Osteria Cucina Rustica

Went back again for my daughters 27 birthday with a group of 13 women. Excellent all around. Food was delicious. I love the risotto and grilled shrimp. Steve/​one of the owners was nice enough to send over a beautiful dessert platter for all. Just beautiful and delicious. I highly recommend this place

Food is good. Visited as a party of 6. Everything went well but I was not as impressed as I had anticipated. I will give it a second try as the place has a large menu and much to try.

We were given a gift certificate for Osteria Rustica and decided try it on Saturday night. The exterior is very inviting and offers a nice outdoor seating area which I imagine is quite «happening» during the warmer months. The interior is nicely done with many rustic touches. Ambiance would have been better except the restaurant gets extremely loud and crowded– at least on Saturdays nights. Our server was very knowledgeable and followed through on all our request. His presentation of their selection of high end steaks was impressive.
Appetizers:
creamy polenta with shaved black truffle-​excellent
homemade meatballs with tomato sauce –ricotta & salad-​very good –nice presentation of one fried meatball and one done in tomato sauce
bufala mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes & extra virgin olive oil-​very good
octopus & cuttle fish over fava bean purée– octopus was chewy and just plopped on the plate, the cuttle fish was a bit better as was the fava bean purée
Entrees:
Bronzini– filet of sea bass with black beluga lentils, lemon & extra virgin olive oil– this is not the best I have had
Ravioli– egg yolk, ricotta & spinach in a truffle cream sauce topped with guanciale — this was an excellent dish, would go back just for this
grilled shrimp over risotto– good
Dessert:
We didn’t have too much room for dessert so can’t comment on their selection. I can say the biscotti was average.
Osteria’s menu features interesting selections which incorporate quality ingredients. The food was very good overall. It has certainly fomented itself as a top Italian restaurant destination in the Marlboro area.

So Great has an accessional time amazing Food and great fun celebrating the new year with exceptional cuisine. Grilled octopus was on point just enough char and so tender. For an entrée I enjoyed stuffed Bronzino with crab stuffing. Delicious food we all enjoyed different entrees from shrimp parmigiana to eggplant parmigiana to amazing pasta entrees. We will be back to enjoy new menu specials Brava!!!

The food is delicious, absolutely love the atmosphere, and the waiters are beyond amazing. The owners are always around and work extremely hard to make sure all their guests are happy. This is the best restaurant in NJ and I go here every chance I get. The food is high quality and all the dishes are amazing. Ignore the negative reviews and give this place a try. You will not be disappointed, and I’m sure it will be your new favorite spot!!!

I’m from Naples Florida and I can tell you if this place opened in Naples it wouldn’t last 2 weeks. Simply, the food is over priced and they must operate under the theory of quantity is better than quality. 26 bucks for a dry chicken dish says it all. Maybe it’s for the best that they told us the special sole dish was sold out 15 minutes after we ordered it. Dried out fish wouldn’t have gone over too well either. It’s not like they didn’t have the time to prepare the entrees with pride either, it took them 90 minutes on a Saturday evening to finally deliver their work. On the positive side our friend who ordered the $ 55.00 steak enjoyed it. We did enjoy some nice wine while we waited but it was certainly difficult to hear your own party as the acoustics in the restaurant were terrible. They make sound absorbing panels that can be nicely integrated into the ceiling décor. I’m sure they can afford the upgrade, but then unless they actually get a chef who takes pride in his work, the sound doesn’t matter. We, or my family who lives locally, won’t be back.

Amazing food. Friendly atmosphere. Clean. Reasonably waiting time. Highly recommend for family, friends gathering, date. Not cheap, but worth every penny. Manhattan quality.

Gross! Typical Mafiosi joint. Food was way over seasoned. Felt rushed out. Coming up to the table to show me raw meat to brag about a $ 75 dollar piece of beef. Yeah no thanks. Everyone there looks connected especially the waiters. I’m 100% Italian and this food and the people who work and go their give Italians a bad name. That was my first and last meal there.

Great food and atmosphere. Italian food is not my favorite cuisine but the polenta and tiramisu you absolutely must order. The pizzas were good but I prefer food with intensified rather than muted flavors. Great waitstaff.

