38 Best Italian Restaurants near Saint Johns

“The food is fantastic. We dined here on two different occasions. The service is perfect, the owner said hello to all the tables. My favorites are mussels appetizer and veal piccata. The only issue would be they don’t allow you switch the pasta for the healthier option“

“I am from ny and this true ny pizza Its the best i have had in Jax True sicilian pizza U will not be disappointed“

“One of the best Happy Hours. Drinks are excellent and 1/2 price appetizers are very good. Wish they would add Fried ravioli. Would be great with their marinara sauce. We had a Thursday "special" meal. It was the best beef stroganoff we have ever had! Should be on the menu, even though it isn't Italian.“

“Even though others are rated well the only place we've liked is Bronx House so far. The pizza is thin and crispy and we like their ready to eat variety for by the slice ordering. We just wish we could order at the counter. We dont need the full-service experience for a couple slices and soda.“

“Perfect!🚀 Must try pastas and wines🍝🍷🍕🌯“

“We have been hoping for a local pizza place we can go to. We live in south Hampton so location wise it’s perfect. Good price and the food is fantastic. Highly recommend.“

“My favorite is the Meat lover pizza, but also, I've tried the Pappardelle Bolognese, and it is out of this world. Great atmosphere and service. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.“

“this Carrabba's location has the best food I have ever had. the manager there, Ray, is an awesome fellow. I recommend going there for lunch and dinner. absolutely the most delicious food and wonderful service“

“I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. As a sicilian girl I can tell you this is authentic delicious italian food all around. The salad, garlic bread, pizza, pasta, and cannoli were all incredible nothing was lacking. They were also so kind and really took care of us while we dined in. Really cute tuscan vibe in the place too. Highly recommend as we will be regulars now.“

“We happened to find Poppy’s on Trip Advisor and boy were we delighted. The atmosphere is authentic, food is exceptional and friendly staff. Would highly recommend.“

“Small piano bar vibes. Absolutely love this spot! Tasty food and drinks and wonderful service!“

“Delicious ❣️Enjoyed every bite❣️“

“We didn't have to wait long...The food was great! Everything was very fresh. Our services was also great. And they have plenty of Employees ♥️.We will be going back soon!“

“Went to Mandola’s yesterday for the first time and had a wonderful experience. Everyone was super friendly. The food was amazing! Branden the manager was very nice and made sure we had everything we needed. We had a piece of the chocolate cake and some gelato which was absolutely delicious! We most definitely will be back very soon!“

“This is by far the best Italian Food I have ever had in Jacksonville.“

“Went tonight first time at new place. Food was even better than old place. If we don't order through Grub Hub will definitely go in person“

“We were starving and grabbed a quick cheese pizza on our way out if a market. We immediately had to come find this page just so we could leave a review. This was one of the tastiest cheese pizzas we’ve had! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“The best Italian food in the Jacksonville area! Friendly and warn service, fantastic atmosphere, and reasonable prices! My family and I will be back!“

“👍Luis took excellent care of us. First time we had been there. Chix Parm was excellent, very large portions. Would definitely return to try the pizza! 🙂“

“love the pizza and calzones. the calzones DO have ricotta cheese. I forgot to take a picture.“

“I absolutely love this place! I come here all the time for all sorts of occasions and am always welcomed by kind staff, served great food, and have an amazing time with friends and family! I adore their mozzarella sticks, tiramisu, and meatballs!“

“I love finding hidden gems, and Jonis Pizza was exactly that.

Susan and I were heading to one of our favorite restaurants, Fionn MacCool's, when we noticed Jonis Pizza tucked away in the same shopping center. Somehow, despite being in the area many times, we had never stopped in. That changed this week, and I am glad it did.

The restaurant is cozy, family-owned, and immediately feels welcoming. The aroma of garlic and fresh Italian cooking hits you as soon as you walk through the door. We started with the Garlic Cheese Bread, which was perfectly toasted and loaded with flavor. We also enjoyed the Fresh Mozzarella Appetizer, featuring fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and pesto that allowed the ingredients to shine.

