50 Best Italian Restaurants near Ocean Gate

“Our pizza adventures continue and we found ourselves at the Anchor Inn a few nights ago. The place was full of families and friends enjoying a varied menu. We came for pizza but ended up ordering an appetizer and salad. Everything was very good! Service was fast and attentive. There’s an accessible entrance. Street parking was easy, but there’s also a parking lot. The place is probably a madhouse in the summer, but we had no trouble getting a table.“

“We're new to the area and heard Espo's was a good place to try. We were not disappointed! We noticed an item was missing from our order. When I called to let them know, I didn't even get a chance to say hello. They said "we know we forgot an item and we're making you a fresh batch and on our way" They even threw in a dessert! BTW, the food was great and the cannloli was even better...“

“Ate there for the first time. 0rdered their Children Parm Dinner. Another member of my party had the Eggplant Parm Dinner. They serve it with homemade bread. The food was tasty and moist. The sauce is not runny and tastes fresh. The meat was tender. Their portion size is large. The chicken was one large piece. Not 2 very small pieces hidden under a lot of cheese and sauce. The gentlemen that were running it were very friendly. It is a small store with great food and service. The serve a variety of food from pizza, calzones and heroes. The store is well lit and clean.“

“This is our go to restaurant because we always know we will have a great meal. The food is amazing. Staff is on point and so professional. Kate, our server was one of the sweetest people we have met. Made our meal even more special. Thank you for an awesome meal and we will be back!!“

“Don’t miss this great BYOB. Our family of 10 had an early dinner here this evening. Our waiter, Dylan, was spectacular. Friendly, positive and attentive. The food was awesome. Great fried calamari, meatballs and mussels for apps. And the entrees were huge and delicious. Would have never had guessed this from a small storefront in a strip center. Great vibe…highly recommend!“

“Half our order was to be vegan and both vegan dishes had errors, but were both quickly addressed and fixed by staff, who were all amazing. The veggie vegan pie was SO GOOD and I love that it was stacked with veggies. I would definitely order again!“

“Wanted to share the great experience we had at Piccolino's on Saturday. We had a party of 16 and Meg graciously offered for us to come in at 3:30 pm which we did. Everyone raved about the appetizers and their meals. Everything was delicious and the service was on spot. Everyone on staff was so personable and made you feel like you were part of their family. I could go on and because it was truly excellent. Thank you all for a great time and delicious food. We will all be back!“

“A small Italian deli. Carries a broad variety of prepared foods. Lots of breads, olives and antipastos. Some items looked very special like their eggplant towers, their fried flounder cutlets and their eggplant and long hot dish.I took lots of pics.They make sandwiches to order, but no dine-in.It has a sister restaurant in Seaside.Not cheap, but few good Italian delis are. :-)“

“I've had a really tough couple of weeks & decided to take myself to dinner! my friend always talks about how much he loves this place is, so I took his recommendation & I'm so glad i did! the calamari was crispy & very tasty! the lobster ravioli was cooked too perfection! the people were super friendly & I thoroughly enjoyed my meal! I can't wait to visit again & think everyone should give it a try! thank you to everyone for such a wonderful night!“

“1st time but came recommended so my wife and I went 01/19/23 and loved it.The service from tiffany was a 10...food a9.5..their fried calamari was the best.A year later and this place went downhill.I would change my opinion and go to Dolce Liberta in manahawkin better food and better pricing and atmosphereKid-friendliness: Tiffany said it was her first day but was the best service we ever had maria was the best waitress ever she knows me as the wine guy“

“Fantastic family owned and operated Italian Restaurant. Delicious menu and even if you want something special, they will always try to accommodate you. The owner,Orlando is the chef along with his wife, and if he's not swamped, will come out and greet his guests( many of who he knows by name) The portions are generous , the appetizers are yummy, and the homemade bread is to die for. His son Pasquale is the pizza chef and his pizzas are the best around as far as I'm concerned. The crust is firm and crispy around the edges. The sauce , cheese and toppings are fresh and abundant and they are light and DELICIOUS and you don't want to stop eating slice after slice !!!! My family's favorite Go To place. Try the fried calamari, the muscles in marinara sauce. All the pastas are great as well as any meat or fish dish. My favorite Eggplant Parmigian over anywhere !!!!“

