5.0
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Quality catering
Helpful staff
Ocean Township Wedding Venue
Jersey Shore and more
Service area
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Heather and team were nothing short of fantastic!! She made our vision come to life and made the process super easy! The food was incredible and the staff were all outstanding!! Every need of our large party was met!! All of our family and friends had an unforgettable time and still comments on how great the entire experience was!! Thank you Heather and team for a wonderful experience!! Absolutely recommend for any party or event!
Alissa R.
5.0
Wonderful to work with and wonderful experience from start to finish. Made everything so easy. This is my third time using them.
Bonnie T.
5.0
Deals
Custom discountExpires on 12/31/2026
End of Summer Wedding Special
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OfferExpires on 12/31/2026
Say "I Do" to an Unforgettable Finale
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OfferPermanent
Complimentary Mocktail Station for Showers
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AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Celebrate your wedding at Buona Sera, an affordable ballroom wedding venue at St. George in Ocean Township, New Jersey. Conveniently located in Monmouth County near the Jersey Shore, our venue offers timeless architecture, personalized service, and flexible options for couples planning an elegant, budget-friendly wedding.
Choose from both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, then welcome your guests into our spacious ballroom for a memorable reception. Soft lighting, a stunning foyer, flexible room layouts, and modern amenities create a romantic setting that can be personalized to fit your wedding vision. The ballroom is adorned with glistening chandeliers and intricate architectural details, providing a perfect setting for couples to say “I Do.” Our indoor ceremony option also provides a beautiful, stress-free alternative in any season or weather.
As a BYOB-friendly New Jersey wedding venue, we allow couples to bring their own alcohol and pay a bartender fee. This option can provide greater flexibility and help keep wedding costs manageable.
From our initial consultation to the final guest’s departure, our dedicated team is committed to providing exceptional cuisine and outstanding service for weddings, parties, and corporate events. Couples can enjoy options such as buffet, family-style, or passed hors d’oeuvres. Regardless of whether you are hosting an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, we provide a diverse selection of refined dishes designed to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Savor a tender, flavorful NY strip, succulent French cut chicken breast, or delicate Bronzino with rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes. Each dish is carefully prepared, blending traditional culinary techniques with modern expertise to ensure a dining experience that is as remarkable as your special occasion. Renowned for its authentic Italian dishes with a wide range of menu choices to suit every taste and budget, Buona Sera Catering will make your perfect day a reality.
Whether you are searching for an affordable Jersey Shore wedding venue, an elegant ballroom reception venue, or a Monmouth County wedding venue with indoor and outdoor ceremony options, Buona Sera offers a beautiful setting for your celebration. From your grand entrance to your final dance, our dedicated team will help make your wedding day seamless and unforgettable.
Popular dates fill quickly. Contact us to check availability and schedule a private venue tour.
I am going to check out the PDF’s and make some changes to my auto reply, as well as centralize all of my bookings to include events booked outside the Knot.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Historic Venue
Religious Setting
Church
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Cakes & Desserts
Other Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
2017 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Mike FuscielloManager, Head ChefMike has been putting smiles on people's faces with his passion for food for over 30 years. His vast experience in the restaurant industry, catering and events in particular, make him the ideal person to help make your wedding dreams a reality.
- Heather PohlEvent coordinatorBorn and raised in Monmouth County, NJ, let me leverage my hometown expertise to make your wedding an unforgettable evening your guests will talk about for years to come.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.049 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Bonnie T
Highlighted review.
5.0
9/04/2026
Wonderful to work with and wonderful experience from start to finish. Made everything so easy. This is my third time using them.
Response from Buona Sera on 09/04/2026
Thank you so much Bonnie. It was a pleasure planning and celebrating with you. And thank...
you for repeatedly thinking of Buona Sera for all your family milestones.
Alissa R
5.0
9/04/2026
Heather and team were nothing short of fantastic!! She made our vision come to life and made the process super easy! The food was incredible and the staff were all outstanding!! ...
Every need of our large party was met!! All of our family and friends had an unforgettable time and still comments on how great the entire experience was!! Thank you Heather and team for a wonderful experience!! Absolutely recommend for any party or event!
Any questions?
John C
5.0
6/16/2025
John & Shawn – 8/31/2024
Our wedding at Buona Sera was truly unforgettable. From the moment we booked, their team made us feel like family. The professionalism, attention to detai...
l, and constant communication throughout the entire process gave us complete peace of mind.
On the big day, everything ran flawlessly. The food was phenomenal — our guests still talk about it — and the service was top-tier. The staff went above and beyond to make sure every moment felt special, from cocktail hour to the last dance. The atmosphere was elegant, warm, and filled with love — exactly what we envisioned.
If you’re looking for a venue that genuinely cares and delivers an exceptional experience, Buona Sera is it. We couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you for helping make our day perfect!
