50 Best Italian Restaurants near Farmingdale

“We went on Saturday for dinner...My wife had Eggplant Rollatini for an appy and Chicken Francese for dinner...I had the Sauteed Clams for an appy and the Seafood Fra Diavolo for dinner....Everything was Excellent....Next we will try the pizza...“

“Thank you for preparing the delicious food for our son's High School graduation party last Saturday. The food was fantastic and received many compliments!“

“Excellent food, service and ambiance. Kristin was amazing!“

“Owner should learn how to treat customers We were a party of four and we arrived on time for a 7:45 reservation. When we arrived there were many people waiting to be seated. We were told that the wait would only be 10 - 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes later we were told that the wait would be an additional 10 - 15 minutes. A half hour later my wife was told that the wait would only be another 10 - 15 minutes. After 45 minutes I requested to speak with the owner and I was told that I was speaking with the owner (at that point there was only one other group waiting to be seated). They informed me that a group of six with an 8:00 reservation was just seated. I said that it was not fair to make us wait 45 minutes since we did have a reservation and the people with a later reservation were just seated. I said that I may have something to say about it after the meal. The reply was "if you have something to say, say it now"! I replied that I would reserve my thoughts until after the meal. How insulting, imagine waiting over 45 minutes and then being told if I had anything to say I shouldn't wait till after my dinner, that I should say it now. I replied that I would wait till after the meal before I had any additional comments. With that we were refused service and we were told to leave. I am a 75 year old retired veteran and in my life I was never treated in this manner. When we grew up we had more respect for others. This is not how customers should be treated.“

“What a great time! I'm not sure why some reviews say ride staff. I didn't see that at all. Tables are a little toght but not that bad. Service was exceptional and they have a TON of gluten free food. Save room for dessert. Only thing is go early or you'll be waiting even though you have reservations and BYOB. Can't wait to go back!“

“Wow The best Italian restaurant at the jersey shore if you go Friday or Saturday you better get a reservation I would suggest you get one during the week also to be safe. Byob food and atmosphere are outstanding and the hostess waitresses and owner are so nice they make you feel like you were invited to their home for Sunday dinner with the family.“

“Our friend highly recommended Spanos Restutant , our first time, Was absolutely outstanding, The nicest customer service was the owner introduced himself to us with three special appetizers he made and greeted us with a Bon appétit Everything is made special to order,go go go and order there homemade bread pudding with chocolate in middle & there vanilla ice cream Thank you Mr Spano , for a special evening ??“

“Never had a meal I didn’t love“

“My granddaughter had her graduation dinner here. It was absolutely fabulous. Lovely atmosphere, fantastic service & the food was amazing. Can’t say enough how great this restaurant is. I would highly recommend this restaurant to family & friends.“

“Food… Service… Atmosphere… FIVE STARS!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I’ve been coming to this restaurant for years. This is by far my favorite restaurant in Ocean Township! If you want a great fine dining experience with delicious food and a friendly owner and staff, Piccolo’s is the place to go! They are consistently delicious :). Highly recommend this establishment. 5 Stars!!!
.“

“We have been to Nonna's many times and have always enjoyed the food and service. Today, my wife, daughter and I went to celebrate our 51st anniversary expecting to have a delicious dinner as usual. Although the food was excellent as always, the service was not! The waitress Melissa took our order and never saw her again until we were almost finished eating and had to wave to her to get more water. A man brought our bread and butter, another man brought our meals, and cheese etc. and that went well. It should be noted that Melissa never once came back to our table to see if the food was ok or if we needed anything. When she brought the water, she asked if we wanted desert, to which we declined. Another lady came and asked if we wanted our leftovers wrapped whereas she took our plates and returned immediately. Melissa dropped off the bill and walked away, and we never saw her again. We had some questions about the administration fee, because we were paying cash, but there was no one to ask so we just paid the bill, left the folder on the table and left, again, no one was around. When we were seated, there was a small party at a table near us, but they left long before we were ready to leave, so I cant understand why no one even came to our table, since by that time there were only about three tables of diners. Sorry I had to write this response but we were very unhappy with this dining visit. Like I said earlier, we have previously had great service and hope our next visit will be great. Thank You.“

“Absolutely stunning atmosphere, The service was impeccable, And the food was some of the best I have ever had! Yes it is expensive but so worth it. Perfect for date nite!!!“

