STRADA

My wife and I went to Strada for a date night. The service was great and the food was delicious. We shared the meatballs, pizza and the bolognese. Everything was so good and the best bolognese I had in my life. I say if you want delicious food this is the place to try! Definitely we will come again. (My wife and I went to Italy. The vibe of Strada and delicious food + wine reminds us of Italy)

Wandered in on Friday night. A bar with Gin’s I’d never heard of (I’m a Hendricks guy) and asked the waitress for a recommendation. She was spot on, great way to start the night. The apps were generous portions but the celery salad stole the show. I highly recommend you share an order with someone that you are trying to impress. The Rigatoni with melted smoked provolone was a filling entree with a touch of heat. Didn’t get to try the Pizza (looked great as they were placed on surrounding tables. We will be back to sample a few.

Really great food and atmosphere at this spot. Feels like a family, where the owner knows a ton of the customers and focuses on service and ambiance. Drinks were great. Bread with the ricotta was awesome and was cooked with some garlic and rosemary. Even sleeper pick items were good, like the trout dip. The Caesar salad was celery based, so maximum crunch. I thought it was interesting. The pizzas were excellent, wood fired. We also got a spinach ricotta, but felt a bit dry. On the service side, seemed they were backed up for a bit, but overall we didn't have any issues. Eggplant parm was really dense and multi layered. We enjoyed. Dessert was excellent.

Oh my what an evening! Me and the boys had a fabulous dining experience at Strada last night. Starting with the mortadella spiedini followed by an out this of world Caesar salad , ending with 3 extraordinary pizzas and a mafaldine w the perfect touch of lemon zest. All the cocktails were perfect curated and I especially respected the mixologist’s push back on my request to replace mezcal with tequila in one of their signature drinks , as to not ruin the integrity. Spoiler - he was right. Strada knocked it out of the park and my only thought afterwards was “why I have not dined here sooner?” A+++ thank you Gina for accommodating and thanks to the entire staff at STRADA for an incredible evening.

Great vibe, this place is a Home Run!!!! Been wanting to try this place for a while. It was worth it too. Omg everything we had was delicious. The atmosphere is up beat and the owner meets u at the door and her husband makes your pizza. This is not your every day pizza joint. This is and above average place that when i was eating it i compared it to Tortono's in Coney Island. Yummy!!!! Started with some appetizers, warm Oliver's and the beet dish, the body gem ceasar is also a must try. We did the formaggi, delicious as well. A must try!!!!!!!!!

I went for the first time tonight and it was incredible. The vibe, aesthetic, and music were ideal. Our waiter Jeff was probably the nicest and most attentive waiter I’ve ever had, and the owner Gina walked around, meeting and checking on every table. Overall, a very cozy and friendly restaurant, but also romantic and perfect for a date night. Best of all, the food was delicious & lots of menu options - we got the ricotta toast and two pizza, and left happy and full! So excited that this place opened and was able to raise the bar even higher than Una Pizza. Can’t wait to go back :)

3/2022: Everything here is fresh & delicious. The service was pretty good & the host was very kind. My hat goes off to the bartenders & chefs. It’s going to be a busy summer at Strada. Enjoy!

The interior design/ambiance of this place is very beautiful. The service is good, and our server was very nice. The food was delicious!! The only thing we were sad about was they don’t carry Diet Coke (we were told they don’t carry it because the owner doesn’t like it {random but ok} ), and for an $18 glass of wine, it was a disappointing pour. But whatever; we ate everything and enjoyed our night.

By some miracle, as a party of 3 on a Saturday night, we as walk ins were seated without a wait. As many times as I have thought about coming in and gone elsewhere. I am now kicking myself for waiting so long. The chef Ken, has created an ambiance and flavor profile that I can only describe as sexy. The lighting is moody, the vibe seems to illicit unadulterated conversation, maybe the full moon helped too. Staff was very good, and the budino made me want to cry it was that good. We'll be regards now. Thanks Strada!

