50 Best Italian Restaurants near Pine Brook

“Flew in for a work trip this week and we decided to order Gencarelli's Pine Brook last minute through UberEats. I took these photos midway through the meal. Being a vegetarian, and without seeing clear labeling on their menu, I called the restaurant ahead of time to find out what was safe to order. The guy I chatted with (possibly the Manager, Walter?) was amazing and went above and beyond to make sure he got me the right info for dishes, and communicated with the cook after we ordered to avoid any mix-ups. All of the food (cheese ravioli with parmesan, garlic sauteed spinach, beet salad, plain rolls) was fresh and the quality was exceptional. Portions were large and I was able to eat on them for a couple days. The plain cheesecake was literally the best I've ever had in my life. 🙌 I'm still dreaming about it and wish I could have it shipped to TX. I definitely recommend Gencarelli's Pine Brook for a delicious night out or even a relaxing night in. Can't wait for my next visit to NJ!“

“Yes..Staff, Service and Food always great! Have been dining here since they opened. We enjoy the Jekyll and Hyde calamari and the spiedini appetizers. Anton makes a great rack of pork and filet mignon. We ended with cappuccinos which hit the spot. 👍👍👍👍👍“

“Food was delicious despite the meat not being cooked as requested. The atmosphere & our server, Julian, were incredible! Julian found out at the end of our meal we had a celebration & went above and beyond to help us celebrate! Would definitely recommend & return (-:“

“Perfect seamless reservation - plenty of parking even texted to let us know where to park. Inside wonderful atmosphere all the staff was friendly. The food was amazing -especially the Caesar Salad . A thank you card in my left over bag ❤️ the bathroom has a full changing station with supplies . Thoughtful touches throughout the experience that really make you feel the owners care -which makes me so happy I came here . I recommend definitely to anyone !“

“Had the pleasure of eating at Giorgio"s last night before a show at SPAC. Service was outstanding, menu explained and food was excellent. From our salad, entree and desert everything was outstanding. I highly recommend it but please not before a show I may now get a reservation again.“

“Wonderful food. Nice attentive service!“

“This is our favorite place… This is the side of meatballs and Ziti Norcina with homemade sausage. I have tried many different pasta dishes and love them all. It’s hard to choose when I get there. The service and staff are great. But the person that stands out to us, every time we go is Roy. He appreciates our business and is very friendly and outgoing. Every restaurant needs a Roy. Thanks, keep it up…“

“Had my daughters wedding tonight at Il tulipano I give it a 5 stars Mario helped us so much Cocktail hour was absolutely outstanding our dinners was amazing the workers took such good care of us Thank you so much Mario and staff the Capozzi family“

“Outstanding, authentic Italian cuisine. Pete and staff are amazing. The food is always prepared perfectly 👌🏻 Also, the BYOB makes this restaurant very appealing. The pricing is very reasonable for the quality and quantity you're receiving. I've been a regular here for years and plan on being one for many years to come. FYI... homemade cannoli cake is insanely delicious! The Arancini, Fried Calamri etc... the best around... and do not skip the Broccoli Rabe'“

“Teresa is lovely & welcoming & did a fabulous job with this Italian deli/restaurant! Delicious meatballs, great salads, spotless & cozy dining space along with pretty outdoor seating. I definitely recommend this restaurant.“

“We ate dinner for the first time at Enzo’s last weekend ! The food was delicious ! Def recommend reservations . We had the pleasure to meet Frank he was so enjoyable to chat too as well as shared his k owledge on a few dishes . Made us feel welcome ! We will be back“

“Oh man… where to start. The service was phenomenal, great recommendations, great atmosphere, the owner, Ms. Dana greeted us with a smile, Nikki the manager was great to deal with. Now the food… I had the special, “The Gobbler” and it was unbelievably tasty. The crunch from the toasted bread, the flavors all together were a symphony on my taste palette. My gf got the “Toni Ann” and she couldn’t talk while we were eating together because she wouldn’t stop stuffing her face. After she said the chicken cutlet was cooked perfect, mozzarella was fresh, peppers were exquisite. Overall experience was just mind-blowing. I’d recommend Ferraro’s to any person, local or travelers, you NEED to stop and eat here.“

“The best pizza in NJ“

“Excellent food, excellent service and reasonably priced!“

“If I could give it six stars I would. I judge all others based on this restaurant. It’s a well oiled machine that never disappoints. Only bring your best clients here, and those that you truly love.“

“I had dinner here and it's the best ITALIAN FOOD I've had in a long time,SERVICE was great as well.“

“Great birthday celebration Food was delicious Service was fabulous Definitely recommend“

“We had our daughters 18th Birthday Bash here at the Appian Way on: February 5th, 2022. We dealt with Bob throughout the whole process. And he was just great! Alot is included in the price you receive. And many other venues don't compare when it comes to price. Helping to save you some money along the way. The rooms are beautiful and my guest were amazed. The workers were accommodating and helped get our room together way before time. This helped us tremendously with getting most of the setup being done the night before. The lighting is awesome. The food was absolutely delicious. My guests are still raving about the food. It really was better than I expected. I will definitely be back to celebrate more gatherings. Thank you Bob and your staff for your get service.“

“Here’s my review that I’ve been meaning to leave for a while! Overall, I’m really happy this place opened in the neighborhood and we’ve already been back several times.