Sydney S
5.0
11/04/2020
We reserved Buona Sera for our rehearsal dinner and we have nothing but the best things to say about this restaurant in their staff. Our event was held in the Wine Cellar which was...
just enough room for our party. Our maître d’ Lenny made the evening that much more special. Plus the food was amazing. I would highly recommend either their catering or Restaurant/ event rooms for any event.
Dana M
5.0
2/12/2019
Mike the venue coordinator, the food, and decor everything was amazing!
Caitlin G
5.0
10/24/2018
To say this venue was perfect would be an understatement. The staff we worked with (Mike, Megan, and Ricardo) were the most amazing and patient people you could imagine. My fiance ...
and I booked our date about two years in advance, and in no way was the venue pushy with choices or payments. During the planning process the year of my wedding (2018) I lost my father suddenly and unexpectedly. So now I was planning the biggest event of my life thus far without a key piece of it, and I was devastated. I met with Mike and Megan to explain my issues to them and they could not be anymore sympathetic and kind to me. They treated me as if I was part of their family. The venue itself is perfect, the outside area and inside are pristine. The tables during the reception have plenty of room without feeling crowded. The food was never ending and delicious. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone that wants a beautiful wedding, with amazing food and for their day to be everything they could dream of and more. Thank you Buona Sera Palazzo for everything you did to make my day perfect.!
Roseann W
5.0
9/29/2018
We can't say enough good things about this venue. For a wedding of slightly more than 100 guests, it was absolutely perfect. It is a lovely setting and the staff says "yes" to ...
any reasonable request from lighting, to flowers, to decorations. The guests are still talking about the food. There was lots off it. It was deliciously prepared and presented beautifully. Excellent bar choices. After the wedding cake, there was everything from Italian pastries to ice cream, cookies, gourmet ices and more. Best of all, compared to other venues in the area the Buona Sera Palazzo is much more affordable. RW
Michelle O
5.0
8/01/2018
Mike, Ric and Megan make an amazing team! They answered all my questions throughout the planning process and allowed us to truly make the day ours. Other venues we met with wanted ...
us just to “pick a package” and have that be that, but Mike was able to work with us to make a package that worked well for us! When we did the drop off they went through everything to make sure the day ran smoothly. All of the serving staff was professional and Molly (our helper for the day) was excellent! Thank you for making our wedding reception one that our guests will never forget!
Nick B
3.0
6/26/2018
There were a lot of components to the wedding at the Palazzo that were great (food was plentiful, venue was well laid out) but there were a few misses that made the overall experie...
nce pretty good. After having signed contract 6 months prior we had our final meeting with the event manager to finalize everything a week and a half before the wedding. He didn’t show up and there was a lot of confusion to things we had already discussed and decided upon. He rescheduled for the Wednesday before the wedding which made me sweat hard for the week leading up to to the wedding worried if it would get put together. Wednesday meeting went well but there were some misses at the event.
-we had been promised that there would be trays of signature drink when guests walked in to ensure that guests could immediately have a drink and limit lines at bar
-uplighting was supposed to be silver and was instead a gross pink color
-many guests said they only saw a few different passed apps (5 ish) but we had selected 14 different types
-pasta dishes were supposed to be served at a sautéing station but were instead served in a chafing dish
-big lines during dinner serving
-had been told there would be waffles with ice cream bar
-should have gone over how cake cutting process worked
Overall it was good but not great.
Nick Burns
demi B
5.0
12/03/2017
Mike and Meghan were amazing! Our wedding was perfect and we couldn’t have done it without them. Molly was an outstanding maitre d as well. I highly recommend booking!
Joy G
5.0
9/21/2017
Buona Sera Palazzo is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I first visited this venue last year (2016) a few months after we got engaged. This was the first venue we looked at and we literal...
ly signed the contract the same day. After seeing the space and meeting the staff, we knew we had to have our reception here. Megan and Mike are unbelievable. As a wedding planner myself, I have worked with endless venues, and having great, professional, outgoing staff, is such a priority. Megan and Mike always put mine, and my husbands needs before anything else. Megan corresponded with me at any time of day or night just to make sure I was satisfied. The staff bends over backwards for all of their customers, and the food....OMG it's to die for!!!! All our guests were in food comas, and that was only after cocktail hour. They couldn't believe there was more food coming out. My husband and I went with the Cocktail Reception because having a variety of food was extremely important to us. TRUST ME AND GO WITH THE COCKTAIL RECEPTION!! Your guests will thank you for weeks after the wedding. We got married a month ago (August, 26 2017) and our friends and family are still raving about the food, seriously. I cannot say enough good things about them. I have already referred one of my brides to them and I will continue to do so for days to come! THANK YOU GUYS!!!! xoxo
Greicy d
5.0
8/21/2017
We were married at Buona Sera Palazzo on Saturday, May 27, 2017. It was the best day of our lives. Mike Fusco and Megan Schaffer helped us every step of the way. Their knowledge...
is infinite as is their patience. They made us feel at ease even at our most stressful moments.
