50 Best Italian Restaurants near Essex

“Never had anything bad. Best pizza bar none. Well managed by Jason.“

“I can only recommend the cheese steaks here because that's all I ever get but would be willing to bet other things are great too. Quick service polite staff good food .. hard to beat this place IMO.“

“Favorite pizza in MD. I've been going to Pizza John's my whole life. Cheeseburger subs are also pretty good.“

“Thanks Ricardo for your awesome Customer Service and addressing me by my name!“

“Food did not disappoint Staff was very friendly Favorites chicken momos , pizza fries, Greek pizza and gyros. I will be back next time I visit Maryland“

“I L❤️VE the suicide wings! The food is always delicious🤗“

“below average pizza. missed order notes. feedback is padded. I know someone who works there.“

“Excelente , la comida muy rica , muy amables estuvieron pendiente de nuestra mesa en todo momento la comida llego rápido y caliente excelente servicio“

“Best dining experience all weekend!“

“We celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday at Sotto Sopra last night and had the best experience! we were met by name at the door! Given prosecco when we arrived at our table! Had a delicious 3 course meal. And then dessert with sparkler! The atmosphere was amazing - beautiful decor, clean, perfect acoustics so you could hear and talk, but also wonderful selection of music playing in the background. And our waiter was just amazing and so attentive and friendly! Perfect restaurant for your special occasion! I cant wait to go back! Thank you for making our daughter's birthday so special!“

“I can’t say enough good things about this place! Every time we go here for dinner, we always enjoy! The staff is friendly and the owner Jerome is awesome! He comes to the table not only to greet you and to make sure everything is okay. He even takes the empty dishes off the table. He’s always helping out around the restaurant. Love this place!!!“

“Had the Italian deluxe sub today & it was amazing. Fresh ingredients, fresh bread. I loved it!!!!!“

“The service was phenomenal. We were there for my sis in laws 50th Birthday (came in from Columbus,Oh and they treated her amazingly. Our server was great managing staff amazing.“

“We are visiting from Canada. We received fantastic service and the food was incredible. The restaurant even helped us get back to our hotel when the cab didn't show up as our phones weren't working. Thank you Abigail and the hostess (unfortunately I can't remember her name). They ended our evening on a positive note which won't be forgotten 🤗. 5 stars.“

“Food was great , service was great. No complaints.“

“Best Italian food in the area. Service is the best. Can't get any better.“

“Ordered off of their catering menu for my wife's birthday. I purchased the Margharita Seafood Special with shrimp, scallops and lump crabmeat in a rose' cream sauce and it was excellent! The homemade meatballs jad everybody raving and their sausage, onions and peppers in marinara sauce was also great. Thankfully we had some left overs that we are still enjoying. Lastly was their Greek salad, very fresh and loaded with feta cheese. I definitely recommend these folks for your next lunch or dinner or when you need an event catered. Call and ask for Saul and he and the staff there will take great care of you!!“

“You’ll never leave let down or hungry when you’re experiencing an authentic Italian Meal at Vinny’s Italian Cafe in Baltimore. This extremely passionate Family serves up an all scratch cucina of tasty treasures from land and sea. At Vinny’s you’ll always be spoiled like Familia! #Killerfoodies #Ladolcevita“

“I love how some things never change, like how certain restaurants are always good. Cinghiale is one of them“

“We held our School Spirit Night at Remo’s earlier this week. Our students and their families had a great time and Remo’s gave a generous donation back to our school PTA. We are so thankful to have them in the neighborhood!“

“A New Chapter for a Beloved Spot — Amadeo’s Shines Under New Ownership

Amadeo’s in Baltimore City has officially reopened under new ownership, and it’s already a standout. Run by husband-and-wife duo Brenna and Daniel (“Chef Danny”), this refreshed gem in Little Italy blends warmth, flavor, and hospitality in all the right ways.

From the moment we walked in, we felt genuinely welcomed. The space is cozy and inviting, and the table service—led by Brenna herself—was personal and attentive. She even crafted a few of our drinks, which were phenomenal. Dave, the bartender was also incredible warm, sociable and made delicious cocktails. I had the house Negroni and a dirty martini—both perfectly balanced—while my husband enjoyed a couple of their thoughtfully curated wines by the glass.

The food? Absolutely incredible. We started with the squash crostini, Caesar salad, and shrimp cocktail—each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The crostini was a standout: hearty, seasonal, and layered with texture and taste.

