50 Best Italian Restaurants near South Orange

“Highly recommend supporting our local dinning. In fact, a party of seven was just booked after sharing a night of Fundraising at Giorgio's.“

“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“

“I love this place! The food is so fresh; and the service is always great!“

“great food. friendly atmosphere“

“Can I please give it 6 stars? I recently went there with a group of five family members while visiting New Jersey and we had a truly extraordinary night! As an investor in restaurants I'm very critical when visiting any restaurant and not often impressed even with well known critically acclaimed restaurants. It's very rare when a place has truly incredible food with every appetizer and entree as well as first class VIP vibes for service. You could literally taste the passion and care put into every plate with beautifully prepared flavorful abundant meals. In fact, it was the first time in almost a decade I brought home leftovers as the meal was delicious and easily sufficient for two people. Our entire table raved about their meals and the attentive but not obtrusive service was always there to refill our wine and assist without any of us having to look up for service. The food alone would have made for a great night but what truly made it memorable besides the great waitstaff was the manager, Eli. When was the last time a manager, GM or owner greated you at your table to share a polite, interesting and passionate conversation about the food and why they love sharing this experience with their valued customers? He made our entire table feel like VIPs and made perfect recommendations for wine and dessert. It felt more like we were in someone's home as we were there for close to 3-1/2 hours talking, eating, drinking and laughing. The ambiance is warm and unpretentious and the memories of a great experience will certainly bring us back again.“

“Wonderful food. Nice attentive service!“

“I love food. I love to eat it. I love to cook it. But food to me has always been more than just something to eat. I like to study process. Fun to me is to be able to be in a restaurant kitchen and talk to the chef while he’s making a dish. I want to be able to see what he’s doing and ask about it. Why are you taking the dish off the fire so quickly? Why are you using canned peeled tomatoes rather than fresh? I want to know everything. To me, process can be just as exciting as being presented with the beautiful and delicious final product. This evening, I stopped at an unusual pasta restaurant - All' Assassina. https://www.allassassina.com/ They call themselves the killer pasta project. It’s different. It has an open kitchen. The small dining room is colorful – eye catching. You go up to the front and order your pasta. You decide what will be added in – mushrooms, capers, tomatoes, chicken, olives and more. And then the chef makes it right in front of you. The owner told me that not everybody watches. They’re missing out. This restaurant is offering dinner and a show. And the cooking here is a performance. You get to see what goes into your food and how it is made. It gives you an additional appreciation for what you are about to savor. All the senses go on alert. You could see it. You could hear it in the pan and you could smell it. If you are anywhere near Union, New Jersey, check out All' Assassina. But do not just order and walk away. Look. Listen. And learn. Not everybody likes to cook. But everyone should like to learn. The more you know about what’s in your food and how it is prepared, the more you’ll appreciate good food. The tastes, the textures. Wow. There was an avalanche of different flavors hitting my mouth all at once. It’s worth a trip. Go for the meal. Stay for the show.“

“The atmosphere and food is always 5 ⭐️. Met Mario the chef fantastic !“

“We recently hosted an event at Jimmy's Family Kitchen, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The owners and staff were so welcoming and attentive from start to finish! The food was incredible - fresh and beautifully presented. Our guests are still raving about it! Highly recommend!“

“very attentive service without being intrusive. Our meals were absolutely delicious, so fresh and hot. Dessert was heavenly. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary perfect“

“everything !!! rice balls can’t be beat. vodka sauce the best“

“Matthew 's Restaurant is 1 of the best restaurants in North NJ if NOT The Best. The food is always Delicious & Service is excellent. Beyond that, the atmosphere or aviance is excellent. The vibe & energy is first rate positive fun & culinary enjoyment. I believe that this fine dining experience is also driven by the owner Matthew who is usually in the restaurant greeting guests & helping out. When you visit Matthew's you'll have a great time and it'll feel like you're on mini-vacation from the stress of every day life while seemingly enjoying the warmth of family. It may be a cliche but it's definitely true. 10 stars ⭐ out of 10.“

“I went at an unusual time, to late for lunch and to early for dinner. The service was excellent and my chicken piccata was wonderful, the portion was generous. Next time I will try the seafood risotto. The prices seemed far and I will definitely be back.“

“Overall a WONDERFUL experience...They never disappoint. Whether it's with their friendly, attentive service or specials which are culinary delights, they hit the mark! The staff is almost psychic in their attention. The chef makes this a local gem. Over time, I've become a 'regular'. I HIGHLY recommend. Frankly, the best in Union county..“

