Spano's Ristorante Italiano
575 reviews
#2 of 99 Restaurants in Point Pleasant Beach$$ - $$$, Italian, Sicilian, Vegetarian friendly+1 732-701-1600+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Italian, Sicilian, Southern-Italian, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Is this restaurant good for large groups?
Details
About
Spano's Ristorante Italiano is a wonderful little store front restaurant just like you see in Brooklyn, with a quaint interior featuring oversized comfy booths and Italian music to complete the ambiance. The restaurant gets bustling after 6pm, and on weekends there can be quite a wait. The good news is they're open 7 days a week, so you can get the same amazing food on Tuesday without a wait. Speaking of the food, its authentic old world Italian prepared by Chef Joseph Spano. All ingredients are fresh, never frozen...fresh local fish and seafood, the highest quality veal, cut and pounded daily for the Veal dishes, Same with the chicken and eggplant, all prepared fresh daily. Spano's marinara sauce is the original winner of the Boss of the sauce contest sponsored by a local radio station and featuring all of the Shores Italian restaurants, as voted by a panel of judges and the general public. All of our ravioli, cheese filled, lobster, and specialty (like roasted butternut squash, or Osso Bucco) are handmade. They make the dough, they make the filling, and they stuff and cut each ravioli by hand. The portions are oversized, and the prices are very reasonable. They have an extensive menu and use only Certified Angus Beef, many of the dishes can be seen on their Facebook page at spanosristoranteitaliano and they open daily at 4pm. 7 days a week. With homemade desserts like the NY cheesecake, tiramisu, bread pudding and apizza dolce (Italian ricotta cheesecake) and delicious Cappuccino to finish off your meal, you can't go wrong at Spano's!
CUISINES
Italian, Sicilian, Southern-Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Takeout, Private Dining, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB
Contribute
4.5
575 reviews
Excellent
405
Very good
83
Average
51
Poor
27
Terrible
9
James Carl S
Sparta5 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
My wife’s supervisor recommended Spano’s for its Italian cuisine and atmosphere . It is BYOB,and reservations are required, very well in advance for Friday and Saturday night.
The food and atmosphere did not disappoint. We were seated quickly, and bread, antipasto , and drink order taken very quickly and warmly. Mr. Spano, ‘Joe,’ greeted us shortly there after, and we indicated it was our first time to enjoy his restaurant. He had the wait staff being out a risotto that excellently done. The dining room was tasteful with its tintype ceiling, and many b&w photos on the walls.
Meals include soup or salad, & pasta or potato croquettes, with each entree. I ordered off the daily special menu, and my wife had spare ribs off the regular menu.
Pacing of the meal was excellent, as was the my stuffed chicken, with crab meat, scallops, shrimp, as was my wife’s spare ribs. Portions were generous,and the everything very delicious.
My recommendation would be to eat lightly the day you visit, so you can maximize your enjoyment of Spano’s entire menu.
Written 26 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernard L. Fontaine, Jr.
Monroe2455 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
We have traveled to many destinations and ate at some of the best restaurants. This place has to be one of the best Italian restaurants ever. The food, atmosphere and service were exquisite.
Reservations are an absolute must because of the restaurant capacity in a small New Jersey beach town. We placed our reservations nearly two months in advance. While street parking was a challenge. We were lucky to park across the street. Public parking is down the block on both sides of the restaurant.
Once seated by the hostess, we were greeted by the owner. He brought us a couple of meatballs and several slices of cheese pizza to wet our appetite. The menu was exhaustive as well as the daily specials.
We started our meal with the crab cakes with a drizzle of fresh lemon 🍋. Oh my goodness, the flavor and amount of crab 🦀 was spectacular. We ordered several entrees from the daily special menu including the veal osso buco bolognese over mafalda pasta 🍝. The flavor was exquisite like nothing we have ever tasted.
It came with either salad or soup. We chose the Caesar salad and pasta fagooli soup. Both were mouth watering to taste and very fresh. For dessert we ordered the Carmela’s Nutella bread pudding and olive oil cake 🍰. Wow. What a treat!! The bread pudding was homemade but the olive 🫒 oil cake came from a Newark bakery.
