Brio Italian Grille — Restaurant in Freehold Township

The flatbread pizza is the best. Too bad I couldn't give it a minus 5 stars for service and atmosphere....

I placed a to-go order, over the phone, at the Freehold, NJ location around 3:45 today, April 10. I was early so I took a look at a menu while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I browsed on my phone for a bit and then started to look at who would be able to help me. There was a man, who I was later told was the manager (Ray), standing on the bar trying to fix the TV; a waitress was tending to things at the bar and checking on the only 2 customers in the main dining area. There was also a waiter who was walking around and a woman pushing glasses/dishes on a cart in the back by the kitchen. Each one of them looked at me and continued doing whatever they were doing. A couple was sitting at the bar talking to the “manager” as he was working with the TV. The three of them (the “manager” and the couple continued their, what appeared to be a very friendly conversation, once the TV issue was done.

At no time while I was there did anyone say a word to me or give a head nod or anything. They saw me and I was ignored! I was there for over five minutes without anyone saying a word to let me know that someone would be able to help me. The restaurant was practically empty. No one knew if I needed to be seated or needed to pick up an order. This is unacceptable. I am extremely disappointed with my experience. This has never happened to me at Brio. In fact, some of the wait staff remember the dishes that I like!

I requested to speak to a manager, Ray. The waiter went to Ray, told him I needed to speak with him. Can you guess his response? He continued his conversation with the couple and made no effort to speak with me. While waiting for Ray I told the wait staff my issue. They were quite apologetic. One said, “I thought you were here to pick up an order”. Which further proves my point that I was ignored. They saw me and didn’t think to say or ask me anything. While I appreciate the apology, it does not excuse the behavior. No one knew if I was there to place an order, pick up an order or needed to be seated because NO ONE spoke to me!

I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating and disappointing this experience has been for me. I was so vexed that I left the restaurant without my order. Thinking twice, I turned around and came back in to speak with the “manager”, who was still talking to the couple at the bar, laughing and enjoy themselves. The waiter went over to him again to let him know that I needed to speak to him. Do you think he stopped his conversation? He did not. I cancelled my order and went elsewhere to eat.

This was an example of racism. Sadly, this is still happening in...

The food was excellent but everything else was not great. I made a reservation for 2/18/24 @ 5:30 for four people to celebrate my husband’s birthday. We arrive on time to find several dirty tables and two hostess scrambling to figure out where to put us. They were too busy setting up a party for about 30 teenagers that they forgot about my reservation. About fifteen minutes after my arrival they seat us at a table the hostess cleaned off but she walked away without giving us silverware. The waitress Gabriella took forever to greet us, gave us dirty napkin and silverware sets, didn’t give us bread until we asked on three different occasions for it and she didn’t bring it out until after our meal did when other server’s tables were just brought it immediately after ordering , didn’t clear plates or glasses, didn’t check in on us, gave us attitude any time we flagged her down for something (like silverware, bread, drink refills, boxes, dessert, the check and the check being incorrect) tried to get rid of us by bringing the check over without asking if we wanted dessert. She was annoyed when we ordered dessert and after dinner drinks and she had to redo the bill. She didn’t take our rewards coupon off even though we told her in advance and she wrote it down and we had to have her correct it. She was not a great sever in general because all of her tables were being ignored. People from her other tables were also getting angry that she would disappear and had to be flagged down for drink refills, boxes and the checks. At one point she was even seen in the corner freaking out to what looked like a manager and someone else took the next table. Food runners and other servers delivered most of her tables food. Every other server seemed fine even the ones dealing with the 30 teens so perhaps she should be a weekday night or even a lunch server only because she was not prepared for a weekend dinner rush. I’ve been a server before and to be honest she got frazzled way too quickly to be able to handle the job. We’ve celebrated birthdays here before and the severs were attentive and nice and even put a candle in dessert for us but she could not be bothered. Disappointing as I’ve been to this location several times and haven’t had a problem. I won’t be back the location at Quakerbridge mall is better. I only left her a tip because I know they get paid less then minimum wage and I’ve been there before relying on tips but she honestly...

I've worked in the service industry for my entire adult life and this experience was clearly management dropping the ball and/or cutting corners.

Booked a private room for 30 guests on March 10th, 2018. Initially, things were fine, and under the circumstances, the waitstaff did the best they could.

We had two servers assigned to our room. Now that should have been plenty, but on top of our party, they were also assigned to a second private party, then on top of that second party, they also had tables in the main dining room.

Once both parties were in full swing, it became abundantly clear that things were going to go straight down hill.

My nephew, an 8 year old, got an apple juice. ONE apple juice, because even after 3-4 requests for a refill, another apple juice never came. We ended up giving him someone else's water.

Oh, water. At least some guests savvy'd up enough to ask for 2 glasses of water at one time so they wouldn't get thirsty.

Thirsty. Some of us wanted a beer, we got that, but if you wanted another beer... well, since the two servers had to leave us for long periods of time while they checked on the other party and then also see if their tables in the main dining room needed anything. By the time they got back to us... they forgot.

Food came out slowly and we were apologized to because "we have another party too" Really??? We paid to have a private party. That price should have included proper staffing. Again. A management issue.

I will say that when the food finally came out, it was plentiful and good.

Coffee and cake at the end... well, cake anyway. We brought that. One of my sisters asked for a cup of coffee. "We don't have any coffee cups left." WHAT?!? My brother-in-law offered up his empty cup for a refill so she could get some coffee.

I will repeat again that this is a management issue. The party should have been...