La Cipollina Ristorante
A Freehold, NJ Restaurant Rating and Review

La Cipollina Ristorante
16 W Main St
Freehold, NJ
(732) 308-3830

Price	Moderate-Expensive
Fare	Italian
Restaurant Rating
Food	1.5 Stars
Service	2.0 Stars
Decor	2.5 Stars
Overall Rating	2.0 Stars

Restaurant Review

This BYOB restaurant, owned by Anthony Braica is located behind the Market Place parking lot in downtown Freehold, is a fine dining Italian restaurant that fails to distinguish itself from a crowd of other mediocre Italian restaurants in the Freehold area.

The decor is attractive with softly lit background lighting, elegant white columns, brick walls, and a mirror at the rear offering a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

While it still has many of the qualities of a fine dining restaurant, in recent years they have not kept pace with some of the newer restaurants that offer creative dishes and fresh ingredients.

The crowd tends to be older, typically in their sixties and seventies and with background music from another era, mainly Frank Sinatra, Louie Prima, Dean Martin, etc.

The beginning of your dining experience starts off in a very elegant manner with a cordial greeting by tuxedo clad servers serving excellent bread along with an accompaniment of olives, small chunks of fresh cheese, and virgin olive oil for dipping.

However, from there the dining experience drops off with a tired menu and a very limited variety of fresh vegetables and ingredients.

They offer a seasonal four course prix fixe menu includes well prepared selections such as Prosciutto di Parma, Black Mission Figs and Fresh Mozzarella; Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Gran Marnier, Dried Winter Fruits and Basmati Rice; and Medallions of Veal Sauteed in Cognac, Holland Roasted Bell Pepper, Fresh Basil and Fontina Cheese.

An Ala carte menu is also available. Popular entrees include; Tilapia with Capers, Olives, Tomato, Shiitake Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic and White Wine; Double Cut Pork Chop stuffed with Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Fresh Basil and Marsala Wine; and Medallions of Filet Mignon with Peppercorn Crust, Brandy Dijon and Spinach.

The desserts are not impressive, suggest the Creme Bulee and stay away from the refrigerated Tiramisu served in a glass.

In the summer months you can choose to dine in their outside Garden Café

This is a good place for couples, or dining with a small group. Kids are not recommended.