Catherine Lombardi Restaurant, New Brunswick, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
Catherine Lombardi
3 Livingston Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ
Catherine Lombardi: Restaurant Highlights
Fare: Southern Italian - with Steakhouse selections
Price: Expensive
Food Quality: A well-executed, creative menu is prepared with fresh, farm-to-table quality ingredients.
Service: Attentive, professional and knowledgeable
Decor: Upscale, romantic --- ideal for celebrating a special occasion.
Overall Rating: 3 Stars
Note: Four-star Rating System from no stars = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: Moderate
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy well prepared traditional Italian food served in decent sized portions with an upscale, vibrant ambiance
Not Recommended For: Budget conscious diners who prefer less pricey traditional Italian dishes with fewer dining amenities
Recommended dishes: When available, The Wild Boar Bolognese with pappardelle pasta; The Squid Ink Spaghetti with Shrimp; and The Osso Bucco with Sautéed spinach, polenta, braising jus.
Liquor: Full service bar service with an exceptional wine list
Catherine Lombardi Restaurant is a popular traditional Italian restaurant with an elegant, romantic ambiance.
Operated by co-owners Francis Schott and Mark Pascal, Catherine Lombardi takes its name from Mark Pascal's grandmother, an Italian American -- by way of Brooklyn
Catherine Lombardi is located on the 2nd floor, above the Stage Left restaurant, accessible by elevator. The decor is elegant and romantic, with large windows providing diners with a view of the New Brunswick theatre district, two gas-powered fireplaces, mood-setting lighting, and rich red walls faced with deep-paneled ivory wainscoting. Massive pillars, topped with gentle lighting, punctuate the dining area.
The menu items are well conceived and consist of quality meats, homemade pastas, grains, cheeses, and chocolates, organic free-range chickens, and local farm-to-table produce.
Dinner guests can also choose items from their sister restaurant, Steak Left, on the bottom floor. Steak Left features a well-executed menu of prime-cut aged beef selections.
The finer touches are all here, from the bottle of high-quality Frantoia extra virgin Sicilian olive oil placed on each table for dipping your well-prepared Italian bread, the fresh Parmesan cheese grated at your table, and the large European-style silverware.
They have an exceptional wine list, offering a good selection of domestic and international wines.
The service is well trained ----- very attentive, professional, and knowledgeable, with an eye toward the details.
Parking is available with validation of up to two hours of parking in the Morris St. Deck New Brunswick Performing Arts Parking Deck is located 6 ft from their front door
Catherine Lombardi is open for dinner six days a week. It is closed on Sundays, except Easter Sunday and other selected Sunday holidays, when it offers a special holiday menu.
(Updated September 2024)
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