For our guests, Mike, Megan and their staff made them feel at home which is exactly what we wanted. They fed them well (the food is amazing!)
Had we ever the opportunity to work with Mike and Megan again we would jump at the chance.
Allison G
5.0
6/16/2017
Just amazing! I got married here on June 3,2017 and it was absolutely beautiful. The food was incredible and the service was like no other. Megan and Mike were truly wonderful, the...
y made everything easy and painless from the very beginning. I can't say enough wonderful things about this venue and their staff!!
Erin S
5.0
6/09/2017
Amazing food and mike and megan took such amazing care of us!! Best decision to have buona sera cater our wedding!
Jennifer F
5.0
5/31/2017
How do I even start?????? Our wedding was May 20th...... you always expect something to not go so right but it was absolutely perfect! The ceremony was set up just beautiful.... a...
nd when the reception started the room was gorgeous! The food exceeded our expectations we knew it would be incredible but it was beyond incredible right down to the wedding cake..... I usually expect wedding cake to be just ok but our was so moist so flavorful I can't even explain it. The Venetian hour!!!!!! Omg couldn't even try everything but it was so delicious I'm still thinking about it! We were a bit concerned having so many people to have the filet mignon and lobster but the lobster tail was cooked perfect and everyone's meat temperatures where exactly what they asked for. We also have a niece with a peanut allergy a friend with a dairy allergy and a vegan..... they took special care of them and they were even impressed on how they were attentive to their needs..... I was grateful no one felt like they weren't getting the best! Now the service ..... Megan and Mike really did treat us like family. Every time something popped in my head they were quick to answer me. Even my crazy questions lol which I'm sure will go down in history lol I'm actually really going to miss them :-( Any future occasions we may have they will most definitely be our first choice!!!!! They were the 1st and last venue we visited and we are so happy we chose our wedding there. Thank you guys so so so so so much 😘Xoxo
Rachel M
5.0
12/23/2016
Amazing staff, most magical wedding!! From the minute my husband and I walked into the venue, we knew this would be the perfect spot for our big day! Mike and Megan were extremely...
accomodating when it came to making appointments. Mike was always just a text away if I had any questions or requests and I knew I would get a response right away. The food tasting was phenomenal! My husband and I thought...WOW, we really love this place and if the food is good, w are sold! The food was better than good and we signed our contract right away! Our guests raved about the food the day of....the food was on point, the service was perfection! If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat and would WITHOUT A DOUBT, pick Mike and his staff at Buona Sera Palazzo. Thank you so much to everyone who made our day the best day ever imaginable!!! You guys ROCK!!!
Megan D
5.0
12/07/2016
I recently had my wedding reception at Buona Sera Palazzo on 11/19/16. It was absolutely magical. Mike and every single member of his staff go out of their way to make you feel...
like you are a part of their family. From the moment I met Mike I knew I was going to book with him. He and his staff made everything so simple and they were all so accommodating! Not to mention the venue is gorgeous and the food is incredible. I am absolutely going to miss every single person I met! I truly loved working with Mike, Andrea, Megan, and Molly. They helped make our day perfect for my husband and I and I cannot thank them all enough. The best decision we ever made was booking with Buona Sera. We love them all so much we even had our rehearsal dinner at Buona Sera in Red Bank. If I had to do my wedding day all over again I would still pick Buona Sera Palazzo!
Janine G
5.0
11/27/2016
We couldn't imagine having our wedding at any other place in the world. Mike and Megan and the rest of the staff were fabulous to work with, had great ideas and many surprises for ...
us. Our guests are still talking about the food and how delicious it was, from the cocktail hour to the viennesse hour. The venue is beautiful and both Mike and Megan made it easy for all of our vendors to carry out exactly what we picked and designed for that night. One month later and not only the bride and groom are still talking about this wedding. Our friends and family told us it was the best wedding they have ever been to and the best food they have ever had at a wedding! We would highly recommend this venue, no need to look anywhere else!
Kaitlyn S
5.0
11/08/2016
We got married on October 15, 2016 & had our reception at Buona Sera Palazzo. Words cannot express how perfect our reception was. Mike & Megan made sure every detail of our day was...
perfect. I cannot say enough about how great the two of them were throughout the entire process. They made planning our reception so simple. Our guests gave us nothing but complaints of how wonderful the evening was. The food & service were above and beyond what we could of ever imagined. Our guests are still raving about the to-go station at the end of the night! I can’t forget about Molly our captain for the night. She was so much fun & made sure Greg & I had everything we needed & most importantly made sure we got to enjoy our food. Whatever we asked for she made sure we had it! Thank you to Mike & the rest of the Buona Sera crew for making our wedding everything we dreamed it would be!
