '21, we were left in the…read morelurch and without a neighborhood Italian joint to call our own. We just quit going out for Italian other than for tomato pies, but now we've begun actively looking for a place to enjoy simple Italian food--outside of the ubiquitous tomato pies. Gennaro's was our first stop, with the menu definitely reading more New World Italian than Old World. We started with a couple of appetizers: The Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms in Scampi sauce and the Antipasto Salad. I'm not a fan of Antipasto salads (I've a three item max addition rule for salads and tomato pies), but my wife enjoyed it. It was your standard antipasto salad for the area--perhaps more generous with the meat and cheese than the last one we ordered up the street at Papa's. The stuffed mushrooms had a good flavor, and although the sauce didn't really hit me as Scampi (the garlic wasn't really there), it was still good on its own, and I'd order it again. My wife ordered the Pork Chop Giambotta, which she truly enjoyed. It was a thick, good sized pork chop covered with a sauce that included potatoes, sausage slices, and sautéed peppers. The menu said that the peppers were hot and sweet, but they were pretty much 99.9% hot peppers. If that's an issue for you, I'd make a point in mentioning it to your server first. My wife doesn't do spicy, but luckily I was there to find a home for the hot peppers, and she said she'd order it again if we returned. My Veal Saltimbocca, however, was a letdown. The veal was overcooked and had lost its tenderness, but most surprising to me was that it was very different from the standard version I've known for years. Had I read the description more carefully, I'd have caught the fact it was in a tomato demi-glace rather than the white wine and butter emulsion I know and love. Also, the ham that was used was not the thinly sliced prosciutto one normally sees, instead it was a thick slice of something that I can't honestly tell you was prosciutto or not. The use of spinach instead of a sage leaf wasn't a complete shock, as I've seen that before. Overcooked veal, the prosciutto mystery, and tradition straying aside, the flavor almost bordered on being alright, but it definitely wasn't what I'd hoped for when I placed the order. To add insult to injury, I asked for pasta as my side, and was given a couple choices--I chose the linguini and got served a dente-less spaghetti. When I asked the waiter (who was otherwise extremely conscientious and attentive) if they were out of linguini, I was told that there's really very little difference between the two, which so blew my mind that I just shrugged and ate. While we were there, we could see that there were many people who acted like regulars enjoying their meals, and many of them were also eating tomato pies, however, we're on the hunt for a place that's going to satisfy our need for an Italian place that provides beyond the pizza oven. I'm up in the air about a second shot--my wife was much happier than me with the location (which means we'll likely go), but I'll definitely ask our server more questions about what I'm ordering next time to avoid any surprises.

Absolutely fantastic! We celebrated our son's college graduation here, and I cannot say enough good…read morethings about the fantastic food and service we received at Genaro's. The ambience is smart casual, and not fussy, but with food and service that you'd expect at a place that charges double the prices. All of the food was top notch. Standouts are the artichoke heart Francese, mozzarella en corrozza, and fried calamari appetizers; and chicken Italiano, chicken marsala, and salmon Neapolitan mains. Their tiramisu and tartufo capped off the meal perfectly. If you're in Trenton or Princeton, Gennaro's is worth the drive.

The restaurant is not very fancy for the food they sell. It was not very bright and the tables,…read morefurniture, looked old. As for the food, we had quite a off experience where the appetizers were really bad so we were worried for our special dinner: aranchini was too sweet and had a weird aroma. Wedge salad was literally half a romaine with ranch dressing and some pork belly bits. HOWEVER - the main entrees were all AMAZING. We were mind blown. We had surf & turf, chicken parmesan rigatoni, scallop risotto, and miso glazed salmon. They were all spectacular! I would definitely go back and just skip appetizers Oh they also weirdly had a lot of ingredients missing that day so we couldn't order bunch of menu items or desserts but i think that was just a one time thing where they did not receive their shipment.

We had dinner last night and really enjoyed it. The space is cozy and intimate, with beautifully…read moreset tables that immediately set the tone. It's BYOB, so we brought a bottle of red. The food delivered. A fresh, well-balanced salad to start along a rich lobster bisque to start. The boom boom chicken (big flavor, nicely done), and sesame-crusted salmon that was cooked just right. Service was OK...especially considering it was busy on Christmas. All in all, a very good spot worth checking out if you're looking for a comfortable, well-executed meal without the hype.

