Il Leone

Restaurant · Old Bridge

Il Leone

Restaurant · Old Bridge

1

443 NJ-34, Matawan, NJ 07747

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Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null
Il Leone by null

Highlights

Exceptional Italian cuisine, local ingredients, warm hospitality, beautiful decor  

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443 NJ-34, Matawan, NJ 07747 Get directions

illeonenj.com
@il_leone_nj

Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

443 NJ-34, Matawan, NJ 07747 Get directions

+1 973 400 0263
illeonenj.com
@il_leone_nj

Menu

Reserve

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
reservations

Last updated

Aug 25, 2025

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Best Restaurants and Bars for a Weekend Getaway in Portland, Maine | Eater Boston

"A BYOB spot on Peaks Island serving wood‑fired Neapolitan‑style pizza al fresco—recommended as the island pizza destination after taking the mailboat ferry." - Stasia Brewczynski

https://boston.eater.com/dining-out-in-boston/122079/portland-maine-weekend-guide-food-restaurants-bars
View Postcard for Il Leone

Patricia Guarnera

Google
Great food, great service, loved the decor! We were very excited to try this new restaurant and it did not disappoint! The food was so good- probably one of if not the best chicken dishes I have ever had. The chicken was so perfectly cooked with amazing flavor! The pasta was very good, perfectly cooked too!

V Dedushaj

Google
Excellent! Had the pleasure of dining here and we were all blown away with how amazing the food was! Staff was attentive and nice! Decor was beautiful and most importantly the food was excellent. A must try!

Teddi Menkes

Google
Il Leone is an absolute gem! Every dish we tried was nothing short of exceptional. The filet tips were cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and a delight with every bite. The Caesar salad was crisp and refreshing, with just the right balance of tangy dressing and parmesan. The baked clams were heavenly, seasoned beautifully and baked to a golden finish. The chicken Milanese was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and paired wonderfully with fresh greens. The linguini and white clams transported us straight to Italy with its perfect blend of flavors and al dente pasta. And to top it all off, the margherita pizza was a masterpiece—thin, crispy crust, fresh mozzarella, and basil that made every bite pure bliss. The service was attentive, the ambiance welcoming, and every dish showcased a true passion for quality Italian cuisine. We can’t wait to come back! Five stars all the way!

Yekaterina Livhsina

Google
The waiters were nice and welcoming. The food was amazing. I had the steak and it was so soft. The decor is so beautiful.

Ace Begu

Google
Il Leone is a gem in this town. The food is OUTSTANDING. The service is fantastic. You can feel the love and passion that went into opening the doors. Come support your newest, family and locally owned restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

Erica Mcmanaman

Google
Just tried for the first time this weekend. Fabulous experience- the food was delish and loved the atmosphere. There were 6 of us and we shared some apps/ salads and 3 pizzas. The pizzas were amazing- definitely recommend… and it was a perfect amount to share! Only (small) complaint was that the music was a tad too loud. Regardless I will most definitely be back!

Tessa Marke

Google
Il Leone is going to be our new go-to spot!!! The food is incredibly delicious - you can taste the freshness in everything we tried. The space is beautifully designed, It sets the perfect vibe for a local night out. Highly recommend!

Barbara Daledda

Google
Every little detail of this new gem of a restaurant was done with intention. From the atmosphere, the staff, the lighting, the plating, even the napkins! But most of all the food. Such a nice addition to our community. Thank you for a lovely dinner.

Nicholas S.

Yelp
It was the last minute surprise birthday party for my husband! Ari made everything possible to make this party of 12 people happened! Very cute, beautiful atmosphere, nice family oriented place! Great team work! Great Service! Great Food! My family enjoyed it very much and my husband was shocked and really surprised with his party! He was happy! Thank you Il Leone Family! Mariya L.
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Marina S.

Yelp
This place is beautiful. Excellent service and very classy. It's also BYOB. The food can be a hit or miss. Some of it is delicious, others fall flat. I had the: Whipped Ricotta: loved the ricotta, didn't love the bread that came with it. Caesar salad: very good Gnocchi: delicious, very soft
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Kristen H.

Yelp
Super cute spot, friendly staff and large portions of food! They were kind enough to take us for a 9:15pm reservation and were very attentive. However they were really on us to box everything asap. The risotto is good just needs more garlic, Brussel sprouts are good and the Branzino was fresh however it was just served with a lot of butter, undercooked potatoes as sautéed spinach. The spinach was delicious! The food is good and well priced however was not completely blown away. The staff from the hostess, our waiter, food runners etc were all very friendly and attentive. The inside is nicely designed with pretty chandeliers and there was lots of social chatter about the room. The specific table we sat at had lounge chairs which was cool but it was hard to eat because you had to lean super forward and the table was pretty tall. Next time I'd like to come earlier and sit somewhere different, think my experience would be different. Also I think I would stick to a pasta with shrimp and get a side of cauliflower for my meal.
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Frank V.

