Gabriella's of Ortley Beach

Gabriella's got banged up like many other places.  Last night we took out, and ordered from the menu online.  When I went to order in person (you can't seem to get thru on their phone line), I found that the menu was changed and limited.  BUT, the waitress said I could probably get what was on the old menu.  Yep, whoever was working the kitchen (yeah wizard!!) whipped up a phenomenal steak au poivre - my fave.  And I've had this in France.  Awesome.  We also got an awesome Seafood Bianco - huge dish!  My wife ordered the grilled porto mushroom salad (no longer on the menu) but we got it anyway.  Everything was great.  Thanks Gabriellas!!  I'll be back soon.  Great to see a local place keeping up the quality.

FINALLY, GOT TO Gabriella's last night - a Friday Night at the Shore in August (after the past 2 years of wanting to go).  First, the other reviews - SORRY, but don't agree.  First, VERY HAPPY  we were able to get a table at a shore bar-just because you are trying to get into a place-that actually has a table available-doesn't mean the food is bad. We thought the food was amazing!  To boot - the band was great and just so much fun -  and the semi-outside dining with a nice ocean breeze on a very hot/steamy day - we were able to sit and watch and feast on great appetizers and dinner!  The hostess was a doll and the waitress, beyond sweet and very professional.  The appetizer platter of eggplant rollatini, mushrooms, sweet sausage, and clams oreganato were delectable! - my son had the mozzarella sticks and they were fantastic - but the marinara sauce - even better!  My husband and I shared the lobster platter for 2 which consisted of lobster (already split) , clams/mussels/scallops, and al dente linguini with a light (and sliced garlic) wine sauce - which is going to be enough for the next 2 days- (did I mention delicious?) and my son's cheesesteak which was a REAL steak (not a steak umm) cooked on the grill and served on a fresh italian seeded bread with cheese - Not what we expected, it was not greasy or fatty, just amazing.   Love, Love this place, with it's food/ambiance.  Cant wait to come back.  The Band was great and fun with the best rendition of "Jersey Girl" we've ever heard!  A complete package and so glad to hear this place is open in the winter!  We'll be back, and actually sorry it's took so long to get there!

Don't even think about going to this place...entertainment book or not.  It's your typical seasonal "jersey shore" restaurant whereby they have 2 months to make the most $ they can and aren't all that concerned about repeat customers or quality of the meal.       Having been to Italy several times and loving Italian food and eating in great Italian restaurants in NJ and NY, this is not Italian food.  My boyfriend said to me while eating that "it tastes like you tried to make it" since my culinary expertise is boiling water for my hot tea.   The food reminds you of  an Italian meal that you might get at your local diner.   The chicken marsala gravy was like water and the chopped up onions that sat on the chicken cutlet left an aftertaste in my mouth all night.  What adds insult to injury are the prices.  Chicken dishes $20 -$23 ????    Hello, the place isn't in SoHo, it's on a highway in Ortley Beach and I wouldn't even mind paying those prices if it were good.    The only plus was that the bread and service was decent as the waitress was a sweet girl.    My advice....head over the bridge to Toms River @ Fischer Blvd and go to  Cafe Italia .... great, quality Italian food in a beautiful restaurant with reasonable prices.  Never had a bad meal there, and they have a take out section as well.   Their bread (pizza bread) is to die for and their foccaccia pizza delicious.