50 Best Italian Restaurants near Needham

“We would like to give a higher rating and hope to in the future but there were several areas that could be improved:

1) My husband and I sat on the patio next to the front door. We used to come here alot when it was Petit Robert. They have done a nice job of changing it from French country bistro to modern upscale Italian, still very cozy. It was a lovely evening but it was disrupted by 2 young boys running in and out of the restaurant yelling the score to some game. They continued to yell up and down the sidewalk and climbed the lamppost. It really ruined the vibe. It was surprising that their parents (inside) nor the staff said anything to them. We could over hear the table next to us also commenting about this raucous behavior.

2. The service, although super friendly was slow. We waited for quite some time to place our order and for the bill. I never got the ice that was requested. Perhaps this is because of thr busy crowd on a Friday night.

3. The majority of our dishes were outstanding. The grilled squid appetizer was the best we have had in awhile. The squid was very tender and went perfectly well with the sliced fennel and lemon vinaigrette. My husband's wagyu dish was also beautifully executed. It was cooked to the perfect medium rare and paired nicely with the garlic sauce. Sides included lightly seasoned crispy fingerling potatoes and broccolini also cooked to perfection. I ordered the house special, lobster in vodka sauce with house made pasta. This was the biggest disappointment when the other dishes were so well delivered. The pasta was over cooked and mushy. The sauce was a bit sweet and there were only a few small pieces of lobster claw meat. This was surprising since the dish was more expensive than the wagyu. When the hostess checked in on us, she was gracious in offering to get us something else. I went with the black truffle wheel since we had seen other tables ordering it and the waitress had said it was her favorite dish there. Indeed it was incredible and did not disappoint! The pasta was not overcooked and the sauce was to die for! I loved it and would come back just for that dish alone!

When the bill came out, we assumed that they would have comped us for the lobster dish since that was what we didn't like and had sent it back despite their offering us to take it home. But instead, they had comped us for the truffle dish ($26), which was just over half of the lobster dish ($44). Seemed like a strange unprofessional practice.

Overall we still loved 3 out of 4 dishes so would still come back. Hopefully there won't be screaming kids and perhaps the wait staff would not be as slow.“

“Spiga is our absolute favorite restaurant!! We've come a dozen times and it is always the best meal! This particular time, I made a reservation for Father's Day but I accidentally booked it for a week prior - the manager was so incredible and could hear the desperation in my voice, so squeezed us in and made it work by his own kindness, even though the restaurant was fully booked. Our waiter was amazing - the service was incredible from beginning to end and our meal was absolutely delicious and so freshly homemade as always! We cannot wait to come back, thank you Spiga!!“

“place has unique food, 1 of a kind pita bread and homemade wraps“

“My family makes it there at least once a month. Best mussels on the planet. Bolognese, risotto, chicken parm, rosemary chicken, Lamb shank, something for everyone. Best friendliest staff ever. BYOB makes it even more fun. Daphne, Shannon, Joe, Angel, Dillon…all the bomb!“

“The Greek chicken wrap was amazing! Mainly takeout, small place with a few tables. Nice, clean pizza joint atmosphere, but much better food. A little pricey, but a good value, especially considering that it's in a pricey area.

Parking: Small, free parking lot.“

“An absolutely fantastic dining experience at Giulia. This is the kind of place that reminds you why great Italian restaurants are so special—thoughtful dishes, incredible flavors, and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and memorable.

Every dish we had was outstanding. The seafood pasta special with seabass and calamari was exceptional—perfectly prepared and packed with flavor. The squash appetizer was another highlight and set the tone for a meal where every course felt carefully crafted and unique. From start to finish, the food was creative, balanced, and simply delicious.

The service matched the quality of the food—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. It’s exactly the kind of experience you hope for when dining at a private Italian restaurant where the focus is clearly on great food and great hospitality.

To cap it all off, the post-meal limoncellos were excellent and the perfect finish to a memorable dinner.

