50 Best Italian Restaurants near Ocean Grove

“So glad to find a place that makes gluten free dairy free pizza that is so good. With certain dietary restrictions it can be so hard to eat out and maintain the way I like to eat. Their menu is very “diet restriction” friendly and their cauliflower crust is so good. You won’t miss the gluten or the cheese!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free, dairy free“

“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 ??“

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

“Really really delicious pasta dishes. Traditional style and homemade. The quatro formaggi was so good. Hostess was lovely and the owner/gm seriously wants everyone to have a great experience when you eat here. Been here on dates and with family. Not crazy expensive for just pasta. Check this place out.“

“Great food, amazing atmosphere. The staff and the food is the reason I come every week. The gem stone of neptune city!Parking: Plenty of parking except for friday and Saturday nights, it gets super busy, somewhat of a wait but we'll worth itKid-friendliness: extremely kid friendly restaurant“

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

“Very cute and loud bistro experience! Shaun greeted and seated us, and was out waiter! We scored 100% just on having Shaun! BUT! My friend ordered the braised short ribs, which even to look at as butter knife yumsters! I ordered the Dover Sole lemon/capers. Our experience was extraordinary start to end!! Yeah! You will pay a lot of $ to dine here, but it is a million % worth it!“

“Absolutely love this place! Our waiter was amazing and very knowledgeable on everything on the menu. Yes EVERYTHING!! I personally don’t like beets but everyone I was with said they were to die for. Meatballs were amazing. The tomato sauce was so yummy. Mushrooms I would label as vegetarian steak. Beautifully charred. The sausage and peppers pasta dish is my favorite thing on the menu. I love everything about it. Pasta is always perfectly cooked. I can’t say enough good things about this place!“

“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.“

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

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

“This is now our new favorite restaurant. Fabulous home made pasta. Unbelievable drinks. Great vibe. Love the white tablecloths. The waiter was amazing! We will definitely be back. You would never know from the outside what a great restaurant it is, but never judge a book by its cover, right??? They have been here 20 years and I can't believe I never knew about this great restaurant! After dinner we moved to the bar for after dinner drinks. The bartender was great. Surprisingly we were the only couple in the dining area and 11 other women at the other tables. It got really loud because the floor is tile. When we moved to the bar area it was much quieter and that's where we discovered all the couples quietly eating dinner at the bar. Note to self the dining room can get loud!!! The music is so soothing. What a wonderful restaurant! Did I say that already!!! The center pieces are fig buds. We saw the chef cutting herbs outside before the restaurant opened. How cool is that!!!!“

“Ordered on their website. Delivery was not that long. Got a personal plain pie, jalapeno poppers, and pasta fagioli. All great, but would've liked the poppers to be warmer. They were still delicious and came with marinara which was a nice surprise.“

“This place has so far been a pleasant experience, the ambience, food and service have been outstanding and definitely the place I would like to go back to. I tried their chickens, pizzas and wine as well as in house made mozarella and everything was pleasing to the palate.“

“A deli with an extensive menu. The sandwiches are stuffed and delicious. I coild only eat half of my chicken cordon blue. The mushroom soup was fantastic. There's seat yourself seating, and the place was doing nonstop takeout when we were there for lunch. Definitely going back!“

“We've been to Flavia's several times and have always enjoyed our experience. The service is fast and attentive and has it has a super cute modern Italian interior. We always try something new each time we go and haven't been disappointed yet. This time, we had the carbonara spaghetti and pesto fettuccine and it was perfectly al dente and delicious! I can't wait to come back to try the amaretto cheesecake!“

“Always great food and service! They also have an extremely efficient takeout system. The staff is always very friendly and quick. Favorites are the house salad, Jim's salad, cauliflower crust pizza and chicken parm. Definitely a shore favorite!!“

“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 go to Cipriani’s several times a week because it is local to where I am most of the week: the food is great and fresh. The staff is hands down fantastic. The only issue I have is the pricing. Listen, I get it. Everything cost triple than it did just a couple years ago, but pizza really shouldn’t cost as much as they charge. I recommend them for their food just know, for what you get it’s pricey“

“This place is truly awesome. All the food is great, not just a pizza place. My wife, children, and I love this establishment. We could not recommend it enough.Parking: Best to find a spot on main street, or you will have to park behind in the public town parking lot.Kid-friendliness: My children love the food, but Qua has a small dining room. So just make sure that you and your children are respecting that.Wheelchair accessibility: The restaurant itself is wheelchair accessible. However, There is only 1 handicap space close to the unit, and it is on Main St.“

