Our Reviews

What a great experience for my 50th birthday. The service was amazing. The warrens were fantastic to work with and the food was out of this world. I would highly recommend Dina's Bistro.

Me and husband, and two close friends went and had an amazing dinner from appetizers to dessert. We had gone many of times to Serenity Cafe and were a little apprehensive to try the restaurant under new ownership. But I have to say we couldn't have been more pleased with the service by our waiter, Garrett and the food was absolutely delicious!! We had surf and turf, sautéed Seabass, calamari, which were cooked to perfection followed by delicious desserts. Then the owner came over and sat with us for awhile. What a really enjoyable night we had. If you get a chance, do yourself a favor and give them a try.

Friday February 24th my wife and I decided to try the new Restaurant Dina's Bistro. Walking in we immediately had a great feel about the place. Such a relaxed atmosphere, clean, made you feel at home. Was greeted by a smiling waitress and a basket filled with hot bread of various kinds which included olive bread. The menu had a great variety and the prices were very reasonable. From the appetizers to the entrees the food was out of this world. I had the scallops with the lobster risotto and my wife had the Mahi-Mahi with a lemon caper rice and spinach. Tremendous! While enjoying a red wine (BYOB) we were enjoying our delish dessert lemon cello! I highly recommend Dina's Bistro! We can't wait to go back!

Loved this place. Atmosphere is warm and inviting. Dina and Richard cater to your every need. And the food was amazing... best mahi mahi I ever had. Wish we lived closer!

just found out about this place....and plan to return soon! this is a family owned restaurant that makes it a priority to give you exceptional service! amazing food with that family vibe....highly recommend!!

This was my 3rd time here and I must say the level of service and food quality is far above anything around this restaurant. Owner Jesse was so nice and helpful. He went way above and beyond for our table. The desserts I must say the deserts were out of this world. You need to check this diamond of a restaurant out. Tonight was prime rib night and must say never ever seen a size cut like they give you here. I will def be back and be a continued patron. They make you really feel at home here.

We had our staff party at Dinas. The food is phenomenal! The homemade meatballs app to die for. The pasta bolognese with ricotta is one of the best dishes. Cant forget about the homemade desserts omg!
This family run restaurant is our goto for all dinners and parties. Thank you to Dina and Jesse for hosting a wonderful evening!

The food and service was absolutely amazing ! The staff is seriously on point never making you wait, extremely knowledgeable, and friendly from the second you sit down to the second you leave. The food was absolutely amazing the effort and love put into every dish cannot be matched, and the deserts were some of the best I've ever had (not to mention home made!) Toms River needed an establishment like this ! So much better then all the high priced chain restaurants. Definitely worth going too just an all around great restaurant and awesome small business.

Myself and 7 of my family members had the pleasure of having dinner at Dina's Bistro. I Felt like I was eating at my grandma's house. The owners and the staff immediately make you feel like family and we all were blown away by how delicious our meals were. The meatballs are phenomenal. We have three or four favorite restaurants we enjoy however Dina's has become number one! Give yourself a treat if you have not been there yet. It is located were serenity cafe used to be . You will surely add this one to your list of favorites! Thank you Dina and Rich for a wonderful dining experience.

Where do I start. Had my wedding dinner here after it was recommend to me by others. I couldn't have been more happier! This family owned restaurant is perfect. Everything is made fresh and taste incredible. Owners care about what customers think go above and beyond. The Waitress service for party was great. Didn't need to ask for a thing they had it covered. They even made an appetizer that I requested that isn't even on the their menu. All my guests could not stop talking about how good the food was and the amount of food they give you is incredible! Can't wait to go back. This will definitely be a go too for me and the new hubby!

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. I am a chef myself and it is so good for a place starting out, portions and flavors are where it needs to be. My only word of advice is either expanding kitchen for pace of appetizers to entrees but nothing was served cold or sub par. Bang bang shrimp was fresh, the buffalo calamari was incredible beyond words. My entree was stuffed shrimp with lobster risotto, huge chunks of lobster and fresh as well. I tried my mothers swordfish special and I almost wished I got that if not both. Dina knows what she's doing. Be patient and it will serve your tastebuds well here. And as a lovely Mother's Day bonus the husband serves each woman at our table with roses, how sweet!

