50 Best Italian Restaurants near Avenel

“Best Sandwiches, salads, specials, Amazing meatballs, high quality ingredients. Do yourself a favor and try this deli, you will be hooked!!!“

“Been here a few times and never had a bad meal. The staff is super friendly

We had an Easter dinner there yesterday and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The holiday menu was fantastic. Our server was incredible. Party of 9 and didn’t even write down a thing. Impressed

Can’t wait to go back soon.“

“I LOVE THIS PIZZA PLACE!! I LOVE THE PIZZA THE FOOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE!!! I HAD ASMALL PARTY AT MY HOUSE AND ORDERED 9 PIZZAS! ALL WERE DELIVERED HOT AND MY GUESTS LOVED THEM!! THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO ORDER PIZZA! IN THE WOODBRIDGE AREA!“

“We love the cozy atmosphere of D'Italia in addition to the delicious food. The service is always excellent!“

“I LOVE their grilled chicken w/sautéed broccoli and cheese 😍 Everywhere else I tried was horrible until I had it here . Their food is amazing , the guys that work there are always super nice and polite . If your looking for a delicious dinner after a long day of working reasonably priced , I woul totally recommend giving this place a try . You don’t be disappointed!“

“Can I please give it 6 stars? I recently went there with a group of five family members while visiting New Jersey and we had a truly extraordinary night! As an investor in restaurants I'm very critical when visiting any restaurant and not often impressed even with well known critically acclaimed restaurants. It's very rare when a place has truly incredible food with every appetizer and entree as well as first class VIP vibes for service. You could literally taste the passion and care put into every plate with beautifully prepared flavorful abundant meals. In fact, it was the first time in almost a decade I brought home leftovers as the meal was delicious and easily sufficient for two people. Our entire table raved about their meals and the attentive but not obtrusive service was always there to refill our wine and assist without any of us having to look up for service. The food alone would have made for a great night but what truly made it memorable besides the great waitstaff was the manager, Eli. When was the last time a manager, GM or owner greated you at your table to share a polite, interesting and passionate conversation about the food and why they love sharing this experience with their valued customers? He made our entire table feel like VIPs and made perfect recommendations for wine and dessert. It felt more like we were in someone's home as we were there for close to 3-1/2 hours talking, eating, drinking and laughing. The ambiance is warm and unpretentious and the memories of a great experience will certainly bring us back again.“

“As someone who grew up in and loves Metuchen deeply, I can officially add Terzo to one of the most memorable places of one of my favorite towns. Came here to have dinner and introduce my parents to my boyfriend’s parents, a very special occasion for us. At no point did we feel rushed throughout our experience which I appreciate a lot since we were there from 6-9pm on a Wednesday night.
The atmosphere is beautiful and perfect for any special occasion or date night. Everyone was raving about the food the entire time!
For appetizers we got the peach burrata salad, wagyu meatballs (our favorite!), and the calamari (second favorite!!). For dinner we loved the cacio de pepe and chicken parm. The crab risotto was a top contender too. Oh my, the portions are so big so be ready to take some home! For dessert we had the apple pie cannolis and coffee. Sangria was yummy but in a smaller pitcher than we normally see, so get two if you have a bigger group! I wish I took some pictures of our food but we were having too good of a time to actually think about it!
Seriously, thank you to all the staff that worked 9/2/26! All of the servers and runners were beyond sweet and thoughtful!“

“Excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere. I promise if you try this place, you will be extremely satisfied and for sure you will go back again! This restaurant serves the best Italian food in Staten Island.“

“Giuliano’s Restaurant is a place where the food is absolutely fantastic. I’ve never ordered something that I didn’t love. The staff are all wonderful. From the first time you walk-in the doors they make you feel like you’re part of their family. I highly highly recommend this restaurant.“

