50 Best Italian Restaurants near Ocean Grove

“Excellent food and service! Very friendly staff too!!“

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

“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 .“

“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 ??“

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

“Amazing food amazing service“

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

“If you’re anywhere near Asbury Park, you definitely have to go to Judy’s. Know that this spot is two lovely spaces within the St. Laurent Hotel, Judy’s (the restaurant) and Harry’s (the lounge/bar). We walked in around 6:15pm on a Friday (off-season, but busy) and the FOH staff made a point to find space for us. Joe and Sarah took it from there and were outstanding. Sat at the chefs counter and loved everything that hit our table - latke and crab/shrimp lumache were true standouts. Come for the exceptional atmosphere, attentive service, delicious food or all of the above! 💕“

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

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

“Great food amazing service and wonderful warm hospitality“

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

“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!!!“

“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.“

“The best hospitality one can ever receive. A big shout out to the owner. A true gentlemen and a humble man. This is the definition how an establishment should be ran. The waitress was awesome. I am mad at myself for the super late review but we are here! Food great! atmosphere great! and a nice dinner experience my gf and I had. If you decided to parasail in the area and decide to grab a bite afterwards you will not regret!

Dr. Shawn approved!!“

“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.“

“I am so glad my Dad found this place!! The owners are incredibly sweet, patient and friendly. The food is made fresh, and it's affordable. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!! Oh and the chicken parm to die for! Dessert even better!! Trying to add photos but not letting me. Place very clean!!“

“Been a customer for twenty years. Solid BYOB Italian restaurant with a veteran staff. Owner and general manager are always present. Ownership changed 9 years ago. Very good fresh pastas. I’m totally a fan of their main marinara sauce. Sometimes I’ve asked for it on the side. My wife and I have liked the seafood pasta panadora. I tend to order a lot of salads and I’ve tried most of them. My favorite is their chopped salad ($18). Sometimes I get it with the chicken option. I really like their own salad dressing. It’s a little different. The Greek salad is really good too. The braised slow cook short ribs are very popular; a long time specialty item. Their lunch menu is very reasonable. Surprisingly good burgers and sandwiches. I’m particularly a fan of their tuna sandwich, with several variations. I have found the service to always be excellent. I noticed their bread has been outstanding. Owner said they invested in a new ovens from Italy✅ Their homemade carrot cake is excellent, and I’m fussy when it comes to carrot cake, my favorite😀 Great location in downtown Red Bank on Wallace Street, which is not busy. There is municipal parking nearby. Keep in mind you generally have to pay in Red Bank unless you’re willing to walk a bit. Also, a special mention goes out to special events. They’re particularly good at parties. They scale well to what the needs of the event. It can be simple to full sit-down dinner or buffet.“

“Wow, what an amazing experience!
We came for a staff day out at work from Lakewood, and we had an unbelievable time. The food was excellent with generous portions, and the staff was so available, quick, and efficient even under pressure from our time crunch. The decor and ambiance was beautiful! We would definitely like to come back!

Special shoutout to David and Nico, who were a great team with awesome service!

-Shoshana“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“Amazingly delicious food. Friendly service“

“Great food and nice place to be“

“Highly recommended! This place is great!“

“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“

“Absolutely outstanding!! Great atmosphere, great service, and fantastic food from appetizers to entrees to desserts! Have been to the original in Brooklyn many times over the years but this was our first time at Gargiulo’s in Tinton Falls and it did not disappoint. Spoke to Theresa at the end of the night and she was very welcoming and sweet. We will DEFINITELY be back! Not one negative thing to say about the entire experience.“

“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.“

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

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

“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!!“

“Little Buca is a gem. Clubby atmosphere and very attentive staff...every detail attended to, including between course table crumb cleans! The food is excellent...artichoke appetizer is fantastic. Recently dad the lobster tail and parpadelle special which did not disappoint. Its a BYOB, which I personally prefer. Fair warning, it is cash only.“

“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!“

“Delicious food and friendly service!“

“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!!!“

“Old world Delicious Pizza. Home made Dough not processed. Highly recommended. Sooo good !“

“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!“

“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.“

“We went here yesterday before a show at the theater... Food was outstanding great service and great ambience“

“In town for a wedding and looked for a local Italian restaurant for our night before. Discovered Jimmy’s and after reading some reviews we were sold. Great local spot with wonderful ambiance and terrific food! Bernadette took care of us and did a wonderful job. Highly recommend!!“

“Had the Tricolore Salad with grilled shrimp today and it was DELICOUS!!!! Dad has the poke bowl and loved it. Service and atmosphere were great!“

“Everything in the store that’s offered“

“service food treated like family!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA+++++++++++“