50 Best Italian Restaurants near Carteret

“We ordered a grilled chicken ceaser salad along with our pizza. they must have stored the salad in the pizza warming bag, because the lettuce was cooked. when we complained that our salad was hot and soggy, they basically told us they didn't care. Sucks to be us.“

“I'm a pizza fanatic. I am from Ohio and have to travel to NJ for work now, my first trip to NJ tried Riunitis.

I kid you not, after having it one time I went back every single night until I flew home Friday morning. I'll admit I tried one other place on Uber eats due to laziness, and instead of eating my fresh new food I heated up a couple day old slices from this place.

I even tried to smuggle the red sauce back on the plain (got denied).

Idk what they put in that margarita red sauce, but I'm a customer for life. Fresh and great ingredients.

If you want to know my order, I always get the margarita pizza.“

“Nestled on Washington Ave in Carteret, NJ, Alfredo Pizza stands out as a local gem for pizza enthusiasts. This family-owned establishment delivers consistently delicious Italian-American fare with a focus on quality and flavor.

Their pizza, the star of the menu, boasts a perfect balance of crispy yet chewy crust, savory sauce, and generous toppings. The classic cheese slice is a testament to their mastery of the basics, while specialty pies showcase creative combinations that cater to diverse palates.

Beyond pizza, Alfredo's offers a range of Italian classics, from hearty pasta dishes to satisfying subs. The portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable, providing excellent value for money.

The staff's friendly demeanor and efficient service enhance the dining experience, whether you're grabbing a quick slice or settling in for a family meal. The clean, welcoming atmosphere makes it suitable for both casual lunches and relaxed dinners.

In sum, Alfredo Pizza earns its spot as a go-to pizzeria in Carteret, serving up delicious food with a side of warm hospitality. It's a must-try for locals and visitors alike seeking authentic, high-quality Italian-American cuisine.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 food and service. .we went with a group of 10 people and everyone enjoyed their food .we been back many times and even had them do a party for us :)“

“Nichelle was our gracious server. Our first visit to Terza was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting—but it was our server who truly made the night unforgettable. Attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind, she guided us through the menu like a seasoned storyteller, making every dish feel like a must-try. The food? Divine. The service? Impeccable. We left already planning our next visit. Terza, you’ve set the bar high!“

“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.“

“Don’t let the appearance fool you. This place blew me away. Insanely friendly staff. Best fresh mozz I have ever had. Giant sandwiches. For the cost of one sandwich you get 4 meals. Homemade bread. Homemade mozz. Fresh chicken cutlets to order. Fresh sliced top of the line cold cuts to order. 10/10. We will go here every time I am around.“

“We have been coming to Piccolinos Restaurtant in Bayonne for years. My father loved the veal and the great service our family received from the staff. It would only be fitting to host his repass there and when we called Byron to let him know he passed, he quickly helped my family with arrangements to host our family and friends in their private room. The food was cooked to order, absolutely delicious and the service our family and friends received from the staff was impeccable! Mostly everyone had to try the his favorite dish, the" veal martini" and loved it. The Wanko family would like to take this opportunity to send our sincere thanks to Byron, Jackie, Angelo, Juan Carlos, David, Yahir for their outstanding service to attention and delicious menu cooked to order on such a sad occassion. They truly made our friends and family know why we "love" Piccolino's and why this is surely the best Italian Restaruant and staff in Bayonne.“

“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“

“Great food and wine! variety of cocktails, appetizers and entrées. Spacious place with chic decor.“

“food was amazing staff and our waiter was the best great atmosphere definitely will be back that veal chop melted in my mouth 😋“

“Overall a WONDERFUL experience...They never disappoint. Whether it's with their friendly, attentive service or specials which are culinary delights, they hit the mark! The staff is almost psychic in their attention. The chef makes this a local gem. Over time, I've become a 'regular'. I HIGHLY recommend. Frankly, the best in Union county..“

“We had an intimate Repast at Farington's Cafe after the sudden death of my nephew. We were all so impressed with the food... a delicious salad and one of the best penne vodka dishes ever. These were followed by the main course...choice of lemon sole, flank steak or chicken parm. Each and every dish was superb! Beyond this, the compassion shown by the staff was so consoling. I recommend this restaurant to all. You will thank me!“

“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 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.“

