This was such an amazing experience! George made sure my family and I were well taken care of and delivered nothing but grade A service. The owner Pasquale should be very proud of him self and servers for delivering such a breathtaking experience. I felt like I was with my Italian grandparents again who sadly left this world and really made me feel like I was in nonas kitchen. Happy Easter and thank you for this amazing experience. You have gained returning customers.Dietary restrictions: Plant based options. Italian "sausage" broccoli Rabe was incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tiramisu, Italian Cheesecake Slice
JohnW
The food was fantastic. The portions were large I had the double pork chop and high was unbelievable it was very crowded with several very large parties and it seemed like there wasn't enough staff
HillaryG
Dining at I'll Colosseo is an OUTSTANDING and most MEMORABLE experience!!! The quality of the food products are stellar, as is the taste and generous portion size. The service by the very friendly staff is impeccable. They are welcoming and treat you like family! Pasquale, the manager is awesome and super accommodating. He will customize anything to your liking. Henry was a great waiter offering menu suggestions and his personal favorites. One very impressive trait was the attention to detail everyone possessed. Constantly staying on top of filling water, making sure grated cheese and pepper accompanied your meal, spacing food courses appropriately, generous bread portion offered with EVOO and butter. Great restaurant to celebrate special occasions. This restaurant compares to the finest dining experiences in foodie cities!!! You feel like you are dining in a Michelin star restaurant. It's just that delicious and exceptional!!! Can't wait to return to Il Colosseo to enjoy another wonderful dining experience!!! Hillary G.
AnitaS
This was my sixth visit to Il Colosseo. The food at this restaurant is absolutely fabulous. Our waiter, Antonio, suggested the Sicilian white wine that I found dry and flavorful. Although we brought a bottle of Santa Margarita, we deceived to try their wines and were not disappointed. The cocktails sounded and looked great as well. Our main dishes were a special Bronzino, and a Pollo Toscanini. Both dishes were wonderful. This is one of the few Restaurants where I asked for “no salt” and was not served a plate of salty food. Antonio was a great server and was charming as well. I look forward to going back in the near future when we are not watching our calories. Lol
Craig Essen
Honestly, the food is very good, but the place is too loud. It’s the prices that bother me. $20 salad, $38 veal franchaise. It just feels like a money grab. It’s off my list, at least for now.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Iacovino
This was our first time here, we heard good things about this place so we figured why not.Don’t get discouraged if you wait!We had a 8:45 seating but the restaurant couldn’t seat us until 9:15. Once we sat down we were greeted by Henry who made us feel like we were regular guests. He was very nice and polite.The food was very good & fresh.The sauce was on point ?was used in the sauce Bravo to the chef. You are getting a Brooklyn experience in food quality. Noise levels are a bit high but the owner is working on that. Thanks to Mr. Pasquale he’s doing an excellent job running this business for the last four years. This is a must try place that could become your regular spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Chop
Lynda Madnick
This is by far our favorite restaurant! We first dined at the Brooklyn location two years ago and then we’re thrilled to find out there was a restaurant in Red Bank.The quality and portions are great. So many choices on the menu. The chicken franchais is the best I have ever had , the spaghetti cooked to perfection, My husband had the pescatore risotto and hasn’t stopped raving about it. Every dessert is a treat. The staff is fantastic, from Paul and Henry to Lily the hostess and the rest of the staff. Excellent service and you are made to feel so welcome.We’re coming.back in two weeks with friends to turn them onto this gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MikeNJ
This was our first time here, we heard good things about this place so we figured why not. Don't get discouraged if you wait! We had a 8:45 seating but the restaurant couldn't seat us until 9:15. Once we sat down we were greeted by Henry who made us feel like we were regular guests. He was very nice and polite. The food was very good & fresh. The sauce was on point ?was used Bravo to the chef. You are getting a Brooklyn experience in food quality. Noise levels are a bit high but the owner is working on that. Thanks to Mr. Pasquale he's doing an excellent job running this business for the last four years. This is a must try place that could become your regular spot.
MarkL
Everything was excellent. The food and service were excellent. The only issue was the noise level. At times I was unable to talk to the person seated next to me. The noise came from the other patrons. The noise is not caused by the restaurant. Maybe the restaurant should put some sound buffering treatments on the wall. ??♂️
Maybe
Room is very noisy. They serve liquor now but it's expensive, higher than competitors. Don't understand why there was an up charge on every entry on the bill? Then there's the up charge for using a credit card, seriously? If you can deal with all that, food is excellent but pricy.
The food was excellent. But I didn't appreciate needing to wait along with our friends we were eating with outside in the cold for 25 minutes after our reservation time. I've never needed to wait that long for a reserved table. There was not enough room in the entrance to wait inside. While I love to food, I am not sure I will go back.
tom taddeo
Food is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ChrisM
The food is always amazing, and the service as well. Relaxing atmosphere, you never feel rushed. The only negative is there is a service charge if you pay with credit card . And they charged me $9 service fee for gluten free.
