50 Best Italian Restaurants near Middlesex

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

“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.“

“Whenever my family and I are in the mood for ravioli, Sapore is our go-to spot! We'typically get their meat, cheese, mushroom, and roasted garlic ravioli, along with some cookies to go. We also love their meat and vodka sauce. To the gentleman who was there on New Year's Day when the store was closed, thank you so much for letting us in to buy food for our family. You were one of the nicest guy we've ever met, and we truly appreciate you! :)“

“I highly recommend Pizza Center for their excellent customer service and the pizza is delicious too! I ordered delivery through them for a workshop I held for work. I had to modify the order the day of due to lowered amount of attendees then were anticipated. They were completely understanding and had no issue with modifying my delivery order! The attendees who did come to my workshop stated they enjoyed the pizza and kept going up to the table to get more slices!“

“Best Pepperoni Pizza and Rigatoni Bolognese!“

“Service, Ambiente, Essen perfekt 😍“

“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!“

“Great place to have delicious food at good prices . The waitstaff was sooo friendly“

“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 …“

“Moved to the neighbourhood a couple of weeks back and were looking for a nice place to eat... we found Girasole within walking distance and it exceeded our expectations. The staff were attentive yet not overebearing and the food was delicious. Pointing out that I do cook... and well... so it is nice to find a place that I can enjoy without thinking "I could have made this better at home". Definitely be coming back and soon!“

“daFilippo's is a hidden gem of a restaurant that has been my family's special occasion standard for many year's. The Northern Italian menu which changes to focus on only the freshest ingredients has a little Swiss influence and is presented with an artistic touch and personal care. Last evening I hosted sixteen business associates in the back room which has an iron gate for privacy. Filippo presented a five course meal which blew everyone away followed by him playing a few songs on the Piano. The Chicken or Cod dishes were pan seared to perfection. daFilippo's is a BYOB restaurant which I Love. My wife remarked how clean the restrooms are kept. Plenty of parking in the rear of the building. In closing, if you are looking for a family owned, unique restaurant where the owner chef touches every plate to ensure perfection then this is the place to make a reservation.“

“We had an amazing meal a few weeks ago at Luca’s! We were greeted and seated and waited on promptly. We brought our own wine in which they had no problem opening for us. The food was out of this world. Their meatball appetizer is everything you’ve heard and then some. Incredible sauce, bread service, and our meals were excellent. My partner had the octopus for an appetizer and said it was incredible. Both of our meals were amazing and served timely and piping hot. I had the chicken marsala with mushroom risotto, delicious! And he had the veal saltimbocca. The service was prompt, pleasant and just perfect, and the atmosphere is lovely. I highly recommend this restaurant!“

“What a truly spectacular evening from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, everything felt special. The portions were absolutely perfect — generous without being overwhelming — and every single dish was unforgettable. We’re still talking about the food today. It’s so special to see a place run with so much heart, passion, and care. We are so grateful for such an incredible experience. Can’t wait for our next visit.“

“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“

“Food and service consistantly great. Daily specials are varied and well presented. Sweet and spicey calamari is best ever. Our server Niti 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. 👍👍“

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

“Arugula salad special was outstanding“

“Consistently great food with weekly specials Tuesday - Thursday and Friday - Sunday. Very friendly staff. The owner Nick stops by the tables to ensure everything is to your satisfaction. He builds the menu himself - a graduate of Johnson & Wales.“

“Great service, food, and location.“

“Cute and cozy with something on the menu for everyone. restaurant was packed and seemed AC wasn't on , so on the warm side for temperature. Service seems rushed and smiles didn't come easy. My chicken piccata sauce was on the heavy side not light and clear like I'm used to but overall great flavor! Great neighborhood Gem!“

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

“That restaurant's amazing, you gotta try it! A real find in Raritan. The wood-fired pizza is next level — crispy, flavorful, and made fresh with every order. The Italian calamari? Perfectly golden and seasoned just right. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff treat you like family. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a full meal, Il Forno a Legna hits the spot every time. Definitely one of Raritan’s hidden gems!“

“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.“

“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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“We were there for my daughters birthday this past Saturday. My wife and my daughter's boyfriend had the seared salmon which they loved. My daughter had the chicken parm, which she said was good. Her only "complaint" was that the sauce was a bit too sweet for her taste, but the portion was good and the chicken was cooked well. My son enjoyed his pepperoni pizza. He's not very adventerous. I had the Capellini Napoletani. It was very good. The capellini was cooked perfectly for my taste as was the shrimp, clams and calamari. Very tender. The sauce was great. This is our go-to for great food and is my wife's favorite. She is returning with coworkers for lunch on Tuesday. Service is top notch. Keep up the good work. We'll definately be returning.“

“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.“

“Dinner with friends and it was a very nice time. The food and service was very good. It is casual dining with a homemade Italian flair. The Murphy Farms chicken dish is excellent and so are the trout, sole and red snapper dishes. I was not wowed by the Zuppa di pesce, it had way too many salmon (6) pieces and only one scallop, a couple of shrimp, with very little calamari rings, 3 clams an 4 mussels. The black ink linguini was cooked al dente and it was delicious. I'm not sure I would order this dish again. The chicken parmesan was also a nice option. Our guest said that he enjoyed the veal parmesan, which was so huge, that he took left half of it. home. Be warned that the sound level is very energetic. Conversation is challenging and getting a table on the perimeter of the dining room is advised.“

“my review is for the amazing pepperoni slice I just grabbed for lunch. it had a crispy, thin crust with no flop. the sauce was a nice balance of sweet and tangy. the cheese was not excessive, and the pepperoni wasn’t too greasy. I added pepper flakes and oregano because that’s how I like my pizza, but it would be perfectly delicious without it.“

