50 Best Italian Restaurants near Ocean

“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.“

“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!“

“Best local Italian deli! Went in for brasciole and the owner made it fresh on the spot…DELICIOUS!!“

“Working Medic Unit #203, finally got a break and it's Lunch Time - Pizza Time. First slice from Rizzo's was when the Seaview Square Mall first opened in the 1970's. I have made the random stop for a Slice of Memories when in the area and they still make a fabulous 🍕. It has been over 42 year's since the first slice, each visit since still results in a delicious pizza.“

“This is the real deal if you want Jersey Pizza, ive made the mistake of going to other places and no one comes close to quality or pricing. They welcome you there like your family and literally treat you like such. I order them at work or at home and they never disappoint me. Diego the delivery driver is always on time! Always in a good mood and always is respectful. Best pizza place by a long shot.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Amazing food amazing service“

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

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

“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.“

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

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

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

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

“Our family went for my wife’s birthday, from start to finish what a great experience. Our waiter was great, the food was fantastic. Portions are huge. Honestly very fairly priced. This was the first time any of us have been there and we will for sure be going there again. Kudos to Lubrano’s. Thank you“

“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!!“

“Went here with some reservations; wasn't a huge fan of the former restaurant. However, Judy's is great! Amazing matzoh ball soup and a great steak, followed by the chocolate budino. Great Non-Alc drink selection as well. My husband had the fluke piccata and the salad. Cannot wait to go back!“

“We have been getting food from here for years and it never disappoints. From the friendly delivery (our dog invites Bob in every time for pets) to the amazing pizza—you can’t beat it! Last weekend our son graduated college and we used Slices of Hope to cater our family party. Three of us, myself included, have to be gluten free which always makes getting catered food a challenge. I’ve always loved the gluten free penne with vodka here, so I went in and met with Eddie figuring I’d just get the three us the pasta and everyone else could enjoy the rest. I was so surprised when Eddie told us that he could make us everything I ordered for the rest of the party gluten free and would even keep it separate to avoid cross contamination! My mom (who has celiac) hadn’t had eggplant rollatini in 10 years and said it was the best ever! We had food for the entire weekend and I can’t thank you enough ❤️ Katy Kokolus“

“My husband and I dined on the porch. Lovely atmosphere as it’s right on Ocean Drive across from the beach. The food was exquisite. Lauren our waitress was upbeat, attentive and fun. Service was top notch all around.“

“Great food amazing service and wonderful warm hospitality“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!!“

“Great food and nice place to be“

“Ate there last night with my family to celebrate my husbands birthday. The food was DELICIOUS and the service was outstanding! Being from Brooklyn and our Italian roots we are super proud of the good Italian food we know… THIS MET THE MARK!!!“

“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.“

“Delicious food and friendly service!“

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

“Undici Taverna rustica is literally AMAZING. It expresses the passion and the food&wine knowledge of Vic. it has been unbelievable have a dinner there, 16 hrs of flying to enjoy one of the best pizza I have ever had, even better than a lot of pizza in Italy.“

“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!!“

“Amazing food, great portions and quality for price, friendly and personal able staff, quick service, clean and warm atmosphere. Highly recommend. Definitely make reservations“

“A great local BYOB restaurant! Service was great and food is excellent! Give it a try!“

“Have been many times, but this was possibly our best experience to date! Josh is fantastic and always describes the menu and specials expertly. Parada appetizer was exceptional as was their tuna Crudo. The Roma pasta course is always cooked perfectly. The pork special for two won the night, however… Amazing flavor! Can’t wait to come back.“

“Highly recommended! This place is great!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Great friendly good food stuff“

“Great sandwich shop and good service. This team generally gets busy between 12:30 - 2 pm so if you’re in a rush, order earlier or wait later in the afternoon. I’ve never had any issues with my order or picking it up, and my sandwiches have always been made correctly. They use fresh produce and meats and you can tell. I recommend coming here.“

“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!!“

“Food and service were outstanding. Will definitely be going back often.“

“We highly recommend Patricia's of Holmdel. We have frequented this establishment with our immediate family of 12 for birthdays, celebrations, and more! The environment is warm and inviting through its modern decor, enjoyable music, lighting, and seating. Tables are covered with white clothes and seating is comfortable whether inside or out. The location is well maintained and clean. The pricing is average for fine dining. The entire staff is exceptional. We enjoy all pleasantries with the staff members. It is evident that care is placed in choosing the staff. Each is professional, personable, and thorough. They make us feel like VIP every time we go, especially when John N. is our server. John N. is extremely knowledgeable of the inner workings of this establishment. We have severe food allergies and dietary restrictions. John N. illustrates such compassion towards us. He is diligent in keeping us safe, and keeps open communication with the chef when we are present. He is so kind and fun, too, in such a way that he feels like a family member. While eating at Patricia's it feels as if we are transported to a family dinner in Italy. Between the welcoming ambience, pleasant staff, and delicious food, we (without hesitation) highly recommend Patricia's of Holmdel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“