Location/atmosphere: Unbeatable. Such a great addition to the Walnut Street area, and I’m a huge fan of the fast casual setup. It makes eating out with kids SO much easier. The patio is also amazing and has quickly become one of those places you naturally gravitate toward with kids or on a beautiful day.

Food: Really great! We’ve enjoyed the pastas, salads and pizzas. The menu is very pork-heavy, and I do hope over time they consider adding a few more options that make the menu accessible to those who don’t eat pork, including Muslim and Jewish diners. That said, I understand the menu is very authentic to the specific region of Italy the owners are from, and I genuinely respect that they’ve stayed true to that rather than watering it down. Hopefully there’s a way to preserve that authenticity while adding a little more variety over time.

Accessibility: The patio is wonderful, but the main entrance has a step, which can make getting in with a stroller or wheelchair a tad stressful. There is a flat entrance along the side, as well as a side door, but both have generally been blocked off when we’ve visited. I’m sure there’s a reason, but I’d love to see that reconsidered, it would make the restaurant much more accessible and stroller-friendly!

Service: The wait staff are fantastic. Everyone we’ve interacted with has been incredibly kind, patient and genuinely great at what they do. My one piece of constructive feedback is regarding one of the owners (glasses/slicked-back hair). On a few visits, I’ve found his demeanor a little dismissive or unwelcoming, whether asking questions about the menu or dining with our extended family. It’s hard to pinpoint and certainly not enough to keep us from coming back, but there have been a few interactions where I’ve walked away feeling like we weren’t quite as warmly received as other customers. I’m mentioning it because everything else about this place makes us want to keep supporting it, and a little more warmth in those interactions would go a long way.

Overall, a really great neighborhood addition with delicious food, an amazing outdoor space and a wonderful staff. We’ll absolutely continue coming back!“

“Very fun social vibe, special Birthday ritual, food was excellent, I practically licked my plate, service was attentive and the manager very active.“

“This is one of my Fav. Italian Restaurants. The Food is Delicious. The Hostess’, Servers & Staff are friendly & attentive. Many Friends & Family have been coming here for years. Each visit we enjoy the whole atmosphere!“

“This is an AMAZING restaurant with such wonderful ambience. We celebrated our marriage blessing there because the food is exceptional and the service is fantastic.“

“Great food, excellent service!“

“Todo excelente, lo recomiendo“

“We have recently eaten at Sear House a few times over the past three weeks. We have had the mussels in red sauce, Calamari, angry halibut, scallops w/ risotto and a T-bone steak. All of the dishes were well prepared, very tasty and the service was great. The manager is very friendly with a good sense of humor. Definitely worth going to. As a bonus their happy hour drinks and menu is excellent.“

“Seasonal dishes fresh and beautifully presented! Friendly and helpful team with excellent dish recommendations :)“

“wonderful ambience ! wonderful food ♡ service!“

“A true gem of restaurants in Livingston, NJ. The delicious food reminds me of the fantastic food we tasted in Italy. This is very different from most Italian restaurants in America. The presentation of the food is superb and the food is amazing. Be prepared for an epicurean feast followed by delectable dessert. Prices are very reasonable, in addition.“

“As a southerner visiting NJ, Sergio’s felt like home! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Sergio himself was there and was one of the nicest people I have ever met!!! The food was delicious, fresh, and fast. Hope he opens a location in Charleston one day :)!“

“Hosted my 30th high school class reunion and it was a blast! Great food & staff. Many thanks to Sal for accommodating all our needs.“

“When we decided to make a reservation here I was concerned because the parking situation in Madison is difficult. IlGoccino has parking in the rear of the restaurant so it was fine. The staff were warm and welcoming and they honored our reservation on arrival. The food was excellent - the salmon cooked to perfection and the chicken was tender and delicious as well. We certainly will return.“

“ALWAYS.. fantastic Italian food. The very best!! Been going there every Saturday night since they opened. Unbelievable Italian cuisine, great service & Frankie and Jen are concerned & attentive to their customers.“

