Catherine Lombardi

  4.4 – 567 reviews   • Italian restaurant

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Upscale Italian restaurant with authentic Brooklyn – Italian fare served in a cozy dining room with two fireplaces & a lively bar in New Brunswick, NJ. Our knowledgeable and attentive staff can craft delicious classic cocktails and help you select the ideal wine from our extensive wine list. Perfect for date night, business gathering, private party or wedding. Awards: Best Italian, Best Desserts, Most Romantic, Best Bar Scene; Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.

Upscale Italian restaurant with homey fare & 2 fireplaces plus a cozy red interior & lively bar.

✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out Catherine Lombardi 08901

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Reviews

Robert Naccarella
I’ve lived within a very short drive of this restaurant for decades and have been to many of the restaurants in New Brunswick but never here. Well, I just found out what I’ve been missing. Everything about Catherine Lombardi’s is top notch – atmosphere, service, food, drinks! Highly recommend coming here. And during the holiday season it’s particularly well decorated. Had one of their Christmas holiday special drinks which was amazing and their lasagna was one of the best I’ve ever had. Thoroughly enjoyed everything about our dinner here!
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Angela Novak
Catherine Lombardi’s went above and beyond to make my mom’s 60th birthday so special. From the moment we walked in, everything felt warm, festive, and welcoming — the Christmas décor was beautiful and instantly put us in the holiday spirit. Their Miracle on George St. pop-up was absolutely amazing and added such a fun, festive touch to the night!

The service was exceptional — the staff truly made us feel cared for and went out of their way to make the evening memorable. The food was incredible, especially the wagyu seared on the Himalayan salt block, which was the highlight of the meal! Every dish and cocktail was crafted perfectly.

Thank you to the entire team at Catherine Lombardi’s for creating such a wonderful experience. We’ll be talking about this celebration for years to come!
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Jessica Faith
What a treat!

My first time there and was definitely taken back by this delightful, unsuspecting restaurant. The ambiance was top notch, Marcus our waiter was so attentive, the food was outstanding and of course Francis and Mark the owners were so genuine and welcoming.

Can’t wait to return again when in the area.
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Gina Petrone
I’ve worked over a decade in restaurants, and I rarely leave reviews, but this place deserves every star and more. We started with the house made burrata, which was simply incredible! paired with crisp crostini and an arugula salad that had this balsamic glazed raisin touch I’m still thinking about. We also ordered the prosciutto di parma, which came with cheeses and those same balsamic glazed morsels. Portions were hearty, and prices reflect the quality. For drinks, we had the spiced cosmo and Moscow mules, balanced and perfectly crafted. My husband’s gnocchi was creamy and just right, while my black truffle pasta was so flavorful I couldn’t leave a single bite behind. For dessert, the homemade cookies were delightful, and though I don’t usually eat crème brûlée, theirs, with what tasted like real Madagascar vanilla had us finishing the whole thing. The surprise limoncello was smoother and sweeter than we expected, a lovely finish. Beyond the food, service was flawless!!! water refilled instantly, napkins replaced, and we even met one of the owners. This was a truly special dining experience five stars, easily!
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Kristen Duska
This restaurant offers a truly memorable dining experience. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere gives off a cozy and warm tone. It’s elegant without feeling pretentious. As for the food, it’s delicious. Service is professional and attentive, adding to the overall experience. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to enjoy a great meal in a beautiful setting, this place delivers on all fronts.
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Siegfried Tsai
The atmosphere here is nice and relaxing. The staffs here are friendly and helpful. The dishes are delicious but a little bit salty. The place is convenient. The provide a very wide range of wine, some of them sold by glass. Overall, nice restaurant at the center of New Brunswick.
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M K
My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful time and we cannot recommend it more highly!
We came the year prior after my wife’s alumnae event at Douglass College and we planned the whole year to return. What an absolutely pleasant surprise when we came back and Chris at the bar and the GM both recognized us and welcomed us back – that is phenomenal service (and great memories).
The atmosphere is so festive and involved, while maintaining elegance and a classic dining feeling. The room itself (upstairs) is both open so you can see everything (including the 2 fireplaces) but it also is setup to let you feel cozy and uncrowded.
The service – as already noted – is top-notch. We never waited long for anything, the staff was cheerful, helpful, and attentive and never felt pushy. They even ask ahead of time if you have any time constraints (given that it is next door to the State Theatre).
The food is excellent. The flatiron steak was juicy and tender, and the heated Himalayan salt block allowed us to adjust the temperature to our desire. I literally waited an entire year for the roast beef sandwich and it was even better the second time around – I don’t think I can wait another year to get it again!
Overall it was the quintessential Christmas dinner. Festive, lively, elegant, and opulent without being “stuffy” or pretentious. We were relaxed, happy, and filled with the Christmas spirit as well as with wonderful food and drink.
We most certainly will be back!
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Rose Walsh
Went here while visiting my son at Rutgers. We got the fall salad and the homemade burrata. Both were absolutely delicious. For dinners we got the lasagna and the eggplant parm. My son loved the lasagna and my eggplant was perfectly sliced and cooked. It was so delicate and delicious. For desert we had the house made limoncello (I highly recommend), the cheesecake with berries and the pumpkin bread pudding. The waitstaff was friendly, professional and perfectly timed our entire dining experience. A truly delightful experience. I would recommend making a reservation. It is right next to the theater and it gets busy. You can make one right in their website.
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rmwbear
This place was not just all decorated for Christmas and serving drinks in Christmas mugs, but the service and the food was just amazing. I had the lamb oso-bucco and it was one of those meals you just had to say mmm to after every bite. It was worth the price for all things. We will definitely make this our special date night place.
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CindyJC
Okay, let me start by saying: Catherine Lombardi’s in New Brunswick is a must-visit if you love amazing food, impeccable service, and a dining experience so good, you’ll be trying to figure out how to sneak into the kitchen mid-meal. We were treated like royalty the moment we walked in—seriously, we had a server checking on us so often I started to wonder if she had a rubber band attached to us, ready to spring into action at the slightest glance.

