50 Best Italian Restaurants near Neptune City

“Absolutely delicious pizza and garlic knots!!! I’m from PA and had a whole 2.5 hour drive ahead of me that this pizza fueled, not every pizza spot knows how to do a good meat lovers pizza but man I couldn’t wait to get home to give the review on how good this pizza was! I will definitely be back!!! 💯“

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

“Love this place!! Always an excellent meal. Last night my boyfriend had a blackened pork chop with Murphy sauce and I had Monk fish Francaise. Both absolutely delish!!“

“Wow the pizza was amazing. Love the thin crust, the sauce was good. Just yummy. Next time I’d only order just pepperoni cause the bacon was just ok. We ordered an appetizer of fried ravioli (skip appetizers, just get pizza. Trust me) the vibes of the place were great after a day in the ocean.“

“Had a awesome experience and the lasagna was good“

“Their food is made fresh delicious. Friendly staff. Great prices. Very clean. I love going there. They are outstanding. Great place to have have lunch with your family or dinner Having a party they have pizza kids will love Let’s support this amazing restaurant. In town“

“Delicious food & great staff. I actually have a problem. a new addiction. I'm seeking help. No really. Delicioussssss stuff. 😍“

“I’ve never stepped foot inside despite living here for 25 years. I also passed it but never thought the logo was super inviting. It was tacky but I realized I should never judge a pizza by its logo. Great stuff. Huge slices. Will def be back and I’m glad I tried it on a whim bc I was hungry.“

“Great food and friendly staff, my grandson ask me to bring Luigi’s pizza down to Georgia so 12 hour car ride fresh delivery“

“During our short stay in the area, we chose to dine here as it was one of the few restaurants open on a Monday. We had an excellent meal, with starter and main course which were delicious. The staff were friendly, helpful and very caring towards my elderly mother. Thank you in particular to Adam for his help with organising the taxi for us .“

“Delicious meal from start to finish! Don’t skip dessert ?“

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

“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!“

“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 ??“

“There is no better place in Asbury The service is impeccable. The vibe is fantastic. The food, nothing short of sublime. We had an amazing memorable dinner. The parm is exceptional and enough for 2 or even 3. The Caesar salad fresh and delicious. Pasta made fresh. Who could ask for anything more ?“

“Amazing food amazing service“

“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.“

“The food is so good in Marandola‘s restaurant.“

“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.“

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

“Excellent service by Don. We were fortunate to be seated in front corner window which gave us privacy. Every dish ordered was excellent, including dessert. The back room includes a brick oven. Worth the 5 stars I posted!“

“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!!!“

“Delicious food. The crab stuffed mushrooms were amazing. Highly recommend.“

“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!“

“While we were too early to try anything off the menu, I wanted to thank this business for opening their doors (and bathroom!) to the people at the Pride Parade. The gentleman at the counter was sunny and kind and let everyone in. Most other businesses did not. We already have this place earmarked for our dinner after our next beach day. Thank you for being excellent humans.“

“Great food amazing service and wonderful warm hospitality“

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

“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...“

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

“The food is so good. During the winter it's open to the public, but over the summer it's a club, members only. It's recommended to make a reservation although they can take walk-ins. The pastas are so good. The specialty pizza was delicious. The service was so friendly and attentive. This is a kosher dairy restaurant, with delicious mocktails. They do have fish on the menu as well.“

“We were in town due to a medical procedure and after a long day, we needed to find a place to have dinner. We stumbled upon this gem and were so glad that we did! The food was spot on and the service was great! We will definitely come back when we have to travel here again.“

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

“Amazingly delicious food. Friendly service“

“We just had my daughter’s bridal shower there and everything was perfect. We chose the lunch buffet and the food was delicious. There was so much included and it was priced very reasonably. The room upstairs was very spacious for our group of 40 people. It was nice to have our own bathroom and bar. The servers were friendly and attentive and also very helpful. Thank you for making the day run so smoothly. It was perfect!!“

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

“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!“

“Hard to beat these Eats Beautiful restaurant“

“Food was good but the bread was not! There’s plenty of good Italian bread nearby in Staten Island and bklyn! Get some real bread there“

“Delicious food and friendly service!“

“Great food and nice place to be“

“Everything in the store that’s offered“

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

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

“It’s our favorite place. Liam and all the servers are the best and make the experience whole. The food is exquisite and the chef will go out of his way to accommodate any request even off menu items if he can. The value is incredible as I look forward to the leftovers almost as much as the meal.“

“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“

“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.“

“i was treated to a great Birthday dinner on Saturday evening. Our waitress was amazing and never stopped running. Very crowded. the shrimp scampi was delicious.“

“What a wonderful experience I had unexpectedly today stopping in here while shopping with my daughter. I
Didn’t expect to buy anything but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the reasonable prices. I’m very discriminating when ordering at “Italian Specialty Shops “ because of working in the 5 boroughs of the City. This place is a family on gem with personable owners and workers ! I’ll will be back! Go here!!!“

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