Il Colosseo - New Jersey

If you’re in or near Monmouth County, NJ, a visit to Il Colloseo Middletown is a must. For years, my favorite pork chop was from a restaurant in Sea Bright but tonight this one was literally the very best pork chop I’ve ever had. Amazing every time but I almost always order the veal parm - so glad I took the server’s recommendation! Our favorite spot we dine here 1-2x/week.

Great atmosphere. Authentic Italian feel. Pizza is absolutely delicious! A must have.

Sauces were fantastic. The atmosphere was tasteful. Antonio our server was professional and attentive.

Absolutely amazing next level Italian! Each dish was beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients. This gem of a restaurant is cozy and elegant and the service was impeccable. I chose the Pear Salad to start and it was so delicious. For my appetizers I loved the Fioretti Boscaiola, little "money bags" stuffed with cheese in a creamy mushroom and prosciutto sauce, and also the bountiful and perfectly grilled Octopus, both fabulous! Picking an entree was hard with so many choices but I decided on the Lamb Chops and I'm so glad I did, they were superb. Be sure to leave room for the homemade Gelato and Tiramisu or my favorite, Pistachio Pizza! If you haven't experienced Il Colosseo, GO! You're going to love it!

Reservations are highly suggested and we were happy to be able to return to one of our favorite restaurants. The appetizers, entrees, and desserts are truly unbelievable. Great atmosphere with attentive staff employees makes this a must visit on your list. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed !

Solid spot with gluten free pasta. 🍝 they can make almost any dish gluten free the GF calamari was extremely good. Highly recommended. Wasn’t the best place I’ve ever been to but it was solid

We reserved a table under the recommendation from a close friend. To say our meal was outstanding would be an understatement. From the appetizers, to the entrees, to the dessert, each was exceptional. The service was on point. The young ladies at the reception area warmly greeted us with a genuine smile. The manager made it a point to visit and greet each table. The deliciously prepared food selections made us want to finish it all, but we decided to pack up our leftovers so there would be room for dessert. We are anxious to return in the near future! Don’t forget, this establishment is BYOB! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We were invited to lunch today with our dear friends at this wonderful restaurant. We were to be so pleasantly surprised by the welcoming atmosphere! The owner Pasquale guided us thru the menu and everything we chose was simply delicious!! We started with an appetizer of all seafood, Clams and shrimp oreganato, and octopus cooked to perfection! I also had a bowl of Pasta e Fagioli, which was outstanding.... my main course was veal franchese. My friend ordered shrimp oreganato, which she loved. Our husband's ordered spaghetti alla olive oil, with fried zucchini on top....amazing! This came with beautiful crusty bread. It is a byob restaurant by the way.

Out of this world! The hostess was kind the moment we walked in, the waiter was attentive, funny, and so polite! Every single bite was to die for. We got gnocchi with vodka sauce and the asparagus risotto! We also got the Sicilian cannoli to end the night. Honestly I want to go back just to try every entree. Definitely recommend !

Amazing Italian food! We started off with a burrata caponata and beet salad - both were absolutely amazing. For entrees, we had the gnocchi with burrata, pesto, and marinara, hot pepper chicken, seafood pasta and branzino, which was perfectly filleted by our waiter table-side. Everything we ordered aside from the branzino was a special. We also had the tiramisu which was delicious. Our waiter, who happened to be the manager, went above and beyond to ensure that we had a fantastic dining experience. He was very attentive and provided impeccable service. Overall amazing food and service! Will be recommending to all my friends and family!

We had an early dinner and the pleasure of Paul’s gracious service. The food is top notch, the atmosphere is enhanced by the Italian classics on speaker and the staff are on the ball and always accommodating. What else do you need? Oh, you need to go there, and a reservation wouldn’t be a bad idea!

We had our sons baptism here. It was absolutely amazing. The servers went above and beyond for our friends and family. The food was fantastic and everyone was raving about it!

Every employee in the restaurant met us with a smile. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. The food was absolutely delicious! It is a BYO restaurant, which is nice. This was our first visit but we will definitely be back!

Great authentic Italian style restaurant. Servers make you feel like family, and the food is the best in town! You definitely should make a reservation, don't just show up.

My fav Italian restaurant in Jersey. Food is always delicious and excellent service. Their desserts are homemade and fantastic as well. Definitely a must try!