Strada Pizza Bar was a total hit. In the heart of Atlantic Highlands, it is tucked away but it will blow you away. We started with the grilled house bread and whipped ricotta. So yummy! The bread had herbs and sliced garlic... the way to my heart. Alongside, we got the Tuscan kale salad and MAN was it good. I am a sucker for a kale+lemon+parm moment so it hit the spot. So fresh, zesty, tasty, and a great start to the meal. Their wood fired pizza was good! Where we sat, we had a view of the dough being rolled out so that was a fun little touch. We tried the white tartufo pizza which was perfect and a 10/10 - no notes from this mushroom lover. The chive garnish on top definitely took it home! We also tried the Margherita pie which was good, but honestly nothing too special - I might try a different red pie next time I come. Their fresh pasta was the star of the show - the spicy vodka sauce was so creamy and flavorful and melted so well with their pasta shells. I was actually OBSESSED. It was so delicious. You must try it if you are a spicy vodka connoisseur like many of us in NJ. We even ordered more to go. Cocktails were also good and strong - inventive drinks and the menu is ever changing. I got a spicy martini with pepperoncini and Calabrian chili oil in it. Real pickley and spicy but it got the job done! We tried some other cocktails and all were tasty - can't wait to try some more again soon!! We couldn't end a girls night without dessert so we went for a classic - show-stopping tiramisu. It was the perfect bite and flavors were subtle but present. Definitely can't go wrong with it!! Service was good too. Our server was very nice, patient with us talking way too much (lol), and gave us great suggestions on the menu. So glad I finally got to hit Strada and totally loved it!

As a fervent foodie, I have a particular fondness for pizza. When my girlfriend mentioned Strada, my husband and I spontaneously made reservations. Fortunately, the owner, Gina, went above and beyond to secure a table for us. The ambiance at Strada is warm and welcoming. From the owners to the servers, everyone is incredibly attentive. They check on you regularly to ensure your meal is satisfactory and accommodate any requests you may have. We've visited Strada several times, and I'm consistently impressed by the exceptional quality of the food. Chef Ken's culinary skills are truly remarkable. We've tried the artisanal margherita and funghi pies, eggplant parmigiana, and the tomato braised meatballs. The next time we visit, I intend to order the meatballs again and add their pane di casa, as I've heard it pairs beautifully with the meatballs and is topped with prosciutto. Whenever we're in the Atlantic Highlands area, Strada is a must-visit for us. It's a restaurant that consistently delivers a wonderful dining experience.

Far beyond what you think of a local pizzeria, with many terrific dishes you normally won't see in a neighborhood spot. Tasty and well seasoned.

Finally got a chance to dine here and we absolutely loved it. We had the kale caesar, the carbonara pizza and spicy vodka pasta. Everything was amazing. So fresh and delicious flavors. Beautiful, cozy ambiance. Great service. Can't wait to come back.

Awesome food, the friendliest wait staff and the owner Gina and her husband are the most gracious hosts. My family loves coming here.

I showed up for my reservation at 5:15 on a Friday and the door, facing the main boulevard was locked?!? I could see and hear people seated at tables inside. I tried to call and no one answered. Why would a restaurant lock its doors on patrons. Especially patrons they are expecting. Not hospitable.

It's a quaint but dark atmosphere. The food is good, but it's pricey for the portions. I've been there 2-3 times and only had good service once. The place is good for light fare and drinks.

Ok so I really sincerely wanted to like this place. Now I'll go from my first experience to last. First time around the hostess was crazy rude. She made it apparent that this pizza spot was exclusive and I should have arrived earlier. Keep in mind my party was only 3 ppl. Nothing to be so intense about. I let her know it was ok for us to wait and if anything we could go next door or sit at the wide open bar. She accommodated us at the bar. My experience here was mixed. Drinks spilled and incorrectly served from the bartender to complete parts of our order missed. Left us not loving this restaurant. So now months later I try it again. The cheese bread if you can call it that was just insulting. I ordered the octopus that was not only tough but burnt. On top of all that the pizzas somehow got backed up. So what normally took maybe 90 seconds took over an hour and thirty minutes. By that time I had no appetite.

Restaurant had a beautiful ambiance. Candles, beautiful Italian pizza oven, bar was great! Exceptional staff and food was a 10 !

Another great Strada experience! We brought two good friends who are foodies - they loved it. Fennel, celery based salad with Crème Fraiche Gorgonzola dressing and walnuts was outstanding. Roasted artichokes app and bolognese also were stand outs! Ingredients out front. Fantastic atmosphere, great playlist, lighting - ambiance was extraordinary. Oh, the imported Italian pizza oven in the back is a piece of art. The always artisan level cocktails were also fantastic. We went Thursday and Friday night - back to back. What a treat. Great owners too. If you get food, you'll get Strada. Thank you - Ken, Gina and Chris.

Great food, drinks, service. Consistent. There is nothing on the menu that isn't worth trying. Intimate atmosphere. We have been lucky to get a table without reservations just about every time we've popped in. The menu changes regularly which is nice!

Consistently delicious, high quality food and drinks. Place has a cozy vibe, great place for a dinner date.