“First time eating here. I had the Romeo's Salad, 12 chicken wings with the spicy dry rub and two sauces of pie and of course we had to order the cheese steak. I heard alotbabout this restaurant and loved everything. Definitely coming back.“

“We had such a great dinner with friends. The food was outstanding and so was the service. We have never been disappointed when eating at this restaurant. I highly recommend for any occasion or no occasion.“

“From the minute that we got there until we left very friendly.Great service!! It was our first time there.They gave us this beautiful salad on the house! Our food was delicious! GOOD bread,Eggplant parmesan,lasagna, cavitelli and broccoli rob. The meatballs are possibly the best i've ever had out, not even kidding. The red sauce was delicious, teeny bit salty for me but by far better than what I have experienced in the recent times I have been out to eat. Can't wait to go back. Very friendly atmosphere!“

“Great food amazing service and wonderful warm hospitality“

“Everything in the store that’s offered“

“Amazingly delicious food. Friendly service“

“We stumbled on this spot to take out pizza, which is very good. Now it’s become our local spot. Amazing salads - no boring iceberg lettuce, it’s arugula, pears, gorgonzola….Fave entrees include super eggplant parm, tortellini, the classics. Also great lunch deals.
Prices are very reasonable and the staff a delight. No ambiance but it’s a friendly, local spot with super food in generous portions.“

“Award-winning food with a side of award-winning service. Cheers to you Jimmy and thank you as always!!“

“Most amazing subs I’ve ever had, treated with complete respect. I had wings, fries, pickles, Philly steak, and Philly chicken. Taking the first bite it was mouth watering. Thank you!“

“Held my daughter’s Bridal Shower here today and I can’t say enough wonderful things about it. The service and food was exceptional. Everyone was so helpful and accommodating. We were so pleased and I would highly recommend hosting your event here.“

“Always accommodating! Very close to work and convenient.“

“Superb Pizza and Pasta dishes, especially The Sunday Sauce. Casual and consistent. BYO and enjoy!“

“Our family had dinner there this evening. our waiter Austin was absolutely phenomenal and the food was delicious“

“Delicious food and great service. Wonderful atmosphere. So nice to see the owners welcoming you too.“

“Warm, welcoming feeling as soon as you walk in. Our waiter really knew the menu well and how each dish was prepared. Service was excellent. Too many items looked great. Portion sizes are geared for sharing, so larger group would have given us the ability to try more items. The Chicken Parm is as good as everyone has recommended. From the fresh Burrata to two half portions of different pastas and the light Hazelnut cheesecake, it was excellent. We will be back as well a look forward to going their other location, Raia's in Long Branch that recently opened.“

“Hard to beat these Eats Beautiful restaurant“

“Nino Jr's food is so delicious. I recently catered from them for my daughter's baby shower and our guests raved about the food. It was amazing. Everyone wanted to know where the food came from. The entire experience was wonderful! The staff was so wonderful also. Everything from the ordering experience to delivery was incredible. I highly recommend Nino Jr's. The best Italian food!“

“Last night we came in before a show we were seeing! Our waiter Collin was fantastic he was nice and attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed. The pasta with the spicy sauce was amazing. Collin suggested the meatballs and they were honestly the best meatballs I ever had at a restaurant. We will be back for sure!“

“Delicious food, wonderful staff and great music.“

“Music was great, George Markey was awesome“

“love the food!! will eat here any time!!“

“Great food and friendly service. Local family atmosphere. Highly recommended 👌“

“Great food and nice place to be“

“Best restaurant in nj hands down“

“We’ve been going to Illiano’s nearly 36 years. It’s been great since day 1. We usually do takeout and find the pizza, subs and garlic knots to be the best in Monmouth County. When we moved out of town about 3 years ago we tried to find something that was comparable and closer, but that didn’t work out so make the trip back just about every Friday night. We highly recommend them!“

“The food was delicious and our server was excellent. We will be going back. Plus a byob is always nice.“

“Yesterday we had a Luau/Pool party at our new Toll RegencyFreehold Community .. we explained to Frank we had a very bad experience with a previous caterer and he promised us we would be pleased and not to worry. Well, we weren’t just pleased, we were excited and we all felt DAngelos far exceeded our expectations. The compliments kept flowing during the party… the service, setup and food was AMAZING!! Thank you Frank for an awesome job! We can’t wait to call you for our next event!!“