If you want to celebrate something special, call for a reservation in advance. It’s well worth the trip and it’s not that expensive.
Written 21 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rene R
Marlboro159 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
I was very skeptical about going out to another Italian restaurant. My wife raved what she had read about this place, and really wanted to come here to eat. The place looks like any other place you go too cozy quaint. Note you have to have reservations to come eat here there is a line out the door. No way your passing the crowd and I know first hand why! I really thought my wife was a little crazy to take a trip to go eat Italian which to me was so typical, but not this place. The place is a 5 star restaurant from start to finish, We were escorted and sat down in a cozy booth. The Owner himself was such a class A host himself who was putting appetizers to sample at our table at no cost. With rustic crunchy bread with a side of Olive oil to dip into. The staff so attentive professional, and so knowledgeable of the cuisine from the apps to the main dishes and deserts I can praise anymore than how pleasant it was dealing with such a class of well trained team. If the food doesn't bring you back the staff will. As for the food the pasta is home made, so fresh, the sauces so rich and tasty, pops in your mouth like fireworks going off in your mouth. The Famous Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Vodka Parmesan! Wow like homerun hit out of the park! The bread crumb so crunchy not over seasoned, the chicken so Juicy HUGE Pieces! The vodka sauce, and fresh mozzarella cheese, just enough not drowned like most places you go too which is like a soupy mees, I can taste every bite, these dishes are made with love. Wow I can imagine a tour of Italy in my head. The deserts are home made, Wow watch out tiramisu lovers you can not get better than this! Bam!!! OMG and the coffee so fresh you can not go wrong. This by far has been the best Italian restaurant I have ever been too regardless where I am at! I love cooking from scratch and those of you who know me wow this place is a Diamond! So many Italian restaurants have flaws, this one I dare you to find one.... My new love of Italian Food is Spano's a little driver from my home but worth the drive.... The owner was such a class act, and attentive to all his quests, He greets people with a warm smile of love, a hand shake, a gentleman above and beyond all. Spano's is one of my favorite Jersey spots to go too for Italian... It will be yours trust me....
Written 16 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elegantease
Stirling145 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
So heard this place has the best chicken parm in NJ. Hard to get reservation so decided to get a Thursday night reservation in early January. We were seated quickly. It’s street parking. Inside is pleasant, a bit tacky with plastic grape vines on ceiling. But booths comfy. Service was excellent and owner did come by with two complimentary appetizers, a nice touch. Bread with oil was good. Got two appetizers: grilled octopus and the Shrimp Molly. Octopus was pricey at $25 but a generous portion, albeit a bit chewy. The shrimp Molly are huge but overly breaded. The Spicy sauce is good but breading on shrimp kills all flavor. We got one veal parm, one traditional chicken parm and a vodka chicken parm. The entrees are pricey, high $30s but you get a complimentary salad and a side, and portions are weirdly large. I don’t know what kind of chickens have such giant breasts even if they are pounded. The Caesar salad was very tasty, old school. The side salad had too much balsamic. All entrees had way too much breading and the meat on all three was bland. Their marinara sauce is very sweet, the vodka sauce was better. All in all only a 6/10 for the parm entrees. Just bland. Size can’t compensate for flavor. The star was the homemade rigatoni with vodka sauce/peas and prosciutto. The side of broccoli rabe was undercooked and had waxy taste. The tiramisu dessert was delicious. Light and airy. They forgot our coffees. It’s a far ride for us so won’t go back. There are too many other great old school Italian joints in NJ that surpass Spano’s. Sorry.
Written 19 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simonizzze
New Jersey701 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
We had dinner here on a Monday night in the beginning of August. After reading all the glowing reviews we expected to be blown away. Instead we will never return.
The internet describes this as a "bustling" restaurant. What we found was a relatively small restaurant where everyone was jammed in on top of each other, a noise level that made it hard to talk, and servers literally running back and forth to try to keep up with the orders. In other words, zero atmosphere, and not a relaxing place to eat dinner.
