Buona Vita - Somers Point

The restaurant is essentially a house, which I found charming. I imagine it can get quite loud since the tables are closely packed, but that wasn't the case during my visit. The menu offers a wide variety of options, and I opted for the Linguini Pescatore. I was pleased to find a generous portion of seafood compared to the pasta, and I would definitely order it again. My wife chose the penne vodka with bacon. She enjoyed it but felt it could benefit from the addition of roasted red peppers or some other texture for variety. Overall, she was satisfied and mentioned that we plan to return. The restaurant is BYOB, as stated on their website, and the service was outstanding.

Always delicious, small, and cozy. I also love that it's BYOB! Be sure to try the specials!

Service: Dine-in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $30–50 Food: 2 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 4

After my husband completed the 100-mile MS City to Shore Bike Ride, I wanted to treat him to a nice seafood dinner that was a step up from a typical bar and grill. Since we were staying overnight in Ocean City, the drive to the restaurant was quite short. Parking is quite limited, as the lots were designed before the advent of SUVs, so be prepared for a bit of a walk if your vehicle can't fit in the lot. We were pleased to find that this restaurant is BYOB, which saved us money—our bill was $100 instead of $200. We started our meal with the arugula and pear salad. While the salad was fresh, I felt the fontina cheese should have been shaved parmesan instead of chewy sticks, which detracted from the overall flavor. The fresh bread served at our table, accompanied by a small cruet of olive oil, was a nice touch. When asked if we wanted water, we opted for tap water. For dinner, my husband ordered the Mediterranean Bronzino special, while I chose the Veal Parmigiana. Unfortunately, he was initially served Lobster Ravioli, another special that evening, so he had to get his order switched. This mistake was rectified in about five minutes, suggesting they must have delayed another customer's meal to accommodate him. My veal portion was generous, but the accompanying spaghetti was disappointingly small and unappetizing in appearance. It was also overwhelmed by an excessively bright red sauce (popularly referred to as gravy, depending on where you're from in New Jersey!). I would have preferred angel hair pasta, as regular spaghetti felt a bit too heavy alongside the meat dish. On the other hand, my husband's bronzino, served over broccoli rabe, was cooked perfectly, and he had no complaints. We were too full for dessert, tea, or coffee, so I can’t provide feedback on those items. The dining room decor leaned more towards Early American colonial rather than Italian, which could appeal to an older clientele. Lastly, I would suggest that the waitstaff upgrade their attire to more formal shirts and dress pants, as the black t-shirts felt too casual for the setting.

I can't recommend this place highly enough. The food is absolutely delicious, and the staff is wonderful. Overall ratings: Food: 5, Service: 5, Atmosphere: 5.