“Fabulous food, excellent service, wonderful restaurant !!!“

“We had my daughters baby shower here yesterday. The food was absolutely amazing! The manager Sam was extremely easy to work with long distance (I live in Pennsylvania). The wait staff were very friendly and attentive . I would highly recommend this place for a private party.“

“Excellent food and service always an enjoyable evening at Michael Angelo’s in Fairfield“

“Anticipation was that I am going to an old school Italian restaurant with 90 years tradition. And that was exactly what I encountered. Simplified old look, polite and hospitable workers, and good food. Portions are ridiculously large. One of the times I went was during their September Wednesday deals when you can order a pasta and get another one for 1$, and I expected due to promotion that servings might be slightly smaller. Since I ate one and brought the other one home, I measured it and it was 3.2 Lbs portion!!!

Oh yeah, it's BYOB, so bring some wine to complement your food“

“Absolutely incredible. I live in Maplewood and had not been until tonight. Wow.
We ordered everything on the menu. Wish I took more pictures. The chicken Milanese entree was my sleeper hit favorite. Gnocci, parms, shrimp, salads, apps. Order them all. Everything fantastic.“

“We had a party of 12 for Christmas lunch today. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal. We stayed for over 3 hours and never felt rushed. Wish I could remember our server’s name she was unbelievable tending to this motley crew. I will definitely be back if they let me in the door. Great place check it out you won’t be sorry.“

“I adore this restaurant. Since my move to the suburbs I’m glad to have them so near. Their food is phenomenal. Just start with the rock shrimp and fall in love with every entree you get each time you go. I’ll be catering for Easter this year with primavera.“

“I highly recommend this restaurant. Service and food are excellent.“

“The best thin Sicilian pizza I have ever had in my 56 years of life. Recommended 100%.“

“First time at Divina yesterday…definitely not my last. It was a bridal shower event.. and it was more than perfect…Divina served a delicious meal, desserts and wine, at least three appetizers…and the service..spot on..waiter always ready to assist…highly recommend. 10⭐s“

“Tried familia pizzeria for the first time. Did not disappoint! Food was absolutely fantastic and the service was excellent! Highly recommend this spot!“

“Back in October, we had a surprise 30th birthday dinner for my daughter with a party of 22 people. The waitress was spectacular. The staff and owners were veryaccommodating and the food was delicious. They allowed us to come ahead of time to decorate. The event turned out wonderful!!!“

“We enjoyed a gorgeous dinner at La Rocca Osteria, on the corner of Midland Avenue and Portland Place (a block south-east of Valley Road and a block north-east of Bloomfield Avenue), this week. The food was brilliant - fresh, flavorful and great portion sizes. I was thrilled with my choices of the buratta salad, crabmeat-stuffed lobster tail with mashed potatoes and a chocolate mousse cake. My fella demolished the mussels and clams in a white wine and garlic sauce, lasagne (he thought it was so delicious that he even bought a second portion to give to his dad) and cheesecake. I almost wish I’d taken photographs, but I was more interested in the experience than documenting it. The service was fantastic as well - friendly, calm, organized and reliable. Parking nearby wasn’t difficult either. It’s the second time we’ve eaten there; the first was on our first date. It was just as lovely then too.“

“The food is always great. Fresh and diverse and the specials are always interesting The brick oven pizzas are just the right size and are always piping hot. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Very well priced for the sized meals that you receive. Very ie atmosphere. And it’s B.Y.O.B. CANT MISS PLACE TO DINE“

“Amazing food every time. I went last night with friends for dinner and had, what may just be the best pasta dish, I ever had... but you'll have to see for yourself. And the Eccola Martini is another fave. Cheers!“

“Casa Nostra in Caldwell is our new go-to Italian spot. Kelly and I had dinner there last weekend and everything was outstanding — the food, the service, the whole vibe.

The best part was meeting Nicola, the owner/chef, and his wife Rosa. Nicola's Sicilian and came out to chat once he heard I'm Sicilian too (on my grandmother's side) — he got a kick out of it since I don't look it at all. Super warm, genuine people.

We just moved to the area and this is exactly the kind of neighborhood staple we were hoping to find. We'll be back regularly.“

“The food is Absolutely AMAZZZING. The most delicious mussles,pizza, ribeye, pasta, salad, and the staff is Great. My family and I eat here once a week, heck sometimes twice a week. This is the best restaurant in town.... hands down.. Great Great Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“

“Came here for the first time and enjoyed the double veal chop special - cooked perfectly in a demi glace sauce . Service was great - quickly took our order and served in a reasonable amount of time. It was BYOB so we were able to pair our meal with our favorite red wine“