Tuzzio’s Italian Cuisine

This is an old time Italian looking place with horrible food. I mean tasteless. The pasta fagoli soup had no flavor whatsoever, the clams oraginato were greasy, I ordered chicken savoy that was drowned in balsamic and covered with probably a jar or more of red peppers that had maybe 8 pieces of chicken that were not grade A chicken because the 8 pieces was equal to about 2 if they used quality product and the pasta I had was extremely bland with no taste (would have much rathered Raos or even ragu sauce) at all. I do have to admit the bread was warm and excellent and the water I drank was superb. Didn’t even look or think about desert. Again another place not using top of the line ingridents.

We had a lovely dinner here Sunday night!
Thankfully they accommodated our last minute party of 9, even though they had parties scheduled already.
Everything was great! Our table had a variety of items — Sunday Sauce, Chicken Savoy, Veal and Eggplant ala Tuzzio to name a few. Everything came out correct, hot and delicious.
It has been a few years since we have been in the place but still as great as I remembered.
Thank you for an excellent meal!

Such a traditional neighborhood spot, (one which my parents took our family to starting decades ago)…I won’t belabor the point by rehashing all the food highlights, other Unilocal reviews have thoroughly covered that, but I will add that my daughter was invited to a post-​high school graduation dinner at Tuzzio’s and was blown away by the service. She noted how super-​pleasant and attentive staff members were… she was so impressed at how the guest of honor (a fellow 17 year old who had graduated high school that same evening and was being feted by her parents) was made to feel special… I think it speaks volumes for a business when they make one of the most important nights in a young person’s life that much more memorable and happy. Thanks for all the kindnesses, Tuzzio’s staff… if only every business treated their customers so well!

A little bit expensive, but ultimately worth it every once in a while (I usually pop in once a month). Very good Italian-​American cuisine with an equally attentive wait staff. Look out for off-​the-​menu specials.

So we went after a long day at the beach with a group of 12 with 8 kids. The area is dumpy. We waited forever for our food! we were there for 2 hours. Tables sitting after us got their food first. Drinks were not refilled. We were not even asked if we needed more drinks. The were obviously understaffed! On a friday night! really!!! The food was pretty good. Huge portions. Would not go back!

We had not been here in close to 15 years since we moved out the area. Always a great place. Happy to say still a great place. The veal Marsala on a bed of linguini is still the same, which is great. Eggplant rollatini appy was really good as was the shrimp special appy. Salad with the entrees very fresh. Our waiter was very attentive and super friendly (Bill). Wish this place was local.

I hadn’t been back in 10 years after moving out of the area. For nostalgia’s sake, I stopped by with my boyfriend while in town for the weekend. Sunday for dinner, we were told there was a 30 minute wait but we were able to score some seats at seats at the bar right away.
I had the feeling that things could go wrong at any time, however, everything was on point. Cosmo was strong and tasty. Caesar salad which we shared was quite good, Shrimp Scampi appetizer was a garlic playground and we split the huge portion of Linguini with white clams (chopped), it’s delicious, trust me. Everything tasted as good, if not better, than I had remembered. I’m so glad to see that Tuzzio’s has not faltered. Did I mention the bread? Everyone else has, there is a reason for that.
Sure the servers can be curt, and the décor is a bit dated, but it’s Jersey, deal with it.

A local ITALIAN neighborhood gem. Each dish is prepared to order. Our waiter Chris enhanced our experience as his face lit describing the specials and his favorites. Had a evening chicken special baked in balsamic and smothered in sausage and peppers. Yum. Chicken parm accompanied by a gigantic portion of pasta was enjoyed by my daughter. Extremely flavorful. Lots of leftovers so 2 – 3 dinners for price of one
Atmosphere … Well this establishment has been open for 60 years and hadn’t been changed since! But all efforts are on service and food. Making it an often stop during my summer.
Price … Super reasonable.

Great place for a multi-​generational group. Something for everyone. Large portions. Be prepared to bring home leftovers. Don’t miss the Chopped Salad or Sausage Murphy. There many other good dishes — but those are my favorites.

I have been eating here perhaps since before I was born. I’ve been told all my mom wanted to eat when she was pregnant with me was the hot seafood antipasto. Which is one of my favorite things to get here. It’s a sizzling hot metal plate with scallops, shrimp, and mussels — half oreganata/​half marinara — with a lobster tail that splits the two sides in half. It’s mostly oil and cheese, and it’s fantastic.
The italian mixed salad (baby = 2 people, for one = 4 – 6 people, for two = for a small party) is the greatest salad on the planet.
I love all of the parm dishes. They arrive piping hot and there’s enough leftovers for lunch all week. The chicken murphy is delicious. Also do yourself a favor and get cappelini with garlic and oil, put a little parmesan cheese on it and enjoy yourself.
Overall, I can see how someone stumbling across this place doesn’t quite «get it.» It’s a Long Branch institution and almost feels like home.