The holiday decorations were absolutely adorable, with enough festive flair to make you feel like you’re dining in a cozy winter wonderland. But the real magic? The food, of course.

Let’s talk drinks first. Fun, delicious, and a little bit fancy—just the way I like them. You could almost taste the joy in each sip, and let me tell you, the happiness wasn’t just from the alcohol (but that definitely helped).

Now, onto the seafood salad. If you’ve ever had a seafood salad that made you want to call your mom and say, “Forget everything you know, this is the new benchmark for delicious,” then you understand the vibe. Best. Seafood. Salad. Ever. No contest.

For the main course, you get to choose between steak or Italian. We were feeling extra adventurous and went with the Italian side. My husband ordered the truffle mushroom pasta special, which looked like something you’d see in a food magazine (and he was basically in a state of pure bliss while eating it). I went for the six-cheese cannelloni, and let’s just say I briefly considered ordering another round, but I didn’t want to embarrass myself (didn’t stop me from almost doing it, though).

Then, of course, came the desserts. Oh. My. Goodness. The dessert menu was a literal dream. Tiramisu? Yes, please. Brownie? Why not? But we went with the berries zabaglione and Cookies & Cream Gelato (because, who are we kidding, we’re not made of stone). Both were nothing short of heavenly, and I’m pretty sure I floated out of the restaurant after that.

Bonus: The chocolate chip cookies on the menu were practically screaming my name, and if I didn’t have some self-control, I might have tried to sneak one. (I didn’t… but I really wanted to.)

Lastly, let’s talk about the venue. Yes, we had to eat upstairs (because we’re fancy like that), but don’t worry—there’s an elevator! So, no matter how much pasta you’ve consumed, you can easily get back up the stairs in the most graceful way possible (or, you know, shoot yourself up like a rubber band and pretend you meant to do that).

In conclusion: If you haven’t been to Catherine Lombardi’s, what are you waiting for? The service was impeccable, the food was beyond delicious, and it felt like dining with family (the fun, super-talented, always-there-for-you family). Will we be back? Absolutely. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. 10/10, highly recommend.
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