For mains, we shared the mezze maniche in a simple red sauce that was anything but basic—rich, comforting, and deeply satisfying. The sausage and polenta was a revelation. I’ve never been a polenta fan, but this dish changed my mind. Creamy, flavorful, and paired with a sausage that had just the right amount of heat.

We ended the night with a couple of digestivos and couldn’t resist trying both dessert options. Let’s just say: save room. You’ll want to experience every last bite.

What makes Amadeo’s truly special is the heart behind it. Brenna and Daniel have created more than a restaurant—they’ve built a space that honors tradition while inviting the community into something new. With incredible food, fair prices, and a genuine sense of hospitality, Amadeo’s is a must-visit. We’ll absolutely be back“

“I've been eating steaks for decades. It took 40 years to find the best steak in....well...actually the world (because I've had steaks from Taiwan to Bogota) right here at Tagliata. It was the best.“

“By far one of the best Italian restaurants my husband and I have ever visited. Great atmosphere. Super friendly staff. Delicious food. Will be back during our next visit to Baltimore.“

“I recommend Limoncello Baltimore for delicious food and nice atmosphere! Baltimore is known for its restaurants and Limoncello demonstrates great quality and excellent service.“

“Just had the lasagna. Excellent with lots of ooey gooey cheese. Highly recommend trying this.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We hosted the welcome dinner for our wedding here in Little Italy, with over 90 guests, and it could not have been a better experience. From the very first planning conversation to the final toast, everything was absolutely flawless.

Luca was a total joy to work with — easily one of the most fun parts of wedding planning! He made the whole process effortless and full of personality. The team handled our large group with ease, and every single guest left happy, full, and raving about the food.

The kitchen did an outstanding job accommodating food allergies and dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or presentation. Every dish and drink was top-notch — you can taste the quality and care in every bite.

It was the perfect way to kick off our wedding celebrations in Baltimore. We’re so grateful to Luca and the team for giving us such a memorable, joy-filled night. Highly recommend for any special event (or honestly, any night you want amazing Italian food and great hospitality)! 🇮🇹❤️“

“Nicely appointed dining room, attentive and friendly staff. And our pizza was wonderful.“

“We came here last Friday for my fathers wake. Everything was perfect, food was hot and refined quickly. The server, Mike was amazing. Thank you for a wonderful experience.“

“Real Italian cuisine is served here in ample helpings. Mama's Favorite Caesar salad can be split for two people. It's loaded with soft fresh mozzarella, artichoke, & sundried tomatoes. It's my favorite, too. The lasagna had so much of the wonderful delicate tomato sauce, it was covered. This is the real authentic lasagna of Italy. For a tasty pasta with a kick, the Salmone Al Pesto has a marvelous creamy pesto sauce, & a heaping of small fresh button mushrooms. They say it's only 6 oz. of salmon but the whole plate was covered in large segments of it--it's large enough to take home for a second dinner. Mama had made her own Tiramisu. The delicate sponge soaked with flavor is something not to be missed. Get it when you can. The service from Madison was attentive, friendly, knowledgeable & extremely helpful. This is a wonderful place for authentic Italian meals.“

“Marta manages to be both lively and cozy simultaneously in a rowhouse that previously housed Salt (one of my all time favorite upscale restaurants) We went for a friend's birthday, and all 3 courses were delicious, beautifully presented, inventive, and not the same old menu that you find everywhere. Very sweet wait staff was super attentive, educated about the food and wine and made great suggestions. Our original wait staff had an emergency and had to leave in the middle of service, but seamlessly another wait person stepped in to covered us. Kudos to the front of house team for handling with such skill and ease. But the food was definitely the star of the show. For me, the standout was the tuna cannoli. I'm not even sure I can do justice to this deliciousness with a crunchy outer "cannoli" shell with a slight hint of sweet surrounding a creamy center of tuna crudi with little dots of avocado cream. And all was covered with a pistachio "dust." The spicy meatballs were delectable nestled in a cloud of creamy spicy ricotta. And the Duck and Foie Gras Panzotti (little triangle ravioli) was creamy, delicious and the perfect combination of delicate tastes. And the Tiramisu Affogato ended the dinner on a delicious note! And for two people with drinks it was really pretty a good deal for the quality if the food, service and location. We will be back! Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5“

“Great food and wonderful staff!! The service was the best. The whole place is just beautiful. Will definitely be back.“