“We found this spot last minute because the pizza place we were headed to had a 30+ minute wait- and I’m so glad they did because the food was fabulous. I’ve lived in the area for over 40 years and go to the same places that have become Jersey shore institutions when we get the thin crust pizza craving but La Lupa rates above them all. We ordered the mussels marinara, chicken and margarita pizza, garlic knots that were the size of my hand and even dessert! Just wow. The staff and possibly owner were super welcoming, friendly and we just could not get over how attentive they were. He made the marinara extra spicy for me for my mussels and the sauce even challenged my Nona’s (sorry Nona). The thin crust pizza was wonderful. Just the right amount of toppings, great sauce and wonderful dough/crust. We loved the food so much we asked if they deliver to ensure this becomes are go to pizza delivery from now on! The only reason they got 4 stars for atmosphere is because it’s a small little place with minimal tables as it’s a pizza place from a venue perspective with restaurant menu that I can’t wait to continue to try!“

“Go Back In Time… (and I mean waaaay back) when every single bite of food, explodes with natural flavor, not spices but the genuine homemade tastes like Nonna made!Even the atmosphere brought me back decades; we walked in and were greeted by the owner with such warmth. I instantly felt like I knew him (though to be clear, I don’t). And I hope you can understand it) this is his kitchen, that he opens up to you, with love. The place- is like his home, like a big dining room. You’ll instantly feel at home, like family.He makes everything EVERYTHING from scratch and you can taste it!I had The BEST Pizza of my life! AndI had stuffed rigatoni in vodka sauce , my eyes rolled back in my head! There was so much but it was outta this world!You gotta go!Vegetarian options: There’s tons to choose from. They’ll make what you wantKid-friendliness: It’s very family friendly“

“We have picked up pizza from Del Ponte’s twice now and every time it has been delicious. We’ve tried two different pies, the Tri-color without sauce and the Napolitano and both were great. They have a variety of amazing specialty pies. The crust is light and flavorful. All of the ingredients are top notch and always fresh. If you’re looking for great coal fired pizza, this is the place to go. Looking forward to dinning in the next time we visit!“

“We came here on a Saturday night with a reservation for a group of 6. You enter through the pizza shop to get to the dining room and were promptly seated. Our server was excellent! She was very polite, friendly, did not mind repeating herself and was very patient with the elderly members of our group. The food was delicious, the portions were huge and everyone enjoyed their selection. Found a new gem with great prices plus BYOB. Only downside is the dining room gets a little loud. But we will definitely go back!“

“Fantastic. Nice selection of prepared foods and pantry staples in a not-gigantic space. Super helpful staff, and maybe owner(?) helped me find what I needed, carried it to my car, and let me know if I call ahead on a future visit, they can get me what I want the next day. I haven’t tried my take out items yet but they look goooooood!“

“This was an absolute hidden gem! We were trying to find something midway for our friends meeting us and decided to try it. What a pleasant surprise! Our waiter was super nice and provided great service. They even accommodated a special request of clams on the half shell, and they were great. Shrimp scampi over linguine was tasty and lobster ravioli was delicious and even came with half a lobster tail. Desserts were great too. Definitely will be back. Ambiance was a little dated, but it was clean including the bathrooms.“

“Pizza Heaven is my new favorite local pizza with delicious brick oven pizza! Check out my recent delivery - sopressatta, veggie, arugula, and all delicious!“

“Always good! Always fast.“

“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!“

“We gave it 5 stars as we like down home, mom and pop locally owned Italian restaurants and it did not disappoint as the decor was just how we like it, Homey and Warm.Since our beloved Tuzzio’s in Long Branch closed due to Joe retiring we ventured to Red Bank to the New Corner Italian Restaurant and after passing this establishment for 22 years we stopped in carrying our own Wine….yes it’s BYOB.I ordered the chicken parm with a side salad and spaghetti and my wife ordered Zuppa de Pesci, it was all very flavorful and authentic, we will be back.One last thing Stephanie the waitress was awesome.“

“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 first time at Johnny's and I came for a baby shower, the staff was great. Especially the young lady is working the room by herself, I didn't get her name, but I'd still like to acknowledge her. She did an amazing job.I enjoyed the food. It was real Authentic italian cuisine. The bread was nice and fresh, as well as the freshly made salads ravioli. I was stuffed by the end of the shower, so I'm happy there were active games to play. It was an open bar, so I had a Mamosa or 2 while enjoying the festivities. In the end, it didn't feel like we had to rush out they allowed us time to wrap things up before heading out. I would recommend for an event and to dine it, the place was enjoyable and I'd return soo.“

“I went into Rockerfellas and I loved it. Rico and Renee are some of the nicest people you ever want to meet and have a good time with. The food is absolutely excellent. Fun for the whole family , they catered delicious meals for my family and I ,we loved it. My kids love Rico we always have a very nice time and the customers always leave satisfied .“

“Great food, casual atmosphere, excellent service!“

“Joe Leone catered the repast in my home for my husband's best friend. The food was delicious and easy to present and the whole process was so easy. The information from heating and serving instructions to deadlines for changes where clear and concise. I was particularly impressed with the sausage and peppers Bianca. It was over the top delicious--the sausage was great, the veg perfectly cooked and the potatoes just made it a bit more interesting. Thank you for making a difficult day manageable.“

