What can I say, this place is authentic. Don't be deceived by the name, this is not a pizza joint, but fine dining. We had a slice of pizza and it was good...only good.
However, the entrees were out of this world. I was introduced by this place by some friends. I live in the DC area. I've been to some of the best Italian restaurants in DC and none compare to this one. It is charming old school.
Someone complained about the price. Well it is close to the price of a fine dining restaurant for the entrees, but it is worth it. Then there is pizza, sandwiches and other reasonable stuff on the menu. But when you get quality entree you have to pay for it.
They have an eggplant appetizer that is delicious. It is sliced thinly, stuffed with I believe ricotta (which is filled with herbs and seasoning) then topped with cheese and their luscious marinara sauce. I could have just eaten this....well, only if I didn't see the other entrees. We had Alfredo on penne. I don't think the pasta is homemade, however, it was so tasty, sauce and pasta.
I don't know why I ordered the flounder in lemon butter, with all the pasta on the menu. But the sauce of this entree was probably the best I've had. Should I go on? We had much more and it was all first rate. Not sure about the sandwiches...but the Italian entrees are to die for.
I told my wife now on when I go to Atlantic City, I wont be in the casinos, I'll be at Andre's.
The last thing I have to mention is the dessert. Homemade, as I am told. I am not a big fan of cannoli's but I always seem to be around people who love them. So I try theirs. This cannoli is above all others. The pastry is light and crispy and the stuff they put inside tasted sooo good. Had a great vanilla taste.
But even better than the cannoli is the cheesecake. Made in individual baking cups, this is one of the best no nonsense cheesecakes I've had. Not drowned in sauce and syrup like others. I think they sprinkle sugar and something else on it and just put some blackberries on it. It is fluffy and the perfect taste of cheese and sugar. This with an espresso is, as my wife said "better than $ex." Doesn't say much for me, but for this food I am not offended.
Dinner tonight at Andre's was such a pleasant surprise! I don't eat much Italian food, but it was my dad's pick and I am never one to look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to food. We came around 6 (on a Thursday) and there were a few tables already having dinner and some people crowded around to pick up takeout. Throughout our meal though, the restaurant really started filling up and the takeout line just kept on growing. With several other options in the nearby area for pizza, sandwiches, and Italian food, Andre's is obviously doing something right.
The dinner menu consists of all the standards you'd expect from an Italian joint--chicken parm, veal, some seafood. According to my stepdad, Andre's is putting out the best veal he's ever had. What intrigued me tonight was a dish listed on the specials board- chicken breast sauteed with spinach, tomato, and mozzarella in a white wine sauce. My dad went with the grilled salmon. Andre's gives you a choice for traditional dinners- soup OR salad OR pasta. I can see why a lot of people would not like this, but I really appreciated it since I don't eat pasta. I could actually order exactly what I was able to eat and not feel like I (well not really I) paid for something that was only going to go to waste. My dad, however, decided that he didn't want any of those things. He also ordered the roasted red peppers appetizer.
My salad came out first and was pretty impressive. I fully expected bagged salad mix or a lump of iceberg, but this was an actual field green salad! With the addition of a couple cherry tomoatoes and a sprinkling of olives. Awesome texture. I didn't try the roasted red peppers, but it was a huge portion. Definitely enough for 2 or more people as an appetizer.
Our dinners arrived and I have to say I was impressed with what Andre did with my meal! The chicken breast was moist and topped with delicious layers of spinach, tomato (which could have been a little riper, in my opinion) and cheese. There were sides of sauteed broccoli which was still a little crunchy (the way I like it) and skin-on potatoes. Everything was absolutely delicious and the portion was enough to provide me with at least two more meals. My dad cleaned his plate, which had an added side of sauteed spinach as well. I felt like the salmon portion could have been a bit larger for the price.
The service was excellent. It's a good mix of age ranges here; some of the staff are very clearly still in school, and some look like they've been around for some time. The hostess was sweet and quick, the bus boys were polite and responsive, and our waitress seemed genuinely interested in how we were enjoying our meals. Andre has done a great job training his staff.
Also, as a side note, Andre himself makes the best cappuccino and espresso I've ever had. Hands down. And I love the outside seating.
Definitely worth a visit if you're in Brigantine or Atlantic City!
Excellent pizza.
Always served fresh and hot. One of the best pizzas in south jersey, hands down. I enjoy eating a plain pizza here, or I sometimes throw myself a curveball and get onions and black olives. Service is excellent and attentive. Definitely not a 3 star joint, definitely 5.. There are lines of people outside the door waiting to get in on the weekend... it can't be that bad.
Bread is fresh. Salad is an actual green salad, not the cheap bagged iceburg shit that everyone absolutely adores.
Best Italian food! Everything is made to order and the portions are giant. The menu consists of everything from subs to an amazing rack of lamb. Definatly more than just a pizzaria. The seafood comes in fresh and the homemade fussili pasta with spicy sausage sauce is awesome. Another plus its byob and a liquor store is conviently located next door. This restaurant is my favorite and I always eat in when I'm on the east coast.
Review Source:This is one of the best Italian restaurant's in Atlantic county. The prices might seem a little high but in reality they aren't. The portion sizes compensate for what you might think are high. You will have plenty of leftovers to take home. The bread served is always fresh and delicious. Each variety of pizza is very favorable. Don't hesitate to try a meat entree or any of the pasta dishes. Many of the deserts are homemade and are excellent. You can't miss with the restaurant.
Review Source:It's all true.
Everything they say about Jersey shore attitudes that is.
My wife, who is from Brigantine, warned our entire party when we were seated to prepare for a 'different' attitude.
She was right.
The waitress was dripping with attitude and as if a cliche, she was sporting a burnt orange colored tan.
Yup, just like you know who.
The food and service was good and prompt.
One person in our party had the mussels marinara which everyone agreed was outrageously good.
Other than a good sub, a nice slice of pizza and the mussels, if you can deal with surly servers, overall, it's not a bad place.
I wander here once in a while to get a bite and sit outside. Strangely, in this beach community its one of the few "restaurants" in that has outside seating. It's really just a pizza joint trying to do better for itself. It's hard to stand out though, we are smack in the middle of the Jersey shore, at a beach where there is a 3 to 1 ratio year round citizens to pizza joints. The pizza, hoagies, and steaks are OK at best for a Jersey shore town. Â The small menu is a great attempt at looking beyond the pizza oven to try and make real food. They offer veal and lamb and fresh fish on the same menu as frozen mozzarella sticks. Â Almost everything I've eaten was way hit or miss. It's hard to do something amazing in an environment where the customer base is demanding portions three times the size of their stomachs and 1000 calorie salads. The dining room can swell with huge families loudly gabbing which only lightly drowns out the idle chatter of the friendly waitstaff. In the winter it kinda looks slightly closed and there is nothing to drown out their noise.
Sit outside if at all possible and the breeze is right. If your not bothered by the parents and tweens at Rita's Water Ice next door it's ok for people watching. After all it's in the center of the Brigantine shopping district.
There are few highlights on the menu but the mussels in white sauce (exactly what you think it is) is good and they have a grilled artichoke every once and a while. The bought in deserts taste bought in and are unnecessary. The have a pile of pastas none of which are house made. They offer sides of the standard meatballs or sausage. I couldn't get the waitress to admit to their origin. The plastic aftertaste gave me a hint.
Quick excerpt of my customer service conversation:
"Um the garlic bread is burnt..."
"Yes. Yes it is."
"Oh."
Bottom line...
We need more options Brigantine...
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