“First time here. Excellent food and ambiance! I got a drink and fettuccine Alfredo. Delicious. Everyone who works here is very nice as well. Huge space- they have space for events as well“

“Our first visit and we will definitely be back!!! Service from Jennifer D. was excellent and set the tone for the rest of the meal. Food was outstanding.“

“We went for a girls brunch today and it was such a great vibe. Wonderful DJ, Espresso Martini Bar and just overall chill vibes. We loved it and can’t wait to be back! Service was great and food was good!“

“I've enjoyed their outstanding menu for over 15yrs.“

“Dinner with a large group. Our server, Lisa was great in handling all of our orders.“

“7 members of our family stopped here while visiting Baltimore. We had pizza & wings and all was good and done right. Our waitress, Lauren was attentive, was very friendly, curious and also a bit witty! If in Baltimore it is worth looking this establishment up!“

“My daughter and I are in Baltimore for the week. I am 100% Italian and she was craving pasta. After some research I settled on Chiapparelli’s. We went for lunch today. Loved the old school atmosphere and the food was delicious. Eating out has gotten so expensive and I am often disappointed with the food. Not today! We will be back every time we are in Baltimore.“

“Ordered a meatball sub and fries. And definitely one of the best meatball subs I’ve ever had“

“I had a wonderful experiencia at Romano's pizzaría! The food was absolutely delicious,the prices are great and the place is clean. What stood out the most was the customer service. The Cashier was super friendly and welcoming and even brought my orden out to my car! Highly recommend“

“Exceptional customer service and the best food in Nottingham! This Italian Delight Sensation truly deserves 5 stars for consistently delivering outstanding experiences.“

“This restaurant is and always will be my favorite the pizza and subs are to die for that was my place go when I lived in Baltimore now every time I visit thats my place to go“

“Italian Chicken Cheesesteak is the best!“

“On weekend trip to aquarium and came here after reading reviews cuz the grandkid wanted pasta. Arrived about 7 and got the last table. Server quickly arrived for drink order then manager came quickly behind to take the food order. Though he was moving things along, we did not feel rushed. Food was great! Half order of spaghetti with one giant meatball was perfect for our 12 year old granddaughter. Italian and cheesesteak subs were big and we each only ate half. If you get the side salad, you better like parm (we do!). Great draft beer selection including IPAs.“

“Had dinner there yesterday. The service was excellent. The manger was very accommodating. The resturant was very crowded, but the manger made us feel like we were the only customers there. The food was very good. I would give them 5 stars.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me be clear — this isn’t just an Olive Garden. This is the Olive Garden. From the moment I stepped through the door, I felt like I walked into excellence. The greeting was warm, the energy was right, and the service? On point from start to finish.

Now let me talk about Anita — hands down one of the best waitresses I’ve ever had, anywhere. She didn’t just bring food, she brought an experience. Attentive without hovering, friendly without being fake, and smooth with every detail. She made me feel like royalty — like I was the only person in the building.

The food? Flawless. Hot, fresh, seasoned like somebody’s Italian grandma was in the back cooking with love. I haven’t been to Olive Garden in a long time, but this meal reminded me why I ever came in the first place. And I drove 45 minutes just to get here — and I’d do it again tomorrow.

I travel all over the country and hit Olive Gardens in different states — but this location right here? Best in the game. They’re not just serving pasta. They’re serving consistency, care, and class.

If you're thinking about where to eat — stop thinking. Come here. Trust me. This spot doesn’t just meet expectations. It resets them.“

“Costiera is small, inviting, and absolutely worth a visit. From the moment we arrived, the service stood out as impeccable. The staff was attentive without ever hovering, quick with suggestions, and made us feel genuinely taken care of.

When we walked in, there were two tables available right away, but they asked if we’d mind waiting just a minute so they could seat us at a much better window table. That kind of thoughtfulness goes a long way these days, and we really appreciated it. Our server checked in often, was kind, and gave fantastic recommendations that made us feel like we ordered the very best of the menu.

The food was excellent across the board. The pasta was perfectly cooked and tasted even better than it looked. The octopus was a standout dish—tender, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Everything we tried was balanced, well-executed, and memorable.

All in all, we had a flawless experience here. Costiera delivers on service, food, and atmosphere. Highly recommend, especially if you’re looking for something a little different done really well.“

“Hands-down best pizza in town!!!“

“Met Attio and he was a great guy, great pizza and subs. Can’t wait to work my way around the menu.“

“Great food good service and atmosphere“