Yelp
Bunch tried this new BYOB restaurant last night, what a great experience. The food was amazing. The Atmosphere, Service and the owners were all wonderful. Definitely we will be returning. A+
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Nick P.

Yelp
Excellent food and service. I will be back soon- Owner was attentive and a BYOB was the bonus round!!
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Maat J.

Yelp
The ambiance in this restaurant is so chick! Love it! It's a BYOB, with the choice of juice or soda. The food is clean and flavorful! So delicious! I look forward into coming back. This restaurant doesn't disappoint.

Justin S.

Yelp
Great service. Food was fresh and excellent. Nice portions. Was not rushed. BYOB. Will be back.

Ashley G.

Yelp
We had a nice time celebrating my husband's birthday tonight and were excited to check out the new local hotspot. The restaurant was beautiful and very cool vibe. Our service was however very rushed, and the first thing I asked was, what is this photo on your website, do you have this meal? See photo.. he said oh yes we have that meal it's the lamb chop special! I said wonderful, since it doesn't look like it comes with sides I'll also order the Brussels sprouts. I was disappointed when a completely different dish came out, see photo. Wasn't made aware it would be different and wasn't even told what it was I am guessing horseradish and maybe pistachio since it was green? I was even more disappointed and surprised when I saw the bill and was charged $68 for my 4 lamb chops. Other meals included the spicy rigatoni which I had seen reviews for and was excited but it was not spicy and I didn't see or taste any peppers. Brussels were tasty and panna cotta was prepared nicely. I would go back, but I wouldn't order a special again. Why was this your first photo on your site if it's not even a meal you offer?
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Neela M.

Yelp
Great service, ambiance and food. The owner and his wife are both lovely and although the restaurant is booming they both take the time to walk around and ensure that their customers are taken care of and happy.
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Andrea M.

Yelp
Restaurant just opened in the marketplace off of route 34 close to our house! We had few hours to kill while our kids were at an mma Christmas party so decided to check it out ! The ambience, food, service was great!!! And bonus, it's a byob with buy rite a few doors down! We got the Caesar salad, rigatoni veal ragu and the pollo martini! We started with toasted garlic bread too! Everything was delicious and our server was great as well! Would definitely recommend this place and wishing them the best of luck! Can't wait to return!
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Kristi H.

Yelp
Amazing ! Awesome ambiance, delicious food, exceptional service. The owner is top notch! Had dinner with friends we were a party of 8 and everyone loved their food. I had the Bronzino special, the arancini appetizer and calamari were all amazing. BYOB and don't miss out on this gem
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Steve L.

Yelp
When you walk inside you immediately forget that this used to be a Dress Barn in a strip mall. Beautifully decorated, everything looks high end. The place may seem expensive to some but you have to remember that this is elevated cuisine. My wife had veal osso bucco and I had shrimp francese. I'm pretty sure I spelled both of those wrong but trust me when I tell you that everything was delicious. When we arrived for our 6:00 reservation, there were only two other couples there. By the time we left at 7;30 they were packed. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I give Il Leone my highest recommendation. Enjoy!

Nadia S.

Yelp
Just tried. EXCELLENT! Food was delicious. Try the calamari, carbonara, spicy rigatoni, pollo martini, chicken milanese , veal ragu! Service perfect. BYOB Loved and will most definitely go back.

Peter C.

Yelp
The best thing was the bottle we brought from home.. Nice waiter though...Pulpo appetizer was inedible but they took it back and off our check. Baked clams were good and the risotto dishes were just ok.Focaccia bread they put out was good dough but definitely under seasoned.. Small place and tables very close..

Kiran P.

Yelp
Not sure what's so great about this place. Food is bland, overcooked, salty. Didn't even bother to look at the dessert menu. Will not be coming back!

Jazzy P.

Yelp
Went here for the first time last night and more than pleasantly surprised. The ambiance was perfection. The service was of the highest I've ever received dining out. The owner interacted with us on more than one friendly and hospitable occasion and our server was knowledgeable attentive and matched our sense of humor. On top of all that, the food was phenomenal. The baked clams, the arugula salad, spicy rigatoni, pollo martini... were beyond excellent. Their desserts are made fresh daily and we split the tiramisu which was the best I've had in a long time. We were treated like family here. As a current restaurant manager I was unbelievably impressed on all fronts and would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. By far the best dining experience I've ever had. Great staff, great food, beautiful restaurant. Can't wait to go back!