Vic's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Bradley Beach

We've been on a pizza kick lately, where we'll drive a few hours to try new places (We split our time between South Jersey and Bucks County PA). We've been to Frederici's in Freehold, Pete & Eldas, Star Tavern in Orange NJ, The Cabin (don't know where that was), Riccardo's Pizza in Browns Mills NJ that I can remember off the top of our head. On our last visit to Pete & Eldas, a bunch of folks told us that we had to try Vic's in Bradley Beach as it's so close to where we were. . So today we did. We parked in the lot, walked in and boy oh boy, did this joint remind me of Mom Mom Gallo's Basement. All it needed was an Elvis lamp and with that dark wood decor, you'd have thought we were all hanging out....I think if she was still with us, she'd have enjoyed the food here. . We ordered Garlic Bread, a side of Meatballs and a side of Sausage (2pcs each order), a Large Plain Pie and a 10" size (smallest they had) of the "Special" which was sausage and green peppers. I added onions for .80 topping, so it was more like a sausage, pepper and onion sandwich. . Lets start with how PHENOMENAL we thought the Garlic Bread was. So good. It was cut in "medallions" and we loved it so much. We thought it'd be nice to have a cup of gravy (what Betty Gallo would've called it....to us it's sauce) to dip it in. However the sausage and meatballs came out with a healthy amount of sauce to dip! . The meatballs were fantastic. Hand made, delicious tasting....So good. The sausage was just as good. You could taste the fennel (my favorite) and it was juicy.....I liked the sausage better, she loved the meatballs. Both were great. . This pizza is SUPER THIN. I think it was as thin, of not thinner than Riccardo's Thinnie Minnie. We think the other places we've mentioned....while they are are in the "Super Thin" categories, we thought this was thinner. . It came out and the plain pie was a little greasy. Like, ok, maybe more than a little....I don't mind, the girlfriend kinda did. I just assumed they used a high quality, whole milk mozzarella cheese, but who knows. If I notice it (but don't care), it's a greasy pie. Wasn't very crispy, She wasn't a fan, I was indifferent. EVERYTHING else made up for it. . The "Special" was great. The peppers were sliced super thin as were the onions....The sausage was still awesome. I liked it....I liked both pies. . Would we drive the hour-ish ride for this PIZZA again? No....HOWEVER, we will absolutely be back to try the italian specialties (she's a Chicken Parm nut and is already looking forward to the meatballs and Garlic Bread again). Me? I'll get the pizza, I didn't hate it. But it's not on my top of spots we've tried already.....but it was really a great lunch, we're so happy we tried it! . Gave them overall a 5 Star Rating, If we didn't get pizza, food would be 5 stars, but we had to go 4 stars on the pizza (greasy, no crisp....but still edible and enjoyable). Service... the girlfriend was adamant on giving a 3 star rating, and I kind of agree. Waitress (older lady....so I get it), took our drink order, came back took our food order, came back with an empty box and the bill. (box was too small for the pizza, but we didn't want to bother her. to get a bigger one. Once she saw us struggling to fit the left over pizza in the box (half the large pie, 3/4th of the "Special" pie), she yelled from the other side of the restaurant "DO YOU WANT A BIGGER BOX?" By that time, we already desecrated the box and didn't want to waste another one. The girlfriend gives her that rating because she never asked if everything was ok, never asked if we'd like another soda refill or anything...So yeah, that was kinda Waitress 101, check in at least ONCE to the table....but she wasn't like nasty,...

I've read some reviews about Vic's noting that it is old looking. Well, a big DUH to those reviews. This place is old as dirt and proud of it. The atmosphere is a big part of the place. Obviously they are doing something right to be in business for 75 plus years. I've passed this place many times over a period of decades yet never stopped in. Decided that my birthday would be a fitting time for me and my wife to give it a shot. Had to try the pizza, which I read was a thin crust. My wife ordered shrimp parm. Pizza was fantastic. Haven't had a good thin crust pie in a very long time. The shrimp was cooked perfect and the sauce was unique and delicious. The place was bigger than I had thought and was packed. Often the service suffers at a very busy restaurant but not here. The staff were amazingly friendly and courteous with one, who was not even our server, taking our picture for us when she saw us struggling to get a selfie. I could nit pick if I wanted, but this place was everything I hoped it would be. Despite its size, it's designed in such a way to make you feel cozy. So step back in time and try this place. It's worth it. Hint....if you can't get a seat and don't want to wait, there's a small bar inside to enjoy a few drinks and get some food. Oh yeah, plenty of parking too which is important in this busy town. As I said, the place was packed but we easily found a spot.

UPDATE!!! I'm not changing my rating just yet, but we just dined at Vics for our anniversary. We both ordered dinners, chicken parm and chicken marsala. The salads, pasta, veggies (huge amount of fresh broccoli) were great. But the chicken was like shoe leather. They must know this as they provided steak knives that were badly needed. I'm hoping this was the exception and things were just not done right. We shoulda got the pizza, I guess. The portion was small, the price not cheap, so they need to get this right...

June 29, 2021

This place had potential to be an outstanding restaurant. This place is a family restaurant, been in the family for 4 generations. They certainly has a thriving business. Yet. It seems that they have decided to pocket their profits instead of fixing this place. It had old wood paneling throughout the restaurant. The carpet only one way to describe it, 🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮 ! It was dirty and worn. Stains throughout. Tables were packed in for maximum seating. Reminded me, of a plane ride. So cramped together. The tables are also undersized. We were a party of 3. That was seated at a table for a party of 4. Acoustics, Because they have decided to not do any renovations and on wood walls in a carpet that was probably as thin as a single layer of tissue, Sound was bouncing all over the place ! I could not hear the person sitting next to me or across from me. I don't understand how anybody Would appreciate that. Then we also have the fact that the owner Has decided to cut off Internet. So that the staff cannot reach anyone outside the restaurant, And in this case write a bad review. There are so many places that are I will call up to snuff, That I would be able to hold a conversation with the people at my table.

I had feta Tini Alfredo which in all honesty was very poor, The other 2 people had spaghetti and meatballs that had get out of town one meatball and not a big 1 either, The other person had chicken parmesan and spaghetti. The portion sizes on that last dish was definitely large. The other two meals were, why bother !

Service our waitress was a sweetheart, she us the only reason i am giving this place a 2 stars. We were rushed through our meals. We ordered appetizers , our salad came when, then a minute later. Our meals. All this in a table this was meant for two.

Definitely, not...