“So grateful to Café Picasso for making my birthday dinner last Friday night a wonderful experience! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was above and beyond! It's dimly lit inside which made reading the menu a bit challenging. However, everything we did order made up for it! I highly recommend the Frittura di Calamari for an appetizer. The following dishes we ordered were spectacular! Rigatoni alla Vodka, Penne alla Grotta, Gnocchi Alessandra, Norwegian Salmon (special), Penne al Forno, Spaghetti alla Carbonara and the Pollo alla Francese! It is a BYOB establishment, luckily there is a wine and spirits store next door. My family will definitely be returning to this beautiful gem in the heart of Somerville!“

“We've been ordering here for a while now. It's one of the better NY/NJ style pizzas in the area without being too specialized.Their pasta and meat menu items are where they are best - looking at you Chicken Puicinella and Cavatelli with Broccoli.For appetizers, they have great wings which are crispy, the way I like them. Also, the fried calamari uses a very light batter, so it's not too heavy.We've ordered trays from them twice for parties and we weren't disappointed in the quantity provided and they were affordable.“

“Excellent food, the owner and staff are extremely friendly! Dusal's is my favorite Italian restaurant!“

“The BEST in Stirling for anything from amazing Stromboli that cannot be beat - fresh doughnuts, bagels & the tastiest desserts... You can't go wrong here. PS: Meatballs are to die for!“

“I love family style dinner and enjoying an evening with my other half“

“Food is fresh and delicious! Hats off to the Chef! Great atmosphere and friendly staff.“

“Amazing Food and service !!“

“Good food in a friendly atmosphere!“

“I recommend this place, food is good. nice environment.“

“Absolutely the best! The food was delicious--I had the seafood ravioli and it was to die for! Husband had a pasta dish, homemade pasta with a tomato based sause with short ribs--out of this world. Great service and beautiful atmosphere! Will be coming back soon!!!“

“Every year we take a trip or two to come to this restaurant from Rochester NY ! One year we brought friends of 12 people and went to make reservations and they were full ! Once I told them who we were and we come every year they went above and beyond and got us a private table in the back by the street and accommodated all of us no problem ! Everyone loved it there AND one of their waiters is from where we are in NY it was great to have conversations with him ! Can’t wait to go back again . The mixed drinks as in the mojitos are my favorite! The oil for dipping is perfect !“

“love this place Food is delicious, service is great ---will def come back1!!“

“Food is always good, people are friendly the only problem I had is outside of this. Today when I paid I used my debit card instead of paying cash like I have every other time this was around 12:15pm today. The employee made a big deal about it being a NASA Card (my mom worked at Nasa & I have had an account there since 10th grade) By 1:30pm someone had attempted to use my card for a $1,339 AT&T purchase that was declined three times then used some Delta D account to charge $799.60 and unfortunately the second attempt work. I just came from the location and and all I had was smoke blown up my but. Either an employee or patron did something and they have a camera inside the store but was told the owner has the key. If the owner would just let me know when he will be there I will show up and we can handle this like gentlemen. I have been going to this place for over 5 years and work near by. For the record the card has been cancelled and NASA is tracking where charges are being attempted from. Paul“

“This deli is almost hidden in a big plaza. It is a small spot but the food is delicious. The chicken parm with vodka sauce was good. The true test of a sandwich is the bread and the bread is the star of the show here. The pasta salad with grilled chicken was delicious as well. It had a vinegary dressing that worked. I would recommend you try if you are in the area.“

“Quaint and cozy restaurant. Friendly service. Great takeout. We’ve been going there for years. We even had them cater some parties for us.“

“Delicious food and outstanding service.“

“This past Saturday, 5.21.22, my family and I ventured out to Cucina Mandreucci, for the first time since covid, for my niece's college graduation celebratory dinner. We have been here before for other special family occasions, as well as for everyday family dinners. No matter whether you are a party of 20 or an intimate party of two, Cucina Mandreucci will treat you like family. They handled our rowdy bunch with ease. Jill, our server, and our busser (I apologize, but I forget his name) treated us like family. They remembered us from our last large family gathering three years ago, as well as from the last time I was there with my fiance and our four children. They remembered where we sat and what we ate; simply put, they (but especially Jill) made us feel at home, and welcomed us back with open arms. As if that were not enough, the food was, once again, outstanding! I am a picky eater, and that puts it mildly. Jill was ready for my crazy requests and substitutions. She, and the kitchen, handled it all like pros. As if our large, rambunctious party were not enough to handle, we actually forgot a to-go meal for a family member who was unable to attend; we put that request in as we were paying the bill. Not four minutes later did that food come out of the kitchen ready to go. When I tell you this place has their stuff together, that is the truth. This is my favorite restaurant in Middlesex County for sure, and of course we'll be returning!“

“Great place! We come back to NJ from Arkansas and love getting a meal in here!“

“Awesome dinner - awesome atmosphere - very friendly people and staff!!!“

“We stopped in for dinner at Chrone’s Trattoria to try the food since it’s under new management now. It was SO good!! I got the Greek salad with chicken cutlet and onion rings. Everything was so fresh. I can’t wait to come back- their menu includes a ton so an easy place to go with friends for a great meal. Definitely check it out!“

“Drove from Cleveland to a meeting in NYC, specifically had a layover in New Brunswick, just to have dinner. This was my second trip for dinner in two months and it exceeded all expecations, the hoilday decor transformed the second floor. The service (Regan) was on point, pleasant and efficient with out being over bearing. The meal was the single greatest pasta dish I have had in the U.S. (wild boar ravioli) Already making plans to return, if you are with in a days drive, you really have no excuse not to enjoy a meal with them.“