My mom and I stopped here on a whim as we used to live in the area and we were pleasantly surprised to find this little gem. Our waiter was such a nice gentleman, so respectful so hard to find in this day and age. The food was incredible and then we had dessert and I only thought to take a picture of my dessert. Sorry it was the Oreo cookie cheesecake. Yum! Yum! If you're ever in this area, definitely stop in. The food is well worth it!

I recently had my son's first birthday here and everything was outstanding. Pasquale the owner was very easy to work with and very accommodating. Everyone kept talking about how delicious the food was and the incredible service. The staff went above and beyond. I am looking forward to hosting other parties at Il Colosseo!

Fabulous experience! Came here with my friends and absoultely enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The manager Pasquale made sure the service was excellent, and it felt as though we went for a dinner to Italy. Can’t wait to come here again.

Brought my mom here for her 60th birthday celebration and couldn't have picked a better place! The service was absolutely outstanding — attentive without being overbearing, and every recommendation they gave was spot on. The food and drinks were simply incredible. Every dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. You can tell the kitchen takes real pride in what they do. The cocktails were just as impressive — creative, balanced, and so refreshing. It’s rare to find a place that gets everything right, but this restaurant absolutely nailed it. Whether you’re looking for a cozy dinner or a night out with friends, this spot is a must-visit. Can’t wait to come back!

I had the absolute most loveliest time here. My husband and I are new to the town and we heard of this restaurant. One Saturday we came and our hostess, Sarah , was so nice and lovely. She made sure we were comfortable with our table and made us feel welcome. In regards to our server, Henry, was very kind. He made sure we were good with our entree’s and repeatedly checked on our table. Great restaurant and amazing service. I recommend!

Simply amazing! Attended a baby shower here over the weekend. Food and service was OUTSTANDING from start to finish. Best eggplant rollatini I ever had not to mention the Caesar Salad and Mixed greens with balsamic dressing. Entrees were absolutely delicious. I will definitely be back again for dinner!

I just had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant yesterday. My godson/nephew had his holy communion celebration there. I am an Italian vegan and this restaurant was so accommodating to my dietary needs. The food was delicious! I appreciate the vegan options so much. I personally do not just enjoy salad lol……. I’m Italian! I loved the eggplant Parmesan with melted cashew cheese. The pasta and broccoli rabe was so delish. Thank you so much to this restaurant for having vegan options. The service was fantastic and I am looking forward to visiting again!

Our server Paul was FANTASTIC!!! He was very helpful and thoughtful throughout our entire dining experience. As a vegan, I sincerely appreciated the efforts Paul made to make my dining experience as good as it was. The food was amazing and dining support staff were prompt with ensuring my beverages were constantly filled. A 10000/10 dining experience; Cannot recommend this place, or Paul, enough!

Best Italian restaurant in Monmouth county . Gulio and his crew are professional welcoming and pay attention to details . The menu is diverse and always keeps us going back . Pizza incredible and the pistachio tiramisu is fantastic. The place never disappoints . Buon appetito

We went to dinner for my sister's birthday. The food was amazing! Large portions pasta cooked the way it should be aldente! Service is slow, which I love they do not rush you! The ambiance is warm and cozy. We will definitely be back!

Il Colosseo is a true gem. With a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a staff straight from Italy, the experience feels truly authentic. The food is rich and flavorful, the wood-fired pizza is perfection, and the desserts and wines are a must-try. The owner and staff were friendly and attentive, making you feel at home. If you're craving authentic Italian food, this is the place to go!

I love pork chops and peppers, make it myself quite often, have ordered at several restaurants but Il Colosseo! The Best! so tender and flavorful! I also had a lovely pistachio martini, and the clams in white sauce over linguini was delish as well! Highly recommend!

We had a lunch event for about 50 people as part of a Netflix tech scout, and everything went really well. The food was great, and the staff couldn’t have been more attentive and helpful. Everyone felt taken care of, which made the day stress-free for me. A big thank you to Giulio for making sure it all came together.

First timers...and it was Excellent! Baked clams, Halibut & Branzino were all delicious! And Paul our Server was great too! We'll be Back! EDIT: 9.13.25 We finally made it back and once again, excellent service & food!