I've lived in the area for years and have dined at most every restaurant. For our anniversary I wanted to try some place new to add to the excitement of the night. Well I owe Google a big shout out, because me search and the posted Google reviews led me to Dina's Bistro.
My favorite restaurants are family operated and you can sense the level of care as soon as you enter. Next, I appreciate nice ambiance. Lastly, if they are a BYOB, even better.
Well Dina's nailed all three!
We even got to meet the family that owns Dina's and all I can say is there commitment to serving great food is obvious.
We tried three apps and they were all terrific. The shrimp, the long hots and a special steak app (see pic) all great.
For entrees we went seafood and my halibut was outstanding, my wife's salmon was equally tasty. Service was spot on and the coolest thing about this BYOB is you can get a wine locker to store your wine for future visits. No need to run to the store!

Surprised my Grandmother with Mother's Day Dinner here!! our food was out of this world with the flavor. Have eaten here many many more times since. Love Dina, Jess & Richie to. Great Family owned business. Feel the love the second you walk through the door.

8 ladies dined together and all of us were beyond impressed. Our server was a delight and every dish was incredible, notably the meatballs, beet salad and seafood special which was red snapper. The pasta was also fantastic. The icing on the cake was meeting the proprietors including Dina and they couldn't have been more lovely. This cozy Italian bistro is a gem and we will definitely be back.

Wow, what a gem! We eat out often and this is by far the best restaurant in the area. Great menu with both authentic, classic dishes and ones with creative touches. While it's Italian cuisine focused their is enough variety to appeal to most any palate. The meatball (with dollop of ricotta), beet and goat cheese salad, clams casino, and the Italian long hot peppers appetizers were wonderful. Similarly the entrees were great with large portions. A little pricey, but a great value as you save money as it is BYOB plus you will leave with lunch or dinner for the next day. Oh and the desserts!

I highly recommend Dina's!

Had dinner here a couple weeks ago and forgot to write a review! One word...AMAZING! From the moment we got there, we had told the women working we had made a reservation for 4 people but ended being 5 people because of a family member who surprised us! When we told the staff, they were extremely nice and told us not to worry and we would be seated soon. The young man who works there, Jesse, was super friendly and brought us to our table in a matter of minutes after talking to us for a couple minutes. He never failed to stop by our table numerous times throughout the night to ensure we didn't need anything or ask how everything was! The food was tremendous from the shrimp appetizer and brussel sprouts to the crab ravioli to even the desserts! Can't say enough good things about this place! Go check it out!

Dina's bistro is a wonderful place to eat. The owners and staff go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect. They always take the time to explain the food or any questions if you have any. The food is AMAZING and always filling. And there's always enough to take home for left overs :)
Dina's is an excellent dinner choice if you are in the area!

Dina's Bistro catered for a family party at our home. I ordered pasta in vodka sauce, chicken parmigiana and chicken francese. Everyone raved about how delicious the food was. The food was delivered on time, hot, set up in the supplied sterno trays and came with real silver utensils instead of plastic ones which is a such a nice touch. We have eaten at Dina's Bistro and the food is wonderful! I am so happy that the food is just as good with their private catering. I highly recommend them to everyone.

We went on a Tuesday for the $25 prix fix. The menu looked somewhat simple but not bad for the price. What we got? Some of the best food I have had this summer. The deal comes with a soup/salad, selection of entree, and "dessert.". I don't know if I had a better mushroom soup, ever. My wife had the salad and, though it was the size of a house salad, was very good and the gorgonzola dressing was great. I had the chicken francese because it looked like the most exotic thing on the menu. It was good but it was no where near as good as the shrimp with wild rice. For dessert, we had the selection of apple/caramel cake, a brownie, pistachio cake, and one other I can't remember (no one at the table ordered it). They were amazing.

The rest of the menu was top shelf food like osso bucco, veal, etc. We saw other tables that ordered the regular menu items and, though we didn't taste them, they looked and smelled very good.

Don't be fooled by the strip mall exterior. This is a VERY good restaurant and I am sure we'll be returning the next time we're in town.

