Pauline's Italian Cuisine — Restaurant in Matawan

Christmas Party Time Again... Pauline's graciously agreed to open on a Monday to accommodate our party. I had never been here so I was excited. I came through rain and heavy traffic from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. I arrived half an hour early. The place was dark. I did not know they were opening just for us. I parked and waited in the car. Soon a knock at my window and a man asked if I was there for the party and invited me to come in. This was the start of an amazing adventure. As I waited for people to arrive Patrick, a seasoned part of the staff shared his stories of Bensonhurst and we laughed and remembered how it was. He invited me to taste the bread. I did and asked him where it came from. It was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. He said they got daily shipments from Brooklyn. I knew that was the case. As guests arrived they added tables to accommodate the extra people. This restaurant is beautifully decorated. The tables were set perfectly.

After eating the bread, Patrick told me to slow down. There was a lot of food coming. One plate after another arrived, each cooked to perfection. The baked clams were mini clams and so good. The calamari was also delicious. There was fresh Mozzarella that melted in your mouth. There was a fried cheese ball that was beyond delicious. Then the soup with sausage followed by a salad. The choice of entrees was just perfect. My Rib Eye was cooked to perfection. The Lobster tasted amazing.

Then came the Italian Pastries and a double espresso. Need anyone say more?

Pauline's is a Tiny Gem, bringing the amazing flavors and culture of Italy (via Bensonhurst). A big thank you for a wonderful evening. Everyone had an amazing time. Your staff is amazing. Barre From...

a restaurant where they took the time and effort to create a wonderful cozy ambiance. a family run business where the wait staff is friendly helpful and hard working. Ticking another big box, this restaurant is a BYOB. a neighborhood happy spot with fair prices and food that hits most of the high notes. it all started out properly with a loaf of hot bread wrapped in a towel. that's how you start a meal. the olive oil on the table was greenish and of a high quality which was my second upside surprise. my wife and I split a penne alla vodka which was very good. her salad was huge and fresh. my veal saltimbocca was wonderful and the flavor profile excellent. they work their butts off here and pay attention to the little details giving a great qpr to the customer. CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK. And you won't ever feel rushed. Just go and give them a nice tip because they aren't making money by charging $16 for a glass of sangria like some portuguese restaurant a mile...

This is an authentic style Italian restaurant that has been around for decades. It is still owned by the same family. The food is freshly made by the son of Pauline and he caters your order to you. They are considerate of food allergies. Everyone on the staff is part of the family and they are exceedingly friendly. The fish dishes are prepared the way they do it in Italy. The portions are correctly sized. This Italian restaurant is not like an Olive Garden with overall cheesy and greasy foods, so do not expect that. The dining rooms are beautifully decorated. The dinners range from about $30 to $40 a plate. They have specials daily, which are usually a bit more pricey. This place is a diamond in the rough. True Italians will not be...