50 Best Italian Restaurants near Irvington

“I used to go to Big Joe's as a teen, I'm around 40 now lol and they came to mind when my kids wanted a Italian cheeseburger. I had a chicken parm. Still delicious as it was over 20 years ago! Thank you Joe's for bringing back that nostalgic feeling. My kids loved it, you're their go to now!“

“We place large orders here and they are always extremely delicious and handled with utmost care. I'm obsessed with the turkey ham and pineapple (don't judge me). The pizza has that chewy crust, the cheese is quality (I know because it melts right), and it's always on time.“

“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.“

“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 :)“

“Wonderful food. Nice attentive service!“

“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.“

“Highly recommend supporting our local dinning. In fact, a party of seven was just booked after sharing a night of Fundraising at Giorgio's.“

“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.“

“We recently hosted an event at Jimmy's Family Kitchen, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The owners and staff were so welcoming and attentive from start to finish! The food was incredible - fresh and beautifully presented. Our guests are still raving about it! Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“everything !!! rice balls can’t be beat. vodka sauce the best“

“Matthew 's Restaurant is 1 of the best restaurants in North NJ if NOT The Best. The food is always Delicious & Service is excellent. Beyond that, the atmosphere or aviance is excellent. The vibe & energy is first rate positive fun & culinary enjoyment. I believe that this fine dining experience is also driven by the owner Matthew who is usually in the restaurant greeting guests & helping out. When you visit Matthew's you'll have a great time and it'll feel like you're on mini-vacation from the stress of every day life while seemingly enjoying the warmth of family. It may be a cliche but it's definitely true. 10 stars ⭐ out of 10.“

“I went at an unusual time, to late for lunch and to early for dinner. The service was excellent and my chicken piccata was wonderful, the portion was generous. Next time I will try the seafood risotto. The prices seemed far and I will definitely be back.“

“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..“

“My husband picked up your margarita pie today for us to try as first time patrons. Oh My God !!!! We have been Mootz’ed !!! The delicious sweet sauce, the perfect texture of the crust and the cheese …… phenomenal!!!! That was hands down the best pie we have had in ages. Can’t wait to come back and try more items.“

“The best Italian restaurant in Rutherford. Huge portions and the fish dinners are incredible. If you see mahi mahi, snapper, cod or salmon on the menu, order it! You will not be disappointed! Friendliest service around!“

“Excellent food, excellent service and reasonably priced!“

“Loved everything about this place. The pizzas are so good. My favorite is the Funghi sooo delicious. We also tried the Bucatini Amatriciana and the roasted octopus from the menu and they were really good. Loved liked the casual atmosphere and the overall vibe of this pace. Highly recommend.“

“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!“

“We had our daughter's baby shower here and it was an exceptional experience. The food and service were outstanding. Highly recommend this wonderful venue.“

“Love the food, love the place, very attentive, don't walk run here, great!“

“Consistently excellent meals with a very attentive staff.“

“Excellent service and food. Accommodating for dietary needs. They even took our group earlier than our reservation which was much appreciated as we were all from out of town and heading home immediately following lunch. Roasted potatoes, chicken francese, eggplant parm and sausage with peppers all got rave reviews.“

“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.“

“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 best pizza in NJ“

“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. 👍👍“

“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!“

“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 ‼️“

“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!!!!“

“We are thrilled to offer our highest praise. The opening of this establishment in Nutley is a valuable asset to the community, and our first visit exceeded expectations. The atmosphere is elegant. The service was impeccable, and the food was delectable. The Caesar salad was unparalleled. We will certainly return. Cheryl, the hostess, is outstanding!“

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

“Our family celebrated my son’s and future daughter’s engagement party here and it was amazing. The food was great and staff took care of us very well. You have got to get there for dinner yourself.“

“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!“

“Seasonal dishes fresh and beautifully presented! Friendly and helpful team with excellent dish recommendations :)“

“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.“

“We went just before closing time and the service was phenomenal! We have a person with autism and they were so patient; when we asked him how he liked his food his response was “the food is so good I feel like I am in Italy.” Thank you for a memorable evening.“

“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.“

“One of the best Italian dinners I've ever enjoyed! Silvio is a great owner, host, chef. The food, including the appetizers were spot-on delicious. The bread was spectacular. We celebrated our daughter's engagement and my 74th birthday and it was excellent. Silvio, Mateo will definitely be back! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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.“

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

“The food never ever disappoints“

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

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

“Had a company holiday dinner ! Matt our server was great ! The dinner was family style . Matt took the time to make everyone leftovers ! Will definitely be back.“

“family environment, friendly staff, good food“