“Grew up NJ, made a life and family in PA. My “brother” recommended this restaurant when we visited him in SI. So so good. Good Italian is difficult to come by. Restaurants try to duplicate the flavor but miss the mark with either poor, processed ingredients or poor ratio of seasonings. This place was on point and I was so pleased. Hope to return again in the future.“

“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. 👍👍“

“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 ‼️“

“Just had a magnificent dinner at La Bottiglia! It was our anniversary and we wanted to enjoy a great dinner at a restaurant with great ambience and a quiet and cozy atmosphere. From the delicious hot antipasto to start our meal along with a delicious house wine and amazing cosmopolitan we knew we were in the right place to celebrate a momentous occasion. The hot antipasto was so delicious and plentiful along with warm, fresh bread and focaccia to spread the homemade caponata on. Off to a great start! We were now full! The chicken parmigiana that my husband ordered was great according to him, and he is a harsh food critic! My salmon Dijon with mixed vegetables was so good!! I order it every time I come here as it is so very delicious! The desserts are amazing! The cannolis are so good. Double espressos are so rich and satisfying! To top off the great meal is the hospitality of the entire restaurant staff. They are so professional and efficient with such a warm and welcoming attitude! I can’t say enough good things about La Bottiglia! You have to come and try it for yourself! You will be very pleased, I’m sure!“

“I’m not from JC. My boyfriend is a firefighter @ Rescue 1. For various reasons I won’t bore y’all with details, I had to call back multiple times to change delivery time as well as add on to order. Everyone I spoke w were absolutely amazing! They are an extremely accommodating business. Everyone who I spoke with is a class act. Thx y’all!!!!“

“The staff were friendly helpful and attentive... With your bread they serve caponata and olives ! What a treat ! I could go on an on about the shrimp and scallops and mussels and clams but let me just say that there is fresh calamari and in most places it is not fresh. They're calamari is FRESH I need aya no more ! We were so pleased with everything. Highly Recommend !!!!!!!“

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

“We had our daughter's surprise graduation party at Max's Esca last night. Every single thing was outstanding- from the atmosphere, to the service, the drinks and the food. They created a beautiful, private space in the main dining room for us to decorate. Christina and Chrissy (& the rest of the staff!) took excellent care of everyone, and Nicole's cocktails were spot on. The food was incredible, as usual! Highly recommend!“

“We had our daughters Sweet 16 dinner there last night with about 30 people. Everything was perfect! The staff was attentive, the food was delicious and the prices are just right. This was our second time here and we will continue as customers.“

“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 🍝🍷👍☺️“

“Delicious pizza! Needs a little more crunch though.“

“Apps and entrees are delicious...have eaten here 5 times and had something different each time...was never disappointed. Always have really good specials too...just don't ask for olive oil with your bread...I don't think it was even olive oil...very bad...otherwise is great.“

“My Step Dad Recently had went for his birthday dinner, with my mom and my step family and wanted to share they recommend this place(they don’t have social media). They had a big party of like 20 people. Food was delicious, servers and service were amazing. Everyone got their food at the same time. They were extremely happy with the restaurant.“

“The food was delicious!!!“

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

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

“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!“

“The food never ever disappoints“

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

“family environment, friendly staff, good food“

“This was a local wish list item I didn't make happen before I left nj for points west. I happened to be back visiting and got an invitation to an event.

It definitely lived up to the hype!

Everything was spot on!

Best egg plant i ever had!“

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

“Food is awesome, along with service .“

“Everything is the best!!! ♥️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♥️“

“Delicious food and huge portions! Our waitress Kate was amazing! Great Mother’s Day experience.“

“I'm very glad to visit this place. And I'm so happy to find it on the maps cause i thought I'd lost.
The best service I've seen in our town in the last 9 years. I would like to give special recognition to Elizabeth the waitress, she made me think of a mistress for the first time in my life. Elizabeth, thank you for all your hard work, you are wonderful.“

“Excellent atmosphere, service and food. Best veal parm I've ever had!!“

“We can’t recommend Osteria Santina enough! The food is spectacular, one dish better than the other, large portions, and something for everyone on the menu. The drinks are affordable and delicious. The staff are curious, personable, and present, never leaving an empty plate in front of you or a drink empty. Whether it is for a large party or an intimate meal, Osteria Santina is your place! Highly recommend and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!“

“Delicious food and great service!“

“Amazing food with wonderful service“

“We had a wonderful family dinner at Lava. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding!! We can’t wait to return!“