AMAZING!!!!! I've been to Dina's Bistro several times with family and friends and it never disappoints. We just recently had a private party there to celebrate my 60th Birthday and it was wonderful! As usual, the food was delicious, and the owners Rich and his wife Dina (Chef) were there throughout to ensure everything went as planned. Service and hospitality at Dina's is also top notch. In fact, they'll do anything you want. They'll even customize the menu for you, even if its not on the restaurant menu. And they can only do that because Dina is a remarkable cook. For my 60th, we had stuffed shrimp, that was filled with 100% crabmeat... No bread filling... it was amazing! The short ribs were also a hit... everyone raved about them and said they were one of the best short ribs they've ever had! Chicken cacio pepe with prosciutto was another tasty dish. The dinner was done family style and the portion sizes were more than generous. So generous were the portions, that they packed them up in 5 trays which we later shared with our friends and relatives. Rich and Dina's son, Jessie was also there. At 7 feet tall, you can't miss him. Perhaps the most mild-mannered 7' guy you'll ever meet. The entire family is always so warm and friendly and they'll do whatever they can to make your dining experience the best it can be. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a terrific dinner experience or party. The best kept secret in all of Toms River. We will definitely be going back here again... and again for sure!

Overall, my dining experience at Dina's family owned restaurant was exceptional. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and friendly welcome from the owners and staff. I have been several times and I am never disappointed! Dina will come out from the kitchen to greet you as well, to make sure your dinner was made to your liking, if not she will insist to make it right.

The menu at Dina's restaurant offered a wide variety of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. I was impressed by the range of choices available, from traditional dishes to more unique and innovative offerings such as berkshire pork chops, this is my go too. It was evident that the ingredients used were of high quality, as each dish was expertly prepared and presented.

For appetizers, I ordered the bang bang shrimp and mussels and was delighted by its freshness and how flavorful each dish was. The portion size was generous, making it a perfect start to the meal.

You have to get the wedge salad with the roasted cherry tomatoes.

Moving on to the main course, I opted for the Berkshire Scarpariello. It was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy It was served with great mashed potatoes , which complemented the chip beautifully. What is great is that Dina will cook what ever you want if she has the ingredients. The bread is fresh baked hot and is so GOOD, especially the olive bread.

To end the meal, I indulged in the chocolate brownie sundae for dessert. The brownie was rich and moist, It was accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which provided a perfect balance of flavors. The dessert was a sweet and decadent finale to an already fantastic dining experience. Dina makes all of her desserts home made.

Throughout the evening, the service at Dina's restaurant was impeccable. The owner Jesse was attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of the meal was enjoyable. They were quick to refill drinks, answer any questions, and provide recommendations.

In terms of value for money, Dina's restaurant exceeded my expectations. Considering the quality of the food, portion sizes, and overall experience, I found the prices to be reasonable and worth every penny.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Dina's restaurant for homemade quality meals.

GO HUNGRY ! Enjoyed every bit of our dinner.
Started with pumpkin Ravioli in veggie sauce and Greek salad that was so satisfying. The owner suggested the shrimp which was done in a spicey Tomato sauce and a bang bang shrimp both were spectacular. Our entree slow cooked pork Ossa boco fall off the bone tender and a huge portion. served with spinach risotto that was fresh spinach leaves in a perfect sauce. The lobster tail was HUGE in a scampi sauce. I have to say the best was being in a restaurant where everyone was so nice and helpful. These days are tough and going out is a luxury for so many its nice when people treat you so nice and welcoming. BYOB so you can enjoy your own drinks. People were having fun just being there singing songs and laughing it was truly the best restaurant experience i had in a long time. Price was fair, service and food were well worth it. Thanx again Dina's Bistro we will be back !

Food is always out of this world. Owners are great people. Food is 100% worth the price. If you were eating this quality in the city, you'd be paying thousands!!!

Judging from the hard work and dedication of the warm and wonderful family, the Warren's, who have recently opened Dina's Bistro in Tom's River, it is only a matter of time before their dream will become the talk of the town, a place where good friends will gather to share a meal and a toast, memories will be made, and relationships will be solidified.

Tuesday's opening night was attended by a large crowd of happy friends, all of whom gathered in celebration of these good people, and all of whom felt honored to participate in the launch of a family's dream.

