Best Cozy Restaurants in Manalapan

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodPizzeriaOrganic

Regions

MiddlesexMonmouth

Neighborhoods

CranburyEnglishtownFreeholdManalapanMarlboro

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for fine wines

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

10 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. 618

4.9

Exceptional(8051)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Freehold

Booked 75 times today

Top 1% of restaurants in the worldRanked one of the Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States 4 years in a row!*Reservation times are not guaranteed. As a high-volume restaurant we will do our best to accommodate you as close to that time as possible.

2. Cuzin's Clam Bar

4.7

Exceptional(372)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Marlboro

You know what you’re missing around here?A really great seafood place — and a cool place to kick back and enjoy the good life with family and friends.Enter: Cuzin’s Seafood – Clam Bar.Cuzin's Seafood Clam BarOur casual-chic seafood eatery serves up a fresh take on all your favorite fare.Savor the flavor of summer all year round, complete with top service and gorgeous décor that’s part Miami sizzle, part NYC style and all Jersey Shore chill.Whether you’re dining inside or eating al fresco on our outdoor patio, like our name promises, when you’re at Cuzin’s, you’re family.

A photo of Ruocco's on 9 - NJ restaurant

3. Ruocco's on 9 - NJ

4.8

Exceptional(61)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Manalapan

Booked 3 times today

Ruocco's is a family-owned and family-operated establishment with a mission to bring Italian American cuisine to New Jersey. Our menu is inspired by our upbringing in a Brooklyn Italian American household, aiming to evoke a sense of comfort for our patrons through friendly service and an intimate atmosphere. Our recipes have been passed down through generations, and we take pride in using fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared to order. We are dedicated to offering a unique dining experience that combines Old World comfort with a modern touch. Join us for a meal and experience our family's culinary tradition firsthand.

A photo of Osteria Cucina Rustica restaurant

4. Osteria Cucina Rustica

4.6

Exceptional(590)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Marlboro

Booked 6 times today

*Call for reservations*Osteria translated in Italian literally means "a place where the owner hosts his guests." At Osteria Cucina Rustica we follow in that tradition. Life long friends Steven Botta and Angelo Bongiovanni have collaborated to design and recreate an authentic Osteria. A warm atmosphere along with impeccable service and family recipes make for an unparalleled dining experience. We begin with the freshest ingredients of the highest quality all prepared to order using family recipes passed down from generation to generation. The astronomic experience begins with the hospitality from the moment you walk through the iron forged doors. Next is the food where the love is present in each dish. The house made pasta to the freshest seafood to the dry aged steaks and our unique desserts made daily by our pastry chef make our uniqueness discernible. The Bongiovanni and Botta families welcome you to Osteria, where we promise that you will come as a guest and leave as family.

A photo of Nonna's Citi Cucina restaurant

5. Nonna's Citi Cucina

4.8

Exceptional(1303)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Englishtown

Booked 21 times today

Nonna's Citi Cucina is a cozy restaurant, as seen from the reviews. Many guests have praised its beautifully styled/decorated dining area and the warm, friendly service. It's also been noted for its comfortable ambiance, suitable for both casual and dressed-up occasions. The reviews also highlight the restaurant's unique features such as a Tuscan-feel renovated building and a unique mozzarella popcorn appetizer. The reviews also consistently mention the delicious food and the attentive staff.

6. Solo Trattoria

4.8

Exceptional(1018)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Freehold

Booked 4 times today

Solo Trattoria is described as a cozy restaurant with a warm atmosphere and excellent service. Reviewers mention the relaxed environment, the 'homey and welcoming' ambiance, and the 'romantic' setting. It's a perfect spot for couples and dinner parties, as one reviewer stated. The restaurant's unique and delicious dishes add to the coziness, making it a memorable dining experience.

7. Il Nido

4.8

Exceptional(1559)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Marlboro

Booked 12 times today

Il Nido requires a credit card to secure reservations for parties of 6 or more. All credit card information will be processed securely. No shows or cancellations less than 24 hours in advance will be subject to a charge of $25 per person. In an effort to accommodate all guests, table times are predetermined via party size.As of September 1, 2022, Il Nido will no longer allow outside alcohol of any kind into the establishment. It is imperative that all guests abide by the guidelines set in place by the New Jersey Division of Alcohol Beverage Control. We are delighted to be able to now offer you an assortment of artisanal cocktails, beer and very price friendly wine list to enhance your dining experience with us. We appreciate all who have been supporting us since our opening, and all who continue to support us throughout our transition as we become a fully liquor licensed restaurant.If you are unable to make your reservation with us online, please call us at 732-851-6347.

A photo of Dave & Buster's - Freehold restaurant

8. Dave & Buster's - Freehold

3.9

Excellent(9)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Freehold

Booked 3 times today

Each Dave & Buster’s has more state-of-the-art games than ever, more mouth-watering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we’ve got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we’re stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound.

A photo of The Sycamore Grille at Knob Hill Golf Club restaurant

9. The Sycamore Grille at Knob Hill Golf Club

4.5

Awesome(9)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Manalapan

Booked 4 times today

Our Executive Chef's eclectic creations come alive at Knob Hill. Enjoy a relaxed gourmet menu for either lunch or dinner as well as our daily Happy Hour the Sycamore Grille.The Sycamore Grille at Knob Hill Golf Club is open to the public.

A photo of Monroes Sports Tavern restaurant

10. Monroes Sports Tavern

3.8

Excellent(107)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Cocktail Bar • Cranbury

390 Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant offers a true farm-to-table experience with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, hand-selected daily by our Chef. Our Angus-verified steaks, raised humanely on a vegetarian diet, are aged 28+ days for peak flavor and include USDA Choice and Prime cuts.Enjoy house-made pastas, chef-crafted soups, creative appetizers, shareable sides, expertly mixed cocktails, and a Sommelier-curated wine list—all served in our warm, farmhouse-chic setting.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent food excellent atmosphere excellent service.
More info
618Price: Moderate• American• Freehold
•
4.9
R
RichardVIP
New York City •20 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Great food and service. Grandmas rice pudding is a must .
More info
Ruocco's on 9 - NJPrice: Expensive• Italian• Manalapan
•
4.8
L
Larry
New York City •14 reviews
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
Great service, specials was a very long list lots to choose from. Good wine list offerings, great cocktails. Food was amazing, lots of food great ambiance reasonable priced for amount of food offered. Definitely a must go to.
More info
Osteria Cucina RusticaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Marlboro
•
4.6
A
Ann Marie
Atlantic City / South Jersey Shore •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
The food and atmosphere were outstanding! The servers were nice. I can’t wait to go back!
More info
Nonna's Citi CucinaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Englishtown
•
4.8
A
Andres
Scranton / Poconos •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 24, 2025
I went here for dinner and to celebrate my wife’s birthday it was perfect. The people were friendly and helpful that worked there. The staff there was helpful and made me and my wife happy and feel like family. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was very attentive. The food was excellent it was my first time there and the staff made me feel like I was a regular customer. The experience was outstanding and I plan to come back soon with my wife and some of my family as well. Thank you all staff for your hospitality it’s appreciated today!
More info
Cuzin's Clam BarPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Marlboro
•
4.7

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