Christie's Italian Seafood Grill, Howell, NJ:
A Restaurant Review

Christie's Restaurant, once a highly regarded Western Monmouth County Italian restaurant, has fallen upon challenging times and is struggling to compete with other similar neighborhood, family-owned and operated BYOB restaurants that have kept abreast of trends.

Located In the Howell Center, a strip mall off Route 9, Christie's is owned and operated by Francesco (Frank) Mattioli.

Frank Mattioli emigrated from Italy at a young age and has a record of successfully owning and managing small businesses. Formerly Co-owner and Executive Chef of Trattoria Fraro in Freehold, NJ before assuming control of Christie's Italian Seafood Grill.

Here, you can enjoy preparations of traditional Southern Italian dishes --- at an affordable price.

The menu offers a large variety of selections complemented by several daily specials.

Owner Frank Mattioli oversees the kitchen. Many of the daily specials feature Frank Mattioli's recipes, which are handed down from his mother and family members in Sicily.

However, in the past several years, Mattioli has stepped down as hands-on dining room service operations manager. With this move, the loss of Mattioli’s charm, warmth, and persistent presence throughout the dining rooms, visiting tables and overseeing the wait staff, has been felt.

Service can be inconsistent, mainly due to staff absentees.

The interior is inviting and attractively done in the “Old World” style with soft earth-tone walls adorned with paintings, carpeted floors, and tables set with linen.

However, in January 2024, and perhaps will continue to the end of the 2024 Presidential election, the warmth and atmosphere have been compromised by the addition of a huge political sign adorning a wall in the main dining room.

In these troubling and divided times, with political discourse from political candidates, cable news, and social media sharply dividing friends and family, a restaurant is regarded as a place where friends and family can escape the political hostility to relax and have an enjoyable dinner conversation with a glass of wine.

It's understandable why some patrons might find this to be a cause for concern.

Christie's restaurant is family-friendly, with a children's menu for 12 and under.

Christie's Restaurant is open six days a week: Tuesday through Friday for dinner and Saturday and Sunday for lunch.

There is ample on-site parking.

Though reservations are recommended, there are often tables available at the last minute, even on Saturday evenings.

(updated April 2024)