While I enjoyed the food at the bar after passing the "I have enough money to sit there test", my experience overall was poor. First, the bartender was condescending. I travel for work and eat out 3-4 times per week. I ordered a whisky neat to start from a brand I regularly drink. I was brought the wrong brand or was given something way cheaper. I ordered a glass of Chianti and was poured a Sangiovese. While they are quite similar, I know how Chianti is made, it was not what I ordered. I had a salad and chicken dish, which were good and had to listen to the bartender tell me how he never eats chicken out. 100 bucks later for a single guy having dinner and a drink which dealt with poor etiquette and more than questionable serving of alcohol. Not sure if I would go back again.

Wow! Not only was it as noisy as an intersection in NYC, but we had a horrible experience with the most rude hostess I've ever seen. The place was so criwded (even on a weeknight and the table are too close together. The ceaser salad had too much cheese...not everyone wants a salad drenched in cheese. There are so many better places to dine in Atlantic Highlands and the proprietor should check to see how customers are greeted and welcomed. She was not welcoming at all and had attitude they only drives new customers away. Even if it's somone first time there, welcome them. The menu is limited and the pizza was cold.

What a hidden Gem. The place has a great vibe going on. The food was delicious and the drinks were great. Best of all our server was impeccable! So looking forward to coming back! I highly recommend coming here!

I have been to Strada twice before booking it for Valentine's Day and each time is better than the last! I've been placed at the long bar, at a separate table, and in front of the pizza kitchen on Valentine's Day. We had a great time seeing how the pizza was made and talking to one of the cooks, Matt, throughout the night! It was a busy night, and you could tell the staff was super passionate and confident about the food they were serving. I keep coming to Strada for the food, but the ambiance is just the cherry on top. For all of your date night dreams, I encourage you to let Strada wow you!

Another terrific pizza (and more) restaurant down the shore! Shared two different pizza's with friends and a wonderful eggplant farm and caesar salad- best I ever had! Definately made a reservation - place was PACKED

I was excited to try Stada after following them on Instagram for the last few months. The place is really nice inside, and the decor is trendy. They don't take reservations so it's walk ins only. The staff was warm and welcoming. They had a nice selection of appetizers too. For appetizer we had the crostini topped with burrata and cherry tomatoes, and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! For dinner we had the zucchini and mushroom pizza. Neither of us cared for the pizza. It was too thin and overcooked. It was like eating cardboard. The red sauce to the zucchini pizza was bland, and it didn't have any flavor. I would come back for the appetizers and to try one of their pasta dishes. But, I wouldn't order pizza here again because I personally didn't care for it.

Excellent !!! Everything was on pointe. Ambiance was pleasant and cozy with eclectic and cozy

Kids pasta with butter: $22 Yes, running a restaurant is a challenge. But after tax, the credit card surcharge and my customary 25% gratuity this is more than $30 for a child's portion of pasta with butter. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I can not believe I had not been to Strada in the 3+ years since they opened. Only if I could turn back the clock -I would have written this 3 years ago I've been reviewing pizza amongst family and friends for a long time long before that guy from the barstool conglomerate. My pizza ratings fall into two Artisanal pizza and pizza parlor pizza. I use school grades A-F with +'s and -'s. Strada is a solid A+ Artisanal shop. The pizza was excellent. Crust, cheese and sauce - a symphony of perfection. Chef Ken was kind enough to explain the evolution of his approach- from homemade dough to the special (expensive) wood he procures for his Italian born oven. I are at the bar and although I did not catch his name- the bartender refined my requested Mezcal Martini - like a chemist with world peace at stake. The environment- dark and dreamy. I will be back to make up for the last 3 years. Go here. Eat here. Be here.

The ambiance, decor and overall vibe in here is stunning. Feels like a restaurant in nyc, very cool and hip. The food was so good. There was nothing we didn't like. The meatballs, Brussels sprouts, burrata tomatos. All so good. We did a couple pizzas as our main, loved them too! Just overall a good spot. Drinks were ehhh but hey we were really here to eat! We will be back

Cool place that we had heard about from some friends. It is a small restaurant with a pizzeria oven in the back and also a bar on the other side of the restaurant. It had a weird window situation since the whole front of the shop window folds open but there was a strong draft so it made it unpleasant to sit near the window. All good. The food made up for it. The meatballs were delicious. Nice and light. The burrata was not my favorite. They served it with acorn squash which wasn't cooked all the way. The star of the show however is the pizza. The pizza oven works wonders and cooks these hot and fast. Flavors were spot on and the crust was chewy just like I like it. Nice spot. 4 stars.

