28 Best Italian Restaurants near Essex

“We were very excited to try the Blue Marlin from reviews we’ve seen. I have to mention our initial reaction was a little sketchy when we first entered and encountered the hostess. She looked at my family (including me, my wife & 2 adult daughters) and asked… “What can I do for you?” with an unwelcoming look on her face we interpreted to mean What are you people doing here? If we weren’t celebrating my wife’s birthday I probably would have left. She brought us to our table, literally threw the menus on the table and said someone would be with us. THANKFULLY, our server came and was super friendly. Everything else went well. The food was pretty good and seemed fresh. We also enjoyed the atmosphere. The only other slight disappointment, though not a big thing, was I mentioned my wife’s birthday to our server but no special recognition was afforded her. Would probably like to return and try it again.Wheelchair accessibility: Felt that interior restaurant tables might be a little too close to allow for easy wheelchair access“

“Service was excellent, bruschetta was great, husband’s chicken parm was great. Unfortunately my lasagna was a skillet full of melted cheese and sauce. Could barely find the lasagna. I’d definitely go back to try something different, just won’t order the lasagna again. Sorry!“

“You will avoid going to chain restaurants after going to The Causeway. The food is fantastic and the kitchen staff are quick with the orders. Get the onion rings and a bowl of their fish or clam chowder.You won't be disappointed.The waitress is amazing ??“

“I have tried salads, subs, multiple pizzas, wings & dinners all were fantastic. Reasonably priced, owner super friendly. Easily best pizza in Beverly as well as Best pizza ever. Meatballs are unbeatable size quality I could go on and on.“

“Great place, great food, great service, great people.“

“Serious about the food and service. A few places get 5 stars for one or the other; Tonno (Gloucester) gets 5 stars ACROSS THE BOARD. Our server Ashly knew the food and wine list well. Joe (GM) came over and livened-up the convo; his passion for the business and especially for making Tonno exceed every customers’ expectations. We had a blast here; Bar Bites were exciting, creative, beautiful and delicious; the Shrimp was unique, crispy and hit all the notes. We ran up and down the menu. Loved every morsel. Will not hesitate driving 40 minutes for this experience and Prezza is on the list next time in the N End, too. Thank you Team Tonno. We’ll see you soon.“

“First timer but certainly the last ! The service was friendly and efficient and the food was excellent! This restaurant is a very good place to visit if you are attending an event at the Cabot , a special occasion or just for the pleasure of it.“

“Absolutely wonderful. I've ordered food from here quite a few times and the family's always enjoyed their pizza and fries. We we coming back from an event and needed food quick- we'd usually go to Brothers for something like that since their stuffs ready and it's better than typical fast food, but they were closing in minutes so we decided to dine in Gallo for our first time. We got seated immediately, they gave us a free little appetizer before giving us some nice bread & oil. Our four dishes came out very quickly and were all delicious. No kids menu but absolutely didn't matter, both kids found different meals they wanted and got good leftovers. Place was clean as a whistle and server was so kind to us. Absolutely will go back more frequently.“

“My mom and I are visiting Marblehead and didn't expect to visit pizza heaven while here! We ordered the Insalata salad (subbed the Parmesan cream dressing) and the Fonduta pizza. WOW! We were blown away. The crust was delicious - crispy on the outside and chewy inside. The toppings were a perfect combo - super savory and aromatic with the truffle oil. We will absolutely be back when we visit next year!“

“Run quickly to Sclafani to try almost anything on their menu. Today's special was the premier of their chopped Itallian (I think that's it's official name). They'd gotten some coverage on a local news show which probably helped fill today's doors, but I've become a regular and they are always busy--but not too busy to have to wait long. The owners are named Rob and Cassandra, both of whom are trained chefs, which means their food is done so well! They bake their freaking bread fresh every single day, and it's wicked good. The chopped sandwich today was so amazing and was way better than some of the ones I've had which seem to dominate reels today. They had some kind of spicy crunchy garlic mayo which was fantastic and didn't overpower the meats. They don't pre-make these or any sandwiches, each made to order, which is so awesomely old-school. Their quality of deli meat and cheese is really exemplary, not grocery store Boar's Head. They have a great, but modestly sized, selection of imported Italian goods including fantastic olive oil, pastas, conservas like anchovies and even caponata! I also urge you to get a made-to-order cannoli, which was absolutely among the best I've ever had. The generous, sweet ricotta filling was thick, but not dense or cloying; we got pistachio and shared one, which was as strategic as slicing a brownie six ways, in the office, to reduce calories. Anyhow, I'm not on the payroll, nor even related, or I'd be there again right now.“

“Scott and his crew are a welcome staff to this place. Had an awesome toasted Italian today with some pizza and a few other items to boot. Great service, clean place, excellent food. Can’t wait to go back!! Good luck Scott, you’re going to kill it!!“

“I was so impressed with my lunch yesterday! I tried Chicken Zitti Broccoli Alfredo pasta dinner and my husband got the Red Passion Salad. We both finished our whole plates and we were so surprised with the short amount of time it took to receive it. The staff was helpful,kind and always with a smile in their faces. Everything was EXELLENT! We will definitely be back! Thank you Ellie's Pizza for the generous portions and for such a familiar atmosphere! ❤️“

“Had an amazing meatball sub today. This is a brand new place just opened about 2 weeks ago. Friendly atmosphere and clean environment. Will definitely be back!“