I needed a slice of spinach pizza. It's so lovely…read more Free flavorful and hot. Yum. The staff was very hard-working and so friendly.

An early dinner it is 515pm on a Thursday…read more The mussels in white wine sauce were excellent. Could have eaten it with the bread dipping in the sauce for a full meal. Main was capellini Maradona with crab. Service was top notch. Ambiance is neighborhood Italian. Very nice. We will return. Nancy & Mark.

Great Italian restaurant in the area! Highly recommend it for either a lunch or dinner outing. I…read morehad the penne vodka with chicken--so good. They bring out warm bread with olive oil and garlic right away, which was such a nice touch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and very accommodating. I'll definitely be back!

Had a business luncheon today . First time diners. We had…read morean excellent luncheon. Rack of us had different entrees. While they had a excellent selection of entrees on the menu, they also had four luncheon specials as well as appetizers. I had salmon done over a bed of spinach. It was accompanied by a nice garden salad with vinaigrette dressing. We also had bread as well as oils to dip it in. Our server ( Sergio) was efficient but not intrusive. My host paid the tab so I am not sure of the pricing. Even if I was paying, based on the quality of the cuisine, I would be pleased. Overall. An excellent luncheon experience. We will be back. Worth the 40 minute drive.

Serving food lovers since 2006, Toscano is a phenomenal steakhouse in Bordentown where the…read moreexecutive chef combines old-world cooking with new-world flair. A cozy bar area greets customers if you want to grab a drink while waiting to be seated. They also offer upstairs seating, rounding out a welcoming and highly professional atmosphere that has stood the test of time.   THE FOOD * Bread Service: The bread arrived with a tasty honey, chive, thyme, salt, and pepper butter, which was a nice touch. * Kumamoto Oysters: Ice cold and refreshing. They were complemented with cocktail sauce, watermelon mignonette, and fresh grated horseradish. * Crab Salad Special: Served in a martini glass. It featured cold, chilled crab marinated with tequila, triple sec, and lime, carefully laid on a bed of avocado mousse with an Old Bay-lined rim. Delicious and refreshing during a hot summer evening. * Tri-Color Beet Salad: A roasted beet and citrus salad with whipped ricotta and a pistachio honey vinaigrette that provided rich bites. * New York Strip: Sourced from Allen Brothers in Chicago. A showstopper with excellent crust and beef flavor. We ordered the Au Poivre sauce, which was tasty, but the steak was so good on its own that I ended up using the sauce for my sides! * 14 oz Center Cut Filet: Also sourced from Allen Brothers. Tender as expected with a wonderfully executed crust. * French Bordeaux Wines: We ordered the Chateau Loudenne Medoc and the Chateau De Sales Pomerol. Both were tasty, medium-to-full-bodied, and served as excellent accompaniments to the steaks. * Tuna Special: Nicely seared tuna served over vegetables and udon noodles. * Limoncello Pistachio Tiramisu: Very light and a nice end to the meal. * Kentucky Butter Cake: Served in a cast-iron pot with vanilla ice cream. Yummy and rich.   THE SERVICE Our server, Gene, has been with the restaurant for 8 years and provided exceptional service. He was knowledgeable about the menu and offered excellent recommendations, pointing out standout options like the pastrami-dusted bone-in filet and the 45-day aged tomahawk topped with a root beer bourbon bacon compound butter.   OVERALL A great steakhouse experience with a highly professional staff and a kitchen that flawlessly executes high-quality steaks. Excellent for special occasions or an upscale business dinner.

We enjoyed a bunch of appetizers to start! The beat salad is always my favorite refresh and…read moredelicious Our table also enjoyed the Giant or ravioli and the meatballs. Everything is magnificent here and cooked fresh. I also enjoyed my lobster. Ravioli was magnificent and plentiful and I actually had to bring some of it home with me because we had a lot of snacking going on. Very thankful to the hard-working staff to take care of us so well. Everything was delicious and hot and the staff is really magnificent.