Although the place was a zoo when we arrived (and we were told it was like this every night), our 7pm reservation was honored and we were seated at a tiny table for two. Promptly we were brought complimentary eggplant meatballs, jersey tomatoes, and delicious bread. Plus it's a BYOB so we had our own wine, though no ice bucket was available (there was no place to put one). We kept the wine in our wine bag and took it out when we wanted more.
The main course took about 30 minutes to come out. The chicken giancana sounded great on the menu, but the sauce was way too thick and the dish was two small pieces of chicken and a ton of potatoes. The seafood fra diablo was tasty, with an excellent sauce, though the mussels and clams were small compared to other restaurants, and the dish had way more pasta than fish compared to other restaurants we have dined at.
My wife ordered a side of penne with her dinner, but it didn't come until she was almost done. The server claimed that pasta takes longer to prepare, which made no sense. He simply forgot to put in the order. When the pasta did come, some of it was undercooked. On my dish I had asked for linguine, but instead got angel hair pasta. Not the end of the world, but yet another misstep.
I know this restaurant is popular because it's BYOB and they offer nice complementary items before dinner. But the atmosphere is hectic, and while the food is good, there are many other Italian restaurants we go to that are BYOB that may cost a little more, but where you can hear yourself think during dinner and the food is better.
Making a reservation is a must, but you can't do it on the web. Instead you have to leave a voicemail with your reservation request and then wait for a call back. I found that annoying.
Parking on the street is very tight, but a block away is a large Dollar General parking lot with plenty of free parking.
Bottom line: Not a place we would recommend or return to.
Written 21 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SueMac2022
Boston6 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
In from out of town and our guests said the food was good, they had gift certificates for us on the table to use. Stopped in to make a reservation and wow, they could not have been more unpleasant. The hostess practically looked at me as if I was a fool thinking I could get any reservation over the four day weekend. Fine, if that is the case. But please, do it graciously. For that reason alone, we will take our business elsewhere. In fact we did - doors down the street and across the street and enjoyed your neighbors where the customer service and food were both outstanding. It’s a homerun when you get both and although Spano’s food may be excellent with that kind of greeting I’ll keep walking.
Written 29 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elliot F
Monroe39 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
This is not really a review, but a 'thank you' to Joe Spano and his staff. We have been going to there for about six years and at least 10-12 times a year; meaning we have eaten there approximately 60-75 times. We wouldn't be eating if we didn't enjoy the food. Besides the food being delicious (we have tried about seven or eight items on the menu and have enjoyed all of them); the service is equally outstanding. All the servers and bus personnel are efficient, polite and always a smile. IF something is not right (we have never had it happen to us), Joe will make right.
We want to wish Joe, his family, and his staff a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy 2025. We look forward to enjoying our dinners. (Already have a reservation for January 2025)
Written 16 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelc2018
New Jersey26 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
Always excellent! We’ve been dining here for years. The food is amazing and the portions are huge. We enjoy seeing Joe whenever we visit and appreciate his hospitality and how hard he works to maintain an excellent dining experience. Spanos is our go-to for all special events. Happy New Year to you and your staff!
Written 28 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsayyy412
New York City197 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
Heard about this restaurant through a Jersey Chicken Parm Ratings Facebook page, where their chicken parm was consistently voted as being the best chicken parm in NJ. Finally went last night and it was fantastic!!!!!!!!! Great sauce to cheese ratio, so crispy on the outside and so soft Inside. The pasta at this restaurant is also absolutely excellent all homemade and fresh even the pasta served on the side of the entrees. You get to choose which type of pasta you want on the side. We also loved the bolognese pasta dish, and the pasta dish with the guancile was excellent too. That was all we ordered but I’m sure every other dish they make is also great. The sauce was so good. So nice how they give the free eggplant meatballs, tomato and basil salad and that yummy bread when you sit down. Even the bread was excellent and so soft, loved the olive oil dip too. All entrees come with either a house or Caesar salad or a soup. We all had the Caesar which was delicious too. Even their water was good lol they have these silver cups which make the water extra cold. Service was excellent too. Staff was so attentive, helpful with answering questions , friendly etc. To the owner- you are doing a great job this place is excellent drove from NYC to try it. So delicious can’t wait to go back. Highly recommend to all!
