The Big Red Tomato

Can’t go wrong with this place. I try other pizzerias but this place is always consistent with service and quality.

So the food is excellent! Service… our waiter was great! Gave us great recommendations including me and I must say I was super full and happy with my choice! But when we first got there they went to sit us by the kitchen and when I asked to move to a less «traffic» spot they tried to refuse us saying the table on the other side was for 8 people. Only when the manager came out was when we got to have two tables put together to accommodate us. After we sat i noticed that they placed a party the same amount as we were in the same table they were refused us. I must say I felt a Lil like we were being discriminated against being that we were the darkest family in the dining room. So to end the review I am leaving with a full belly and happy with our waiter but disappointed with the first impression.

I just called this place an hour before they close and asked if I can order food for delivery. The guy on phone which was extremely rude said «uh uh uh no we don’t deliver at this time and said, but you can come pick it up if you like.» And when I said no thank you I was calling for delivery he proceed to say «Whatever» and hung up the phone on me. I can’t understand how this place has good reviews with such horrible customer service. Who stops there delivery service an hour before their stated closing time. I guess I’ll never try that place.

I love this place. I’ve been coming here for 15 years and it never disappoints. If you’re new to the area, you have to come here, it’s a Fort Lee classic. You get free garlic knots and a huge portion. I usually split the fettuccini Alfredo because it’s so much. The gnocchi with vodka sauce and the baked ziti is also great. The only thing missing is delivery service!

Been here several times because I like their pasta and garlic knots, but the last time I was here, the service was horrible. Waited over 10 minutes to get water and the waitress never came by after the food was delivered so she never brought the red pepper flakes that I requested. The place was pretty empty too — only 3 other tables were taken. That being said, most of the pastas I’ve ordered is pretty good (linguine with clams, cavatelli and broccoli). Discovered a much better Italian place in Clifton with homemade pasta and fantastic service so I go there now!

Great staff, food, and location. Our family have been celebrating many occasions throughout every year at this restourant for the past 15 years.

I’ve been here a few times and it’s been pretty good until the last time. It wasn’t too busy but the service we received wasn’t good at all. One of my friends never got his water after we ordered our food. We had to ask the bus boy to get us his water and more water for everyone. After we got our food, we asked for some hot pepper flakes and never received it. I had to go get it from the area where they kept them. The whole time, I saw the waiter and our waitress sitting down in the corner table by the bathroom talking to each other and on the phone instead of checking on customers. The food was decent but the complimentary garlic knots were really hard for some reason. We always liked the food and enjoyed coming here but after the service we received last time, not sure if we are going to come back here anytime soon…

I made my first party yesterday in my house since I came here in NY and I was thinking that the big red tomato can help me in choosing a menu for my guests. And that is what’s exactly happened. I called the owener and i told him exactly what I want and he told me if i should add something else or if it is too much food for how many people we are. He gave me the best price for the food and also he gave some free food like a bonus. I also have to mention that the food arrived on time even if they delivered from NJ to Bronx, NY. Good job guys! I can wait to need your help again! Madalina

Completely disappointing service. Took 12-​minutes before we got tired and got up to get our own menus. Didn’t even get offered water. Not the waitress or the guy making the pizza came by our table at all. It wasn’t until after they served two other tables that came in after us, gave them drinks, gave them bread, garlic knots and took their orders, that the BUSBOY noticed we had not even gotten water. Then my son was served a lemonade in a broken mason jar. There was a piece of glass missing right at the rim of the mason jar and the crack went from where glass was missing, down a third of the way. How do you miss that?!!
The lasagna was awful. My son tasted it and said «THIS IS NOT LASAGNA»! The noodles were over-​cooked, it wasn’t in the traditional casserole it’s been cooked in for the past 16-​years I’ve been coming here. The meat was almost non-​existent, it was basically unflavored, soggy noodles with a teaspoon of meat in the middle only.
The meal was completely disappointing, but even more so disappointing was the deplorable service we had.
We came here because my youngest daughter wanted to dine at The Big Red Tomato after her Winter Concert, what a mistake that was! She literally ate two noodles and didn’t want anymore.
Towards the end of the meal the Spanish speaking waitress came by and tried to help, but she shouldn’t have to pick up the slack of the poor service «she didn’t provide»!
The BUSBOY and the Hispanic waitress were the only ones with a clue!
It’s really devastating to be SO LET DOWN after so many years

Great Real Italian Food! Quick service
Garlic knots, chicken Alfredo, Veal Parm
The best I’ve ever had! The Wings were good also.

BYOB. Every thing that I have tried at this place has been delicious! The garlic knots here are the bombbbbb. I would go just for that.
All the pastas are good and they just don’t disappoint. I also have tried the chicken marsala which is also excellent. Honestly you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu because they are pretty solid with every dish.
The inside is a very homey and family feeling. Love going to this place when I’m in the mood for Italian.

Food is home-​made style italian, service was on point, and just love the cozy feel of this restaurant. Pizzas and pastas are great and they always have a variety of fun appetizers. Also great for large groups.

