Bart's - HAZLET

For starters, we had the Sweet Potato Ravioli, which was a savory-sweet homemade delight—absolutely outstanding! We also tried the Mozzarella Caprese, which was an incredibly generous portion of fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and ripe tomatoes over baby greens dressed with a creamy, garlicky balsamic vinaigrette. It was seriously good! For dinner, my husband ordered the Veal Parm with Penne and rated it among his top three best veal dishes. I was a little full from my ravioli appetizer, so I chose the Seared Shrimp in Sesame Ginger sauce as an appetizer, paired with the truly amazing Gorgonzola Salad, which was loaded with apples and walnuts and perfectly dressed. The fifth star was earned for the hospitality from the hostess—who, I later learned, is the Chef Owner's wife—Chef Bart, whom we had the pleasure of meeting after dinner at the bar; and last, but certainly not least, our server Angelina was attentive without being intrusive, always appearing just when our drinks needed refilling. What more could you ask for? We highly recommend a trip to Bart's; we found it well worth the 40-minute drive!

For our main course, Ivanka had scallops with spinach in a lovely, flavorful sauce. I had the Chicken Monte Carlo, and each bite was a delightful explosion of flavor. We concluded our evening with cappuccinos and dessert. The drinks were excellent, and the house wine was of high quality. The pricing was fair given the quality of the food and service. The atmosphere was wonderful, as the restaurant is located in a former church, adding to its unique dining experience. If you're looking for a great meal, I highly recommend Barts—you will love it!

Bart's is situated in the chapel of a charmingly converted church, which lends an appealing character to what might otherwise be a standard dining experience. We've visited several times, and while the food is consistently well-prepared, it lacks a touch of creativity. The wine selection, however, requires considerable improvement, as it is quite limited. The spacious bar area, which could have served as a community gathering room, appears to be an enjoyable spot for casual meetings or after-work drinks. Overall, Bart's is a valuable addition to the Matawan area, serving as a reliable option for a satisfying meal.

First time I ever went there, was invited by a friend who told me that the Karaoke was fantastic there.... which it was. The DJ was lively, fun, and very friendly really makes you feel welcome. But that 's were it ends. I was there with a friend sitting at a booth right by the kitchen I brought a girlfriend with me and we deiced to have dinner we wanted two checks but they said no .... so that was ok . The food was tasty a mac and cheese and my friend had a burger, and a bay breeze. The total bill was 29.00. I was drinking water, as I am dieting and I dont really drink. We were having a lovely time and there were some people who knew my friend and came over to be introduced. They were NOT served by the waitress as they went to the bar for their drinks, but we were all sitting together. All of a sudden the waitress came over and said she was leaving and could we settle the bill. My total was 10.50 and the my girlfriend was 17 and change. I got up and total the waitress to put 12.00 on my credit card and my friend gave me a 20 cash. The waitress charged my card did the calculator and then gave me the change and I went back to the table. Next thing the owner comes to the table in front of everyone and says I stiffed her waitress. I was like wow no i didnt but she was loud .... She had the bill in her hand and i told her that i wanted to go into the kitchen where the light was better. I had tipped 15 gratuity and my girlfriend gave her 4 dollars on a 17 dollar balance. Obviously the waitress went back to the owner and complained that she didnt like the tip ..... then the owner tells me that the waitress served all of the people who was sitting with us ..... which she didnt they went to the bar She had a problem that we were only drinking water. and wanted the rest of the people to chip in for more of a gratuity???? Outrageous@! I went back to my purse and pulled out 2 dollars more and gave it to her which she threw back at me on the table..... I come to find out that my other friend also gave a tip even though she ate her dinner at the bar and tipped the bar person, but she didnt eat at the table. Last time I checked 15 gratuity is perfectly fine for someone who brought two dinners less than 10 feet from the kitchen to a table right outside the door. WOW how outrageous for the owner to come over and LOUDLY SAY I stiffed the waitress ..... I immediately left and will never ever recommend this place. ..I hear the owner does this all the time to her customer... she writes note on the bill, she confronts people, she tells people that they have to spend a certain amount .... WHO KNEW.... she is very rude and confrontational. I went out to the car with my friend and pulled out the calculator we were right on the mark with the tip. will never recommend

This place is fantastic. I have always had great food and great service every single time. Their ravioli is amazing, but their penne vodka is even better. Literally everything is good here. The ambiance is fantastic too.