With Chef Dina Gradone Warren in the kitchen and Richard Warren and Jesse Warren out front, along with a dedicated and pleasant staff, I know that each time I go to Dina's Bistro, the warm and homey atmosphere will bring me back again, and I'll enjoy each meal more than the last.

I can't wait to watch Dina's Bistro and the Warren family, achieve great things! God blesses good people. Stay close...there are alot of blessings coming to Dina's Bistro and the Warrens!

What a hidden gem! I kept hearing rave reviews about this restaurant, but somehow never made it there until last night. Myself and three friends were so impressed and happy with our delicious meals. Every single item we ordered, appetizers, meals and desserts were off the chart. The owners, Dina and her son and Rich were so pleasant. They are running a very old school restaurant where the owners truly care about their customers and make a point to come around and talk to you and make sure that you are satisfied with every part of your meal. look forward to being loyal, steady customers. Btw I ordered the 12 oz lobster tail... melt in your mouth, the beet salad w goat cheese and the homemade cheesecake!

The ambiance here was nice and relaxing for dinner, plenty of room between tables and nice decor. My nephew and got the 2 orders of clams casino they were the best I have had all summer and I have been eating at the jersey shore all summer, it was like they were made to order super fresh, the breadcrumbs were perfect with a little crunch not the lump of wet breadcrumbs from EVERYWHERE else.
Dinner we had the crab stuffed shrimp (6 shrimp)with lobster risotto and the pork osso bucco absolutely delicious, the lobster risotto was more of loose white rice with asparagus not creamy but enough lobster to make up for that.
Lastly but not least the service was very good and she brought the apps and entrees out right on time and was very attentive throughout the meal.. I will definitely be coming back here,prices were right on not out of control at all

Hi Everyone,
First of all do not let the outside of this immensely outstanding Restaurant fool you, I have nothing but the best to say about Dina's considering we live in Downtown Manhattan by Little Italy we have been to all of them including Little Charlie's, Luna's
Del Monico's, Four Seasons and I'm gonna tell you that Dina's beats them all hands down...The Mushroom soup is Spectacular along with The Chicken Franchesè just a delicious experience...
Thank you Dina's Bistro...

We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary with 52 guedts at Dina's Bistro and they did an amazing job!! Family style appetizers. They had a beautiful veggie platter, amazing egg rolls, a light, crispy calamari waiting for our guests when they arrived. Our dinner choices, steak with a mushroom onion demi glaze, stuffed flounder with a sherry seafood cream sauce over lobster and asparagus risotto and their special Bistro Chicken with a parmesean cream sauce were amazing. The portions were so large, everyone was able to take home a portion for the next day! And their olive bread was the best!! Our special cake was served with coffee and tea. The staff was amazing, making sure all of our needs were taken care of. I highly recommend Dina's Bistro for any special occasion that you may have. They will do any menu you request and their prices were so reasonable. Plus Its a BYOB. Visit them for during the week for dinner. You won't be dissapointed!! They are open Tuesday through Saturday and they also accept reservations.

My husband and I love Dina's huge menu on Saturday night. There is something for everyone. Start with homemade bread, the oysters Rockefeller, clams, meatballs or calamari. For dinner, the specials are amazing. Love the seafood paella, blackened scallops over lobster risotto, Chilean Seabass over couscous, mahi-mahi, or surf and turf. So much to choose from you will not be disappointed. New owners, Dina, Richie, & son, Jesse graciously greet each & every guest. Waitstaff, Shannon, Heather, Kim and David are professional, courteous, and gracious. Desserts are phenomenal especially the homemade pistachio gelato!
Open table & it's BYOB.

HUGE shoutout to Jesse and his parents at Dina's Bistro in Tom's River! They truly went above and beyond after hearing little Sal's story about needing open heart surgery. Not only did they make his Baptism perfect with short notice, they did it for a fraction of the price compared to any other location. All this was done with them being unaware ( they still don't know ) that I was fired from my job for not being there a full year and needing to take leave for his surgery.
The food was phenomenal, and I consider myself a "foodie". Please visit for a date night or family dinner and tell them thank you! We surely can't thank them enough.