Since this place was the first place that popped up on Unilocal search for pizza in the Fort Lee area, it was the first pizza/​Italian restaurant we tried. We’ve done dine-​in mostly and pick-​up. Of the several times we’ve been here, we have tried the Grandma pizza, White pizza, the Neopolitan version of the Special pie (which was sort of like the «Works»), and meat ravioli. The food were all nothing too special. Actually, just for the main dishes, I would give it a 3 – 3.5 stars. It’s a decent Italian place, but it’s like there’s SOMEthing missing – one ingredient, or spice, or whatever it is. You know? All the pizzas were visually pleasing to look at (I have posted a picture of the Grandma), but can be a bit bland. I would say, though, of the pizzas we’ve tried, the White pizza had the most flavor. Nice garlic-​y taste to it. I wouldn’t ever order the meat ravioli again. I didn’t really taste «meat,» rather, it was more like really ground-​up bean paste.
However, I would go just for the garlic knots. Sometimes, the servers were nice enough to offer us a second batch of the garlic knots, which I couldn’t finish, but took home. They were still crunchy and flavorful after being reheated in the oven. I wouldn’t recommend microwaving it, though. The servers can be slow, but very courteous and friendly.
Bottom line: it’s not a seller in terms of food. I’ve tried pizza at Pomodoro in Fort Lee (I have a review there), which was far better than any of the ones I’ve tried here. Nevertheless, I would go for the garlic knots and just for the atmosphere.

Very good spot for family
Food is really good n fresh
Service is fast
Highly recommend restruant for Italian food

super cute mom and pop Italian place. everything is fresh and cooked well. while service is friendly, they often forgot about us. perhaps it was because we were seated at a far end but we had to keep calling someone back for something another had forgotten. even still, it’s a place I’d recommend for a hearty happy meal.

If you’re about having some good old tranditional italian food, this IS the place for you! They do not take reservations and its BYOB which to me is even better. Here, its not just the usual bread and butter they place a pot of garlic knots and a decent loaf a bread.
We ordered two different types of calamari which honestly, I wish we didnt cause its just a sauce that made a difference. I ordered the rigatoni florentina and it was so delicious and so filling. I had to take most of it home.
Everyone really enjoyed their meals and even heard some say they would totally come back. I definitely recommend this place to friends!

This is a great Italian restaurant serving locals, it looks small from the outside, but it’s actually pretty spacious inside. We came here tonight and it was packed while we walked in, the host was very nice to give everyone in line a small slice of pizza, which I think is a very nice gesture. Our waitress is very sweet, I saw she take care of every table in the restaurant but she is very attentive and polite. Our pasta dishes are very good, if I have to pick one thing I don’t like, it’s probably the broccoli rabe was slightly overlooked, but other than that I like almost everything I ordered tonight. The free garlic knots are also super tasty and they give you lot of them, while we asked the waiter if we can pack the garlic knots we didn’t finish home, he was so nice to even pack us some extra more ! I will def recommend this place to you if you are happen to be in the area !!! Don’t forget it’s BYOB !!!

Great place for a warm, cozy Italian meal! Always got mad love for BYOB spots.
Their garlic knots are like crack. These lil beauties are fried, sprinkled with cheese and full of love… I can probably eat 20 of these in one seating. No joke. The big red tomato (?) app is just alright. Not memorable at all for it being their star app. The stuffed mushrooms are savory & salty with just the right amount of tartness from some fresh lemon juice.
My gfs and I had the chicken marsala, lasagna, and eggplant special. Everyone loved their entrees. To be honest, my absolute favorite part of the meal was the side of broccoli! Slices of toasted garlic, some butta & EVOO action… PERFECTION. Didn’t have room for dessert but will try the tiramisu next time.
I’ve only been here for lunch, but this was dinner on a Thursday evening. I had no idea this spot got so packed! Seriously, all the tables were full and people were either waiting for tables or their takeout orders. Always a good sign.
Thanks for always being on point, Big Red Tomato~

Garlic nots are addictive!
It’s hard to find the right taste for it!
Pastas seasoned well, decent food, not too heavy as other Italian restaurant…
Cozy, reasonable price…

I’ve been going here for a couple years now, but less frequently as time progressed. I believe the restaurant went under new management/​ownership or something — not exactly sure, but things changed, including their time (which is good, since I want to eat there on Sundays earlier than their prior 3pm opening).
The biggest turn off was the smell of chemicals that they used to wipe off the tables. Believe me, I don’t have a sensitive nose, but it was piercing. My family and I were the first patrons to enter on Sunday morning.
My mom LOVES the fettuccine alfredo — she told me it’s one of the best homemade-​style pasta she’s had in the East coast. I usually get the chicken parm with pasta or broccoli on the side, spaghetti, or manicotti — all of them are wonderful. My father always gets the linguini in white sauce with clams — he gets extra clams for a small price, which seems to make him much happier. We are always pleased with the food. The décor is somewhat amusing/​ADD. The services is fine. I love their freshly brewed coffee and free refills for drinks.
Their pizza is also quite delicious. It’s BYOB.
I’ll probably keep coming back!