“New favorite place! Not expensive! DELICIOUS! We got a medium pie half margarita with meatball and half with sausage peppers and onions … there wasn’t an empty spot on the pizza. Completely covered in ingredients! We also tried the California cheesesteak! That was amazing! So yummy! This is definitely going to be our new spot!“

“I've been getting my pizza from them for about 7 years and there's a reason for that. It's great food! Their chicken parm pizza is our favorite. Also love the grandma's pie. We always get the rice balls. They are fantastic. Service is great. Everyone is always super nice. I've never had an issue.“

“Finally, Cucina Fresca has come back to Bayville! Let me tell you something, people: if you're craving flavor, if you're craving taste, if you're craving the kind of experience that'll make your taste buds stand up and salute, then you need to head straight to Cucina Fresca!From the moment you walk through those doors, you can smell what Cucina Fresca is cooking, and let me tell you, it's not just food; it's a culinary masterpiece! Their sandwiches are like a symphony of flavors dancing on your tongue, and their pasta? It's like a flavor explosion in every bite!So, if you're ready to take your taste buds on a journey they won't soon forget, head on over to Cucina Fresca and prepare to savor the flavor!“

“My boyfriend and I have been coming here pretty frequently for a month now. We created our own version of pizza…Grandma Style Marguerita Pizza with bruschetta on top. Fusaros is great because they made it absolutely perfect and tastes amazing! Hopefully they add it to their menu for other people to try. Never a bad meal from there.Sometimes we will order the Chicken Mimma or Pasta Mimma…both delish and tasty and very helpful serving!Give them a try!“

“Don't know why we waited so long to try this place! Holy cow! We haven't had anything yet we didn't love. The chicken parm sandwich on garlic bread is to die for. We haven't tried the pizza yet but it looks amazing. Only off-putting thing to us is that there's ricotta on the chicken parm pizza which imo is just icky. You don't put it in the dish or the sandwich so why on the pizza? But it's ok. Just say the word and they won't put it on. That will most likely be how we roll. Can't wait to try it!“

“Recently enjoyed a business lunch at this wonderful restaurant. I had the chicken parmigiana which was perfectly cooked and served with linguini. The fresh filet was wonderfully thin and the breading was light and crisp. The entree was served with a choice of soup or salad. I had the soup - a beef barley that was kitchen crafted with a thick broth that was rich in flavor. Others at our table sampled differing items on the menu. All were authentic and presented well.I would strongly recommend going out of your way for this fine restaurant.“

“Eight of us went for dinner 2 weeks ago. The service was great. Our waitress was very pleasant and attentive. The food was fantastic! We were all very impressed with Saltimbocca and plan to return for another terrific evening!!! I very highly recommend it.“

“I have eaten tons of pizza in all my years. For some reason I fell in love with pizza from Sal's Italian restaurant. And I had gotten and antipasto that was absolutely my favorite again. Thanks to the crew, Sal and the gang. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Cheese steaks are phenomenal,pizzas are great,wings are fantastic! My daughter on her birthday even requested "potatoes pizza"(tomatoes pizza) we've tried other places with pizza,wings and cheese steaks in Lacey and it never compares to Tomatoes Pizza. And the Fatty Joey is to die for.“

“First time my husband and I were there. Very friendly staff, and the food was amazing. We had volcano shrimp for appetizer. Bread with olive oil to dip..I had the lazy day grouper with spinach. The best I've ever had. My husband had pretzel crusted pork chops which was also very good. So happy we went and had the most delicious dinner. Looking forward for the next time. It's our new favorite place!“

“Pan pizza with meatballs was excellent! Wife had penne with Alfredo, she loved it. Definitely ordering again!!!Vegetarian options: Just mentioned when ordering. Very accommodating. Penne w/ Alfredo, and french fries. Garlic knots were not soaked in oil, but had a nice crust on top, like a garlic parmesan paste!“

“My children had a 70th birthday dinner there for me on 1/20. The food was amazing! The service was outstanding, and the birthday cake, well I seriously could have eaten the entire cake! Everything about this restaurant is outstanding. There were 12 of us at the table, they were welcoming and right on top of everything. I highly recommend this place! You won’t be sorry. Oh the the entertainer singing was awesome! Very nice, I will be back.“

