50 Best Italian Restaurants near Fanwood

“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.“

“It’s the best pizza around!“

“I landed at Nicks pizza & deli. They treated with me so much kindness. I also walked over to the ice cream business they own. I tried their pizza and food and the ice cream and everything was really good. They offered me a real kind and personal experience. They made me feel very welcomed. I’ll definitely be coming back here. If you’re in the area this is the place to go to.“

“Fabio’s is without a doubt the best pizza in the area! Don’t waste your time on anywhere else!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Best food ever 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 love coming here with our family Tammy and Sal the owners are so nice very special people and so are their waiters and waitresses we love Palo Thanks to our Father for introducing us to Dimaios“

“Had the pleasure of eating at Giorgio"s last night before a show at SPAC. Service was outstanding, menu explained and food was excellent. From our salad, entree and desert everything was outstanding. I highly recommend it but please not before a show I may now get a reservation again.“

“I have known Adolfo for a long time and not only He’s a great Person but an outstanding Chef and in his latest endeavor nothing has changed . Great quality food with plenty of care and dedication to his craft and unbelievable ambience inside the Restaurant with fun and friendly Staff all around . I highly recommend it to give it a try …“

“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“

“everything was amazing!!! we will be back“

“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.“

“I have been eating here for years. It’s one of the best Italian restaurants in New Jersey. I have been lucky enough to take customers to many restaurants in NY and NJ and Vincenzo’s is one of the best around. The food and service is awesome. I recommend you going there.“

“We had our daughters 18th Birthday Bash here at the Appian Way on: February 5th, 2022. We dealt with Bob throughout the whole process. And he was just great! Alot is included in the price you receive. And many other venues don't compare when it comes to price. Helping to save you some money along the way. The rooms are beautiful and my guest were amazed. The workers were accommodating and helped get our room together way before time. This helped us tremendously with getting most of the setup being done the night before. The lighting is awesome. The food was absolutely delicious. My guests are still raving about the food. It really was better than I expected. I will definitely be back to celebrate more gatherings. Thank you Bob and your staff for your get service.“

“The food and ambiance are always on point, and the people are welcoming like family.“

“Arugula salad special was outstanding“

“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 ‼️“

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

“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 🍝🍷👍☺️“

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

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

“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.“

“Hosted my 30th high school class reunion and it was a blast! Great food & staff. Many thanks to Sal for accommodating all our needs.“

“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!“

“Great service, food, and location.“

“Anticipation was that I am going to an old school Italian restaurant with 90 years tradition. And that was exactly what I encountered. Simplified old look, polite and hospitable workers, and good food. Portions are ridiculously large. One of the times I went was during their September Wednesday deals when you can order a pasta and get another one for 1$, and I expected due to promotion that servings might be slightly smaller. Since I ate one and brought the other one home, I measured it and it was 3.2 Lbs portion!!!

Oh yeah, it's BYOB, so bring some wine to complement your food“

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

“When we decided to make a reservation here I was concerned because the parking situation in Madison is difficult. IlGoccino has parking in the rear of the restaurant so it was fine. The staff were warm and welcoming and they honored our reservation on arrival. The food was excellent - the salmon cooked to perfection and the chicken was tender and delicious as well. We certainly will return.“

“Great food, excellent service from Dennis Yusko in coordinating our catered party!“

“This place is phenomenal, the ambiance, staff, and the food all hit the marks.

LK has a kale ceasar special that is among the best salads I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to have it for lunch tomorrow.

Thanks so much for being a great addition to the neighborhood.“

“I had dinner here and it's the best ITALIAN FOOD I've had in a long time,SERVICE was great as well.“

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

“Best Pizza in Union & Middlesex County HANDS DOWN! The Hot sandwiches, calzones, Stromboli’s all great! The dining area has that cozy home “cucina” feel. The serving staff are friendly and prompt. Whether it’s take out or dine in. Max’s Pizzeria & Restaurant is the only place that gets my money! Quality, Value & great food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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!!“

“Everything is the best!!! ♥️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♥️“

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

“Fantastic!! So glad we came, by far the best Italian we’ve had….ever! Service from the outset was 1st class, very attentive team, could not do enough for you. Food quality was outstanding. Definitely worth the price tag.“

“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!“

“I never write reviews, but this one is worth writing! Yesterday was my Dad's 97th birthday. I ordered food from Anthony for his party of 25-30 people. Best choice I ever made! Not only were Anthony and Donna so nice and accommodating, but the food was out of this world! I cannot recommend Anthony's food, and service, more highly. Thank you Anthony and Donna for making my Dad's birthday even more special.“

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

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

“Love this restaurant, everything, food, service and ambiance is outstanding . Attentive service, delicious fresh bread, food made with quality ingredients and finger liking tasty, my personal favorite is muscles, large plump and the sauce is so good that I asked for extra bread to mop it up, I could lick the plate clean 🤣“

“While this has been our grandparents' favorite Italian restaurant for over 20 years, this was my first time here. The food exceeded all expectations! I had a complimentary fied zucchini starter, truffle ravioli, pappardelle with spicy pork ragu topped with mascarpone and zabaglione with red fruit. Everything was so delicious and flavorful. The service was great, and the grandma's birthday was such a success. Thank you!
P.S. On a Saturday night, it seemed like a reservation is an absolute must. We saw a loooong line leaving the restaurant around 7.30pm.“

“This spot is a hidden gem. I’ve been living in the area for about 15 years now and just randomly tried this place one day, and let me just say it not only exceeded my expectations but blew them out of the park. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is nothing short of simply the best. I would highkey recommend trying their freshly house made pizzas, they’re finger licking good as well as their pastas which are chefs kisses. I’m genuinely amazed at how not many people know about this restaurant. The owner is the sweetest woman I’ve ever met, we talked for 15 minutes just about her business it was 2 minutes before they closed and she offered me all of the left over pizza they hadn’t sold that day FOR FREE. I’ve found my new favorite go to Italian spot.“

“My team had a lunch booked today and stepping into L’Allegria was a beautiful surprise. I booked the restaurant based on the menu and ratings, plus parking looked easy. Without planning it we had a private room where we could celebrate the departure of one of our colleagues. Alana took great care of us and the food was delicious and well executed. Temperatures were perfect on the food too. The zucchini blossoms and homemade gnocchi were the best I’ve had in YEARS. The chef and restaurant team are to be commended. I look forward to returning with my husband for dinner. Thank you!“

“Food is awesome, along with service .“

“This restaurant serves excellent choices of food. Everything we ordered - from fish to steak to vegetarian dishes was cooked and prepared to perfection. The servings are generous that we were able to share with family members what we have. We all agreed to order a different dish since this is only the second time some of us have eaten here. \n\nThey also have live entergainment with the Trivia night - we went on a Thursday and our table won 2nd place and got a $40.00 coupon for our next dinner date!!\n\nWe will surely be back when visiting family here in Union, New Jersey!“

“I just had my son’s 21’st surprise party over the weekend , and it was amazing! They allowed me to go in the morning and decorate, they help me to do in fact, the food was delicious as always and the service was perfect , we even had live music as a surprise as well and my son and guest where all happy ! Definitely coming back !“

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