50 Best Italian Restaurants near Avenel

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Walked in without a reservation and were quickly seated despite the restaurant being very busy. Staff were super friendly and kind. Food was AMAZING. Like absolutely knocked it out of the park. The bread was warm and soft and delicious, serviced with a sun-dried tomato compound butter. The fried calamari was excellent, the lemon sauce thing amazing and the tomato thing also amazing. The winter salad was delicious. We got the caramelized onion cacio y Pepe, the shrimp bolo, and the truffle gnocchi. All were outstanding. The gnocchi were light as air and the sauce was divine. For dessert, the chocolate tort, carrot cake, and tiramisu were all decadent and perfect. We were truly impressed with how absolutely delicious everything was. Will definitely be back!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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 !!“

“First time here. Our waiter dropped the ball but food was good so might give it another chance someday. Valentine's Day so I get it was busy so not an issue with being sat 15 min past our reservation. Hostess was very attentive, taking coats and pulling our chairs. Water staff did provide water promptly but our waiter who passed us several times didn't greet us or take our drink order until after 20 minutes and after greeting a couple who was sat several minutes after we were. Still tipped 20+% but I'm a heavy tipper so when I round 20ish % it means service wasn't great. Maybe pick a wine next time because cocktails were off. Waiter left us hanging after dropping off dessert menu and I was about to change my mind on it and just take the check after waiting too long. Not sure what happened but someone else took over who was much quicker but maybe because it was getting closer to closing time? Happy I stuck around for dessert. The cheesecake was amazing and was the highlight of the evening for me.“

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

“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 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!“

“"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!“

“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. 👍👍“

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

“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.“

“LOVEDDDD the atmosphere and service here. It was just a nice experience from start to finish. My favorite dish happened to be the fig bruschetta and the dessert 😋 the lychee spritz was delicious too. We got the specials so unsure if their classic food was better or not. But overall, would love to come back here again.“

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

“What a great Christmas Party… The room was decorated beautifully with Christmas Cheer… The food was amazing…truly the best meatballs in the state ♥️ the staff was courteous friendly & attentive…Enjoyed the evening with friends…Thank you to Gilda & family for never disappointing ‼️“

“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“

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

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

“Excellent sandwiches. I especially like their chicken cutlet ones. We pick up from here a couple times a month and have never been disappointed.“

“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 🍝🍷👍☺️“

“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.“

“Wow what an AMAZING place. Service and Food were both outstanding. We definitely will return again. Thank you Giacamo for everything.“

“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.“

“The food was delicious!!!“

“Great service, food, and location.“

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

“Everything is the best!!! ♥️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♥️“

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

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

“This place is second to none. They opened special for us on a Monday, the day they are closed ,to have our father’s repass. The food is AMAZING! All the dishes , with large portions were priced reasonably! The wait staff, bar staff & management were professional & accommodating. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting and would recommend Mulberry Street to anyone looking to go for dinner or to have an event . You won’t regret it!“

“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!!“

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

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

“Great food and service in a very stylish restaurant…“

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

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

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

“Delicious authentic Italian food“

“Are you looking for fresh, homemade pasta? This is your place. I had the chicken ragu over campanelle. It was so light and delicious. The ragu tasted like it was cooked for hours, chicken and carrot pieces in every bite. The rosemary Focaccia, was like I made it myself, light and fluffy with just the right amount of everything!
We ended are visit with some pretty amazing homemade choc chip cookie gelato sandwiches rolled in Oreo. Wow!
You can order and sit at bar, outside tables, or grab yours to go. Porta Rossa Pasta has so many homemade sauces and fresh delectables you have to check it out. Don't miss this little gem, hidden in Maplewood, NJ.“