One of my top favorite Italian restaurants. Come from Staten Island just to go here. Everything is excellent. Had an assortment of appetizers each time I went so I pretty much tried them all. One better than the next. For entrée i always get the FUSILLI AL FORNO (shrimp, pancetta, brandy cream sauce, radicchio & fresh mozzarella baked in foil). There are no words to explain. It is amazing. It’s the only entrée I’ve ever had there because it’s soo good everytime I go back I crave it. Desserts are delicious too. Great atmosphere, place is so pretty and service is excellent. It’s perfect on a nice summer night to sit outside whether for dinner or to hang out at the bar which is both inside and out. I just love this place.

I came here for lunch with a friend and it was empty. There was only two other tables in the whole restaurant. For an appetizer, we started with the Tuscan Wings which were so tasty. For our entrée, which we shared, we got the Fuoco pizza which had mozzarella, sausage and hot peppers. It was delicious! Service was attentive. Always came back to refill water & ask us if we need anything. This is a good place, maybe a little overpriced but good.

Pizzeria food that will make your stomach turn with a nice ambiance at a significant price tag. If you come here just have some apps and desert. Dinner sucked and made me and wife ill. Was impressed when I saw a nice Maserati and a Bentley outside, quickly figured it must be the owners. They are making a killing, but not doing the right thing. Try turning a profit without turning our stomachs. Feel bad ripping a business but it’s true.

My wife and I had a fantastic meal there Friday night. Sergio greeted us very warmly, covered the incredible amount of specials, without a «cheat sheet» (Great Job!), and recommended a great red blend, which I thoroughly enjoyed. As much as we really, really enjoyed Osteria, it’s a little pricey for the average Joe. They do have Happy Hour specials, but we didn’t sit at the bar or outside as it was a little warm.

Inconsistent
The fact that half of this place’s reviews are 3 stars or less should tell you something. I’ve been here about 10 times and if I had to rate each time separately, I think the average from purely a food perspective would be about 2.5 stars. I’ve had fantastic meals here just like many of the reviewers that rave about it. I had the porterhouse for 2 one night and it was phenomenal. I loved it so much I ordered it again a few weeks later and it was at the Outback level if I am being kind. I am not even certain it was prime. Bottom line, from dish to dish or visit to visit, you have no clue what you are going to get. The specials present their own adventure. They should not be called «specials.» A more appropriate term would be «experiments.»
The Price
If you want a cocktail, an appetizer, a main course and coffee/​dessert, and you’re a couple, you won’t get out of there for under $ 200. So when others say «It’s like a Manhattan restaurant right here in Marlboro!!!» that’s really what they mean. If the food was great, this wouldn’t be an issue. Outside of Nicholas or Just, which are both many levels above, this must be the most expensive place in the entire area, by a lot.
On a parting note, there was a fun time when our waiter, who was new, asked us if we would approach the Owner/​manager on our way out and say that he had done a good job. Yup, exactly what I wanted to do after spending a few hundred dollars.

New York City caliber Italian food in Marlboro, NJ. Yes, its true.
I live in the area and somehow I managed to overlook this place for the last two years that it’s been open. What a mistake! This is incredibly high quality Italian fare. The pastas are all made fresh. I had the BUCATINI CACIO E PEPE — which is home-​made Bucatini pasta (thick spaghetti) with cheese and crushed black pepper. Just amazing. The pasta was so fresh and just the perfect consistency. The pepper, cheese and oil together delivered a perfect combination of spice and smoothness. Not overly complicated — but just amazing. I was literally smiling through each bite. My wife had the special of the evening (one of many actually) — which was Pappardelle with fresh truffle. The owner of the restaurant came over and personally shaved the truffle ontop of the dish. The truffle was excellent and the simplicity of the dish combined with the freshness of the ingredients made it perfect.
The ambiance is really nice — definitely not your run of the mill Italian joint. New York City kind of feeling for sure. They have a really nice outdoor sitting area, and thankfully have a liquor license which is unfortunately rare in New Jersey. The service was good if not a bit slow. It was packed when we were there — 730pm on a Thursday evening. Its also a bit loud inside.
Is it a bit pricey? Yes. But you get what you pay for. If you want cheap chicken parm at $ 10 a plate you’ve got lots of choices — dont come here. But, if you want great quality, unique Italian dishes — its worth a visit. I’ll be back, a lot.

