Gargiulo's Tinton Falls — Restaurant in Tinton Falls

Gargiulo’s in Tinton Falls is known for its classic Italian fare served in a charming, historic setting. We’d heard only positive things before our visit, but unfortunately, our experience didn’t quite live up to the hype- perhaps we caught them on an off night. The restaurant’s ambiance is warm and inviting, with indoor and outdoor seating and complimentary valet parking. Service is generally attentive, and the menu features house-made pastas, seafood specials, and tempting desserts. We ordered the Calamari and Stuffed Artichoke for appetizers, both of which were excellent. Our entrees included the Seafood Orzo Risotto, Sole Francese, Roasted Eggplant, and a Mahi Mahi special. Everything was delicious except for the sole, which was far too salty to enjoy. It was a busy Saturday night, and the staff seemed overwhelmed. Someone lost our kitchen order ticket, and the delay went unnoticed until we brought it up after finishing our wine. As a result, we ended up opening a second bottle. Fortunately, the wine list is exceptional. The restaurant did apologize by comping the Calamari appetizer for the inconvenience. We noticed that regulars seemed to be seated promptly, while first-time guests like us waited 15 to 20 minutes past our reservation time. Despite this, the overall value was good: we paid $300 for four people, with half spent on wine. We plan to return for lunch to see if service is smoother when the restaurant is less crowded. Based on the many glowing reviews, our experience seems to have been an exception rather than the rule. We’re looking forward to giving Gargiulo...

Gargiulio''s is the new hidden gem in Tinton Falls, NJ. I've been to the Coney Island landmark, so I had to try this one. Well, it is a much easier drive since I live in NJ. It doesn't have the same look, but it has a similar feel-more like a Neapolitan trattoria than a ristorante. I loved the traditional calamari, but this time we tried the renowned calamari racanati! We were not disappointed. A baked, crumbly bread coating on fresh squid was surprisingly delicious. I still needed plenty of marinara to enjoy it. We got chicken parmigiana and shrimp francese with spinach and a side of mixed veggies (grilled, sauteed peppers, squash, and maybe onions-this was good). The chicken parm was about average for Jersey and the shrimp were very tasty. I'm not a fan of lemons on my sea food (sue me), but this sauce was very well done. The spinach was just right. They do sell alcohol. They have a nice cozy bar and a small, but efficient wine list (glass or bottle). They food was very good, but it didn't overwhelm me. The prices are about average for most NJ 3-5 star restaurants. It is worth it to reserve a seat and try for yourself. I will say it is hard to get a primetime seat for awhile so shoot for an earlier time. I do have a few fave restaurants I'd rank higher (see my other Italian restaurant reviews), but based on location, quality of food, ambiance, customer service, Gargiulio''s is definitely worth experiencing on a nice date night....

I have been a regular patron of the original Gargiulo's in Coney Island for over 40 years! This was my first time sampling the food from the New Jersey outpost of this venerable establishment. Full disclosure: My wife and I did not eat at the restaurant. I am recovering from emergency surgery, and my brother-in-law knew my fastest road to recovery would be via a Gargiulo's meal (or two). So he ordered some of my favorite dishes and had the restaurant ship them to my wife and me—from New Jersey to Utah! First, the food. Sausage and broccoli rabe was prepared in the classic fashion—nice and garlicky. Our next meal was chicken Scarpariello, which was even better. It was extremely flavorful and the chicken remained tender even after a journey of two thousand miles! Obviously, we had to heat up the food ourselves, but instructions were included, and anyway I'm an expert at reheating food. Now, the service. All the dishes were cooked, frozen, and packaged with tender loving care with insulation and freezer packs. They all arrived here in Utah in perfect condition. This is not something the restaurant typically does (or has EVER done) so the staff gets an "A+" for their efforts. I've still got a couple of meals to sample but I wanted to get this review posted to thank the folks at Gargiulo's for contributing to my rehabilitation (which is...