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Il Leone, Matawan, NJ

Il Leone

4.7
4.7
56 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
Il Leone: A Culinary Journey in Matawan

Il Leone is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. Nestled in the heart of Matawan, this farm-to-table haven celebrates the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, crafting each dish with passion and artistry.

Step inside and be enveloped by the warm, inviting atmosphere. The aroma of wood-fired pizzas mingles with the laughter of friends and family, creating a sense of community and joy.

The menu is a testament to Il Leone's commitment to quality and creativity. From hand-crafted pasta to succulent seafood, every dish is a symphony of flavors, showcasing the bounty of the region.

Indulge in the signature wood-fired pizzas, each topped with a unique blend of seasonal ingredients. Savor the melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, tossed in a rich, creamy sauce. Or embark on a culinary adventure with the chef's tasting menu, a curated journey through the finest flavors Il Leone has to offer.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (973) 400-0263
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 56 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Middlesex

    Best Food

  • Middlesex

    Best Value

  • Middlesex

    Romantic

  • Middlesex

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Il Leone offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food" and "extremely attentive" staff. Its "beautiful" decor and "great ambiance" complement the "delicious" dishes like lamb chops and seafood pasta. As a BYOB venue, it adds a personal touch with the owners often engaging with guests. Highly recommended!

56 Reviews
  1. patricia

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another amazing meal at Il Leone. My new favorite 🤩 service was incredible tonight as always!!!

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  2. Janet VIP

    New York City7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Overall I would give this restaurant 3.5 stars The noise level among dinners is an issue-it is so loud that having a conversation included the words “repeat that” or “what” which was disappointing as we couldn’t have a decent conversation. The next negative was our waiter who only focused his attention on my husband-asked him how his meal was, read the specials to him ( I of course could not hear them as he turned his head sideways and with the noise…) and except for pouring the first glass of wine for me, he never refilled my glass. Sadly it became a joke to see if I would ever get a refill. Now for the food, the bread was laced with garlic pieces, so that was a turn off. We shared the whipped ricotta that was too sweet and the bread was once again spread with a garlic. Would have been better if left on the side. The star of the night was the linguine with clams and the spaghetti carbonara. Best I ever had. Sadly the noise level is an issue that I hope they can fix.

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  3. Sammy

    New Jersey1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Appetizer and meal was excellent. Service was also great

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  4. Rick VIP

    New York City15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time going, new restaurant in the area, excellent service, food , vibe Will definitely be back Thank you

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  5. Bob VIP

    New York City28 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server Henry although busy, was very attentive, friendly and personable. The food was delicious. The owner Issy stopped by our table several times to check on how things were. He even filled our wine glasses for us. A very enjoyable dinning experience for sure. We plan on going there for lunch when it becomes available.

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  6. Joseph

    New York City3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an excellent time. Ambience was fantastic. The decor is really nice. The Food was excellent. I would only suggest that they have some sort of Steak sauce next time. They had NOTHING to offer. The Steak was excellent but I like Steak sauce with my Steak. Also I'm in no rush when I'm out to eat. I appreciate good service but please don't rush me. The meal is costing enough. I don't need to be in & out of there in a little over and hour dropping $200.00. Louder than we expected as well. It may sound like I'm complaining but I'm not. My overall experience was great. These are just suggestions to improve my next visit. Best of luck

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  7. Tony

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    2nd time in a month and absolutely can't say enough great things. If you're thinking about going, GO!!!!

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  8. OpenTable Diner VIP

    New Jersey2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great dinner,amazing service,nice decor. Enjoyed extremely and will definitely be going back!!

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  9. Marissa

    Philadelphia4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and the service was excellent, but The lamb chop special with no price on the menu (which was odd for lamb chops,maybe seafood can do that)! Was definitely overpriced ! $54 for 4 lamb chops with 1/2 cup of potatoes and broccoli rabe would we $13.50 a chop!!!! To me taking advantage of people. I can buy the best lamb chops for less than half that price and that’s not wholesale. Just saying With all this said , the food was delicious , lamb cooked Perfectly, salad was fresh and cold. The pizza wasn’t bad. A bit soggy but good flavor I would definitely return here , but would order something with a price so I’m not sticker shocked Very friendly staff too and the owner is very personable !

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  10. Tricia

    Hawaii2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed an amazing dinner at Il Leone! A BYOB(which in my opinion, is great!.. there is a liquor store in the shopping plaza!) restaurant with a great ambiance! We loved everything we ordered. The food was so fresh, tasty and large portions! The staff was so attentive, and the owners were there as well, chatting with diners and seemed to genuinely appreciate people being in their restaurant. We definitely will be going back, clearly we highly recommend!

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FAQs

Il Leone is rated 4.7 stars by 56 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today
Google Map for Il Leone

443 NJ-34 suite i, Matawan, NJ 07747-9506

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Old Bridge
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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