“I love food. I love to eat it. I love to cook it. But food to me has always been more than just something to eat. I like to study process. Fun to me is to be able to be in a restaurant kitchen and talk to the chef while he’s making a dish. I want to be able to see what he’s doing and ask about it. Why are you taking the dish off the fire so quickly? Why are you using canned peeled tomatoes rather than fresh? I want to know everything. To me, process can be just as exciting as being presented with the beautiful and delicious final product. This evening, I stopped at an unusual pasta restaurant - All' Assassina. https://www.allassassina.com/ They call themselves the killer pasta project. It’s different. It has an open kitchen. The small dining room is colorful – eye catching. You go up to the front and order your pasta. You decide what will be added in – mushrooms, capers, tomatoes, chicken, olives and more. And then the chef makes it right in front of you. The owner told me that not everybody watches. They’re missing out. This restaurant is offering dinner and a show. And the cooking here is a performance. You get to see what goes into your food and how it is made. It gives you an additional appreciation for what you are about to savor. All the senses go on alert. You could see it. You could hear it in the pan and you could smell it. If you are anywhere near Union, New Jersey, check out All' Assassina. But do not just order and walk away. Look. Listen. And learn. Not everybody likes to cook. But everyone should like to learn. The more you know about what’s in your food and how it is prepared, the more you’ll appreciate good food. The tastes, the textures. Wow. There was an avalanche of different flavors hitting my mouth all at once. It’s worth a trip. Go for the meal. Stay for the show.“

“As a chef, I’ve been wanting to meet Chef Peter Macri for a couple years. I was finally able to make the trip to Staten Island. I was blown away by the whole experience from start to finish. Highly recommend checking out this restaurant or Panini Grill. Even living 2 1/2 hours away, I plan to come back more often.“

“very attentive service without being intrusive. Our meals were absolutely delicious, so fresh and hot. Dessert was heavenly. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary perfect“

“Amazing Food and service !!“

“Great place to have delicious food at good prices . The waitstaff was sooo friendly“

“Great food great people my wife and I go to place“

“We are Never disappointed eating at La Campagnola~ the Food is Amazing ~ the Service is always impeccable ~ love the Ambiance ! We Wish you were in Monmouth County ~ but the distance won’t stop us from returning again ~ We’ll be back Brian 🍝🍷👍☺️“

“Great service, food, and location.“

“Frequented the old location many times and loved it every time. 1st time at the new location this past Saturday and… WOW. Food was above and beyond as was the service. PEI white mussels are out of this world. Duck breast and lamb chops were delicious. With tomorrow being the 1st day of spring we are that much closing to a lovely meal on the patio.“

“We had a beautiful ladies luncheon at the restaurant and the food, service & ambiance was above & beyond.... Truly a gem !!!!!!! Thank you“

“Wine was ok, but the cake...........................insane“

“The most attentive staff. The food was phenomenal. The owner came to our table twice. Once to greet us and give us a complimentary calamari which was delicious and later to ask if we enjoyed our meal. It was our first time dining there. It won't be our last. It was a great experience.“

“I hosted my friend’s 50th birthday here last week and it was great! Mike the owner was super accommodating and made sure everything was set up when we arrived. The staff was amazing and even with the multiple checks we had with people sitting all over the place, they still got everything right!!!! The food is great with huge portions and everyone went home with leftovers. This place is a gem and we will definitely be back with more friends and family!“

“Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the excellent service to the delicious food!“

“Had a great dinner! Always great service too!“

“First time visiting tonight! The dining experience was great and the food is delicious! The service was very friendly! I'd definitely go again and recommend to anyone in search of a good Italian restaurant! :)“

“I have used catering from Mazzella's several times now and never disappoints! Food is always fresh and abundant. Guests always ask where I got the food. 👍👍“

“Love Felina! It is so beautiful inside and the food was very good. We all enjoyed the complimentary eggplant and bread and the linguine dish was fantastic! The calamari app was also perfect. My friends and I were there for all of our birthdays and it was fantastic, they made us feel so special!!! Our server was so helpful and nice. The bar manager was also so nice and made excellent drinks! We all shared a perfect tiramisu to end the night. We are def going back!“

