50 Best Italian Restaurants near Middletown

“Beautiful atmosphere, attentive and friendly staff, delicious salads, soups, family style appetizers, meal choices, desserts and drinks - everything was perfect.“

“Amazing food will go back“

“Excellent food for my backyard party!“

“Perfect non boardwalk slice. Regular size but still takes up the whole plate. Great sauce and crust and cheeses is perfect. Thanks AJ and Tony.“

“Absolutely LOVE this place! Been going since I was a student at brookdale and now that I live in Lincroft I order here at least once a week. The entire staff is so nice. If you like good pizza and a family atmosphere, this is a great spot for you!“

“Ordered 2 large trays of Chicken Parmigiana and Chicken Francese last week for my husband’s birthday party. Both trays were plentiful and delicious. Leftovers were frozen in individual packs that we enjoyed all week. Delivery was free Par excellence for Naples in Belford“

“The food is always amazing at Pizza & Pasta Factory, and we order all of the time- especially their wings! Thank you to an exceptional owner George, who patiently sat down with me to plan out my event. When other establishments declined my idea, George was so accommodating to accept! Not only is the food amazing the ownership is top notch! - Jamie Clemente (New Monmouth Elementary School teacher)“

“I stop in regularly for a couple of slices to get my fix. There are some people that make this place great beyond the food. And their names are Juan and Lars. I look forward to seeing them as much as I look forward to the great pizza. Love me some Pasquale's“

“Super delicious Italian cuisine, excellent dessert menu, super ambiance, free parking and to top it all off; you can stroll the boardwalk to enjoy the cool sea breeze of the Atlantic Ocean.“

“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.“

“Regularly a Brooklyn customer and tonight stopped in the NJ location. I really enjoyed the food as usual. Julia was a great server and would definitely go back when in the area. Rob“

“The BEST! Always a wonderful experience. Great food, great service and an amazing atmosphere. A feeling of being in Italy.🇮🇹 Our favorite place to eat. And the owners Mike & Ro are always so pleasant and accommodating.“

“We recently hosted our rehearsal dinner at Patricia's in Holmdel, and we couldn't have asked for a more fabulous experience! Everything was absolutely perfect. The food was delicious and the service exceptional. Ivan and Daniel were outstanding - attentive, professional and so accommodating. A special thank you to John Tomassetti, the manager, who was truly hands-on throughout the entire evening. John went above and beyond and decorated the room to perfection. His attention to detail and dedication helped make our celebration so beautiful and memorable. We are so grateful to the entire team at Patricia's for helping make such a special night more wonderful. We had an amazing time and highly recommend Patricia's for any special occasion!!“

“As a chef, I’ve been wanting to meet Chef Peter Macri for a couple years. I was finally able to make the trip to Staten Island. I was blown away by the whole experience from start to finish. Highly recommend checking out this restaurant or Panini Grill. Even living 2 1/2 hours away, I plan to come back more often.“

“The perfect evening ! Food, service and atmosphere were all spot on! Chef Dimas Montalvo III your a true talent !“

“This was my first time here. I'm visiting from Pennsylvania. It won't be my last. We ordered dinner to go. We had Chicken La Nonna, and Housemade Rigatoni. Everything was light fresh and delicious. The portions were large enough to have some for lunch tomorrow. Fresh bread was excellent. Now let me tell you about the Creme Brule cheesecake. I can't. It was so good that even I am speechless. I may have to go back tomorrow for another piece. Absolutely delicious. The staff was very friendly and the service was great.“

“Amazing food amazing service“

“Thank you for such a wonderful evening! We couldn’t have chosen a better place for Kelsey and Michael’s rehearsal dinner. Service was excellent, staff was so welcoming and accommodating ❤️ All of the food was delicious with beautiful presentation. Thanks so much!“

“Fun atmosphere, delicious food. Our waitress Staci was great! We will be back.“

“This restaurant has amazing food and the waiters are very kind“

“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!!!
.“

“Excellent food and service. A hidden gem.“

“Highly recommended! This place is great!“

“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!!!“

“The food was absolutely delicious. I definitely will be back.“

“Great food amazing service and wonderful warm hospitality“

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

“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 .“

“I hosted a family event at Via Sposito. Everyone was very pleased with our server, Jessica and the dining experience. The food was amazing and plentiful. We have dined there a few times prior to this and were always pleased with food. At our event everything was family style and there was a variety of food. The pizza and zeppoles were also great. They worked within our budget and offered a lot of choices.“