I have been to Osteria a few times its decent at best. Went there on a Thursday night with a few friends I ordered 5 shots which turned out to be 55 $ which I thought seemed a little pricey. Anyway I needed change of a 20 to tip the bartender I asked a few waiters and no one had it. I was told to go inside and they would be able to help me. I was waiting at the counter patiently when a bartender just turned around and said they couldn’t help me. Mind you I didn’t even say a word yet, so I said I’m sorry i just need change of a 20 and he said I don’t have time for that. Which led me to believe that if they’re not being tipped then you don’t matter. For that reason I will never go back to Osteria i’m in the banking industry and I wonder how one of my customers would feel if I turned around and told them I don’t have time for them!

Whenever I have eaten here I ALWAYS find hair in my food! I got a glance into their kitchen and I see that nobody is wearing hair nets and it appears that they handle meats without washing their hands! Otherwise very mediocre food. You’re better off going somewhere else in marlboro.

Pretty close to a DISASTER
Sat night around 8pm packed parking lot but whats not crowded at 8pm sat was able to get a table for 4 no wait
The good very nice older waiter who did a great job
The bad risotto bland and severly over cooked wiildnt come out of my kitchen
The good veal chop perfecty fried was great the salsd on top was bitter and i didnt eat muvh of that but the chop was prrfect
The ok penne ala vodka was your run of the mill dish i could of got that in a pizzeria
Service and chop saves this from a disaster but i wont be back this place wont be here much longer if they dont improve

This restaurant is truly amazing. From the service, to the impeccable food and drinks, to the fun décor, I can’t say enough. Went with my family the other night and we have been raving about it since. The meatballs are made perfectly and the stuffed artichoke & stuffed pepper are delicious. The halibut special was the best fish we’ve had in years and the sole was a close second.
Strongly recommend going to Osteria. Make sure you book in advance. This is a trendy hot spot!

After hearing great things about this place, my fiancé and I decided to check it out with a group of friends. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is outstanding. I’m basing my review on the quality of food only because I had some issues with the service.
I can understand why people feel that this place is overpriced considering where it’s located. It has NYC prices and is in the middle of Marlboro, NJ. However, I believe these prices are justified because the food is truly on par with many of the Italian restaurants I’ve been to in Manhattan and on the Jersey shore. You get what you pay for regardless of where the establishment is located.
For drinks, I started off with the sgroppino. It’s vodka, lemon sorbet prosseco, and mint. I then ordered their blood orange martini. Both drinks were refreshing and very unique. I went to take the last sip of my delicious drink, and when I reached over to grab it, it wasn’t there. The waiter had taken it away without asking me if I was finished. My fiancé and I complained about this. The waiter was very rude and defensive and told me that the glass was empty, and that he would never take away a drink that wasn’t finished. I’m sorry, but if I’m paying $ 13 for a beverage, please make sure I’m done with it before taking it away! Ultimately, he did the right thing and brought me out another drink, which I appreciated. But I did not appreciate his attitude and having to argue with him over whether or not the glass was empty.
For appetizers we shared the creamy polenta with black truffles, the bufala mozzarella with tomatoes, and their prosciutto pizza. They were all outstanding. For dinner my fiancé and I shared the fusilli al forno which has shrimp, pancetta, brandy cream sauce, radicchio and fresh mozzarella and the sea bass baked with cherry tomatoes, shallots, fennel and white wine. The sea bass came with a side of roasted potatoes. Both meals were absolutely delicious. They were cooked to perfection and the portions were very generous. We took home leftovers. Again, the waiter took away my sea bass dish without asking if I was finished! I still had veggies on the plate and wanted to pour the amazing sauce over the potatoes. I caught him in time, and he apologized and gave me the dish back. I have never experienced anything like this.
Overall, this place was incredible, and I will be returning. Hopefully our server will start asking people if they are finished with their food before taking it away. He was overly attentive to a fault.