50 Best Italian Restaurants near Kenilworth

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

“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.“

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

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

“Consistently divine food prepared with quality products. Chef Sal Taormina has perfected his seafood items but I've never tasted anything there that I didn't enjoy. Even a simple Italian salad is delicious likely due to using the best olive oil and vinegar. Don't miss the chocolate box for dessert - a dark chocolate box filled with yummy fruit and vanilla ice cream - unique and a real treat.“

“The Food was delicious, service was 5 star . I would really recommend this lovely place for a dinner date or a big party at there huge room rental hall“

“Great food. Big variety menu“

“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.“

“As someone who grew up in and loves Metuchen deeply, I can officially add Terzo to one of the most memorable places of one of my favorite towns. Came here to have dinner and introduce my parents to my boyfriend’s parents, a very special occasion for us. At no point did we feel rushed throughout our experience which I appreciate a lot since we were there from 6-9pm on a Wednesday night.
The atmosphere is beautiful and perfect for any special occasion or date night. Everyone was raving about the food the entire time!
For appetizers we got the peach burrata salad, wagyu meatballs (our favorite!), and the calamari (second favorite!!). For dinner we loved the cacio de pepe and chicken parm. The crab risotto was a top contender too. Oh my, the portions are so big so be ready to take some home! For dessert we had the apple pie cannolis and coffee. Sangria was yummy but in a smaller pitcher than we normally see, so get two if you have a bigger group! I wish I took some pictures of our food but we were having too good of a time to actually think about it!
Seriously, thank you to all the staff that worked 9/2/26! All of the servers and runners were beyond sweet and thoughtful!“

“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.“

“Food was delicious despite the meat not being cooked as requested. The atmosphere & our server, Julian, were incredible! Julian found out at the end of our meal we had a celebration & went above and beyond to help us celebrate! Would definitely recommend & return (-:“

“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.“

“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.“

“Wonderful food. Nice attentive service!“

“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.“

“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 great people my wife and I go to place“

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

“My husband and I just ate at Allettante, and what a superb experience!! Everything was absolutely delicious. My husband had the Chicken Parmesan, and I had the Branzino. Both dishes were flavorful, beautifully prepared and truly did not disappoint!

Our waitress was incredibly attentive and made sure we were comfortable and satisfied throughout our entire dining experience. A huge shoutout to all of the owners as well, who personally took the time to come over, greet us and thank us for supporting their establishment. That personal touch meant so much!

It’s always a pleasure to support a Black-owned, Newark-raised family restaurant, that takes such pride in its food, hospitality and community. We will definitely be back again and again! Wishing Allettante continued success and many more years of serving the community. 🩷“

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

“Amazing Food and service !!“

“went here with my daughter a few days ago, and everything was outstanding. The food and drinks were delicious, and I had one of the best Cosmos I’ve ever had
and I’m very picky about my Cosmos! The atmosphere was wonderful, and the service was great as well. I highly recommend this place and can’t wait to come back.“

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

“Very fun social vibe, special Birthday ritual, food was excellent, I practically licked my plate, service was attentive and the manager very active.“

“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.“

“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 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!“

“Todo excelente, lo recomiendo“

“Teresa is lovely & welcoming & did a fabulous job with this Italian deli/restaurant! Delicious meatballs, great salads, spotless & cozy dining space along with pretty outdoor seating. I definitely recommend this restaurant.“

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

“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! :)“

“Here’s my review that I’ve been meaning to leave for a while! Overall, I’m really happy this place opened in the neighborhood and we’ve already been back several times.

Location/atmosphere: Unbeatable. Such a great addition to the Walnut Street area, and I’m a huge fan of the fast casual setup. It makes eating out with kids SO much easier. The patio is also amazing and has quickly become one of those places you naturally gravitate toward with kids or on a beautiful day.

Food: Really great! We’ve enjoyed the pastas, salads and pizzas. The menu is very pork-heavy, and I do hope over time they consider adding a few more options that make the menu accessible to those who don’t eat pork, including Muslim and Jewish diners. That said, I understand the menu is very authentic to the specific region of Italy the owners are from, and I genuinely respect that they’ve stayed true to that rather than watering it down. Hopefully there’s a way to preserve that authenticity while adding a little more variety over time.

Accessibility: The patio is wonderful, but the main entrance has a step, which can make getting in with a stroller or wheelchair a tad stressful. There is a flat entrance along the side, as well as a side door, but both have generally been blocked off when we’ve visited. I’m sure there’s a reason, but I’d love to see that reconsidered, it would make the restaurant much more accessible and stroller-friendly!

Service: The wait staff are fantastic. Everyone we’ve interacted with has been incredibly kind, patient and genuinely great at what they do. My one piece of constructive feedback is regarding one of the owners (glasses/slicked-back hair). On a few visits, I’ve found his demeanor a little dismissive or unwelcoming, whether asking questions about the menu or dining with our extended family. It’s hard to pinpoint and certainly not enough to keep us from coming back, but there have been a few interactions where I’ve walked away feeling like we weren’t quite as warmly received as other customers. I’m mentioning it because everything else about this place makes us want to keep supporting it, and a little more warmth in those interactions would go a long way.

Overall, a really great neighborhood addition with delicious food, an amazing outdoor space and a wonderful staff. We’ll absolutely continue coming 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. 👍👍“

“Love Felina! It is so beautiful inside and the food was very good. We all enjoyed the complimentary eggplant and bread and the linguine dish was fantastic! The calamari app was also perfect. My friends and I were there for all of our birthdays and it was fantastic, they made us feel so special!!! Our server was so helpful and nice. The bar manager was also so nice and made excellent drinks! We all shared a perfect tiramisu to end the night. We are def going back!“

“Excellent food and service. A hidden gem.“

“ALWAYS.. fantastic Italian food. The very best!! Been going there every Saturday night since they opened. Unbelievable Italian cuisine, great service & Frankie and Jen are concerned & attentive to their customers.“

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

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

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

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

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

“This restaurant is very delicious , the environment is very calm and the staff are very lovely . The owner is also a very generous man and makes you feel super comfortable . I personally
Tried a stuffed ravioli dish and it taste delicious. Definatly give this place a try you will certainly not regret it .“

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

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

“The food was delicious!!!“

“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.“