As someone who grew up in a large Italian family in New York, I take Italian food seriously. When I saw Stuffed Shells on the menu, I knew exactly what I was ordering.

What happened next surprised me.

The Stuffed Shells at Jonis Pizza earned our prestigious Best of the Best Award. The shells were filled with a rich blend of cheeses and topped with a perfectly balanced sauce. The waitress explained that her mother makes them from scratch, and it showed. The dish immediately brought back memories of a favorite Italian restaurant from my childhood in the Bronx. For decades, no stuffed shells had matched those memories. Jonis Pizza finally did.

Susan ordered the Chicken Francese, and it was equally impressive. Tender chicken, perfectly prepared angel hair pasta, and plenty of flavorful lemon sauce made this a standout entrée.

The service was warm, friendly, and personal. You can tell this is a restaurant that takes pride in both its food and its customers.

If you are looking for authentic Italian food, a family-owned restaurant, date-night dining, or simply some of the best homemade Italian comfort food in the area, put Jonis Pizza on your list.

Be sure to check out our photos, especially the award-winning Stuffed Shells.

★★★★☆ 4 Stars

🏆 Best of the Best Award: Stuffed Shells“

“Me and my sister came in late at night, Scott was our server, and all i have to say is that he did an amazing job! Super friendly, great pace throughout the service, and showed up to the table with a smile each time. He anticipated our needs perfectly. GIVE HIM A RAISE!“

“I had there food delivered and was so amazed by not only the quality of the food But to me one of the best in Jax“

“Thanks to our attentive and knowledgeable waiter, Sebastien we had a wonderful experience. The service, drinks and ambience were exemplary, and the food was quite good. The salmon was delicious, but the branzino was slightly overcooked. The dessert was unbelievably delicious! Overall, the flavors were tasty and we will definitely be back.“

“I have been a regular here for a while. I don’t know how to title this review but if I could I would call it, “How not to be a Karen in a Restaurant.”
I come here during the week almost daily to sit at the bar and get work done that I had no time for during my school day. The happy hour prices are also a great bonus!
I come here because the staff is warm and like family, and just as important, the food is awesome and you can tell that the GM Zee takes pride in all aspects of this wonderful spot.
Today I had to take a half day from work and had the opportunity to come in early for lunch. I also must disclose I have extensive hospitality management experience, and that I’m not an entitled human being.
I saw something today that should be on everyone’s DON’T EVER DO THIS list.
I can’t help but pay attention to what’s going on around me. I was at the bar when I noticed a scene starting. 2 women and a child were dining with one of the best servers I’d ever had. Apparently their order was running behind. The server was on top of it and got Zee (The GM) involved. They had ordered an item that takes a long time to cook and an app that should’ve come out faster than it did. Both Zee and the server apologized and offered other items while they waited.
Here’s the WTH Karen part. This woman jumped up and chased the GM down to tell him he was rude. I’m sorry, offering to help is not rude. The man has a game face because he cares. Her entitled self got up and yelled at him in public. I’m embarrassed for her and how our society is devolving. Don’t be a Karen.“

“If you live in Jax and haven’t been to mamas you’re simply just missing out. The pasta, the sauces, the wings, the pizza, the apps…. I can’t stay away I have tried something new every single time and have yet to be let down. I have not had truly good authentic Italian like this since New York!“