Kaitlyn & Greg Stefaniuk
Marc N
5.0
10/26/2016
October, 1, 2016 was undoubtedly the best day ever. My husband, Marc, and I could not be more pleased with our choice of Buona Sera Palazzo as our wedding venue. Mike and Megan wen...
t above and beyond to make our day perfect. They certainly exceeded our highest expectations! From the first meeting to the actual wedding day, Mike made the planning process easy and enjoyable! He truly cares about making the couple happy. He caters to your every need. Megan was wonderful and accommodating. She made sure we ate every course (even if she had to follow me around! ) and she even helped bustle my dress! Our wedding guests have told us numerous times that our wedding was one of the bests they've ever been to... and we couldn't agree more! Almost a month later and we are still hearing from guests about how great the food and the service were at the Palazzo. We would recommend Buona Sera Palazzo to any and everyone possible! We can't thank Mike and Megan enough for making our wedding day perfect in every way!
Dana and Marc Norton
10-01-16
Response from Buona Sera on 10/28/2016
Marc & Dana
From start to finish you all felt like family! It was an honor to host your sp...
ecial day!
Best Wishes!
Buona Sera Catering
JoAnn M
5.0
10/08/2016
As a Mother of the Bride, I couldn't be happier with this venue. Mike, Megan, and the rest of the staff make you feel comfortable and treat you like you are part of their family. ...
Everything is flawless! From the moment you walk through the door to consider this venue from the moment you exit at the end of the wedding, you are so well taken care of. They are affordable , professional, and accommodating in every way possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BEST DAY EVER!
kayla r
5.0
9/19/2016
Best place to have a wedding. From the very beginning when I met with Mike while venue shopping, I knew this place was different - in a good way. Mike didn't meet with me as some s...
tuffy guy in a suit telling me how my wedding should be. He is laid back and very flexible making sure your wedding is everything that you want it to be. He and Meghan were amazing to work with, making sure our day was perfect and stress free! Our wedding was beautiful and the food is AMAZING. Molly was the staff member taking care of me and my husband and she was the absolute best. She made sure we had everything we needed and was super sweet.
Lisa M
5.0
7/28/2016
We LOVED Buona Sera Palazzo even more than we love Buona Sera! My husband and I just had our wedding reception there; Megan, Mike, and Caitlin exceeded ALL of our expectation! The ...
service was IMPECCABLE, the food was OUTSTANDING, the ambiance was PERFECT!! Not a single detail was missed, not one! We highly recommend Buona Sera Palazzo!
Response from Buona Sera on 07/29/2016
Lisa & John - Getting to know the two of you over the last few months made your day all th...
at more special to us! Your relaxed demeanor and comfort throughout the day was inspiring. We wish you both the best and hope to see you again soon!
Heather D
5.0
7/27/2016
Our wedding reception couldn't have gone any more perfectly and it was all thanks to Mike, Megan, and the rest of the amazing staff at Buona Sera Palazzo. From the very beginning t...
hey made the planning process easy and stress-free. They are flexible, reliable, and accommodating to all of our needs, wants, and even beyond that. They worked with us to make our budget work, communicated through the entire process, and provided much need comfort along the way. We knew we were in good hands throughout the entire process and we weren't disappointed. The food is to die for, the service is impeccable, and the execution of everything was second-to-none. We are still hearing rave reviews about the food from our guests. Buona Sera made me feel like a king and my wife a queen. We got our money's worth and much, much more. I wish we could give them more than 5 stars; they were phenomenal!!!
Absolute perfection!!! better than we could've ever imagined!
Response from Buona Sera on 07/29/2016
Bart & Heather - Congratulations on your big day! Both the two of you and your guests were...
such a blast... You were a pleasure to host!
Anonymous
5.0
7/14/2016
On July 9, 2016, we held both our wedding and reception at Bouna Sera Palazzo. NO words can adequately express the quality, expertise and professionalism from Mike and Meagan to th...
e staff. From the Bride and Groom to each and every guest, all were made to feel like Royalty. They catered to every need whether it be small or large. Mike and Meagan provided that personal touch which removes the stress of the wedding because your dreams come true. Every guest said this was the BEST wedding and reception they had ever attended and will use it as bench mark to gauge future weddings and receptions. Look NO further, Buona Sera Palazzo is the venue to hold your next event.
Response from Buona Sera on 07/14/2016
Richard & Vania
It was an absolute pleasure working with the both of you! We are so happy ...
we could be a part of your special day with your friends and family!
