My perspective of this review is going to be a little bit different. I came to this restaurant because of a rehearsal dinner, not because of my own choice. however, if I had a choice, I would still choose this place, because the service was great considering the amount of people that were being served and the patience of the staff. Also, the food was awesome! The meat and cheese plate was awesome as an appetizer. Then, there is a nice simple, yet fresh salad. The next entrée that I had was the baked tilapia, when my husband had the Veal Marsala. One of my friends let me taste his veal parmigiana. I can't say that I was upset with anything. The breading on the tilapia could have been a tad crispier, while I thought that the veal Marsala could have had a thicker sauce. The dessert (the fact that I didn't even remember to mention it above) was average to me. Otherwise, you're in for a good meal!! If you plan to have a large group, be careful with the upstairs as the ceiling is slanted and if you are taller than 5'6", well actually may have to crunch your head down! read more

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This place came highly recommended, had a reservation for 8 at 7 and well didn't sit till 8. No apologies nor asked if we can have drinks while we wait . Service was good, food was good although portions could have been bigger. I will be back i have have friends and family who go all the time. But if you have resrvations for a time you should not have to wait 1 hour extra to sit read more

Amazing food. I recommend you get the gnocchi with mushrooms. The brown sauce is to die for. They have wonderful service with great food! I'll be going back soon. read more

Vincenzo's Ristorante - Gnocchi with mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Middlesex, New Jersey

Wow they charged us $9.30 for "salad's" since we asked for a refill! So cheap, maybe they belong in Plainfield read more

Vincenzo's Ristorante - Seafoooood - Italian Near Me - Middlesex, New Jersey

I have only been here on holidays so I can only speak for that (today aka Easter and last Mother's Day) where they have had special menus. We've always had a large group and they've been great at accommodating that. The food is excellent- we ordered the cold & hot antipasto and our server said "okay antipasto for 7" and I realized that they make the order based on how many people you have. It was perfect because everyone got a generous amount of both appetizers but we're still able to finish it all and not waste any. Then they brought us two huge plates of salad before our meals and it was something I was looking forward to the most. You could tell it's a homemade olive oil vinaigrette dressing and it's SO tasty. I ordered penne vodka and added shrimp and it came with four large shrimp that tasted fresh along with their delicious vodka sauce. I could only eat half of it! We didn't eat dessert there because we were going to dessert at my Aunts. Everyone in my family loved their meals (lobster ravioli, lobster tails, shrimp fra diavlo, rack of lamb, veal franchise). They were extremely busy today but our food came out with the perfect time between courses and was still very hot. My only complaint was that it was hot in there and they have a lot of tables crammed in a tiny space. I know my family will be back for another holiday- but it would be nice if we had a little more space for our large groups! read more

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My family and I visited the restaurant last night to celebrate a special occasion. My wife and two daughter had pasta dishes and complained to me that the food was terrible. My sister in law order a Sangria which she indicated that it tasted like fruity grapefruit juice. Service was poor. We waited over 45mjns for our main dishes. Never again. read more

5 ladies went to Vincenzo's on a Thursday evening (not too busy). Our waiter was very aloof and seemed bothered by our requests for "more water, oil for our bread etc". We had to finally ask another waiter to help out. I enjoyed the salad that came with the meal and my shrimp dish but unfortunately the service was underwhelming. One of the meals was over cooked. I won't be rushing back. read more

Went for a ladies get together last week. The wait staff seemed overwhelmed and the service was just ok (had to ask for water refills, oil for the bread,etc). Maybe because we were a table of women. The "regulars" had his attention. They do give you a salad with your meal, which was good. However, I was surprised that all our meat entrees only had meat on the plate? No potato, no vegetable no garnishment. Disappointed not rushing back. read more

High expectations after reading the reviews on Yelp, but definitely not met. Mediocre cuisine, confusing tastes and combinations. Nothing made sense. Appetizers were off, a mix of flavors with no Harmony. Steak terrible by itself but also cooked terribly with a mess of things thrown in the plate. Service was great and the only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars read more