“My favorite! Love their mushroom pizza! Always fresh! They use quality ingredients !“

“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.“

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

“"We planned a girls' dinner at ‘OSfizio and to say it exceeded our expectations is an understatement. The atmosphere and staff were welcoming and inviting, and the food was fresh and absolutely delicious. Gennaro was beyond attentive to our needs, recommending spectacular dishes and ensuring our plates and cocktails were full. We didn't feel rushed out at any point. We felt welcomed life family. If you're looking for great food, a warm atmosphere, and a fabulous staff, OSfizio is the place to visit. You won't be disappointed~ We can’t wait to go back!“

“Amazing food, amazing service. A bit pricy for the area and food but worth the go!“

“Stopped by the newly opened Gigi’s in Long Branch on my way to the beach. First off, loved that they have a parking lot which didn’t stress me about finding a spot cause I was going to have that adventure when I headed to the beach. I ordered the grandma’s pie and garlic knots! The grandma’s pie had pesto on it and I am a s***** for pesto!! Love the crust style being crispy. Hands down the best garlic knots I ever had! Don’t sleep on this place. It’s 3 blocks from the beach, easy parking and they deliver. I look forward to some pasta dishes on my next visit! Other key likes of mine was the aesthetic, it’s beautiful Inside but decorated to make you feel outside. I was very impressed with the kid friendly atmosphere of the chalkboard wall, beanbag seats and they even have juice boxes on hand for the kiddos. They also accommodate our tweens and teens with a pizza wing mural for their insta! They really thought of everything. The whole staff were so accommodating and genuine. Thank you Tommy and Faye for a great experience.“

“Food was good, service was great (Alex) . They charge you if you use your credit card and in my case my debit card. My biggest complaint is that the oysters were the size of my thumb nail, so skip the oysters.“

“I was at a family affair at Angelinas on March 30 2025. I was so impressed with the food, service and atmosphere that I needed to express how amazing the experience was! The food was outstanding! If you are looking for true authentic Italian food, Angelina's is the one. I was so impressed with the service that I needed to shout her out. Her name is Ida, she is from Italy and she was amazing! She ensured that each person was taken care of throughout the event. It is very hard to find a restaurant with a rating of a perfect 10, but Angelina's is! Loved it!“

“Went there with a party of 10. Was very good. Went back the following week with my wife. Food is delicious. Interior very well decorated. Highly recommended.“

“The food and service was second to none. The staff very attentive not over bering. A comfy cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is BYOB this is a plus. The portions are perfect size. I can't find enough good to post.“

“STUMBLED UPON A THIS GREAT FIND. BEEN THERE MANY TIMES SINCE. EVERYTHING IS FRESH, TASTY AND VERY REASONABLY PRICED. IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA DON'T MISS OUT AND STOP BY. ONCE YOU TRY THE FOOD YOU'LL ALWAYS GO BACK. NEVER WRITE A REVIEW BUT THIS PLACE IS SO WORTHY OF ACCOLADES, I JUST HAD TOO.“

“They got beautiful stuff. I wish I could go in there and buy some, but I can’t because I have food stamps!! And they don’t take food stamps. What a shame but there chicken patties are delicious so when I have money, I’ll go by my chicken patties“

“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!“

“I order from Nunzio’s at least twice a month. It’s always fresh, in large amount, and just as good as the last time! I went in for pickup once and everyone was so kind and the kitchen was very clean. Today, uber forgot an item and they personally drove to my house in a flash! I love it there!“

“Raia’s Restaurant is located where the iconic Tuzzio’s used to be. They renovated the space beautifully with old world charm with a modern flare. The courtyard that they created transports you to feeling like you’re on vacation somewhere fabulous. The service was wonderful as was the food. The portions are tiny, so take note of that when ordering. It was on the pricier side, nice for a splurge.“

“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!“

“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“

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