Jersey Boy Frank Sinatra's sweet, heartwarming voice floods your ears as you enter Tutti Bene by Mario. The dimly lit dining room, with hanging Tiffany lamps and 1940s-style tables, takes you back to an era of glamor and organized crime. The crescent-shaped Italian leather booths surrounding the outermost part of the dining room are soft and comfortable. Authentic Italian foods like Penne Vodka, Chicken Saltimbocca, Shrimp Scampi and Veal Parmigiana engulf your sense of smell and make your mouth water. Rich red and white wines imported directly from Italy sing a symphony to your taste buds. This is New Jersey cuisine at its best. Tutti Bene by Mario is the very image of beauty, comfort and Italian cuisine. The walls are painted a dark wine color, with dark brown woodwork adorning the walls and doors. The long, dark brown bar that extends in front of you is hand-carved and highly polished, reflecting your own image, like a mirror. There's a sleek, shiny black piano in perfect opposition to the bar, set on a small stage, enclosed by wooden railings that stand guard on either side of the stairs polished into the same deep cut as the bar. Half-moon Italian leather booths surround the outermost area of the dining room, leaving room for tables, large enough to seat 8-10 people in the center. If you prefer to enjoy your meal al fresco, your hostess will escort you through the double glass doors out onto the veranda. Hand-painted walls surrounding you showcasing the beauty of the Italian wine region. The tables here are small and intimate, set up for a dinner for two. The tables are lit by candlelight and there is a canopy covering the veranda to protect it... amidst paper... and potatoes and you will surely have a happy stomach. All meats are sourced locally to ensure freshness and help stimulate the local economy. Nothing is microwaved, but everything is cooked fresh, when ordered. The service at Mario'sTutti Bene is superb. Your drinks are refilled before you even need to ask. The house specialty drinks are wonderful and inexpensive, perfect if you're looking to spend time at the bar. If you're looking for a weekend hangout, enjoy karaoke every Friday and Saturday night after 7pm. Even if you can't sing, there is usually at least one customer who is sure to make you laugh with their undeniable singing ability. If you're looking for a romantic evening, there's live music from the piano bar on Sundays with a roster of local talent singing music of various period styles. It's a nice way to end the week.
tags