“This place is definitely worth trying. Every time we go there, I get something different, and they never disappoint. The owner, Anthony, is very sweet and personable. He greets and chats with everyone who dines there. His staff is great as well.“

“Amazing pizza - best I’ve ever had! You don’t want to miss this place in long branch!“

“Had a plain/pepperoni pie and a chicken vodka pie with sauce on the side. Pizza was good. Thin crust style. My blackened tuna bites were good. Slightly overcooked than I had asked but still worth finishing the plate. Kinda of an old man fisherman bar feel with pizza but still had some old school charm to it.“

“I love their pizza. Great crust and toppings (sauce and peppers) Their White Pie is good. I got mine with Broccoli. The Broccoli pieces were big which I had no problem but if you prefer smaller maybe ask them to cut them smaller.I also got their Fried calamari, which I did not like too much because it was mix with Fried Octopus, I wish it had all ring Calamari .“

“Came across Buona Sera during a day trip to Red Bank and so glad we had lunch here! The setup & decor of the restaurant had its own unique charm that preserved history while balancing modern hospitality. Staff were attentive and made good recommendations—one of which was the lobster ravioli—the best I’ve had! These were jumbo and filled with real lobster, in an addictive creamy sauce topped with shrimp and scallops—highly recommend!! Their appetizer special of the Buffalo mozzarella was also a hit too. The chicken Rossini was very flavorful and had these huge pieces of chicken stacked on top. Be warned that the portions are huge!“

“Born and raised on Vinnies Pizza. I moved to upstate NY 25 years ago but every summer when I bring the wife down to the old neighborhood the first place we stop is Vinnies. It is still just as good as the first time I had it around 30+ years ago.“

“we have been eating at an ordering/catering for years! The food is always amazing! The owner John and his staff especially Mike are always so welcoming! Chicken parm and penne vodka are the best! Also, always so charitable catering our sporting events at our local school events!“

“Fabulously romantic restaurant. White table clothes. Romantic music. Small cozy restaurant. Food is fabulous. Valet parking. I can't say enough wonderful things about the place. So glad we discovered it. This is truly a hidden gem. My husband was thrilled they carry Blanton's bourbon. Very classy. Very elegant. The halibut covered in cream and lump crab was amazing. The drinks were fabulous. The wine was our favorite. The Italian cheesecake was light and fluffy. The decaf cappuccino was the best we have ever had and it was wonderfully super hot. Just the best!“

““All around fantastic place with quality food”FOOD - the food here is excellent. Quality products and definitely fresh. The pizza is excellent. Love the sauce. The Detroit pizza is very good if you like thick crust. The cheesesteaks are excellent and the sub rolls are really good fresh tasteMENU - the menu gets 5 stars for sure. It’s just a good menu with more than the basics. VEGAN cheese available. Menu has excellent KIDS MEALS with more options than most places. Prices are on par for the rest of the area.SERVICE - service was also above average on multiple occasions. They are always friendly and helpful. Has a local vibe. The girl at the counter was awesome. They accepted my annoying request and executed it perfectly. Always quick and efficient.LOCATION - Nice big dining room with plenty of dine in space. so the location looks like it would be annoying to get to but it’s not once you see where it is it actually nice because the exit is easy to get out.Dietary restrictions: Vegan optionsKid-friendliness: Kids menu has more options than most places“

“I Was there with a party of about 40 women last night for a Christmas get together and the Food and service were great! We had a wonderful time and will return! Thank you Lana for a wonderful night with friends.Dietary restrictions: WAs very accommodating being gluten free“

“Maria’s Pizza comes highly recommended. The owner/staff was so kind and professional and exemplified the best customer service I have experienced in a while. I inquired about catered food and the owner was willing to prepare something for me in a way different than he normally makes it and it was prior to a holiday when he must have been filling multiple catering orders. Needless to say, it was delicious and people were asking where I got it from at the party. I have always liked their food but this was a positive experience and one I won’t forget. They will come highly recommended from me!“

“Was visiting the area last week and had no idea what to eat. Saw this place had high ratings and gave it a shot. Lemme tell you, they earned these ratings! Affordable, filling, and delicious. Reminded me of my aunt’s cooking growing up. Home style cooking and great portions. Now where I’m ordering from next time I’m in the area! Love it!“

“Best Italian joint in town by far! Been coming here since I was a kid and the restaurant was just a hole in the wall in the strip mall next door. The pizza and subs are the best and Philly has nothin on thier cheese steaks!Parking: Small lot on the premises. Narrow entrance that's easy to miss, slow down when you're approaching the building!“

“Great pizzeria! Thin crust pizza cooked perfectly. Service was great very attentive. We all loved every dish we had! Especially the stuffed eggplant appetizer! Some entrees come with a salad the balsamic dressing is great. Looking forward to our next visit“

“The food here is what it is a menu put together by someone who wants to sell drunk, but drinks are good. The atmosphere is loud but fun. It feels like it represents the city well. You are not going to get gourmet food but you will probably have a good time.“