We hosted a Birthday party for our mom for 45 people on Saturday night. The food was outstanding, the service impeccable, and all the negotiations, before and after were handled seamlessly. All our guests enjoyed themselves, and noted how delicious the food was. We will be back for dinner and possibly other parties in the near future. Great job Vincenzo's! Diane and Linda Lella, Raritan, NJ read more

I COULD end this review with the simplicity of one word...WOW! But then you'd want to know WHY...so here goes... Had dinner here the other night with my brothers and their wives and friends who I have known for just about forever and I wasn't sure what to expect. Recently I've been going into my meals WITHOUT looking at Yelp reviews because I don't want to be biased and it was a blessing this time (not because there were bad reviews, but because I went in with a completely open mind). We had a reservation for an early dinner, 5pm, and I'm THANKFUL we chose an early time because by the time we were done the line was out the door-this is a tremendously popular place and the meal we had tells me why. We started with some very simple, but delicious wines (both the red and white were very nice complements to the meals) and a number of appetizers. The stuffed mushrooms were perfectly done (not an overcooked mess like I'm used to at most places) and were so good I could easily have eaten a plate of them as a meal. We also enjoyed amazing Broccolli Rabe sauteed with roasted garlic and sausage (OMG-best I have ever had-no lie-BEST.I'VE.EVER.HAD), fried zuchinni, and Artichokes Francese (I don't normally like artichokes, but these were delicious). Appetizers were followed up by a very nice, and simple, salad with just the right amount of vinigrette. So, after reading the menu and having my mind 100% made up, the waiter comes over to discuss the specials for the evening - silly me thinking I was going to order off the menu. Every dish he read to us I wanted to order...but I settled on the spinach fettuccini with garlic and shrimp topped with a light white wine sauce and my wife ordered the Mahi Oreganata special. I wish I had tried some of the other dishes at the table (I only remember veal parm (2) and one of chicken dishes), but I was afraid I'd get a fork in the back of my hand. My wife's Mahi meal was a giant portion and nothing was left on the plate (Ok, I admit, I did steal some of it). My meal was so delicious, but I was able to save some for a second meal. What made mine SO good was the simple combination of flavors that came from the actual food, and not from an overabundance of seasoning. The shrimp was done perfectly and the pasta was slightly al dente as it should be for a meal like this. We finished up with some coffee and dessert (yeah, we left room). Let's see, we had the last serving of tiramisu, or as I'm calling it 'Heaven on a Plate', Cannoli (my wife is very particular about her cannoli and LOVED it), a chocloate torte, and I had an almond vanilla cheesecake...and I am truly thankful I don't live near the restaurant because I'd be sneaking in each night for THAT one. The service at Vincenzo's, from the time we walked in the door, was as good as it gets. Not overbearing, but never wanting for anything. The highest praise I can ever give a restaurant isn't the five stars, but a simple comment that I will be back. I don't know when, but Vincenzo's, I will be back. Absolutely fantastic... read more

First time visit tonight - Friday - the place was slammed but lots of staff and service was fine. We stopped in at 6:30 after my wife picked me up from the train in Bound Brook. Early crowd was the retired set. Place was half full. Later in the evening, new arrivals were a bit younger. When we left at 8:00 the parking lot was full. Place is nice enough - but why no background music? Linens. Wait staff is Very Good. Silverware is replaced at each course, another nice touch. Food is good but nothing special. A decent anitpasto. House salads were over-dressed, heavy with grated cheese. My linguini in a white clam sauce was very good. My wife's entree - veal saltinboca - disappointed. A chocolate dessert was killer. Bread was just OK, served with butter; but upon request our waiter provided a good olive oil as a substitute. Not a BYOB but several bottles available for under $30. For $98 before the tip, I could do better at Cafe Picasso in Somerville. But it is a nice place and they have a good bar. Maybe four stars on a good day, never five; but some of the negative reviews did not ring true to me tonight. read more