Excellent traditional Italian. The freshest ingredients lively atmosphere. Hoping service in perfectly tight space. Never disappointed. Something for everyone in the Familia.

Tried this place for the first time and it exceeded my expectations! They don't take reservations so my boyfriend and I showed up a little after 5pm on a Friday and we were seated right away. The place filled up shortly after. I ordered the prospettiva piccante cocktail which the waiter described as similar to a spicy margarita. For appetizers we ordered the pane di casa with cheese and meatballs, both of these were SO delicious. I thought these apps tasted even better than our entree, the diavola pizza. Should also mention that the waiter was great! Will definitely be back here again

Extremely overpriced. I asked for a "little bit more aperol" in my aperol spritz because it was very watered down and they charged me $14 extra. The food is good but the service is subpar and the prices are way too high.

I have gone here roughly 10 times since it opened. Never once been disappointed. Time and time again everything I order is excellent. The heirloom tomato salad is MY GO TO!, the pasta is so good, and the pizza is insane honestly. ( and I'm not a pizza girl) If you live near or ever visit, I highly recommend trying the smoked trout mantecato, crudité!!!! But the atmosphere is the cherry on top super cute and staff is kind and attentive.

Absolutely incredible from start to finish. Location has a nyc downtown vibe and has some of the best pizza I've had. This isn't the place for you if you're looking for a big selection of entrees (they have 3 options) however it's a great tapas type bar with amazing drinks and high quality food. I highly recommend giving this location a shot. Pro tip: save room for dessert and walk across the street to Nicholas creamery! Bring cash!

Terrible service. My husband wanted to grab a slice from Strada we haven't been to this establishment since they changed owners. We sat down and ordered one pie just to get something to snack on at the bar. A couple sat down more than 10 minutes after us and got their order before our margarita pie. The place is super pretentious for no reason . Get over yourselves . It's a pizza place.

Great ambience and food. Very cool, upbeat vibe. Hostess is extremely cordial, graceful, and accommodating. I would highly recommend this place. Have been going there often and really enjoying it.

Really enjoyed an impromptu visit to Strada this evening. Was really impressed with dinner. Highly recommend the meatball appetizer and the burrata with balsamic tomatoes and strawberries was exceptional. We split the crispy eggplant pizza and the broccoli rabe, sausage and pepper pizza. Everything was delicious. A real treat. Seems to be a popular place so recommend reservations. It's definitely a energetic crowd and a bit tough to chat, but the food is really worth it. Enjoy!

This place is all about the cocktails and the ambiance! The food looks better then it is but is still good. You have to order bread if you want it with your meatballs or any other app, they don't just bring it so don't forget to order it. The hostess is very professional and accommodating if she's able to. You really do need a reservation.

Ok Strada knows what they're doing. The pizza is so flavorful and that crust is delish. One dish is better after the next. The Brussel sprouts are incredible! My main go to items are the margherita pizza, meatballs appetizer and Brussel sprouts. The staff and owners are so friendly. With that type of hospitality, great food and cocktails, it's hard not to frequent this place.

Was excited to try this cute pizza bar in Atlantic Highlands and I heard good things from others that have been. The ambiance inside was very nice and a good spot for a date night. Meatball appetizer was pretty good, and we got two pizzas which were both good. I would come back for sure!

I really had high hopes for this place because my daughter went there with a friend and all she did was rave about it. So I went to join her. We both had margarita pizza and I added roasted garlic on top of mine. My pizza was so burnt that the basil on my pizza basically broke to the touch. The roasted garlic looked like black olives that's how burnt it was. When I told my waitress she said well that's how it's supposed to come out and I said I don't think so because the crust is really burnt. Ironically my daughters pizza had some burnt crust to hers but not nearly like mine. So what does that say that maybe perhaps the cook left my pizza in just a little bit too long. Most likely Listen this is not my first rodeo I've been to places that use brick oven high-temperature ovens before and I can tell you this they do not come out as burnt as what was served to me tonight. What saddened me the most was that my waitress did absolutely nothing for me when I told her. She didn't take four dollars off for the club soda that I ordered or even a dollar off for the garlic. She just gave me the check and called it a day. And for that alone I'm giving you three stars. It's great that your ambience is nice and you have a cute bar but when a customer says something might be wrong you need to try to fix it or at least inquire you don't just tell them well that's the way it comes out. And trust me I was very kind in my words. I don't know if it was a different cook tonight or if it was an off night for the restaurant but consistency is key. So for that reason I will not be coming back or recommend the pizza. It's not like the pizza is cheap either @ $21 for an overcooked pizza is undesirable and unsatisfactory. As a matter fact, when I brought my leftovers home to my son this is what he said... "You put black olives on your pizza." There you go... That was supposed to be the roasted garlic.