Mike, Megan and the Entire Buona Sera Staff
Anne B
5.0
6/23/2016
I had my wedding at Buona Sera Palazzo on June 18th, 2016. The venue was perfectly sized for my wedding of 150 guests and was beautifully kept. The staff was extremely accommodat...
ing, ensuring I had everything I wanted – from food to service as well as logistics of all external vendors (all of whom the owner provided recommendations for). On the day of, I truly felt that the venue was all mine and the staff was there to cater to me and make sure we had the time of our lives. I have to especially thank Mike, Andrea and Meagan for all they did to make sure my wedding was a dream come true.
Amanda F
5.0
6/16/2016
We can't even imagine our wedding day without Mike and the Buona Sera crew. Megan was absolutely amazing at helping us feel completely calm through out the whole process. Anything ...
I seemed to ask her was met with a "not a problem" and a smile I never once felt like I was being a typical bride instead I felt like I was dealing with family. The day of the wedding we had a problem getting the flowers for the cake, and Megan literally created them out of extra supplies and they looked better than what I had arranged with the florist. Amazing! The whole day went perfect. Our personal waitress Liz was awesome. Every time I thought about going to get a drink she was already asking me what I wanted. She had food ready for me in the bridal suite. We actually ate at our wedding because of her!! Thank you guys!!! You're all amazing. Five star service.
The food: my family is still talking about it. There isn't much else to say other than amazing. We loved every minute. Thank you Mike , Megan , Liz and the rest of the Buona Sera staff for creating the wedding of our dreams.
Anonymous
5.0
6/15/2016
Our names are Abby and Gene we got married on May 14, 2016 at the Buona Sera Palazzo. We can honestly say this venue made our special day become a fairy tale. The staff is extraord...
inary , they are very respectful, helpful, professional, and very kind! I never experienced a staff like this one, they are one in a million! I was a nervous bride, Mike and Meghan took care of everything and calmed me down every step of the way , there are no words to describe the staff here. The Palazzo is a gorgeous place for a any event, but picture perfect for a wedding. Their food is amazing, which our wedding guests are still talking about. The feedback from our guests were more directed to how great and attentive the staff was, how beautiful the Buona Sera Palazzo was , and like we say before how amazing the food was. I would highly recommend the Buona Sera Palazzo. It was better then we ever imagined our wedding to be.
- Love the happy newlyweds
Nicole A
5.0
5/19/2016
My wedding reception was absolutely amazing. Our guests loved every thing. The food, decor, staff and venetian. Mike and Megan were such a pleasure to work with. Choosing the Palaz...
zo was the one part of the planning process I didn't have to worry about. They made sure everything was perfect and all we had to do was enjoy the night. I can't say enough about the food, seriously the best! I'm so happy we choose PALAZZO! Thank you for making our day such a success, I felt like family!
Jamee W
5.0
5/04/2016
We can't say enough about Buona Sera Palazzo... Mike, Megan and the entire staff is absolutely amazing... They are so easy to work with and made time to answer all my questions. W...
e were blown away the minute we walked inside... From the food, to the service, to how perfectly decorated the room was- it was incredible! I didn't even make it to the bridal suite without the staff congratulating me by name. I didn't even sit down before Jen came in with a huge smile, introducing herself and asking what we needed. There was never a second that our drinks were even half empty or we didn't have a plate of delicious food in front of us. The food was unbelievable- I wish I could say we tried everything but there was SO much. As we walked over to table by table, people were raving about the food. We received numerous compliments about every aspect- the food, the staff, the bar, the ambiance, Megan and Mike. Not one person had anything negative to say. Our guests left saying this was the best wedding they have ever been to. Our bridal party left jealous that they did not have their wedding here. We don't think we will ever be able to thank them enough for again making this a night we will never forget.
Megan M
5.0
4/21/2016
I cannot begin to describe what amazing service we had throughout out entire wedding process! Mike, Megan, Rick and staff were absolutely incredible every step of the way. Our wedd...
ing was everything we could ever dream of and more and I owe so much to the staff at Buona Sera Palazzo for help making our dream wedding come to life! The food was just off the charts and our guests are still raving over cocktail hour! The entire night was seamless.. from start to finish you wow'ed our guests and you completely wow'ed us. It was everything we could have imagined and so much more. We thank you all so much for your hard work in helping us have the best night of our lives! Can't wait for another reason to have a party with you guys! :)
Christina M
5.0
11/10/2015
If there were more than 5 stars, I would give the Palazzo more. When you read reviews on this venue, you only hear of amazing things. And as a bride in planning, you probably think...
/wonder, "I hope that happens to me". When you book with the Palazzo, it ABSOLUTELY will! The food, the ambiance, the service, everything about this place was perfect. I can't rave about it enough! Mike, was the best part of our planning process. He was flexible and VERY accommodating. Cannot thank Mike, Andrea, and all the staff enough for our wedding!