“Awesome food and service by Justin! Thank you!“

“Great food! Lunch portion had me stuffed! I'll be back again!“

“Locale doesn’t just serve Italian food — it seduces you with it. The meal opens with a Margherita pizza that nails the holy trinity: blistered, leopard-spotted crust with a satisfying chew, bright San Marzano tomato sauce, pools of molten mozzarella, and basil that perfumes every bite. It’s simple, soulful, and executed with confidence — the kind of pizza that reminds you why restraint is the ultimate flex. Then come the pastas, each one richer than the last. A creamy spaghetti glistens under cracked black pepper and fine breadcrumbs, indulgent without tipping into excess — silk on the tongue, deeply comforting. The baked rigatoni arrives bubbling and bronzed, blanketed in béchamel and cheese, fork-tender and unapologetically decadent, finished with a rosemary sprig that whispers old-world charm. The seafood salad brings balance: crisp celery, briny sweetness, delicate citrus notes, and freshness that cuts through the richness like a perfectly timed palate cleanse. And just when you think you’re done, a golden, cheese-crusted entrée lands center stage — crackling on top, impossibly tender beneath, finished with olive oil and snow-like Parmesan. Rustic. Elegant. Completely crave-worthy. Ambiance? Warm, intimate, and effortlessly stylish. Wood tables, low lighting, the hum of conversation — the kind of place where time slows, wine flows, and every table looks like it’s celebrating something. Final verdict: Locale is the kind of restaurant you plan your week around — not flashy, just flawless. Come hungry, linger long, and trust the kitchen. This is Italian food done with heart, heritage, and serious skill.“

“Amazing food, great portions and quality for price, friendly and personal able staff, quick service, clean and warm atmosphere. Highly recommend. Definitely make reservations“

“Loved it! Best subs around. I'll be back for sure! Can't wait to try the pizza.“

“We just had my daughter’s first birthday here and it was absolutely perfect! The pricing was very reasonable, especially for everything that was included. The salad, pizza, and appetizers were delicious—all of our guests kept complimenting the food. Jackie truly took care of everything from start to finish, which made the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. The space was also beautifully decorated for Christmas, adding such a cozy and festive touch to the celebration. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate such a special milestone. Highly recommend!“

“Seeking an impromptu dinner option, we decided to visit the main street area of Point Pleasant. Upon arriving early on a Saturday evening, it became apparent that nearby establishments required advance reservations, with limited availability remaining later in the evening. Consequently, we visited Cafe D’Angelo. Upon entering, we were met at a black velvet rope barrier by an individual wearing a cooking apron, who informed us that the establishment operates without reservations. He inquired regarding our dining intent, remarking, “Do you really want to eat here and if you're not sure arrivederci” Upon completing this initial exchange, he escorted us to a table and introduced himself as the dishwasher. Through subsequent conversations during the evening, we learned that his name was Michael Angelo, and that he serves as the owner, chef, and baker. Mr. Angelo explained that after a long career operating restaurants throughout New Jersey, he emerged from retirement to open a smaller venue without a web presence or reservation system, intending to offer high-quality cuisine at reasonable prices.
The dining room is intimate, accommodating approximately 40 guests, with simple yet refined decor. Interacting with the staff and Mr. Angelo quickly establishes a welcoming and memorable dining experience

Service: Attentive and personal.
Food: Appetizer, entree and dessert exhibited a home-cooked quality, being both plentiful and delicious.
Punctuality: Seated promptly

Comments
The cuisine was exceptional, with every dish clearly prepared to order.
The Mussels Marinara were pleasantly spicy and uniquely suited for bread dipping. For our entrees, we selected the Rigatoni in meat sauce and the stuffed flounder; both portions were generous, and the stuffed flounder was accompanied by an abundance of side vegetables. We concluded our meal with freshly baked blueberry-topped cheesecake and espresso. Each course was thoroughly enjoyable, and we look forward to returning frequently, having formed a warm relationship with Michael Angelo.“

“This is our go to place when down the shore! I’ve tried so many dishes here but my favorite meal by far is the Chicken Marcello. Chicken strips with Vinegar Peppers & Potatoes. Outstanding! My wife got the Eggplant Rollatini, but like me has tried numerous others! Kudos to the kitchen staff! The staff is always so friendly. Highly recommend to all.“

“Emilio’s new Bar Pie is hands down the best Bar Pie that I’ve ever eaten. It’s handcrafted and the crust is perfection. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!!“