“Food presentation and taste was wonderful. I was happy to see that they still serve a salad and side dish with the main entree as many restaurants don’t anymore. The restaurant itself was very cute, I do wish it was a bit larger of a space only due to noise. There was a very large party and the people talking/laughing in combination with the acoustics of the room just made it sound extremely loud inside, my husband and I could barely concentrate to talk. It would have been nicer to have the party in a private area, if the restaurant was larger. The staff were all very friendly and kind. Overall we were impressed and will def be back!“

“This is the first time hiring Casertano's to make food for a party. Well, it was just great. All the different trays of food was amazing. My guests enjoyed the food. Cooked to perfection. Very generous portions and tasty. So happy with the food and service.“

“Beet salad. Great. Linguine and clams, struck me as odd. The flavor was very good. Clams, good. Never had beans in my vongole. Don't know what I think about it. Also using out of season fresh tomatoes is never a good idea. My advice, lose the beans, switch to canned San marzano tomatoes and you got the real deal. But maybe that was the point. Not making it like everyone one else. A for effort!“

“The go-to pizza place for me and the family. Great variety of pizza and their dinners are also very good. The portions of the dinners are very large for the prices. There is minimal in seating in the pizza place so I recommend to go ordering.“

“Being from NY, this place is hands down one of the best pizzeria’s in south jersey. We’re new to the area and have tried a lot of places around and it was nice to finally be satisfied! Grandpa pie and regular pie were absolutely delish!“

“Being from Staten Island I was really happy they opened this place up here! The lobster and octopus are high points!Lobster is cooked good, served in many dishes and you don’t have to put much effort into getting to the meat.The octopus is a thick fine meat and almost taste like a steak. It’s very good! So is the lobster and pasta dishes. There are much more on the menu and you can fill up for days for a good price!I should have worked here… sorrry I missed the interview Wednesday. Lots going on! Good luck in New Jersey we love you guys!“

“This is our new favorite place. First time walked in, the guys were so busy pumping out the orders. The wait only meant that the pizza was amazing. The pizza 10/10. We ask for the regular crust done thin… and it cooks so nice, and the flavor of the crust and the sauce is outstanding. The Nonna Nunzia Pizza was incredible. You guys rock.“

“Hands down best pizza in South Jersey and I don’t say that loosely. The quality and taste of the pizza is not like any other pizzeria around here. Whatever they do or use to make their pizza sets them apart from the rest. You’d have to go to the boroughs to get anything that taste as good. Very “

“I feel like I'm family going into this restaurant every time. It makes me wanna be part of the Italian Mafia, I am family every time I walk into that restaurant . The food "forget about it" It's ? 'Magnifit'! They have a wide variety of wine options ? ?? ?? 'Familia es eportante' ??‍♂️Kid-friendliness: It's a family friendly restaurant. We Love It ❤️“

“Can’t wait to go back and try other dishes but first I have to give the chef props for making delicious food. The pizza and the calamari was so fresh and delicious. We also tried the chicken franchise and boy it was so good that I forgot to take a photo of it. Nicole was our friendly server. I’m going back for my birthday next week and can’t wait to try other dishes and hopefully ear some good karaoke.“

“This place had the best pizza I've EVER had. It was so amazing! The seafood pasta was also amazing. When I come back to Seaside, I,m 100% only eating here. The restaurant has really nice outdoor sitting. The staff was really nice. It's one of the best restaurants I've EVER been to. If you are ever in the area, you HAVE to come here!“

“I just placed an order for delivery and WOW! I have to say best service from the guy on the other end of the phone and phenomenal food! 10/10! Thank you guys so much!?✨?Kid-friendliness: The person I spoke to on the phones kindness went above and beyond. His charisma definitely didn’t go unnoticed! His motto was we never say no?❤️✨“

“I am telling you if you went an authentic Italian Dinner this is the place to go. Stop going to the big names restaurants and over paying for mediocre food. This restaurant and Chef Umberto never disappoints. Give it a try you and I promise you will be never go elsewhere.“

“Love the gf pizza!Dietary restrictions: I've had their gf pizza a couple times, and it's one of the better kinds I've found. Plus I've never gotten sick from it, so they must be careful about cross contamination over there.“

“Stopped in here randomly and was pleasantly surprised. Best food I've had down here in a while. Got a chicken cheesesteak and mozzarella sticks, both delicious. Was greeted as I walked in and thanked on the way out. Highly recommended.“