Anonymous
5.0
10/28/2015
This venue by far was amazing! My wedding was beautiful and i could not have asked for a better place to have it. Mike Fusciello made every step and planning easy and smooth. The n...
ight of my wedding could have not been more perfect from the moment i stepped through the door til the time i left. The staff was so nice and made everyone feel welcomed, they even went around to the tables and took people's drink orders, which our guests loved! The best part was the food, our guests ranted about the food and our cocktail hour and said that it was one of the best weddings they attended with amazing food! They said their steak was cooked just how they asked! The place is so clean and up to date with the look! I would 100 percent recommend this place to anyone. I was so happy with the service and the people!
Felix R
5.0
9/06/2015
We were blown away with our wedding and it was exactly what we had signed up for: a fantastic venue, five-star food and service beyond compare. It started months earlier when look...
ing for a venue when we met Mike--he made us feel like we were at home and made the process about us. The care he took to help us with every detail was fantastic. The planning process was seamless and he made sure that the same rang true for our vendors.
When the wedding day rolled around, we had no anxiety knowing everything was in Mike's hands. When we showed up to the venue, our smiles couldn't be bigger. The cocktail hour was awesome. As a couple, we met our maitre d', Andrea, who did not miss a beat. She made us feel right at home and was with us every step of the way. We couldn't have asked for anyone better "having our back" on our most special day. She was FANTASTIC!!!
No wedding can be complete without hearing about the food--it can't be beat. From the tasting months before, we knew we found the right venue. On our wedding day, it was beyond expectation. From the cocktail hour to the entrees to the desert, every bite made the cost of the wedding worth it.
There's no better compliment than hearing months after your wedding how much fun the wedding was. And then they go on to rave about the food. And the service. And the gorgeous room set-up.
We can't thank Mike, Andrea and the staff enough for making the wedding day perfect. No detail was small enough to be overlooked, and our worries about planning for our 200 guests were put to rest by Mike.
We highly recommend Buona Sera to anyone looking for a low-stress, perfectly planned and executed reception. We can't say enough about what Mike meant to our wedding day and guiding us through the process.
Danielle G
5.0
8/30/2015
PERFECT WEDDING!! 8/1/2015
Buona Sera Palazzo with Mike at the helm is an awesome combination. By all accounts, we had an exceptional wedding for 180 people. The venue is spect...
acular. It’s new, its beautiful, has a massive chandelier and a large dance floor and it was a great value.
Every single detail of our wedding was perfect. All of our guests were blown away by the food and have not stopped talking about how delicious everything was. My husband is a chef so he is very critical about food and he did not have one single complaint. People were amazed at the variety and amount of food during the cocktail hour. Mike and the entire staff are very friendly and easy to work with. I had several vegetarians, vegans, and guests with gluten allergies and Mike was able to make every single one of them happy.
Mike made every step of the planning process run smoothly. He was always just a phone call, text message, or email away with the answer to any question we could possibly think of. He had so many great ideas and little pieces of advice that I would never have thought of on my own. No questions went unanswered and all our requests were accommodated.
On the day of the wedding, he made sure the bridal party remembered to eat and when he noticed that my husband and I were too excited to eat he packaged up two full dinners for us to take to our hotel. He also made sure to save a handful of pork roll sandwiches from our To Go station for my husband and me. The sandwiches at the end of the wedding were a huge hit and all of our guests loved them!
If you are planning a wedding, you should contact Mike. He was an absolute pleasure to work with and the facility and staff were excellent! Overall, I literally could never have dreamt of a more perfect wedding and I would definitely recommend this venue to any future bride. Thanks, Mike.... fr. Danielle
Alyssa T
5.0
8/29/2015
Five stars are not nearly enough for Mike and his staff at Buona Sera. Mike went above and beyond to make all of my wedding dreams come true. Everything from the food, to the servi...
ce, to the atmosphere was perfect. I didn't really have a "perfect wedding" in mind and Mike was able to take all of my crazy ramblings and shape them into the perfect day that I didn't even know I was thinking about. Looking back, spending money on a wedding planner was not necessary, as Mike handled everything (my bridezilla moments included!) in stride. If there were any glitches or problems on my wedding day, I didn't and still don't know about them. Mike's staff (OMG MEGAN! our own personal waitress?!?) were the best! I don't remember seeing more than one or two of them but I know they were there because the whole night was very neat and clean. Looking at the pictures from the night, there is never a mess on any of the tables and our guests still talk about how nice it was to have a fresh water waiting for them when they took a break from the dance floor. The food and dessert bar were to die for. I had no idea there were that many kinds of desserts! I have, and will always, recommend Buona Sera Palazzo for any event!