Tricia
My family and friends have dined here many times. Everyone has always enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. Our family hosted a funeral luncheon today at the restaurant. The owner and waiters, Pasquale, Antonio and Paul could not be gracious enough. They were patient and accommodated all of us. The first generation of our family started on Mott Street in NYC. The next generations scattered over the years, but we all enjoyed dining and gathering today at a place that felt just like home! Our family felt comfortable and the food was delicious, as we gathered and celebrated the life of our loved one. I highly recommend the restaurant for events or for a lunch or dinner outing!
Capp McCapperson
We had wanted to try Il Collosseo since it opened, but never had the opportunity. Went tonight with a group of 9 (7 adults, 2 children under 8). The restaurant was packed (which was a good sign) but it was LOUD and I feared that it would be a bad experience, especially for my older parents. Paul, our server was excellent. In fact all the servers worked in unison to help each other out and it seem d like it didn’t matter who walked past our table, everyone was willing to help - top notch service!For appetizers we ordered 1 regular calamari, 1 calanari agrodolce (special), 2 clams oregenato, 2 margherita pizzas & 1 order of meatballs with ricotta. Food was delicious. Each bite seemed better than the next. The calamari were cooked perfectly - light and tender. The Agrodolce (sweet & sour) sauce on the other calamari dish was outstanding, I’d out that sauce on anything and it would taste good. Clams were tasty, although a bit on the larger side for oreganato & the pizza cooked in their wood fired oven could stand toe to toe with some of the best in the state.Entrees ordered were the Veal Chop, the Pork Chop, 2 Shrimp Fra Diavolo with spaghetti, Chicken vodka parmigiana with penne & a fresh parpardelle pasta dish. They had fresh chicken & fries for the kids and we were told most entrees could be made into kid sized seevings. Everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. The portions were very generous and leftovers were taken home.Pasquale (owner? Manager?) greeted our table and was a gracious host. Many after-dinner drinks (limoncello, amaro, espresso, etc) were consumed and dessert after that.Table ordered pistachio tartufo (special) tiramisu, crème brûlée & Affogato. The tiramisu & crème brûlée are definitely made in house. They were extremely fresh and delicious. The pistachio tartufo was also fantastic.All in all a great night out celebrating 2 birthdays with delicious food and excellent service. If I could change 1 thing, it would be the noise level, but to have that amazing food and service in Middletown NJ, I’ll take the trade off!Parking: Plenty of free parking in the huge lot in front of the restaurant.Kid-friendliness: While they don’t have a “kids menu” our server told us that many of the menu options could be made as a kids portion which we liked. The 2 kids in our party ate some of the pizza we had ordered for apps and chicken fingers & fries for dinner.
This was such an amazing experience! George made sure my family and I were well taken care of and delivered nothing but grade A service. The owner Pasquale should be very proud of him self and servers for delivering such a breathtaking experience. I felt like I was with my Italian grandparents again who sadly left this world and really made me feel like I was in nonas kitchen. Happy Easter and thank you for this amazing experience. You have gained returning customers.Dietary restrictions: Plant based options. Italian "sausage" broccoli Rabe was incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tiramisu, Italian Cheesecake Slice
The food was fantastic. The portions were large I had the double pork chop and high was unbelievable it was very crowded with several very large parties and it seemed like there wasn't enough staff
Dining at I'll Colosseo is an OUTSTANDING and most MEMORABLE experience!!! The quality of the food products are stellar, as is the taste and generous portion size. The service by the very friendly staff is impeccable. They are welcoming and treat you like family! Pasquale, the manager is awesome and super accommodating. He will customize anything to your liking. Henry was a great waiter offering menu suggestions and his personal favorites. One very impressive trait was the attention to detail everyone possessed. Constantly staying on top of filling water, making sure grated cheese and pepper accompanied your meal, spacing food courses appropriately, generous bread portion offered with EVOO and butter. Great restaurant to celebrate special occasions. This restaurant compares to the finest dining experiences in foodie cities!!! You feel like you are dining in a Michelin star restaurant. It's just that delicious and exceptional!!! Can't wait to return to Il Colosseo to enjoy another wonderful dining experience!!! Hillary G.