“My husband picked up your margarita pie today for us to try as first time patrons. Oh My God !!!! We have been Mootz’ed !!! The delicious sweet sauce, the perfect texture of the crust and the cheese …… phenomenal!!!! That was hands down the best pie we have had in ages. Can’t wait to come back and try more items.“

“Excellent food, excellent service and reasonably priced!“

“Loved everything about this place. The pizzas are so good. My favorite is the Funghi sooo delicious. We also tried the Bucatini Amatriciana and the roasted octopus from the menu and they were really good. Loved liked the casual atmosphere and the overall vibe of this pace. Highly recommend.“

“We had our daughter's baby shower here and it was an exceptional experience. The food and service were outstanding. Highly recommend this wonderful venue.“

“Great food, excellent service!“

“Consistently excellent meals with a very attentive staff.“

“Excellent service and food. Accommodating for dietary needs. They even took our group earlier than our reservation which was much appreciated as we were all from out of town and heading home immediately following lunch. Roasted potatoes, chicken francese, eggplant parm and sausage with peppers all got rave reviews.“

“Todo excelente, lo recomiendo“

“I have always loved Bella Mamas,, and now it's has gotten even better, with the grilled pizzas , the new menu, the portion are huge and you are definitely taking left overs. very inviting atmosphere.“

“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.“

“The best pizza in NJ“

“I have used catering from Mazzella's several times now and never disappoints! Food is always fresh and abundant. Guests always ask where I got the food. 👍👍“

“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.“

“What a great Christmas Party… The room was decorated beautifully with Christmas Cheer… The food was amazing…truly the best meatballs in the state ♥️ the staff was courteous friendly & attentive…Enjoyed the evening with friends…Thank you to Gilda & family for never disappointing ‼️“

“Just had a magnificent dinner at La Bottiglia! It was our anniversary and we wanted to enjoy a great dinner at a restaurant with great ambience and a quiet and cozy atmosphere. From the delicious hot antipasto to start our meal along with a delicious house wine and amazing cosmopolitan we knew we were in the right place to celebrate a momentous occasion. The hot antipasto was so delicious and plentiful along with warm, fresh bread and focaccia to spread the homemade caponata on. Off to a great start! We were now full! The chicken parmigiana that my husband ordered was great according to him, and he is a harsh food critic! My salmon Dijon with mixed vegetables was so good!! I order it every time I come here as it is so very delicious! The desserts are amazing! The cannolis are so good. Double espressos are so rich and satisfying! To top off the great meal is the hospitality of the entire restaurant staff. They are so professional and efficient with such a warm and welcoming attitude! I can’t say enough good things about La Bottiglia! You have to come and try it for yourself! You will be very pleased, I’m sure!“

“Our family celebrated my son’s and future daughter’s engagement party here and it was amazing. The food was great and staff took care of us very well. You have got to get there for dinner yourself.“

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

“We are thrilled to offer our highest praise. The opening of this establishment in Nutley is a valuable asset to the community, and our first visit exceeded expectations. The atmosphere is elegant. The service was impeccable, and the food was delectable. The Caesar salad was unparalleled. We will certainly return. Cheryl, the hostess, is outstanding!“

“Had a great dinner! Always great service too!“

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

“We are Never disappointed eating at La Campagnola~ the Food is Amazing ~ the Service is always impeccable ~ love the Ambiance ! We Wish you were in Monmouth County ~ but the distance won’t stop us from returning again ~ We’ll be back Brian 🍝🍷👍☺️“

“Delicious pizza! Needs a little more crunch though.“

“We went just before closing time and the service was phenomenal! We have a person with autism and they were so patient; when we asked him how he liked his food his response was “the food is so good I feel like I am in Italy.” Thank you for a memorable evening.“

“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.“

“My Step Dad Recently had went for his birthday dinner, with my mom and my step family and wanted to share they recommend this place(they don’t have social media). They had a big party of like 20 people. Food was delicious, servers and service were amazing. Everyone got their food at the same time. They were extremely happy with the restaurant.“

“Excellent sandwiches. I especially like their chicken cutlet ones. We pick up from here a couple times a month and have never been disappointed.“

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

“Excellent service , cozy atmosphere. Place is second to none !“

“Had a company holiday dinner ! Matt our server was great ! The dinner was family style . Matt took the time to make everyone leftovers ! Will definitely be back.“

“Delicious food with great service!!“

“family environment, friendly staff, good food“

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

“This was a local wish list item I didn't make happen before I left nj for points west. I happened to be back visiting and got an invitation to an event.

It definitely lived up to the hype!

Everything was spot on!

Best egg plant i ever had!“

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

“The hot dog & hot sausage combo with the works is the best!“

“Food is awesome, along with service .“