Pauline’s Restaurant

Went for a luncheon after a Baptism and the food was amazing! Décor is pretty old fashion and your typical old school traditional Italian restaurant.

I have been to Pauline’s a about 4 – 5 times and have never had a bad meal. The wait staff is attentive and very nice. The food is homemade so expect to wait a bit but its worth it. The lobster ravioli is fantastic. My finance has had the Veal special more than once and always enjoyed it. The portions are huge and we always come home with something, but never leave hungry. The décor is old style, but it works for this place. Its a small restaurant so seating sometimes gets crowded but you make the most of your dining out. (I remember many home meals when guests came over and we were crowded at the table — so I don’t mind this at all). It’s BYOB and the menu is priced reasonably. I will be going back again.

I gave this place 3 stars because the food was pretty good. However the service was terrible.
My wife and I came here on a Saturday evening at 7 p.m. (They don’t take reservations and it is byob)
We arrived and were told it would be ½ hour wait. We ended up waiting over an hour for a table. I was a bit annoyed about that but chalked it up to a terrible estimate by the woman behind the counter.
The waitress took our order in a timely fashion and we received our appetizers relatively quick. We both ordered fried calamari. It was just ok and was a bit overcooked and rubbery.
During our appetizer I had finished my drink but no one came around to ask if I needed a refill. I had to flag down another waitress for this.
Our dinners came out about ½ hour later. I ordered lobster ravioli which was homemade and superb. My wife ordered linguini with clams which was the best she ever had.
We finished our dinner and waited another 15 minuted for someone to come and clear the dishes.
For dessert we ordered the chocolate lava cake which was excellent.
However, once again we were made to wait forever for the check. I had to flag down another waitress in order to get the check.
The whole experience there took 3 hours start to finish. The wait staff were all very nice people but horrible attendants and I honestly think that they needed at least 2 or 3 more.
We probably wont be going back.

The interior décor is very nice, service was good (on a slow night) and they have a $ 16.95 two course dinner special on weeknights so a good value. But the food was very average. And in an area with tons of Italian BYO restaurants, your food needs to be better than average. I would give 3 stars but they committed a cardinal sin in my book… my side dish of pasta had more water in the bottom of the serving bowl than sauce over the the top. That’s just sloppy food preparation and poor attention to detail.

Last time we went here the table cloth was filthy when we told the owners wife her response was on Sunday (this was a Tuesday) they prob forgot to change them. Anyway after that I swore the place off but my mother in law bought us a gift certificate for Christmas I told my husband I would only do take out. We tried it again tonight my $ 35 filet mignon was in a brown soupy sauce Soo watery. The salad for two which we have had there and is the same price for take out was half the size. My sons clAms were awful and my husband felt sick after his pasta in pink sauce. The only thing that was ok was my sons penne vodka. Never ever again

I stumbled upon a Groupon for Pauline’s Restaurant and decided to buy it just because I’ve always wondered how this place was. The parking lot is small but what do you expect, it’s on along route 34 in Matawan.
My fiancé and I came here for dinner one week night. I called ahead to see if I needed to make a reservation, like the Groupons always say, but whoever I spoke to on the phone confirmed that I did not. When we got here, there were a few tables full — 2 families and one group celebrating a birthday. It’s a small place (but I think there might have been another dining room, which we just didn’t see) with nice, traditional décor. The tables are really close together so probably not the best place if you’re here for a date.
We started off with the Mozzarella Capresse, I had the Penne a la Vodka, and my fiancé had the Mussels in Linguini. The Mozzarella Capresse and the Penne were just ok, but we really enjoyed the Mussels in Linguini. The sauce for the Penne just wasn’t flavorful and it was really thin and runny so the Penne barely tasted like anything. The Mussels had some really good flavor and made up for the Penne.
We probably won’t be back but I’m glad we tried it and especially glad we had a Groupon.

Wanted an amazing meal and knew just the place to go! My Veal chop was delicious. And pork chops yummy.

The food is very authentic, and cooked perfectly. Had the chicken parm, green bean salad and pasta. Was amazing! My daughter loves the ravioli and the cannoli swerve superb. Everything cooked with love. Service is great! Definitely one of my favorite restaurants.