This was my sixth visit to Il Colosseo. The food at this restaurant is absolutely fabulous. Our waiter, Antonio, suggested the Sicilian white wine that I found dry and flavorful. Although we brought a bottle of Santa Margarita, we deceived to try their wines and were not disappointed. The cocktails sounded and looked great as well. Our main dishes were a special Bronzino, and a Pollo Toscanini. Both dishes were wonderful. This is one of the few Restaurants where I asked for “no salt” and was not served a plate of salty food. Antonio was a great server and was charming as well. I look forward to going back in the near future when we are not watching our calories. Lol
Honestly, the food is very good, but the place is too loud. It’s the prices that bother me. $20 salad, $38 veal franchaise. It just feels like a money grab. It’s off my list, at least for now.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was our first time here, we heard good things about this place so we figured why not.Don’t get discouraged if you wait!We had a 8:45 seating but the restaurant couldn’t seat us until 9:15. Once we sat down we were greeted by Henry who made us feel like we were regular guests. He was very nice and polite.The food was very good & fresh.The sauce was on point ?was used in the sauce Bravo to the chef. You are getting a Brooklyn experience in food quality. Noise levels are a bit high but the owner is working on that. Thanks to Mr. Pasquale he’s doing an excellent job running this business for the last four years. This is a must try place that could become your regular spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Chop
This is by far our favorite restaurant! We first dined at the Brooklyn location two years ago and then we’re thrilled to find out there was a restaurant in Red Bank.The quality and portions are great. So many choices on the menu. The chicken franchais is the best I have ever had , the spaghetti cooked to perfection, My husband had the pescatore risotto and hasn’t stopped raving about it. Every dessert is a treat. The staff is fantastic, from Paul and Henry to Lily the hostess and the rest of the staff. Excellent service and you are made to feel so welcome.We’re coming.back in two weeks with friends to turn them onto this gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was our first time here, we heard good things about this place so we figured why not. Don't get discouraged if you wait! We had a 8:45 seating but the restaurant couldn't seat us until 9:15. Once we sat down we were greeted by Henry who made us feel like we were regular guests. He was very nice and polite. The food was very good & fresh. The sauce was on point ?was used Bravo to the chef. You are getting a Brooklyn experience in food quality. Noise levels are a bit high but the owner is working on that. Thanks to Mr. Pasquale he's doing an excellent job running this business for the last four years. This is a must try place that could become your regular spot.
Everything was excellent. The food and service were excellent. The only issue was the noise level. At times I was unable to talk to the person seated next to me. The noise came from the other patrons. The noise is not caused by the restaurant. Maybe the restaurant should put some sound buffering treatments on the wall. ??♂️
Room is very noisy. They serve liquor now but it's expensive, higher than competitors. Don't understand why there was an up charge on every entry on the bill? Then there's the up charge for using a credit card, seriously? If you can deal with all that, food is excellent but pricy.
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was excellent. But I didn't appreciate needing to wait along with our friends we were eating with outside in the cold for 25 minutes after our reservation time. I've never needed to wait that long for a reserved table. There was not enough room in the entrance to wait inside. While I love to food, I am not sure I will go back.
Food is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is always amazing, and the service as well. Relaxing atmosphere, you never feel rushed. The only negative is there is a service charge if you pay with credit card . And they charged me $9 service fee for gluten free.
My family and friends have dined here many times. Everyone has always enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. Our family hosted a funeral luncheon today at the restaurant. The owner and waiters, Pasquale, Antonio and Paul could not be gracious enough. They were patient and accommodated all of us. The first generation of our family started on Mott Street in NYC. The next generations scattered over the years, but we all enjoyed dining and gathering today at a place that felt just like home! Our family felt comfortable and the food was delicious, as we gathered and celebrated the life of our loved one. I highly recommend the restaurant for events or for a lunch or dinner outing!
We had wanted to try Il Collosseo since it opened, but never had the opportunity. Went tonight with a group of 9 (7 adults, 2 children under 8). The restaurant was packed (which was a good sign) but it was LOUD and I feared that it would be a bad experience, especially for my older parents. Paul, our server was excellent. In fact all the servers worked in unison to help each other out and it seem d like it didn’t matter who walked past our table, everyone was willing to help - top notch service!For appetizers we ordered 1 regular calamari, 1 calanari agrodolce (special), 2 clams oregenato, 2 margherita pizzas & 1 order of meatballs with ricotta. Food was delicious. Each bite seemed better than the next. The calamari were cooked perfectly - light and tender. The Agrodolce (sweet & sour) sauce on the other calamari dish was outstanding, I’d out that sauce on anything and it would taste good. Clams were tasty, although a bit on the larger side for oreganato & the pizza cooked in their wood fired oven could stand toe to toe with some of the best in the state.Entrees ordered were the Veal Chop, the Pork Chop, 2 Shrimp Fra Diavolo with spaghetti, Chicken vodka parmigiana with penne & a fresh parpardelle pasta dish. They had fresh chicken & fries for the kids and we were told most entrees could be made into kid sized seevings. Everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. The portions were very generous and leftovers were taken home.Pasquale (owner? Manager?) greeted our table and was a gracious host. Many after-dinner drinks (limoncello, amaro, espresso, etc) were consumed and dessert after that.Table ordered pistachio tartufo (special) tiramisu, crème brûlée & Affogato. The tiramisu & crème brûlée are definitely made in house. They were extremely fresh and delicious. The pistachio tartufo was also fantastic.All in all a great night out celebrating 2 birthdays with delicious food and excellent service. If I could change 1 thing, it would be the noise level, but to have that amazing food and service in Middletown NJ, I’ll take the trade off!Parking: Plenty of free parking in the huge lot in front of the restaurant.Kid-friendliness: While they don’t have a “kids menu” our server told us that many of the menu options could be made as a kids portion which we liked. The 2 kids in our party ate some of the pizza we had ordered for apps and chicken fingers & fries for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tiramisu, Clams Oreganate, Creme Brulee, Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Calamari Fritti