“We hit all the recommended places our first couple days in marblehead, we continued to search for additional experiences to try. Our last afternoon we found this little place within walking distance (as most places are in marblehead) and reviews seemed good. Luckily they weren't busy so we didn't need a reservation at that time. After entering we were happily surprised by the decor and menu options, yet somehow we were even more surprised by our appetizers and then our entrées. After being told at another place our first night in marblehead that no restaurants served bread pudding, we ordered two when our server told us they had it (and they fresh and delicious). Had we been in town any longer we definitely would have returned to try some other options. We plan to be back in the area in the spring and we'll be making sure we have reservations.“

“Four of us were there last night and had an absolutely fabulous time. As far as attentiveness, at least four servers were constantly checking on us to make sure all was well and that we had everything needed; additionally, great recommendations were made. Also, the owner chatted with us several times.All in all, the food was incredible and prices reasonable. The atmosphere was that of an old Italian restaurant which, in my opinion, made us all feel welcomed. Each of us had different entrees, and all were perfectly executed.Well done!“

“Ordered a quick takeout - Kobe beef burger. Burger cooked right on the mark, tasty with exactly the toppings I asked for. Fries were also fresh and nice. The order was ready exactly at the time they said. Good experience all around! Bonus: they use compostable “

“For the low low price of $22 plus tax, you can get one of the best pizzas on the north shore. Beautifully done 13 inch pizza with sparse toppings of bacon and caramelized onions over a thin blanket of sauce, you get a taste of char that overpowers every bite. And the kicker... no cheese! Just how everyone likes their pizza. Bless short and main for their immaculate service, inviting atmosphere and a quality you really can't get anywhere else.“

“They don’t care about the people working The has the worst people working in the kitchen“

“Thanks so much for an excellent dinner! The pork with gorgonzola cream sauce was recommended by Madison and I'm so happy I followed her suggestion! Perfectly cooked pork with a rich but not to "blue" cream sauce. Plenty of food for dinner plus the leftovers which will be lunch this weekend! My vegetarian wife ordered the leek and mushroom ravioli and she was in heaven too. Lastly if you are a fan of German Hefeweisen beer, grab the Tucher, prob the best authentic Hefe I've ever had!“

“Celebrated a 90th birthday party during off-hours on a Saturday. The folks were awesome to deal with, gave us free rein on the restaurant, served pizza as appetizers and the hot and cold buffet. Food was fabulous, they were so helpful and friendly before and during the party, and would highly recommend! Nice to have a small business so friendly and accommodating for 40+ people!“

“Delicious food, friendly staff, food brought to your table in a timely manor. There were 4 in our party and everyone’s food was perfect! My Dad absolutely loved his dinner and trust me when I say he was not one to be impressed easily. Definitely recommend.“

“I picked this place out ahead of my trip to Salem because of the reviews and it was even better than I expected! I ordered the Forest Mushroom Pizza and I loved it! It really hit the spot after a 2-hour walking tour. My partner got the Margherita Pizza, which he enjoyed as well. Fast and helpful servers, clean bathroom, nicely decorated. It was a nice surprise. I'd love to come here again.“

“Love the food here. Excellent choice for a fine dine. Saturday night hostess's were very welcoming. My waitress was wicked lovely. Blonde hosstess is very sweet. The other hostess with black hair is very kind. Love the boss. Been going here for years.“

“Our neighbor recommended we try Marblehead House of Pizza and suggested we get small pizza's because they're "more crispy." We didn't know what to expect and I'm so excited we ordered. We got 2 small pizza's : pepperoni on one and Buffalo chicken on the other. I'd compare it to a very thin deep dish pizza because you can tell it was cooked in a pan, and brings all the crispy edges and bits you could ever want. We'll definitely order again, the pizza was great!“

“If you're searching for the best pizza in Peabody, MA, Frankie Slice is the perfect place to visit. This restaurant has been voted as the best pizzaera in Massachusetts, and it's worth trying. Not only do they have fantastic pizza, their roast beef sandwiches, chicken parmesan dinner, and meatballs with spaghetti are all mouth-watering. And if you have a sweet tooth, try their ice cream and gelato. I highly recommend visiting "Frankie Slice" - you'll not be disappointed! Try the Shrimp Scampi pizza.“

“Amazing atmosphere and delicious food“

“Local little spot. Obviously family owned. Seems to be a town staple. The steak sub wasn't huge. Definitely smaller than I was expecting, being use to honking footlongers . However after biting into the sandwich, I realized what the deal is. You're paying for the quality. The price wasn't high or anything, I'm just saying that's why the sandwich is smaller. More like a 8-10 inches. The bread was a cut above. Soft, warm,tasty. The steak was of a good quality and flavorful. Nice texture. The cheese was nice and melty. I got a sandwich and chips,took it back to the Airbnb. It traveled well. Was good even after sitting an hour or so.“

“The food was a plus ten. The presentation was beautiful .and the aroma filled the room. To my surprise there was a band that night and it was excellent. I can’t believe that the lead singer was an idol finalists .Rudy Cardenas. So enjoy ed my night. This place is a fun and great night out with friends.I highly recommend it and will be back again. Also fantastic pizza if you want to take out or grab a slice. And so reasonable priced..Vegetarian options: I have food allergies. Especially black pepper. The shrimp was so delicious and fresh which you can tell it was made on the spot.Parking: No problem a big Parkin lot“