Food prices on medium price near $ 20 each. Menu is really good. Food is good. Place is nice. Would go back but would not order meat lasagna again. Not any cheeses in it just chop meat. I really didn’t like it. And sauce was minimum & runny. Stuffed pork chops were good. Dessert was good but expensive. Professional & good service.

Delicious food, great service. Perfect ambience. And relaxing! I would recommend this restaurant to even the most picky of people. I can’t wait to go back. It’s also BYOB.

This was a good restaurant, I enjoy the food. The place has a small parking lot so make time to wait for a spot. Food took a good while to get served but it was fresh.

Great food great service. We also love BYOB places. Parking lot is a little tight but it never keeps us from going here for a nice dinner. We’ve gone on weekdays and weekends and did not have to wait long for a table, even when one of the rooms were being used for a holiday party. Love their bread and we always get the mozzarella with prosciutto special. Their gravy is amazing!

3.5 stars
Decent Italian-​American.
Food: Veal Chop Parm was very tasty, but the string beans were smothered in olive oil.
Price: A little pricey.
Service: 45 minute wait for a table, but after that friendly and very good.
Atmosphere: Energetic and noisy.
Drinks: BYOB.
It was New Year’s Eve so I guess that’s why there was a long wait for a table and pricey tabs.
Next time I will try it on a non-​holiday.

We have been eating at Pauline’s since the day the doors opened. One of our favorite Italian restaurants. Being Italian we are
Fussy where we eat Italian food.
Food is made fresh to order, never frozen. Excellent for groups and for a party. We have never been disappointed in the food. Service is very good and always accommodating. BYOB

i loved the veal and spinach was delicious, great price fix, salad was my favorite, and the cheese cake came from bklyn. Thanks

Had diner here the other night with my family. The first thing noticed is the parking lot is kind of small and tight. It was empty when we got there. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like trying to park when it was crowded.
When we sat at the table the first thing I noticed was how many gnats there were flying round. In fact one wound up in my drink. I was pretty turned off at this.
I started off with the baked clams. I found them kind of tasteless and the bread crumbs were very dry. The tops of them weren’t fully cooked. Although I did get about 8 of them.
For my entrée I had the calamari fra diavolo. At best it was OK. I did like that it is BYOB and the best part of the night was the bread. It was very good.
I don’t think I will recommend this place to anyone and I know I will not return. There are way better places for Italian food in my area.

If you’re looking for a quick bite, this is not the place. Our dinner took approximately 3 hours, and we passed on dessert because we were falling asleep. Actual eating time was maybe 30 minutes. The staff just doesn’t care to serve (even asking for the bill took 20 mins).
The food was great. Everyone at our table enjoyed what we had. Unfortunately I can’t see myself coming back here. I do enjoy having a nice relaxing dinner, but the quality of the meal can’t overcome the lack of staff or attention to customers.

Good basic Italian food. Went there on a Saturday night, waited 20 minutes for a table. It’s a small place, there aren’t a lot of tables, a reservation always is a good idea on weekends.

My husband and I really enjoy the food here. The pasta is great and the bread is to die for. Neither of us loved the fried calamari. Hubby enjoyed the clams, I thought they were ok. But Pauline’s salad is very good. The home made tiramisu is amazing! My biggest complaint is the service. They are not always attentive and feel the bus boys should be keeping our gratuity because they are much more attentive.
Their unsweetened tea is not very good either. Go for the food because it is worth putting u with the mediocre service and their obnoxious and loud clientele.

Pauline’s was an incredible find on my last business trip to the great state of NJ.
A small venue but very comfortable inside. the owner’s wife greeted us at the door while her husband was pounding the veal chops in the kitchen. Still one of the few «bring your own» places left in NJ. my mouth was watering just hearing the specials and when the hot italian bread hit the table, my mouth hit the floor. I had the carpaccio of beef on a bed of radicchio and then the Bronzino. we also had the caprese salad, chicken marsala and linguini and clams. it took us two baskets of bread to clean our plates. I love the unpretentious look and feel of Pauline’s. It will be my number two «must stop» places to go next time I’m back in Jersey ! I give them 5 loaves of «Real Italian» bread out of 5. (only the second time i’ve done so on Unilocal