“The cheesecakes were absolutely stellar. Perfect NY style, creamy and rich. The staff were very friendly and attentive. For appetizers we had the Nonna's meatballs which tasted like they were slow cooked in sauce all day and delicious. I needed a pinch of salt but my tastes are salt heavy. The Italian empanadas were stuffed with chicken cacciatore but we're a little bland, they came with 2 sauces that were amazing, a red pepper and a gremolata. I would rather the gremolata on ANYTHING. We also had the short rib ragu papardelli. The sauce was very red wine forward for me, but the meat was melt in your mouth tender. Overall, a very good meal.“

“The food was amazing I highly recommend the tagliatelle mushroom pasta. My only complaint is that my partner was charged $12 when he asked about substituting asparagus for broccoli and we weren’t told that it would be an additional charge (they didn’t even eat the broccoli) and when we asked about it we were brushed off. Other than that it was a great experience“

“They win the boss of the sauce competition all the time, well deserved. They never mind all our strange requests and modifications which is a must for our family. Great pizza, sub, entree dinners, appetizers, zeppolis, never got a bad dish. Chicken tenders are actual strips of breaded chicken breast and not the frozen kind, so it's a must on every order, with the marinara for dip is best way.“

“I have had food from here plenty of times. I have always enjoyed it - my absolute favorite is the Buffalo chicken pie w blue cheese! The crust is always perfectly cooked and it's not super messy. They delivered very quickly and I like all the different options on their menu. Highly recommend.Dietary restrictions: They offer cauliflower pizza !“

“OMG!! Sooooo good. Ordered from here for the first time and I'm so glad I did. Pizza is very very good. I had it delivered and I was a little worried when it took 40 minutes to get to me but it was literally still piping hot. Delicious. And whoever the very nice woman on the phone was who took my order thank you for your gracious hospitality. She should be the only one who answers the phone. Looking forward to trying a pasta dish!“

“I ordered catering for Easter 2024 and I have to say besides the food being incredibly delicious, they went above and beyond with their presentation. They gave us a tray of garlic knots that were crispy, soft and flavorful. The Chicken Franchese and the Veal Sorrentino were incredible just like how I remember it to be back in Brooklyn in the old days. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to anyone ............“

“The best pizzeria in Brick to grab a slice or sit down for a fire dinner. The pepperoni and sausage was exactly what a meat lovers pie should be. Also, the owner made my pie and was very friendly and accommodating to anything we needed. Love when the guy making the dough is the guy making the dough ?“

“Too many places in the boardwalk have too thin a crust. Thin crust is for Chicago pizza, I want a real jersey slice when I'm at the shore. Thankfully, Dj's got the memo! Their crust has the perfect structural integrity and a nice "bounce" when you bite into it-- crispy on the outside but fluffy and bready on the inside. The sauce has a great spice blend with plenty of flavor. And the cheese! Melty and gooey goodness. This is the essential Jersey slice right here. Looking forward to making the trip back here next year.“

“My partner and I attended a 60th Birthday celebration here yesterday, 4/14/2024, for an old and dear friend of mine. The entire experience was over the top. The moment my partner and I sat down a waiter was at our service, asking if we would care for something to drink. The appetizers, salad course and main course were all amazing, as was the service. The birthday cake and coffee were superb. If I lived close to Via Veneto I would definitely return there. I highly recommend this restaurant.“

“My husband and myself new Mario and Maria and their daughter Sylvia and their son-in-law rest in peace Mario The restaurant is fantastic delicious food great people very well done I think you should go and check this place out haven’t been there in a few years ready to go back thank you Dee and “

“The Pizza was the best I ever had in Seaside!! The sauce had just a hint of Rosemary that made it so yummy!!!! Also, they have "lunch Specials" that are available until 4pm at an excellent price!! We tried the Pasta Primavera with Spaghetti!! It was amazing!! The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was a great white sauce with Spinach, Broccoli, Zucchini and just the right amount of garlic!!! It was plenty for me to share with my sister!!! What a delight to find this charming delicious restaurant right around the corner!!!Vegetarian options: The Pasta Primavera was an excellent vegetarian dish!!!“

“The BEST pizza in the area. Unlike most of the other places we have tried they use real cheese. Got a large pepperoni to go and we loved it.Follow up, had a full blown sit down dinner and everything was fabulous. The food was delicious and it's not your same old run of the mill menu.Just ran in for slices and the pizza was perfect!“