If you enjoy Italian cuisine that’s both authentic and inventive, Giulia is an absolute must-visit.“

“This place is amazing!! The customer service was top notch!!“

“Definitely worth the hype. The food is exceptional. Pizza Bianca with the tomato relish is delicious bite and the bread is so perfect, the pepperoni pizza with hot honey is probably the only thing we ate that you can skip but it's still really good, clams and guanciale is cooked to perfection and the sauce is addicting, the bucatini with chilli anchovy butter is one of my favorite dishes I've had, perfect chew and flavor. The sausage cavatelli was a delicious change of pace again a perfect cook on the pasta, finally the taleggio signature dish, absolutely delicious, if you're going with a group I'd probably get it as a shared plate because it is so so rich. Service was also stellar“

“Great food and great service! I even got gluten free chicken parm and spaghetti which was excellent! They have a wonderful food and drink menu. Our server Jess was was excellent as well. The manager Nick greeted us when we came in and found us a great table by the window. So the bottom line is, this is a great restaurant and I'm so happy we found this little gem! We will be back!“

“I can’t recall the last time our family went out to dinner and we all had such excellent meals like this. The service, the food, the staff, everything was awesome. Marybeth, our server, was outstanding! We absolutely need to come back more often. It was really, truly that good!“

“One of my favorite restaurants in the area for a night out with friends, especially when we are meeting partway between Boston and western suburbs. The food is really delicious, the drinks are great, and the service is attentive. It can get a little loud, but you can definitely still have a conversation. Don’t miss the focaccia and ricotta, but the pizza and pasta are also always outstanding. So are the salads. This place is just really solid.“

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good service“

“Being 100% Italian also the food was amazing! They started us off with real EVOO to dip Our bread in with salt & pepper you can tell the EVOO was straight from Italy. I started with the arancini special which was sausage and saffron sitting in a white creamy sauce that was absolutely delicious. Then it was a toss up on my pasta dish between lobster raviolis and wild mushroom pappardelle I went with the lobster raviolis in a pink sauce. I never finish my food and I ate ever single ravioli. The portion was good enough for me and the proper way to eat a pasta dish so you don’t have left overs or waste. The pink sauce was creamy and delicious (I even dipped my bread in it at the end). Then I went straight for the dessert and ordered affogato (gelato with espresso) wow amazing not too sweet and not too bitter from the espresso perfect blend. Then my friend and I still were not ready to leave so I ordered a espresso martini and again amazing only advice I would give them is shake the martini more to make it foamy And that was my first experience at Gusto’s I give it a 10/10 Oh and the pizza looked really good that will be my next outing.“

“Another wonderful family lunch today! Thank you Chris and the Carlo’s Cucina family. My second visit in three weeks. We’ll definitely be back! My new favorite dining spot on my visits to Allston, from the Cape. 👍🍽️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mark N.“

“Molto bene! The decor was bright & cheerful, with yellows and whites. The owner’s daughter was friendly, fun, upbeat and managed a very busy & very loud restaurant with grace and patience. She was our server. The food was exceptional. I got meatballs (homemade) and spaghetti. I’m a homemade meatball chef at home and these were delicious! My husband’s braised beef and mashed was delicious, too. Looking forward to coming again!“

“Excellent people exc food great prices!“

“Hands down the best in Davis. Don't think twice about going to eat here! 10/10 atmosphere 10/10 staff 10/10 food 10/10 drinks Don't believe me? Go and see for yourselves! :)“

“The best meal- great service- Beautiful atmosphere And warm friendly hostess“

“The woman who waited on me and my family was incredibly kind. We have a wheelchair bound daughter and I just hope the know how come the made us feel plus the food was amazing. Save room for a cappuccino and tiramisu!“

“The delivery is always speedy and the steak tips NEVER disappoint. So good🤤🤤🤤“

“Family style dinner which is nice because you get to try a couple of things. The chicken parm was huge and delicious! I would also recommend the arancini and we also split carbonara which was good but not as standout as the chicken parm. Everyone there was super friendly! We went on a Monday so it was pretty quiet but still a really nice vibe.“

“Excellent high end meal in Waltham. The mushroom souffle is a signature dish with great sauce. The Tuscan kale ceasar salad is likely the best kale salad I have ever had. The chicken schnitzel main is a bomb of flavor. Strong, attentive service from the staff.“

“I have never in my life had a steak cheese & mushroom sandwich as good as Lola’s. We stopped in for a quick dinner Wednesday and I have been thinking (dreaming?) since then about how delicious it was. It’s a bit far for us to come there regularly but I can’t wait to visit again.“

“Fantastic food and staff. Highly recommend!“

“Beautiful interior and food was amazing. The staff and bartenders were very attentive as well.“

“Always amazing food and service!!!“

“I recently photographed a beautiful “Groovy Baby” shower at Delpino Restaurant in Montvale, NJ, and it was such a pleasure! The staff was welcoming, the light in the room was fantastic for photos, and the setup worked perfectly for an intimate family celebration.