Since I moved to NJ, about two decades ago, Vincenzo's had been a favorite of mine. In fact, they have the only dish with peas in it, that I'll eat. It's amazing. In the past, I'd have given them 5 stars, and maybe it's still worthy of that, however my last experience was less than 5 stars and this is the first time I've been asked to review so...here we are. Ambiance is always 5 star, food - usually, service - quality and it shows. This night seemed to be not too busy, however, our waiter was sluggish and came off a bit aggressive which doesn't really fit the environment here. Not trying to sound like a snob but it shouldn't take 10mins + to get a refill on a soda. He knew his stuff but took forever to come back to us. To be fair, he was also waiting on a table of 10...but he was also hanging out at the bar so...‍. Food was a bit too cooked for pasta, not the quality we've come to expect here. My gf loved her chicken and the portions were great. Dessert is always on another level here so make sure to get something or you're missing out. Maybe we'll try again in the future and have a different experience, as typically I do have a great experience here. So, let's give Vincenzo's a "3 to 4" rating if possible. read more

Best Italian restaurant in the area. The tortellini bella donna is outstanding, the specials are original and delicious, their wine list is extensive and their staff are friendly and helpful. Just a word of caution: if you're coming here looking for chicken parmesan, penne a la vodka, or similar- this isn't that kind of place. read more

Wow all these good review, does not shock me though. I have been let down before by Yelp. Been here three times because of family in the area goes here, yes they are on the older side. I'll keep it short. Older crowd, old feel and decor, slow service, food was below average. They have a market now but when the older crowd goes away so will this place. read more

Hosted a bridal shower there recently and I highly recommend Vincenzo's for service, food quality, atmosphere. We had the upstairs room for around 35, tables set nicely in a U shape making it more intimate than sitting at separate tables. Manny was our head waiter, he was knowledgeable, friendly and extremely professional. He made sure our wine glasses were full and that we stuck to our schedule. The food was absolutely perfect, everyone who attended raved about it. The value was great also. The atmosphere was awesome, everything including bathrooms were clean and nicely decorated. read more

One waiter for the table and very polite and informative. Proper spacing between courses and very reasonable prices. All of our meals were served hot and without a hitch. Our meals were all served at the same time. Food quality is A-1. We were seated immediately as per our reservation. Professional service and fantastic food. Also large portions, I had to take some home. read more

I've driven past this place for years, and we finally decided to try it. Underwhelming in almost every way. DARK! Impossible to see how much salt or pepper you are adding to your food. Reading the menu was challenging - thank goodness for the tea light candles on the table. Salad was salad - not easy to mess up. Lobster Bisque was very salty and tasted/smelled heavily of tuna, although there were chunks of lobster. Entrees were mediocre at best. Dessert was good, but so cold I can't help but think it was previously frozen. The service was fine. Waiter tried to be engaging. We won't go back. read more

My boyfriend and I had dinner here this past Friday night. It's your classic Italian restaurant, a little more upscale, but not super high-class. He ordered Shrimp & Scallops pasta dish and I had Chicken Riccadona, both were very good and enough for leftovers for lunch the next day. The bread is nice, although the butter tabs were so cold they were practically frozen - this is just a personal pet peeve of mine - I like my butter room temperature so it's good for spreading and melts into the bread. The salad our meals came with was very nice, spring/field mix greens, not cheap iceberg like some restaurant give you. The dressing it was tossed in was great too, balsamic I believe. I'll always order a homemade dessert over the rest, so I had the tiramisu, very good, a classic. Overall, service and food was great, the only downside was the wine list. Maybe we should have opted for a more expensive bottle of wine, but I didn't want to pay $60 for a bottle of wine that I pay $20 for in a liquor store. ALSO, you can get restaurant.com gift certificates for this restaurant. Make sure you take advantage, it's a great offer. read more

