Nonna's Cucina — Restaurant in Marlboro Township

“Maybe your 80 year old mother who can’t walk shouldn’t go out to eat in busy restaurants.” Yes, that is what the owner Joe of Nonna’s Cucina on Route 9 in Manalapan New Jersey said to me today when he returned my phone call. I called to complain about the horrible service and food my mother, daughter and I experienced at 5:15 on Sunday afternoon. Now, the food and service would not drive me to this review/posting (that is why I called and not started with a review and call to the credit card company). What is driving me to this is the comment and the disgusting attitude and tone of the owner to me over the phone. Sunday, to start, to servicers couldn’t decide who was waiting on our table, not only was I told we can have eggplant parmigiana, not only did we wait over one hour to be served while tables all around us were served (my mother and daughter order pasta with red sauce…really complicated right?) Well, I received eggplant rollatini spread out with sauce and cheese impersonating eggplant parmigiana ( I am Italian, I know the difference). This would have been one thing but, it was flat, burnt and tasteless as if the valet ran over it before it got on the plate. Grated cheese? Grated cheese? Hard to get any grated cheese. Finally, a busboy passed by and gave us a cup of it with a spoon. Apparently, grated cheese in a cup gets shared table to table. And, on the receipt “Marinara pasta” was a special request for $22.00. You may be wondering what my mom being 80 has to do with anything. I said, “It was a terrible experience and to think my 80 year old mother who cannot walk only wanted to go to your restaurant.” And, yes, this disgusting human said, “Maybe your 80 year old mother who can’t walk shouldn’t go out to eat in a busy restaurant.” So, if you want good Italian food, good service, and maybe you are elderly … head down the road a little more to Aunt Butchie’s for your meal. And, Joe, I hope you get the same respect when you are 80. Maybe you will have to stay home. Karma! What goes up will come down!”

Please share my friends. This was disgusting...

So my family and I went to Nonna’s The last weekend in December 2018 To celebrate my wife’s birthday I have to say from just pulling into the parking lot the place is very neat and clean on the outside and same thing when you get inside absolutely spotless service from the front desk hostesses to the wait staff was absolutely amazing The food was out of this world everything that we had was phenomenal to put it in the best worst possible we did the family style for the four of us adults and everything we got from the chicken Parm to the beef short ribs shrimp scampi to the penne pasta with Alfredo sauce again absolutely phenomenal even the one salad I believe it’s the house salad was just amazing. So you’re probably wondering why am leaving a four star review instead of a five star review well once a minor incident happened not a huge big deal but it was kind of a complete turnoff of the night we received a check from the waiter I don’t know who wrote it on the top of the check but they wrote suggested tip amount in pen when the bottom of the actual receipt has suggested amounts so I have to say from going from a very good experience all night long with both food and waiters and waitresses do you have that on top of the receipt was kind of a huge turn off but other than that I don’t feel that the place is phenomenal and we will return soon for a great meal and great so you’re probably wondering why am leaving a four star review instead of a five star review well one small minor incident happened not a huge big deal but it was kind of a complete turn off of the night we received a check from the waiter I don’t know who wrote it on the top of the check but they wrote just the tip amount in pen when the bottom of the actual receipt has suggested amounts so I have to say from going from a very good experience all night long with both food and waiters and waitresses do you have that on top of the receipt was kind of a huge turn off but other than that I feel that the place is phenomenal and we will return soon for great meal...

We hosted a graduation party at Nonna’s Cucina for both of our Sons last weekend. I cannot say enough great things about the tremendous staff, service, ambience and food/drinks!

Dan and Kris along with their colleagues made the Private Dining Room experience phenomenal for all of our guests! From the start, they accommodated our every request and made us feel at home. Great job ensuring my wife’s dessert table that she worked so hard on, received the recognition it so deserved by helping out with the extra curriculars. Putting out the charcuterie & shrimp cocktail platters with care ensuring all of our guests were wowed! Working with us to ensure every detail was perfect.

We are beyond overjoyed that all of our guests kept raving about the service, food and drinks. EVERYTHING that they could want for was provided. Trish, the drinks were exceptional, cheers to you! Kris & Dan made sure every platter was full, drinks at the ready and every request fulfilled…can’t thank you both enough!

Food was delicious, thank you!!!

Linda, you were so easy to work with and the fact that you were there for our whole reception and helping to the very end when you could have left that to the staff is something we will never forget!! A special thank you to you for your kindness, thoughtfulness and care!!

To Joe the Owner, thank you for working with us. The time you took and the advice you offered didn’t go unnoticed and led to the much desired result!

We only had the experience of several dinners to go on (Greg, Billy and Umberto made those experiences so worthwhile that we became comfortable with the choice to host a party at this venue) so the first party experience was a hit!

Kris, helpful to the very end!

Valet staff, engaging and the system they have in place worked beautifully!

We can’t wait to be...