We are first time customers, I can’t say enough, the food was delicious, from the appetizer to the dessert. The service was excellent. You won’t be disappointed. I really can’t say enough about it.

We’ve eaten here several times. The food is always delicious. We had the Florida rock shrimp appetizer special and it was excellent. My fiancé had the gnocchi but with marina sauce and they were good. I had the pork chop and it was spectacular. Absolutely the best pork chop I’ve ever eaten. Perfectly cooked with an excellent sauce and huge. We shared a Sicilian cannoli for dessert which was also excellent. The only knock on the place is that it’s very loud.

Il Colosseo is my favorite restaurant. I have been to both the Red Bank and Brooklyn locations numerous times and keep coming back for the high quality, authentic, and fresh food they serve. I always have a wonderful experience and would recommend it to anyone.

I used to love this restaurant when it was a BYOB, not anymore! To be honest the food and the service are top shelf. The prices when it was a BYOB were a bit high but that is to be expected at a BYOB restaurant! Now that you have to pay for high priced “measured pour” liquor it looses its appeal! Note the prices are the same even with a full service bar. I gave it 3 stars for atmosphere because when the restaurant if full you can’t hear yourself speak! Unfortunately I will not be back. There are many more good BYOB Italian restaurants in Monmouth County to choose from!

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.

Drove from Astoria just to come here because the food is always fresh & delicious! Wine was great & our waiter John was friendly, attentive & kind. The only bad experience is the bathroom cabinet door fell on my foot & left a bruise and was painful for a few days. I told the waiter to have it fixed before leaving.

08/2022: My hat goes off to the Chefs here. The food is presented well and taste delicious. Bravo! However, service was poor at 5:30 on a Sunday. Two servers working 15 tables. This is managements fault but Henry did not top off a glass, clear plates, or ask how our food came out. Poor team player. We had to call for him as he passed each time. Runners did a great job clearing tables and topping off drinks. This is a very loud place to dine in, unless you sit outside with a view of the parking lot. Also, airflow is poor as several small fans are positioned around the dining room. Tables are packed closely together with employees constantly bumping into chairs multiple times. Minus a star for this. Good luck getting to the bathroom that is not kept. The suggested tip amount is based off the total when it should be based off the subtotal. Don’t tip on tax. I thought I was in Times Square for a minute trying to get hustled for a tip. This review is honest and tough if you want to be talked about when comparing it to others Italian restaurants in Monmouth County. Colosseo just needs a little tune up and hopefully it can shoot to a 5 star restaurant. To many small issues to rate 5 stars. Enjoy and Cheers!

The food was overpriced and just okay. Staff was extremely friendly but sooooooooooooooooooooo slow and it was not busy. A table came in after us and left before us. Our waiter walked by our table several times without acknowledging us. What should have been an hour meal took almost two hours. It was also way too dark in there. If you're going to have dim lighting throughout the restaurant, you need to have some sort of illumination at the tables. Maybe they're good for take out, but we won't be dining in here again.

Order chicken parm with spaghetti to go. When I got home there was 2 small pieces of chicken and a handful of pasta for $38 dollars. Won't be ordering there again. So dissapointed.

We had a party of 6. We walked in, the reception area was warm. Poor girl was perspiring and had a fan blowing on her. We sat by the window and 5 flies were banging against the window We asked the waiter 3 times about the air conditioning. Wr downloaded a temperature app2 and it wax 79 degrees What a shame food good , restaurant needs 20 more tons of AC. WE Will not be back till October. Nobody wants to sweat eating dinner. Not worth being uncomfortable.

First time at this restaurant. Had a reservation for 7:15. Front is packed with people, no place to sit and wait, people waiting outside. It’s freezing, starting to snow. Have some heaters for the people waiting. We arrived at 6:50, she said it’s going to be closer to 7:15. Ok, so we waited, went back in to check at 7:14. Girl at the front says there are a few tables in front of you, it’s going to be a bit. I said, ok, how long? She said people are still waiting from 6:30. Are you kidding??? When we arrived you should have told us that you were running behind. One of the women who was also waiting said omg are you kidding??? 6:30? We left. Will NEVER GO BACK. No one should wait that long , manage the front and the tables better. I don’t care how good your food might be, that was simply ridiculous. Completely lack of awareness for your tables and time management. I would give this ZERO stars, but unfortunately I can’t.