Osteria Cucina Rustica, Marlboro, NJ:
A Restaurant Review

Osteria Cucina Rusitca serves a regional Italian menu in an upscale, energetic, rustic Italian setting.

Co-owners Angelo Bongiovanni, and Executive Chef Steven Botta are not newcomers to the restaurant scene. They also run the highly rated Brando’s Citi Cucina in Asbury Park.

Angeloآ Bongiovanni graduated from New York City Technical College with a culinary degree. Steven Botta, grew up in Brooklyn and learned many recipes from his mother.

The Rustic Italian menu features different regions of Italy. Execution, preparation. and ingredient quality varies. While many of the house made pasta red sauce dishes are tasty and well-executed, their seafood dishes are below par compared to other Freehold/Marlboro area Italian restaurants, though accordingly, they are lower priced to reflect lower ingredient quality and less preparation time and effort.

The Italian Vongole clams are prepared with lower quality, little neck clams, compared to many other Monmouth County Italian restaurants. Restaurants serving high quality Italian Vongole clams typically use either the smaller Manila clams, known for their delicate flavor and tender texture, or best of all, Veraci Clams caught off the Adriatic coast of Italy that are prized for their sweet and salty taste.

Similarly. Their Branzini fillets over lentils lacks inspiration and taste. It is prepared and cooked fillet style. Unlike well-executed whole roasted Branzino that cooks the whole fish and is deboned just before serving. This preferred method of cooking preserves the fish’s moisture and flavor, and presents beautifully.

To take it a step further, a few of the neighboring Freehold/Marlboro restaurants go the extra mile by deboning the Branzino tableside before serving.

There is a choice of two menu options: A la carte dining or a chef-tasting menu that can be custom-tailored.

Gluten-free and whole wheat pasta is also available.

Service is " Old World Italian". The wait staff is well-trained, attentive, and friendly. Men waiters are dressed in lab-style white coats.

Desserts are homemade on the premises.

The decor is attractive with a Tuscan-style farmhouse ambiance featuring 100-year-old reclaimed random-width floors from torn-down barns. Uncovered distressed wood tables are set with linen table napkins. The walls are earth-toned stucco with wood beam ceilings.

There are two dining rooms that together can sit 120. One of the rooms is a private wineآ room where diners can enjoy a custom-tailored wine and food-pairing menu.

However, during busy periods the ambient noise can get to a loud pitch. With many tables spaced close together, conversation can be difficult at times.

Other features include the open kitchen with glass walls where you can watch the chefs prepare meals and a chef's table in a cozy part of the restaurant alongside the private wine room.

During the warmer months, there is outdoor dining on the patio.

Osteria Cucina Rusitca is open five days/week for lunch and dinner closed on Monday & Tuesday

(updated: November 2024)