“❤weather is nice , excellent service“

“I’ll just put it out there. Renna’s pizza is amazing. We have loved their pizza since… forever. For many years I would literally order pizza on my way home from work every Friday and bring it home to the fam. Then Covid happened and they closed. It was a sad day. But they are back!!! Taking over the old Tijuana Flats store front in the Publix shopping center on Southside and Baymeadows. A great spot! The pizza recipe is the same. Lots of the menu items are the same (I’m looking at you, cannolis). 🙏 The atmosphere needs a little warmth, I think. It seems a bit too bright and sterile. But I’m not noticing too much of the super white walls while I’m scarfing down delicious pizza. Kudos to the manager that night we showed up with a party of 14. He pulled all the available tables together for us so we could sit together, even though they already had another large party there before us. We were going to leave but he quickly accommodated us. They were very kind and had great service. I don’t know if my wallet or waistline can afford pizza every Friday night like the old days, but we are thrilled to have Renna’s back in the ‘hood.
Welcome back! We hope you have lots of success and stick around for a long time!“

“OMG the food is awesome! Chicken parm is spot on. Had a specialty taco pizza made. Corey knocked it out of the park!! Green Cove Springs, with this restaurant you are officially on the map!“

“LOVE VINOS!!!!!! Baymeadows location is the very best!! Omar is THE MAN !! They truly treat their guests like family and the food is top notch :) recommend their lemon pepper wings“

“Our family had a huge pizza order. And Shawn made sure everything was right. He double checked everything before I even left the store!“

“I love the chicken it was so good. it was my first time here my dad took me. I got chicken wings. My mom got the lasagna. It was delicious and they’re powdered donuts with the raspberry sauce. It was really good dessert The waiter was extremely nice to give us dessert a 9 year old made this lol“

“Been coming here for years. Great pizza, very good crust and sauce. Delicious“

“I eat here at least once a week. This place is absolutely amazing, and everyone on staff is friendly and patient. Love this place!“

“Kingston at Marco’s Pizza in Jacksonville, Florida, deserves to be studied by NASA, the military, and every major world religion.

I walked into this establishment expecting pizza. I walked out a fundamentally altered man.

Kingston didn’t just provide customer service. He looked into my soul, recognized the hungry warrior within, and proceeded to deliver an experience so immaculate that I briefly considered naming my firstborn after him. The man moves with the precision of a Navy SEAL, the charisma of a youth pastor at summer camp, and the raw, unfiltered excellence of a bald eagle that just found out America won.

I have seen less dedication from surgeons performing open-heart surgery. I have witnessed less leadership from Fortune 500 CEOs. Somewhere, a Michelin-star chef is crying into his risotto because he knows he will never possess even 3% of Kingston’s natural-born greatness.

The pizza was fantastic, but let’s be honest: I would’ve paid $47 for a single breadstick if Kingston had handed it to me with that level of professionalism.

I don’t know what they’re paying this man, but it’s not enough. Give him a raise. Give him stock options. Give him the keys to Jacksonville. Put his face on the $20 bill. Make him the Secretary of Pizza. I want Kingston negotiating world peace while holding a large pepperoni and saying, “Your total is $18.63.”

If Kingston told me the moon was made of garlic butter, I’d grab a spoon and start climbing.

Marco’s Pizza didn’t hire an employee. They accidentally recruited a once-in-a-generation phenomenon.

Kingston, if you ever run for president, my entire household is voting for you. I will campaign door to door. I will knock on strangers’ doors at 6 a.m. I will stand in the rain holding a sign that says KINGSTON 2028.

Five stars because six stars would be mathematically irresponsible, and seven would probably cause a tear in the space-time continuum.

God bless Kingston. God bless Marco’s Pizza. God bless the beautiful city of Jacksonville, Florida.

I came for pizza. I left a believer“

“On a whim we decided to get Pizza for dinner. We easily placed our order, redeemed some points for extra items. Within minutes of placing the order, the store called to let us know they were out of mushrooms. They agreed to some substitutions without additional charges, in went the order. Within about 20 minutes we get a call from Holly, the delivery specialist, with Door Dash. Holly called to confirm the address (of the resort we're staying at) and as I went outside to meet them, they were almost at the door already! I gave Holly an extra tip for their efforts. Overall, loved the food and delivery service, we will most definitely order from this location again in the future!!“