Great vibe delicious pizza Good menu Lots of choices for appetizers And pizzas A full bar

Expensive Artisan pizza, had the Margarita pie, ingredients seem fresh and top shelf, crust tasty. I'm very familiar with this type of quick cooking pizza at high temp, but there's just no reason for the crust to be that burned. It detracts from the great crust flavor and texture and fresh ingredient flavors. Less burned= more satisfied fans.

Went there on a Friday night. Very busy but service was very good, although we felt a bit rushed. Had an old fashioned which was very delicious. Arugula salad was ok but topped with way too much cheese. My wife had tuna, which she enjoyed but didn't finish. I had a bite and it tasted like they put too much pepper on it. She didn't mind. I had the rigatoni vodka sauce. I was told that they had big portions (by our server) but they are not. It was served in a tiny half bowl. When it came out it was luke warm, like it was sitting on the heating lamp for several minutes. The dish itself was very good, just wish it was warmer and a larger portion. Between two drinks, bottle of wine, salad and two entrees it was well over $200, including tip. Also, for some reason that charge a $3 service fee for opening a bottle of wine. And the wine bottle was a screw off! And that doesn't go to the server. It's a restaurant charge. Kinda ridiculous. Never seen that before. Hopefully they add a few more items to the menu. If you don't get pizza, there's really not many other options. I cook often and hardly go out to eat because I'm constantly disappointed. I like going out to eat somewhere that can make something better than I can. That's at least my goal. Strata is most likely a one-and-done for me unfortunately.

I would give zero stars if I could. The owner is NASTY. she's horrible and mean and flat out a b****. Does not know how to treat/talk to customers and I will be reporting her to BBB. The place was dirty and unsanitary and she touched me telling me to leave for no apparent reason other than saying if I don't like my table I can leave. I hope she gets shut down.

I don't think I have ever left a bad review....I was raised if you have nothing good to say don't say anything. But some people need to be called out. The owner/maitre'd might be the worst service person I have ever met....and I have been to hundreds of restaurants. We enjoyed our meal and our $145 bill for a pizza, appetizer and couple of drinks. But the bill had a surcharge because we asked for a few extra Premium Saltine Crackers for our whipped trout. We can overlook the fact that a $22 Whipped trout comes with crackers instead of bread but ok, no problem. They charged extra for 10 crackers, not artisan bread, saltine crackers. When we left I told the host that all was good but I thought charging for crackers in an upscale place was ridiculous. She simply said we have our prices with an attitude like how dare I complain. I won't be back, I hope others will send her a message too...we have a great town with great restaurants and owners....this isn't one of them.

Two stars for the owner/host/greater who has the warmth and hospitality of an ice queen, unless she knows you and then she'll throw her arms around your neck and give you a big, old hug when you walk in the door. It's unfortunate that the ungracious owner put such a bad taste in my mouth because the pizza was actually delicious. The bartender, Anastasia, was fun, engaging and attentive. I won't go into the details of how unfriendly the owner was, but the word around town is that I'm not the only one who finds her off putting. Nonetheless, the restaurant is very busy, even in the dead of winter, and will surely thrive come summer. As a local, I wish them luck, but I won't be back.

We were in Atlantic Highlands for an event at the MovieHoise and we came to Strada to eat after walking around and not seeing any other options. We were both amazingly surprised. Being married to an Italian from Brooklyn and living in the Bronx, our standards for good Italian and pizza is up there. Strada did not disappoint. The Bianca was delicious. My wife had the special with sausage, chilis and broccolini. The chef even made it the shape of a heart. Extra special!!

Amazing place... Staff are all on their game. Great drinks right down to a lime peel with a smoked taste inside your drink. Very professional. Food selection is small but actually nothing short of amazing and quality is the best... pizza is to die for with a nice cabernet or wine of choice. This Place NEVER disappoints probably the best food in Atlantic highlands.. Total GEM!!!

The Bartender And owner were beyond rude .. I get it's a hard business but honestly the manner in which they treated the group of us was unacceptable. I'd be sure to tell anyone who asked to not go there.

My bartender Marykate on last Thursday night was so attentive and friendly! Her cosmos were among the best I've ever had. The diavlo pizza was also great. The other bartend behind the bar was less attentive but equally as nice.