Diana B
5.0
7/24/2015
We held our rehearsal dinner upstairs at Buona Sera on 7/17/15. The room was beautiful, and the food was delicious (and abundant). In January, Nick was very helpful with planning, ...
walking us through different menus, making recommendations, and allowing us flexibility with the final guest count up until the day before. Attentive dinner service was provided by Lester, Francine, Javier, and Anthony, and having the private room was great for speeches and hopping around to different tables. Plus, at the end of the night, the wedding party went downstairs for live music! A great night.
nicole k
5.0
6/25/2015
I can not speak highly enough of Big Mike at Buona Sera Palazzo! He was absolutely amazing, super nice, super calm, and outstanding service. I was so pleased with how they operate!...
Everytime I called him, he was so nice and accommodating and just "easy" to talk to. I know he would be super busy but would still make time to respond to emails or phone calls. I was so worried ( like every bride) that everything would be set up how I wanted....Well, let me tell you...He did exactly what I wanted and MORE! He worked above and beyond with his amazing staff to make sure this was the best day of my life! I honestly wouldn't recommend ANY other place for a Wedding. I had several people that go to million dollar events, that came to my wedding and said it was the BEST wedding they had ever been to! To hear that, made my heart happy!!!!! Almost Every single person had personally called me to tell me how AMAZING the food was, the service, the deserts, and just everything they felt in that place. THey said you felt love everywhere you went! To know that my Wedding day made such an impression on people that mean so much to me made me happier than anything!!!! I can't tell you how amazing I felt AFTER the day of my Wedding. There wasn't ONE thing that went wrong! It was all I could have asked for and MORE. I couldn't have done it better myself!I recommend this venue to ANYONE who wants an AMAZING Classy Wedding. It was out of this world! We felt like King and Queen for the day!! We literally felt like Family to them! I would highly, highly recommend this place for your ONCE IN A LIFETIME DAY <3
Katie w
5.0
4/06/2015
I had looked at over 30 venues I am overjoyed that we chose Buona Sera!!! It was the best experience I could hope for. Our guest are still talking about how it was the best food an...
d wonderful service. As a bride I was never told no with any idea I wanted! We wanna get married again just so we can go back there!!!
Anonymous
5.0
11/15/2014
We chose Buona Sera for our caterer. Not only did the food Make our wedding but the service as well. Our wedding was our dream wedding because it ran so smoothly, thank you to Mike...
. Mike has been unbelievable to work with throughout the whole planning. We had multiple guests tell us how amazing the food was, from cocktail to main course. We cannot thank enough, Mike and staff for their perfect service. Flawless night thanks to them!!! We can't wait to visit Mike at Buona Sera!!
Victoria V
5.0
10/28/2014
I don't know where to begin honestly. Mike and team at Buona Sera went over and beyond in helping to create our dream wedding. The venue is absolutely beautiful and the service and...
staff at Buona Sera are impeccable. Not to mention the food was absolutely amazing.
I have to say that working with Mike was the easiest and best part of my wedding planning. I trusted Mike and did not stress one bit about this part of the wedding, which is the biggest part! Mike and the team at Buona Sera truly delivered.
Our guests still cannot stop raving about our wedding and everyone truly had a wonderful time.
Thank you Mike and Buona Sera! Looking forward to spending many more occasions with you all!
We are now lifelong fans!
Valerie B
5.0
10/28/2014
As one guest said to me, our wedding at Buona Sera Palazzo was actually MORE THAN 5 STARS! PREPARE TO BE BLOWN AWAY! My guests can't stop talking about the food and neither can we!...
Before we even booked our wedding, Mike insisted on a tasting which was out of this world. He let us customize every aspect of our wedding but also offered helpful tips along the way. From cocktail hour, to the reception, to our dessert bar and wedding cake, the food was beyond our wildest dreams -- in fact 3! guests told us that their filet mignon was better than the steak at a local upscale steakhouse -- we agreed!
Overall, our wedding was literally beyond our expectations and will have people talking for years to come. The service was impeccable -- Michael, our maitre d, made sure my husband and I had everything we needed throughout the night from before the ceremony to our final goodbyes. Through out the process, someone was available to answer any questions we had and we were treated like family every step of the way.
Besides the incredible food and impeccable service, the venue is jaw dropping and our pictures are stunning! We wish we could do it all over again! Thank you for making our dreams come true!
Cherie M
5.0
10/28/2014
Excellent staff and service. Everything was amazing down to the smallest most important detail. Food was to die for.. I highly recommend this venue and personally guarantee that...
they will make your day everything you have ever dreamed of....