The restaurant has a warm, cheerful atmosphere that complements any event theme — from colorful dessert displays to heartfelt family moments, everything looked amazing in this space. The team was attentive and accommodating throughout, making it easy for me to capture natural, candid moments without interruption.

If you’re looking for a cozy, stylish venue for a baby shower, birthday, or family gathering, Delpino is a great choice!“

“Thank you for a nice chicken parm dinner. It was very good and a nice portion. I'll be back!“

“This was our first visit. The restaurant has plenty of natural light, space and free parking in back. Our meals were delicious and the portions are very generous! I especially enjoyed the peach panzanela salad and chicken marsala. The service was on point. We will be back!“

“One of my favorite local Italian restaurants! Their homemade pasta is delicious. Their service is fast and their portions are gigantic!“

“The best beef bolognese I have had in ages! Time to buy more!“

“always excellent food and service!“

“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.“

“Went in for my birthday dinner. Service was great and the food was fantastic. Will definitely be back again.“

“Great service and delicious food“

“Our family came at the recommendation of our oldest daughter. The meal lived up to the hype with a great wine list with many offerings by the glass. Our server poured wine at the table and allowed one of our party to try a different wine before choosing one to have by the glass. A very nice touch. This is a unique menu with great appetizers, pasta, pizza and main entrees and very delicious desserts as well. Our server Edward made great recommendations and was very gregarious. We signed up for the rewards program because we'll certainly be back even though it's about a 35-minute drive from our house. Highly recommended!“

“Excellent food and cocktails! Service was wonderful. The bartender, Bernie, is wonderful! She makes the best Old Fashion I have ever had. It’s a small neighborhood “hole in the wall” vibe. Definitely worth trying.“

“I had a great meal at BE Pasta today for lunch, Chef Fernando was very helpful and friendly and the caprese salad with chicken cutlet that he made me was delicious. It's always nice to find a casual place with great service. Thank you Fernando!“

“Food came out hot and fresh and it was spectacular! Owner was super nicely and grateful“

“My family and I were looking for places to eat before a family friend’s play in Belmont. We decided to stop in and nothing short of amazing! The staff welcomes you when you walk in, super friendly and were very generous. Place was busy which is a good sign and ton of people doing pick up orders. The pizza was very authentic and probably the best I have had in a long time. The hot honey tenders were delicious. I wish we had one close to me, I would be a loyal customer!“

“Adrian was the best service we have had in a long time. Great place ask for him if you want great service. Will be back.“

“Absolutely amazing experience! This is a must try for all.“

“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.“

“Dinner was fantastic!! Order to go…Veal piccata with linguine, Fresh Italian bread and Italian, sparkling….Sanpellegrino orange drink, with a fresh cannoli made to order.
Everything was exceptionally tasty. The VEAL in particular was exceptional.., very tender and cooked to perfection.. Cannoli was freshly made directly in front of you, with a nice firm shell.. portion size was generous. The bread was actually stupendous too!
This establishmen continues to never ever disappoint. Consistently great and reasonably priced.
HIGHLY RECCOMEND!!
Keep up the great work thank you for a delightful meal.“

“On October 2nd, we hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for 35 that opened up to a Welcome Party for 90. The transition in their beautiful event space was seamless, thanks to Joanna and her wonderful staff. Leading up to the events, Joanna answered any question I threw at her. It was especially comforting since I was organizing from Florida. The food at the rehearsal dinner was delicious, chicken parm, salmon, gnocchi. The service, both food and drink was exceptional. We did a prix fixe menu and Joanna created a specific menu for our event. It felt very special. For the welcome party with an open bar, we chose a charcuterie board, fruit platter, meatballs and arancini all served buffet style. High top tables were added to accommodate the additional guests. Again, Joanna and her staff paid attention to every detail. As the hostess, besides wanting great food and service for my guests, it was extremely important that I got to enjoy my son’s wedding festivities. I had the best time not having to worry about a thing. I can’t thank Joanna and her staff enough for making it all happen.“

“Delicious!!! You should, definitely, eat here!“

“Good food, friendly staff, affordable for lunch and catering“

“Fantastic place to hang out to be with friends always a great time and awesome food 😊😊😊“

“Fiorellas should more restaurants and takeout food with more food options. Special in wellsley all mass.“