Monmouth

Tuzzio’s

Anthony

May 12, 2011

Step into Tuzzio’s for old school red sauce Italian at the Jersey Shore.

Chicken Murphy with Hot Peppers

In Long Branch, a few blocks and across the railroad tracks from the ocean, Tuzzio’s Italian Cuisine features a large bar and a spacious family friendly dining room. The dining room looks like it hasn’t changed much since the 1970s, and neither has the menu. All the Italian-American classics anyone who grew up in Jersey knows well are here: clams casino, hot and cold antipasto, veal piccata, shrimp scampi, manicotti, lasagna, baked ziti and the like. Everything we tasted was decent, and some dishes brought back some good memories. Chicken Murphy with hot peppers is delicious. Try the Artichoke Francaise for something a little different. Portions are large. All the meat dishes come with salad and a side of pasta. Kids won’t go wrong with “Meatball and French Fries” from the children’s menu.

We visited the night before the NJ Marathon with two large families. Tuzzio’s is happy to push a few tables together for a large group. Our waitress, who looked like one of my childhood Italian Great Aunts, smiled, took our order, delivered a few wisecracks, and wished us well in the race. Tuzzio’s feels like family serving family.