Anonymous
5.0
10/22/2014
My wedding was on 10.10.14 at the Buona Sera Palazzo and it was BY FAR THE ABSOLUTE BEST VENUE EVER!!!!!!! The Palazzo's food, staff, location, design, decorations, bar tenders, m...
anagers, chefs, owner, valet parkers, EVERYTHING was PHENOMINAL ! Our guests have been calling us raving about the Palazzo and how awesome our wedding was!!! And especially EAVING over their food!!!!!! Thank you Mike especially for always being there when I (occasional bridezilla) needed you, and for your help, support, staff, and amazingness throughout our planning process and our entire wedding day!!!! THANK YOU PALAZZO YOUR THE BEST! EVERY BRIDE SHOULD HAVE THEIR WEDDING AT THE BUONA SERA PALAZZO IN OCEAN NJ!!!!!
-Tammy & Anthony DeDonno
Anonymous
5.0
7/17/2014
From start to finish, everyone at the Palazzo went above and beyond to make our day special. Price was great and the place was beautiful and extremely clean. Mike was very flexible...
with the menu choices. Hands down, Palazzo has the most extensive open bar I've ever seen at a wedding. As for the food, it is of the highest quality. We've been to over 15 weddings in the past few years, and the Palazzo's food was by far the best. It is fresh and, unlike most venues, does not taste like it was sitting under a warmer for 30 minutes. I could go on with details for the remaining 3000 characters but I won't. We just want to thank Mike, Lester, and the rest of the staff for making our day perfect. We encourage anyone planning their wedding to sit down with the Mike. You will not be disappointed.
Stacey M
5.0
5/13/2014
We cannot express our gratitude to enough to those at Buona Sera who worked to make our day so perfect! From our first meeting to the last minute of the reception, they made us fe...
el that they cared just as much about our wedding day as we did. The cost was comparable to other venues we had looked at, but the phenomenal customer service we received was of much higher value than the price we paid. Mike and Walter made the planning process a fun and easy, and made sure that everything was tailored to our preferences. They made every moment of the planning feel so personal. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, and the staff surpassed our expectations in decorating the room for us. The cocktail hour was lavish, and their wine cellar served as a breathtaking background for some of our wedding portraits. The staff was professional, attentive, and extremely friendly to our guests. In addition to the service, our guests were thoroughly impressed by the exquisite food and wine served by Buona Sera. The staff also established a positive relationship with my other vendors, who complimented Buona Sera as well. Lester took care of us the entire evening of the wedding, making sure my husband and I had a full glass of wine at all times, making sure transitions during the reception ran smoothly, and even holding the train of my dress when I stepped outside in the rain for some fresh air. The restaurant also assigned servers to specifically attend our “VIP” guests, like our parents and bridal party, throughout the evening. Their efforts even extended beyond our wedding day, as they boxed and held onto our decorations until we were able to pick them up after our brief honeymoon. We are still so humbled by the incredible amount of care that they put into our wedding day. They truly took pride in making us happy and making sure that our guests experienced a night to remember.
Do not waste your time with a typical catering hall! Buona Sera will make you feel like royalty, and our guests are still raving about the reception more than 6 months later. Chris, Mike, Walter, Lester, and the rest of the staff at Buona Sera went above and beyond anything we could have imagined. Our day was perfect because of their efforts, and we look forward to celebrating many more occasions with them over the years to come.
Jamie M
5.0
9/06/2013
Buona Sera gave us the best Italian food, the best quality service and a show stopping venue.
Elissa V
5.0
12/06/2012
My BaBy Shower was 11-11-12. Almost one month after my BaBY ShoWER, guests are still talking about the food! Buona Sera Palazzo is a perfect facility location for my NY & NJ guests...
. The ballroom is elegant. The staff is outstanding. Esp.Lester who went ABove and Beyond for me. He even asked me if I wanted a pillow when I was opening gifts. I wanted family style dining, and guests loved it. I love the fact that guests were able to take as much or as little of the meal choices, and were able to have a taste of everything. The dining staff were polite and attentive. A few guests came late and the staff didn't blink an eye to accommodate them. Lester had my event running smoothly from start to finish. Thank you to Mike F and Chris M for our BabY Shower!! Thank you for the amazing service, staff and of course and amazing Chef!!! I had already recommended this beautiful venue to my sister for her wedding!! My family loves it.
Joan K
5.0
11/04/2012
We had out wedding at Buona Sera Ristorante in Red Bank NJ and it was unbelievable! If there were 10 stars available in the rating it wouldnt be enough! We continue to hear from ou...
r guests that it was the best wedding they've ever been to... Everything was beyond our expectations! The food was out of this world... The guests all thought the cocktail hour was a buffet dinner because it was incredible ... Then when the dinner was served upstairs they were blown away! Nothing was overlooked and the service was unparalled. We were treated like royalty and it extended to our family as well - in ways that I will always be grateful. Thank you to Chris, Mike, Walter, Lester and the wonderful servers and chefs who have become family to us...u gave us a wedding we will never forget!!
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