“Excellent food and service. A hidden gem.“

“The hot dog & hot sausage combo with the works is the best!“

“Lasagna was amazing. Calamari was such a great appetizer.“

“Wow. Today we celebrated my grandson’s Christening at Enzzo’s. Perri and Dominique were amazing hosts for our party of 24. Service and attentiveness were amazing. It only gets better…. The appetizers and main dishes really steal the show. The Bruschetta, Antipasto and Garlic shrimp were exquisite. Then the Eggplant Rolatini, Penne ala Vodka and Chicken Perri were devine. GO YOU WON’T REGRET!!“

“Il Forno was a very pleasant surprise. The lunch specials exceeded my expectations. The food and the service was very good. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends.“

“New ownership and some of the BEST pizza in NJ you have to come try this place“

“Five star delicious takeout veal Parmesan and eggplant Parmesan. Very generous portions. Highly recommended!“

“I love family style dinner and enjoying an evening with my other half“

“This restaurant is very delicious , the environment is very calm and the staff are very lovely . The owner is also a very generous man and makes you feel super comfortable . I personally
Tried a stuffed ravioli dish and it taste delicious. Definatly give this place a try you will certainly not regret it .“

“REALLY GOOD PIZZA DEFINITELY MADE MY TOP 10 AND FOR YOU GUYS THAT KNOW ME KNOW I EAT ALOT OF PIZZA FROM ALL OVER THE 5 BOROUGHS AND BEYOND“

“Love this place. Food and staff are friendly. Outside seating. Definitely recommend!“

“The food was delicious!!!“

“Great food. Welcoming you from the door and checking on you throughout needs some work. Hostess wasn’t hospitable.“

“I have always loved Bella Mamas,, and now it's has gotten even better, with the grilled pizzas , the new menu, the portion are huge and you are definitely taking left overs. very inviting atmosphere.“

“Great food and Luis is very pleasant to work with when planning a party.“

“Excellent service , cozy atmosphere. Place is second to none !“

“it's a new local place and both the pizza and wings were delicious. we will be going back.“

“"We planned a girls' dinner at ‘OSfizio and to say it exceeded our expectations is an understatement. The atmosphere and staff were welcoming and inviting, and the food was fresh and absolutely delicious. Gennaro was beyond attentive to our needs, recommending spectacular dishes and ensuring our plates and cocktails were full. We didn't feel rushed out at any point. We felt welcomed life family. If you're looking for great food, a warm atmosphere, and a fabulous staff, OSfizio is the place to visit. You won't be disappointed~ We can’t wait to go back!“

“Everything is the best!!! ♥️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♥️“

“I was there when I was using a rollator.. super easy to get around inside for being disabled! The food was delicious!“

“I was at a family affair at Angelinas on March 30 2025. I was so impressed with the food, service and atmosphere that I needed to express how amazing the experience was! The food was outstanding! If you are looking for true authentic Italian food, Angelina's is the one. I was so impressed with the service that I needed to shout her out. Her name is Ida, she is from Italy and she was amazing! She ensured that each person was taken care of throughout the event. It is very hard to find a restaurant with a rating of a perfect 10, but Angelina's is! Loved it!“

“The food and service are always top notch! Wether you order a healthy salad, fresh sushi, American classics or any other item on the extensive & creative menu, Bistro 1051 will not disappoint. The service is always impeccable. The whole staff and the owner, Michael, are warm, friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy. I highly recommend for date night, lunch with friends and large events. This is one of my go-to restaurants in the Clark area. I’ve been a fan for well over 10 years!“

“Do not patronize this restaurant . I had a $14.00 balance of a gift card that we spent $126.00 on NewYears Eve. $14.00 balance. After ordering a sandwich I was told that the card was invalid. Are you kidding? Do you think I gave you a invalid card? Is it worth losing 2 customers and all the people we know telling them what kind of fools you are? Is it worth it? Keep your sandwich. Dummies. Did I mention the owner used profanity towards us? Shame on you sir.“