Was looking forward to some escarole and bean soup. It was a take out, and didn’t realize until at home that there was no beans in the soup but a bunch of pieces of bland tasting chicken breast. The soup tasted like chicken water with no seasoning whatsoever. Gross… This restaurant is far from authentic, it’s majorly over rated, it’s just a dime a dozen Jersey-​Italian restaurant.

We decided to go here after a day at the beach. I had read through the reviews and thought, this could be a great meal. I would say it was an ok meal and won’t race back. Upon entering, the waitstaff were sitting in the seats where you would normally wait to be seated. The young boy who seats people was the only one that said hello. The others really looked like they didn’t want to be there. That was my first bad vibe. After being seared and ordering drinks, our salads came. This was probably the best part of the meal. We ordered chicken parm which the cheese was baked too well done so it wasn’t stretchy and delicious, chicken picatta which was smothered in mushrooms, and another pasta with 2 meatballs (sauce had too much oregano). Frankly, I have never ordered chicken picatta and see it come with mushrooms so I decided to give it a try. It looked like a cross between Marsala and Picatta. I didn’t love it.
Portions were huge, I will give them that.
Service was less than good. Our table was visited once to help my mother in law get her chicken parm out of the casserole dish. Other than that, we waited for water, when refilled only one glass was refilled. And when our check was dropped off after the credit card was run, we didn’t even get a thank you.
So…we will probably pick another spot for dinner on our next beach visit.

Ordered to go … as soon as I walked in and smelled the garlic and felt the vibe, I knew it was going to be good.
Note the golden, shiny vertical blinds. ;)
The caesar salad was good.
The sausage and peppers was a wonderful mix of flavors — peppers, onion, mushrooms, garlic, sausage. Not positive, but I think the chef threw a few pieces of porcini in, as a couple of the mushroom pieces had a unexpectedly rich flavor.
The side of meatballs was in a unique red sauce. Again, great work by the chef.
This is good Italian food. I would not hesitate to return.

Ordered Sausage Murphy here last night. Asked for no mushrooms. Came with anyway. Honest mistake, told the waitress not to worry, paid the bill and put on our coats to leave.
Manager came up and gave us an envelope. Got home, opened it and inside was a gift certificate for $ 25.
That was completely unnecessary as I have been coming here for a dozen years.
But, it shows Tuzzio’s values its reputation and it’s customers. Just another great reason to have dinner here. Try it!

My wife and I have been eating at Tuzzio’s since 2002, it’s a family style local Italian establishment since 1965. You might as well be going to your relatives for Sunday dinner, The staff has been there forever and so has the clientele, and they have been passed down from past generations.
The food is classic, the portions are huge, the locals are the best, you might as well be at Cheers… NOW, the décor is fitting to 1970, but it works, after all these years eating there I would feel funny walking in and not seeing Gold Verticals .
So many great items on the menu and if there is something you want prepared a little different, then just ask.
Joe Tuzzio, Eddie, the staff and so many of the clientele are just wonderful people.
We will eat there often and forever.
Thanks Joe.

This place — hmmm– how shall I describe? The interior is stuck in the early 80s. Service was a little crappy. Food, pretty decent but not good enough that I’d go out of my way to go back. That about sums it up.

I’m picky with Italian food out. That being said.
Food:
Delicious salad dressing. DELICIOUS! Amazing Shrimp Scampi. Fantastic cavatelli con broccoli!
Service:
Is always good. I feel like the same employees have been there forever.
Décor:
Just alright.
They cater well and even have a separate area across the street for private parties.

Been here several times. Each time I leave I ask myself… why?
The bread is good and the chopped salad is unique. And that’s where it ends. I ordered a pasta dish and I thought they were bringing soup to the table. Pizza is okay. Service was good. This is Italian food without passion nor thought. Simply adequate.

This is a very good mom and pop old school Italian restaurant. Portions are huge and you won’t go away hungry. Service is good and you really are treated like family. This is not a white tablecloth restaurant, just good Italian comfort food. FWIW, I love the Tuzzio house salad and its one of the few salads that I actually look forward to eating.

Be prepared for your stomach to pop like a balloon. The portions are huge, the food is a bit over the top (seriously, one portion could feed a third world country) but the love is huge as well.
It truly is a special place where you feel like family… I always get the sense here that the staff came along when the place was built and never left, they’re the same people who served me as a little girl, and they’re exactly the same people now.
You’ll step back in time in the best way possible. I like what Owen said, bring your children before they think Olive Garden is Italian.
Eat the fettucini alfredo!