Lieto - Oradell

We came here with some friends on Sat. night and the food was just OK. However, the service was better than the food, the staff worked hard to please you. The Ambiance was fine. It is a BYOB so that saves you money on your total bill. Note, there is plently of parking on the side of the building, We started with Fried Calamari with a side of Tomato Sauce the Calamari was good not like rubber, and not overcooked. But, the Chicken Marsala with Wine Mushrooms was tastless the two piecies of chicken were cut too thin, I was looking for the meat? It reminded me of that 1980 's commercial for Windy 's when the women said Where 's The Beef Where 's The Chicken I have had Chicken Marsala in other restaurants were the pieces of chicken had substance to them, these were pathetic looking. We did not have desert, so I cannot comment on that part of the meal. I don 't understand it, our friends eat here all the time, however I am going to suggest to them next time we get together that we all dine at another restaurant because that is the last time we ever plan on eating there again.

I have to mention that the service was a total disaster, likely due to a lack of staff and insufficient training. Apart from the long wait times, the waitstaff barely interacted with us. After taking our order, our waiter didn't speak to us again—no greetings, no check-ins, nothing. When I asked a different waiter about the poor service, he simply shrugged it off, saying, "It's Mother's Day; what do you expect?" This remark made me think that the poor service might be a constant issue rather than just a holiday problem. We witnessed two tables of four leave after waiting excessively, and the staff just stood by and did nothing. One of those tables was right next to ours, and they were looking around for over 20 minutes without any water or attention from a server. There was no manager present, and it seemed that only three staff members were managing the entire restaurant. The waitstaff were even responsible for their own seating, lacking a front desk person, and they were resetting tables upon guests' arrivals, causing further delays. Additionally, they were occupied with managing their own checkouts and doing their own bussing and water service. While we were served bread and butter fairly quickly, that was where the efficient service ended. Water took about ten minutes to arrive after we asked. Our order was taken after a 20-minute wait, and after waiting 45 minutes for our salads, I inquired about them only to be told that salads would come out with our main courses—what? The appetizers were disappointing; the mozzarella was rock hard with no flavor, and the Spiedini was primarily breadcrumbs with little to no meat. The Chicken Parmesan had decent flavor, but the side of pasta was only about the size of a small bread plate. The Chicken Francaise came with just two and a half thin pieces of breast, leaving me wondering where the other half of my order went. The salads were wilted, though the dressing was acceptable. Due to the Mother's Day occasion, we tried to overlook the terrible service and food, but we won't be returning, even though family has recently moved to the area. I do want to commend the few waitstaff for appearing to work hard and staying busy, but it’s clear they lack proper training. I know there’s a Mexican restaurant across the street that consistently receives good reviews for both service and food—definitely consider going there instead.

The penne in vodka sauce was overcooked, and not pleasant at all. I ordered the veal with eggplant, prosciutto, and mozzarella in tomato sauce, but it was extremely dry and overdone. My fiancé had the salmon, which lacked any flavor or seasoning. It was supposed to be served over spinach with garlic and olive oil but ended up as soggy spinach. My brother ordered chicken parm, which was passable—not great, but acceptable. Throughout the meal, the servers seemed to rush us. I would put my fork down, and they'd immediately take my plate away. While I didn’t care for the decor or the food, I tried to make the best of it since I was with family. The only highlight was the warm, fresh Italian bread, which I slathered with butter and paired with plenty of wine!

Make sure to ask about their daily specials because I tried one and it was fantastic! The service was great and the ambiance was inviting. I called a couple of times, and they answered promptly each time, showcasing their professionalism. Overall, it’s a very commendable restaurant. My husband and son polished off everything we ordered! I think they’ve taken previous feedback into account, as they now have a clearly printed event menu that looks impressive. The staff were super friendly and accommodating; even though I had fewer guests than their 50-person minimum, they still allowed me to use the banquet space. I’m so glad I chose this restaurant—it’s absolutely worth it! The prices are reasonable and won’t break the bank. Thank you very much!

The staff at Lieto Italia is attentive and friendly, and the food presentation is commendable. In my opinion, the decor reflects a choice between spending on aesthetics and focusing on quality ingredients. I prefer quality over decor; after all, what does a book cover really matter? It's hard to find a meal that includes soup and salad, an appetizer, a main dish, coffee or tea, and dessert for under $20. This is why I rate the restaurant three stars instead of five. My disappointment stems from being misled about the type of fish served multiple times. This lack of transparency is why we no longer visit, and it seems to deter others as well. A possible solution would be a grand reopening with a focus on serving quality fish instead of the questionable tilapia. Honesty is key, and substituting better fish would go a long way in regaining customers' trust. Also, while they do accept credit cards, there have been frequent claims that the machine is broken. Overall, there's potential here, but certain issues need to be addressed to improve the dining experience.