Della Cucina — Restaurant in Toms River

Wish I could give 5 but unfortunately I can't. First time ever catering for a Mother's Day get together simply because my husband and I didn't have time to prepare anything due to our work schedule. My husband is Italian so his expectations are high and I'll admit even I was nervous because I'm very particular but the glowing reviews assured me we'd be in good hands. Here is why I couldn't give 5 stars but not 3 stars.

Cons: I ordered about 2 weeks before via phone and paid in full. When my husband went to pick up the order, there was confusion/miscommunication with the staff working that day. They were confused and "didn't know" where parts of our order were. How does this happen? Not to mention, they were discussing all of this right in front of my husband and didn't necessarily seem concerned or apologetic. It was so disorganized and unprofessional. If you were unaware of a catering order being picked up and/or its not ready, go to the back and discuss it in private. Ultimately, they finally found everything but I'll admit I was very annoyed and started panicking behind the scenes because our guests were coming within the hour. Anyway on to the food misses- We ordered a Mediterranean Salad and it came without any dressing. Not a super big deal but still worth noting. Thank goodness I had a brand new bottle of vinaigrette on hand. We also ordered Sausage, Peppers, Onions and Potatoes and I have to say that it was very disappointing. We had to "doctor" it up before guests came. It clearly wasn't cooked long enough, lacked seasoning and the sausage tasted a little foul. Definitely would not order again.

Pros: Even with the misses, I feel this place definitely has potential. The presentation of everything was definitely up to par and I'm big on that. The artisan sandwich platter was honestly some of the best sandwiches I've ever had and our picky guests ranted and raved about them. They were fresh, delicious and made on good Semolina Italian Bread! WE got the Italian Stallion, The Fried Eggplant and the Grilled Chicken w/ Roasted Peppers and Mozz. Even the pickles, Mac and Potato Salad were delicious and the portion size was a great value! For dessert we ordered the Rice Pudding and it was fabulous!

Final Thoughts: Maybe they were having an off day and maybe we ordered some of the wrong things but it wouldn't deter me from ordering again and possibly trying something else. I'm all about supporting local businesses but I also think its important for potential customers to hear the good and the bad. One thing is for sure, if you're looking for a good italian style sandwich,...

Della Cucina catered my sons first birthday party at the Pine lake Park Cabin in Toms River. Sue reached out to me to discuss the party and to come up with a menu. As i described my theme (bbq) she immediately emailed me with a list of ideas. Even when i told her the option was a little out of my budget , she responded with no hesitation a different option that was affordable for us! She was so easy to talk to was honestly like talking to a good friend! Through out the months prior to the big day she kept in contact and informed us of the fresh ingredients she goes out of her way to get! The day of we were so excited to not only meet her but to enjoy all the DELICIOUS foods she prepared. It was a bbq themed party from the baked beans, corn , chicken, rolls , mac and cheese , macaroni salad even the hot dogs were so tasty. My guest were complimenting throughout the event how the food was excellent. As the event was coming to an end , i didn't know the clean up time for Della Cucina. I didn't sing happy birthday just yet, as Sue and her assistant were just about to leave i had asked her about the cake if she can cut it. Instead of saying something like oh sorry sweety we are done for the day. She responded you sing and well cut. I was just in aw that she went the extra mile and stayed the additional time and made sure we were completely satisfied before she left. We will definitely be contacting this establishment for our next event! Thank you again for EVERYTHING! Not only do we have a new caterer, we made a new...

I was fooled by the 5-star reviews. We catered from Della Cucina for our daughter’s 1st birthday on 8/2. We placed an in-person order for 50 guests. The final bill came to $641—more than expected, but we trusted the quality and quantity would be worth it. Unfortunately, we were wrong. One item was completely incorrect, and the full tray of penne vodka (which costs $100) barely served 10 people. We ran out of food mid-party and had to make a last-minute run to Jersey Mike’s and call in another order of penne vodka from DC (so another $100!) which honestly was silly since it once again ran out after feeding maybe another 10 guests.

After reviewing the receipt the next day and confirming the mistake, I went in to speak with the owner, John, and the woman at the counter (Michelle?). Instead of concern, I was met with snide comments—Michelle accused me of hanging up on her, though she had spoken over me and then hung up herself. My parents joined me to discuss the issue, and shockingly, John ended up yelling at my mother — pointing his finger and raising his voice — at a parent defending her daughter who had just spent $750 at his business.

I was eventually credited for the incorrect item and half a tray of penne vodka ($50), but the overall experience from the poor value to the aggressive, disrespectful customer service was unacceptable. I have the receipts to prove it all.

John, feel free to respond, but this review stays until you apologize to my mother for screaming...