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elliot F
Monroe39 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
We have been going to Spano's for about 5 years once a month so approximately 60 visits. We go so often for a number of reasons:
1. The food is delicious
2. When we go other restaurants, there are 1 or 2 dishes we like to order. When we go to Spano's, there are 6-8 dishes we love and it is hard to decide. (the menu is very extensive)
3. When we try a different restaurants, the first visit is good; the second visit might be just ok. At Spano's, EVERY visit is great. The food, the service has always been outstanding consistently.
4. Finally, Joe Spano (or how he is referred to our house as Uncle Joe). From his hostess's, servers, and his entire support staff, he truly believes that the customer comes first.
We already have reservations for February & March.
Thanks Joe for 5 great years; we look forward to many more years.
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry K
Plano29 contributions
Sept 2023 • couples
Probably my favorite Italian restaurant of all time. Been here 3 times while visiting family on the Jersey shore. Phone in reservation required! BYOB where Joe the owner comes visits you at the table with a bowl of marinated Jersey tomatoes and sometimes a free appetizer. I’ve had the Pasta Tre Madre twice and this trip I tried the Seafood Fiesta. So much food and just perfect each time! Perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops mixed with tomatoes and a wonderful cream sauce. We brought so much food home so maybe share a few plates for the table next time.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
siochainDenver
242 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
I met some friends here for dinner while I was in from out of town.
This was good food and good service, but not outstanding. There was nothing special about the meal, except, for the lobster ravioli which was very good. It was not salty as this dish often is. And the portion was very large--it was three meals. I would prefer smaller offerings. I was staying at a house and had access to a microwave, but eating something while I'm vacationing is not a great thing. Imagine how the people feel who don't have access to a refrigerator or microwave. The mushroom soup was just ok. We didn't order any dessert.
The owner came out with some complimentary hors d'oeuvres, which were tasty and it is a nice touch. The calamari appetizer we ordered however, was awful. Overcooked and chewy. Wouldn't get this again here.
We had reservations and were seated right about on time. It is a loud restaurant, but we were still able to have a normal conversation.
One thing new to me (since I don't live in NJ) is the BYOB I'm not a fan. So bring your own alcohol or choose something unalcoholic. I understand why they do it, but I don't have to like it.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager00189809435
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • friends
the family style dishes are excellent quality both taste and. we go every couple of weeks and order something different each visit. Joe Spano gives you special appetizers when you first sit down. This time i enjoyed his Sunday Gravy which consists of sausage, pork, meatballs on top of rigatoni in a delicious marinara sauce.
We have never had a bad meal here and the staff is quick and courteous at all times.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HappyOBT
Manasquan20 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
Can't wait to go back!
Spano's has the greatest Italian food - our absolute favorite.
Portions are huge, including a great salad. Best Italian restaurant around. Their seafood pastas are amazing and always choc full of fresh seafood. Our son got the Seafood Fra Diavolo and it was humongous - plenty of scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels and a lobster tail.
We come to Manasquan for the summer and go to Spano's at least once a week and have never been disappointed!
Chef Spano goes from table to table making sure everyone is satisfied and happy . . . and I've never heard anyone do anything but rave about their experience at Spano's
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CArOlT4242014
Jersey Shore169 contributions
Sept 2022 • none
This restaurant was recommended by neighbors. We made a Tuesday evening reservation thinking that it was off season at the shore and wouldn't be too busy. We were wrong--the place was very busy. Told that no table was available in the dining room for us and we could be seated in the private dining room that they would set up for a few tables.
Food was plentiful and tasty. BYOB. We had the rolled chicken parm (a special) and the flounder. Both were very good.
Service was marginal...waitress was very hurried and dishes were "dropped" on the table. More like diner service than dinner. Old Italian restaurant vibe.
Overall, we enjoyed and will be back for a casual meal. Only thing we didn't enjoy was the tiramisu dessert...was nothing similar to the same dessert we've had elsewhere and not very good.
Note: you definitely need to call a week or more ahead for a reservation.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-15 of 575
Best moderately priced restaurants
See all
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Best nearby hotels
See all Best nearby restaurants
See all Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing