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!!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

“We loved everything about this restaurant. We had a great table in the window, our server was so knowledgeable and her recommendations were outstanding and the food, the food!! We had a mix of meals, seafood, pasta, special truffle course, and the chocolate cookies. Every single bit was delicious. We will definitely be back - if we can get a coveted table!“

“10/10–same rating I would give Sarma! The mortadella app was fantastic (honestly I didn’t think I liked mortadella but this stuff melted in your mouth!!), and the cappelletti was unlike anything I have had before! The panna cotta was so special (we ordered all three desserts and they all were amazing!)! Everything was great!“

“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.“

“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! :)“

“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.“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good service“

“Amazing food and good service. I will go back.“

“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.“

“We usually come here in the evening, this being our first time here for lunch. We also introduced another couple to the restaurant. They were duly impressed with the service food quality and ambiance which I knew they would be. Everything was perfect. It will NOT be the last time we are here for lunch. Everything was paced to perfection. Thank you Savlatore and staff for a wonderful afternoon.“

“This is a hidden gem! We stopped here randomly while traveling home from Boston. We got zucchini pillows and beet salad for appetizers. They were fabulous and flavorful! For dinner we got gnocchi and chicken parm. Probably the best we have ever had! Delicious and good size portions. We had tiramisu for dessert. It was excellent! Great meal start to finish. Our waitress, the owner's daughter was personable , sweet, efficient and great to talk to. We will DEFINITELY be back!!!!“

“Excellent people exc food great prices!“

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

“Restaurant atmosphere and decor was beautiful, mirorring a true Italian resataurant. All wait staff were extremely kind and attentive, especially Mary Beth. The food was delicious as well, and I highly recommend the Chicken Parm, and house made pastas. We will definitely come back soon!“

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

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“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!“

“Great food, friendly and knowledgeable staff!! Gluten free selection to keep my wife happily fed also which is sometimes hard!!!“

“5 out of 5 stars for Josephine! Dined on a Sunday evening around 6pm without a reservation. Both the food and our server were great and I love that they have martinis on draft. We ordered a chicken Caesar salad, sausage rigatoni, and hot honey/pepperoni pizza. The salad was chilled and crisp, perfect for a hot day and the rigatoni and pizza were both delicious and substantial portions. Looking forward to going back!“

“Fantastic food and staff. Highly recommend!“

“Always amazing food and service!!!“

“Food was good I have had better at Delfinos. The sauce was not as flavorful as I remember and the place has old school charm but looking dated. I will go back but if I had to choose between Amelia's or Delfinos I would choose Amelia's. Just saying. Food as good or a little better. Amelia's is much cleaner too.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“I highly recommend Greg’s restaurant. My best friend from high school Nikki who 41 and I who 41 love to go here . We go frequently. Our favorite. Nikki is in love with the summer picnic salad and literally gets it every single time we go. She knows she likes it so she goes with it kind of like Sheldon on the Big Bang theory. I love this salmon dinner , salmon bowl , grilled chicken dinner , Their veggie burger , the crunchy Chinese chicken salad and both quinoa salads . We went last night and Nikki had piece of strawberry shortcake. It was huge and so good she said . They are noted for their desserts. Bear desserts and meals around! Nikki also loves their clam chowder. Last night dining down in the pub section where we love to go we had the sweetest waitress Britney who said she remembers us cause we go a lot. We’ve had another young lady waitress with glasses couple tones who’s sweet too and a young handsome male waiter who’s awesome too. Greg’s makes best pickles too. Greg’s great place to get a great meal and dessert! We go to the East providence location on Pawtucket Ave.“

“This place is excellent and very happy to have it in my town. Very clean and well organized store at affordable prices. Every product in this store is of high quality.i always get the Sicilian pizza slices and a fresh loaf of Scala bread. The cold cuts and homemade Italian sausage and subs made to order are all excellent. Try the meat sauce . Alfredo’s is a winner“

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

“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!“

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

“This place is amazing. It is a true hidden gem. I highly recommend the Chicken Saltimbocca with the homemade pasta. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back. Also, the homemade tiramisu is excellent. I lived in the neighborhood 15 years ago and used to go there all the time. I recently moved back and it is even more amazing. This place is top notch.“

“ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!! We don't usually order fish and chips from anywhere but a seafood place, but knowing that everything is so good at Fiorella, we took a chance. It was so good, that this order was the second time we had your fish this week! Please keep this on your menu.“

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

“Great service and delicious food“

“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.“

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

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

“I recently hosted a private party at Gran Gusto in Cambridge to celebrate a very special occasion, and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect experience. From start to finish, the staff was incredibly kind, accommodating, and attentive to every detail. As a vegan, I was blown away by how thoughtfully they crafted an entirely plant-based buffet menu just for the event. Every single dish was absolutely delicious—flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. In addition to the vegan fare, the team went above and beyond to provide gluten-free options for a couple of celiac guests, making sure everyone could enjoy the celebration without worry. The warm atmosphere, exceptional service, and mouthwatering food made the evening truly unforgettable. I’m so grateful to the Gran Gusto team for helping make my celebration so special. I highly recommend them for any event—or even just a night out. They’re a gem in Cambridge! The only bad thing? Time flew by way too fast—because everything was so magical and beautiful. ✨“

“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.“

“First time there. Service was excellent. Greated by a friendly hostess. Table was a bit delayed but it was very busy so that was to be expected. Had a quick drink at the bar and was lead up stairs to a nice corner table. Our server upstairs was prompt and friendly. Always on top of our drinks orders. We had the meatballs and mussels to start and they were delicious. For entrees we had the shrimp and scallops risotto and the scallops over parpadelle. I felt the scallops over parpadelle was a little underseasoned but it was still very fresh tasting and well cooked. I took it home added some parm cheese and loved it as a midnight snack! My only complaint would be Opentable said it had free valet parking and we drove around looking for it and couldn't find it. We found a spot nearby and forgot to ask about it while we were there. If they did have it, it wasnt obvious. If they didnt, they should correct open table. We will definitely go back!“

“Very family Friendly as well has a Very Nice Bar-Everything i have had is Superb-Large portion-The bingo on Tuesday is alot of Fun!!“

“The food and service was outstanding. We were greeted by the owner,John Testa, he oversees the whole operation. Huge portions, a well balanced plate (not too heavy on the pasta) the Italian Chop Salad for two can feed four. The waitstaff are friendly and efficient. Looking forward to going back .“