Sicilia Cafe

While it may have recently changed hands, I remain a fan of this quiet, elegant restaurant. Reasonably priced, albeit a limited menu (accent on pasta dishes) and with great service delivered time and time again at this wonderful BYO.
Try the gelato next door that they make, just as they do their pastas.

I had changed my review to one star previously, but just got a message from Unilocal that it was removed (though they would keep up my four star review)…so I will stick to my guns and reupdate my review.
As stated before, upon saying that I wasn’t a fan of their dinner food (though thoroughly enjoyed the gelato and coffee), I was harassed by someone on Unilocal about my review. Unkind words were sent my way. I wasn’t the first person this happened to as I reached out to others on here who gave the restaurant lower ratings. I didn’t appreciate being cursed out.
I will appropriately say this time that it’s not fair to treat people like dirt over an opinion, or get their reviews removed. Honesty is a virtue, live it.
Be warned… you will be harassed over low reviews… or even hace your reviews removed.

Had a great Sunday night dinner here during Red Bank restaurant week. I didn’t notice any sort of loud ambiance music that some other reviewers had noted. My girlfriend and I each went with the prix fix menu so we got to sample a bunch on the menu.
The eggplant parmigiana appetizer was very flavourful and authentic (non-​breaded). For our entrées we enjoyed the Chicken with mushrooms and pink sauce, but the real stand-​out was the spaghetti with tomato pesto and white truffle sauce. We topped off the meal with a slice of Italian style ricotta cheesecake and some fig gelato.
We were very satisfied with our meal across the board. While Red Bank has a number of good Italian restaurants, this one gave me the most flashback to the actual types of food that I ate on a visit to Italy.
From what I gathered from an optional questionnaire card that came with the bill, they have a special «Truffle Menu» on Wednesday evenings (which isn’t mentioned on their website), and they are possibly considering offering cooking classes (which I would love to take).
With all of the dining options in Red Bank I try to always change things up, but this is one restaurant I will definitely be back to.

The food is delicious. I was skeptical after reading some reviews, but the food is fresh and tasty, the music and ambience is great and the dessert choices fantastic (they have gelato in house). We had carbonara and the fried shrimp/​calamari with a side of marinara pasta. The calamari was cooked very well, which is rare to find, although the portions could have been bigger. The carbonara is made the traditional way (no cream) and the taste and portions were perfect. The gelato is also delicious.

Love this place. A byob in downtown Red Bank! Authentic Italian food with incredible homemade gelato to finish off the delicious meal. Had The salmon special and he had penne with sausage. Loved them both.

This is a true Sicilian restaurant and I enjoyed the food, the gelato and the espresso. Being Sicilian I was very surprised to find this place in Red Bank, but it is owned and run by Sicilians and everything is outstanding. Highly recommended!

Joined friends from Sea Bright who chose this restaurant. Was very sceptic all after reading prior reviews. However our friends are rarely off the mark.
Delighted to say we had a wonderful evening. We were greeted warmly and sat in a wonderful seating that had an excellent view out to the plaza and street. We bought our wine at the wine cellar on Monmouth St and proceeded to enjoy along with wonderful fresh bread and olive oil.
We ordered the tagliere appetizer along with roasted vegetables. The tagliere included a variety of cheeses and meats. Our server was charming and very knowledgable about the menu. For entrees we ordered the salmon and Bronzino specials. All four came on a bed of spinach the dishes were prepared to perfection and the portion sizes were just right.
We finished up with wonderful servings of home made gelato. Just as we prepared to leave, the manager offered us a wonderful apéritif to round out the evening. A perfect time with great friends. We will definitely be back.

The best authentic Sicilian food I’ve ever had! Specials are amazing an gelato is a must.

Food is cooked to order and very fresh! Byob with outside seating. I had the chicken franchise with spinach which I typically get at a lot of restaurants. This was by far the best! The owner is super friendly and talks to every customer that walks in the door. Super cool spot and highly recommended!

Great gelato and coffee! Nice staff, looking forward to having dinner there soon.

Considering everything (food, menu, price, service, atmosphere and host), it’s the best restaurant in the red bank area. The food is authentic sicilian (many family and traditional recipes). Owner Vincenzo is friendly, fun and considerate. Greets everyone personally. Love the waiters/​servers. And, as everyone knows, there is no better gelato anywhere.

Went there recently when I was shopping in town – have been meaning to try for a while. Don’t know about the other reviews, but i got the italian wrap and it was delicious! My mom got the pear salad and also loved it. The staff was so nice and courteous and it was a great experience. Nice little eatery for quiet lunch or dinner.- and such a cute dining room. They also have gelato which i’m pretty sure they are the only ones to have in rb!

Visited this ristorante with my family, and we had an amazing time. The owner is present, and is very knowledgeable on all things Italian cuisine. Our senses were heightened by an array of colors from the smooth gelato, auspicious smells of an authentic Italian kitchen, and the warmth of the encompassing Sicilian sunlight.
The pollo alla sorriso with a pink sauce is amazing. My Father had the Eggplant Parmesan, which he orders at every Italian restaurant at least once. This is his new favorite, exclaiming «every bite is an experience.» My Stepmother had the Salmon — grilled so it has a nice crisp to it.
Enjoyed the sound of my fork breaking through a cannoli with ricotta filling on one side, and pistachio on the other. Shared some fresh gelato as well, it’s made in the café.
Go knowing the food is authentic Italian.
You must relax, converse, and enjoy the cultural experience composed at this café.
Buon appetito !

With multiple great Italian restaurants in Red Bank, there is pretty much no reason to ever visit this one. Unfortunately, dinner with my family this past weekend was downright unpleasant.
First of all, the place itself leaves a bit to be desired. Very blah décor with nothing really noteworthy going on. In addition, the music was literally blasting. Nothing like having to yell across the table to have a conversation.
The service was also unfortunate. While our server was friendly, she was very inattentive. When a member of my party asked for more details about a special, she informed him that it was «an Italian pork dish.» Well, yes, if the word pork was in the name of the dish and we are at an Italian restaurant, I gather that to be true. So, not helpful. Service was way too slow, leaving us sitting far too long between ordering, appetizers, entrees, and the check.
The food. Yikes. We ordered a few appetizers. The antipasto was literally some rolled up cold cuts and pickled peppers from a jar. The fried zucchini was super greasy, probably due to the fact that it was spiralized as opposed to cut into wedges. Trying to be different did not work here. The entrees were all around bad. My dish featured marinara, and while I am not Italian myself, I make better sauce at home. A veal dish apparently tasted like «shoe leather» and the bolognese seemed to be nothing more than ground beef in tomato sauce. As for the pasta, no doubt it was from a box, despite the disclaimer on the menu that said the pasta is cooked to order for each dish and it takes time. Yes, cooked to order from a box. I can do that at home.
Overall, there is no reason to visit Sicilia Café again. Go to La Pastaria for authentic Italian food and homemade pasta, or the Front Street Trattoria for a tasty take on Italian classics.