Since moving here from Brooklyn, Vincenzo's has become our "special occasions restaurant". Last Friday I brought my husband here for his birthday. My son and his girlfriend were with us. We all had appetizers, which you could fill up on if you don't watch out. We ordered broccoli rabe with salsiccia and zucchini fritti along with the antipasto. My husband had what he always does, frutta di mare. I had veal saltimboca. The kids both had a pasta dish, one with shrimp and one with chicken. The portions are so large, we all ended up taking home leftovers. Vincenzo's food is the only AUTHENTIC Italian food I have eaten in NJ. I can't imagine why people bother going to any other Italian restaurant when Vincenzo's is right here! I started writing this review and life got in the way, so I'm finishing it waaay later. We have been back to Vincenzo's several times and it just keeps getting better. If you are looking for an intimate, old-style white tablecloth ristorante, look no further. The food is consistently wonderful and the European-style service is impeccable. read more

Okay, okay, so I am doing a review in New Jersey. But this place is one of the great Italian Ristorante's that I have come across in my years of travel. Service, food and atmosphere are why I come here when I come to town. The service is the best I have ever gotten. Everyone is there to make sure you are completely satisfied and content. Glasses are always filled, bread, butter, olive oil and pepper....just a real treat. Food, now I love to eat the Shrimp Scampi. But let's start at the beginning. Always get the fresh made anti-pasta made for the number of people in your party. It has everything. Fresh, sweet, a visual bouquet of foods. And the smell of garlic just makes me insane just thinking about it. We always enjoy the calamari which tender, crisp and fresh. Never chewy, even if it sits for a while to you indulge yourself in it. Dinner, for me fresh shrimp in a lavish butter sauce a top a cloud of tender angel hair pasts. Sound good? It is the absolute best. It is of course, the Shrimp Scampi. Want fresh made pasta? It's all good. Have a special request? No problem, just ask. One dish I use to eat was the grilled shrimp over a bed of arugila. Topped with a lemony dressing. I don't know if they cook it any longer but give it a shot. You will love it. Desert, espresso is my poison. I love it. Comes with a small wedge of lemon peal. Details my friends, it's all in the details. After dinner drinks, aperitifs and of course Italian deserts. They have a fresh try of them daily. I love the tartufo. Chocolate and vanilla in a ball covered with exceptional an exceptional chocolate shell. Of course they have all the Italian favorites, all delicious. Oh, before I forget, I need to describe the ambiance. Cozy, intimate and warm meaning there are many tables, many different experiences going on by many different individuals, families and groups. It all works well. An anniversary to your left, a family on the right, and a celebration a few table over. I love to listen to the different parties and the different conversations and feeling a part of the community. Weird huh? I think we all do it. Realizing we are a part of something much larger than ourselves. Moderately priced for lunch and dinner. You can end up with a big bill if you indulge your party in such decadent delights. A place for you and a loved one or an entire family. You will be a part of the experience. I believe they also had (at one time) some dude singing. It was a nice touch. When you leave make sure you unbutton you top pant button so you can comfortable sit in your car. It does help. Make sure you take home the extras so you can relive the experience. read more

So a place is only as good as the last visit is how I will remember Vincenzo's. Was really disappointed, wife and I got away from the kids and made reservations last June. Usually very happy here but was really disappointed on this trip. Ordered the seafood special, yuck, tiny rubbery shrimp swimming in butter, along with overlooked scallops that tasted per-cooked, not seasoned or seared well at all. For the price of it it should have been perfected. I would have said something but it took ages, was already 8:45 (we arrived at 7:30) and I was starving. Not very good at all. Wife's dinner was average pasta dish nothing to be noted. Sangria was watery and tasteless, and a bit overpriced, although they always are! I do think the decor needs a major face lift, drabby boring drapes, and ancient paint, stylish for those with snow on the roof!!!!!!!!! I'd give it another shot just because this was the 1st bad experience of a few visits. Coulda been an off night, but a place is only as good as its last visit! read more

We are throwing a party for my dad and thought of this place upon a recommendation of a friend. I spoke to one of the owners, I think his name was Mario, and when I made some inquiries regarding the menu, etc, he looked very indifferent and was plain rude. You just lost a client, buddy. And to top it off, the food was underwhelming and the mozzarella carozza was oily. read more

Hadn't been to Vincenzo's in a while for various reasons. Happy to find the great food and service hasn't changed. Still thinking about the perfectly grilled, melt in your mouth veal chop I had. read more

The last time I was at Vincenzo's I wasn't impressed Must have been 10 years, but Saturday Night we had a group of 14 & it was Awesome!!! It was 'Little Italy' quality food right here in New Jersey!! Stuffed Mushrooms, Fried Calamari, Shrimp Cold Antipasto All Excellent!! Our waiter Carlos B. Awesome, handled the table of 14 on a Busy Saturday night like it was a table of 2, he got it All right, drinks, wine, hot & cold apps, Main Course & dessert!! Ask for Carlos B. read more

Been to Vincenzo's on several occasions, usually for a birthday dinner. The food is excellent & very fresh. Even with a large party, we never experienced any issues. The fried calamari was delicious and cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is nice and the staff has always been pleasant and always hard at work. Will definitely be back! read more

For many years our family has been coming to Vincenzos , it was my dads fave Italian spot. When my dad passed away last week, we knew where we would have our repass dinner right away. From the 1st minute I called them to talk to them about it everything ran seamlessly.. They were so helpful and sympathetic and willing to accommodate all of our needs.. The night of the dinner went off without a hitch they served 45 people as easily as they would our parties of 4 or 6 downstairs.. The upstairs Room was set up perfectly the service was very attentive and on point and accommodating, Not to mention all the delicious food..thank you Vincenzos for making a difficult time in our lives a little easier that day..my dad would have been proud read more

This is a good restaurant with homey atmosphere, good food with big portions and reasonable price. The service is very good, too. The attendant knows very well about their menu. There is upstairs with big space good for group party, fit for 60+ people. read more

Very good food and beautiful atmosphere. Also, the Chicken Piccatta was simply out of this world. I never tasted anything like it. Love to come again. read more

Vincenzo's Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Middlesex, New Jersey

OMG!! The food at this place is absolutely amazing!!!!! My job takes us here for department lunches and this place is one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to. Their salad is to die for!! You could literally sit there all day and just eat salad because of the dressing. Try this place out and you will keep going back for more. read more

My girlfriend and I have been friends since Kindergarten., and spent our early years growing up in Middlesex. We are both now Grandmothers, and live across the country from one another. Vincenzo's was a convenient place to meet today for lunch after not seeing each other for nearly 10 years. When I called yesterday for reservations, I related our friendship history and asked for a table where we could spend time without disturbing others. They could not have been more accommodating. Our table was lovely, and we enjoyed spending our 5 hour lunch not only with an outstanding meal., but with wait staff and Management who made us feel Welcomed and erased any concerns we may of had 'of staying toooo long' The veal dish was very much enjoyed by my GF, and the lobster/ shrimp ravioli was the best I've ever had....with Moët Chandon as our beverage, it could not have been a better Girls Luncheon. Thank you for such outstanding service, and since I'm still a centrally located Jersey girl, I will be back. read more

My family and I have been going here for at least 10 years. It is a family favorite and they go out of their way with their service. The food is consistently good. I especially like their complimentary salad. During the summer they offer a special salad with mango which is absolutely delicious! One tip would be to bring a sweater because it can get chilly... Nothing a glass of wine couldn't fix! read more

I have been told that I have to go to this place for a while now. The Yelp reviews are very good, so I was excited to give this place a shot. The place is pretty nice - decent decor, enough parking, etc. We were seated and bread was put out in front of us very quickly. My wife and I decided to share an antipasto appetizer. It was pretty good. The pre-dinner salads were very good. I am not even sure of the dressing they use, but it was extremely good. For my meal, I had a shrimp and scallops dinner and my wife had a shrimp dish over angel hair pasta (both were served in a pink sauce). My meal was excellent and they gave me about 6 nice sized scallops and about 4 jumbo shrimp. It was very good. I had a few bites of my wife's meal and her's was very good, too. We went for a special occasion, so we both tried a dessert. I had a chocolate mousse - banana cream type piece of cake/pie, whatever you want to call it. It was awesome - a very good dessert. My wife had a cannoli and she said it was good. All in all, it was a very good meal. The service was good, the food was great and Vincenzo's did not disappoint. I am sure that we will be heading back. read more