50 Best Italian Restaurants near Weehawken

“A Hidden Gem in Weehawken

I recently discovered Michael’s Pizza and Wings in Weehawken, and I can confidently say that it’s a local treasure! From the moment you step in, you’re greeted with a warm, friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring every visit is memorable.

The pizza is nothing short of spectacular. The crust strikes the perfect balance between crispy and chewy, with a flavor that can only come from a well-seasoned oven. Each slice is loaded with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the cheese… oh, the cheese! It’s perfectly melted, with just the right amount of stretch and gooeyness that makes every bite pure bliss. Whether you’re a fan of classic toppings or something more adventurous, Michael’s has something to satisfy every pizza craving.

But let’s not forget the wings! Michael’s wings are hands down the best in town. They’re cooked to perfection – crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside – and come in a variety of mouthwatering flavors. Whether you prefer them tangy, spicy, or sweet, each bite bursts with flavor, leaving you reaching for just one more.

What truly sets Michael’s apart, though, is the consistency and care in every dish. It’s clear that they take pride in what they serve, and it shows. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the quality is unmatched.

If you’re in Weehawken and looking for a place that serves up some of the best pizza and wings around, Michael’s is the spot. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout, you’ll be treated to an exceptional experience that keeps you coming back for more. Highly recommended!“

“Had a great dining experience here. The food was fresh, flavorful, and served at the right temperature. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. Definitely a place I would visit again.“

“BEST PIZZERIA IN THE AREA!!!!! NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED IN ANYTHING I HAVE ORDERED!!!!“

“Great Italian food and a decent menu, not much choice but not too much. It's located next to Post Office 34 and is very trendy. The view and service are great, but it's noisy as there isn't much to absorb the sound. We ordered focaccia, roasted peppers and pasta. Everything is great and super fresh.“

“Absolutely the best food in NYC we finally got a bar seat this past Saturday was in the city for pride we have been trying for years everything was spot on crysathenn salad, the stuffed flatbread and lasagna and cocoa tiramisu“

“3z3d3d33d3ddezze3ez x🙂‍↔️🤪🤪🤔😗😶‍🌫️😉🙏🙏😘🙂‍↔️😘🙂‍↔️😶‍🌫️😃😘🙂‍↔️🤪🙏. d x3 32e3de 3“

“Went for our anniversary!! Had an amazing meal!! Wonderful service and great atmosphere!! Highly recommend!!“

“Easily one of the best meals of my life! Crazy creative! Only 16 seats, very special in all ways.“

“Excellent quality, service and ambiance!“

“cameriera italiana con capelli corti. scortese e molto maleducata. non tornerò piu. non ha saputo ne servire il cliente oltre al fatto che dovrebbe farsi un corso di corretto italiano prima di parlare con un cliente in quel modo. pessima pubblicità al locale. peccato e mi dispiace ma non tornerò più.“

“The cocktail selection is phenomenal, it’s balanced and delicious, even the people sat next to us agreed! My favorite dish is probably stuffed farfalle with snow crab. It’s creamy and just the right amount of crab, flour and sauce to balance each bite! You’ll be amazed!! Another go to is definitely steak. It’s lightly fried on the outside but juicy inside which is not overly oily, spicy crunch on top adds an Asian style kick. A gem place for sure!!💕“

“Pleasant less formal atmosphere, but very efficient service. Delicious pastes. I highly recommend :)“

“Put cement in your shoes bc this place will knock ur socks off. A little taste of italy in the heart of west village. My biggest regret is not having time or the group size to taste more things.

Pros:
- Piping hot pasta dishes, served al dente, bursting w flavor. If you are allergic to flavor you might have a heart attack
- fantastic cocktails and happy hour
- friendly service. My daughter was treated like royalty (swinging bench, shirley temple, smiles)
- clean bathroom. If your a kitchen confidential person, you know what this means
- affordable price. I don’t remember exactly what, but no mugging happened and that’s rare in NYC
- not that crowded (went weekday 5:30 though)

Ideas to consider
- if the red wines were slightly more chilled (not room temp), some people might like even more
- I can’t think of anything else. The best pesto pasta I’ve had in many years, if not ever“

“Our evening at Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the maître d', Albert, made us feel like cherished friends instead of first-time guests. His warmth, professionalism, and effortless attention to detail were truly remarkable. He checked on us throughout the evening without ever being intrusive, making sure every part of our experience was perfect. It's rare to encounter someone who elevates hospitality into an art form, but Albert did exactly that. The restaurant itself strikes the perfect balance between lively and intimate and the food was delicious. Every dish exceeded our expectations. The Bucatini Carbonara was well-seasoned and creamy and the pancetta added incredible richness and depth. The fried calamari was perfectly tender with a light, crisp coating and the Prince Edward Island mussels were plump, juicy, and tasted wonderfully clean, briny, and sweet—an absolute standout. The attentive waitstaff made the meal feel seamless from beginning to end. At Albert's suggestion, we moved to the bar after dessert, and the evening somehow became even better. We enjoyed glasses of port and pear brandy, followed by spectacular espresso martinis. Nora, the bartender, crafted some of the best we've ever had. Just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, Mr. Chazz Palminteri himself stopped by. He was incredibly gracious, took the time to say hello and take a picture with us, and made us feel genuinely welcome. It was the perfect finishing touch to a truly memorable evening. The food and drinks were absolutely on point, but it was the genuine warmth and hospitality of Albert, and the entire staff, that made this such a special experience. They didn't just serve dinner—they created an evening we'll remember for a long time. We will absolutely be back, and we can't wait to see the wonderful team again.“

“I have been at least a half-dozen times, and they never disappoint. Service is nearly perfect; the food is absolutely superb (fish last night may be among the best I've ever had -- and I eat out a lot), and the personal attention is so appreciated. I'll be back --- and I HIGHLY recommend it!“

“It was our first time visiting New York and da Toscano came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint! One of the best meals we have had in a very long time, and the service was second to none! Thank you for a wonderful evening 😊“

“Atmosfera e cibo top! Consigliassimo“

“El personal es muy amable, atentos y deliciosa comida.“

“The wait staff and food were absolutely amazing.“

“Cadre très sympa et pizza au top !“

“I just love this place... !“

“Burrata e verdure was amazing for appetizer. Tonnarelli was nice, too. But Rigatina (the chopped steak) was too salty. We had Berries with cream as dessert, and it was great!

The portion of the food was unlike other restaurants in New York. I think it’s bit overpriced because they weren’t big. Three dishes were just enough for 2 people.“

“repas poisson excellent et canolli extra“

“Great food, warm and welcoming staff.“

“This is a great restaurant, last year (2023) we came twice and Ram was great, his service and attitude was fantastic, and this year (2024) we came back again just to see him (and of course to have some drinks and great food).“

“Came to a wedding and the food is absolutely phenomenal!“

“Amazing food, service, and atmosphere! Made a special celebration that much more momentous. Do not skip the prosciutto with ricotta or octopus apps-delicious!“

“An amazing time! Atmosphere was very warm and the food was incredible!“

“My husband and I have been going to Daphne’s since we moved back to Brooklyn. While food and service have been excellent without fail, Jackie is who keeps us coming back month after month. Her warmth, kindness, and knowledge are unparalleled, and we can’t imagine having a better time at dinner with anyone else.“

“Bar Mario has been on our list for a while. Glad we got to step in. The staff were super warm and welcoming, especially Natalie!! We sat at the bar and enjoyed our conversation with her along with some of the specials and recommendations for the night. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, so delicious and comforting. Highly recommend the lasagna. A lovely spot, so happy we finally got to try. Will be back soon!“

“We had our wedding at Rialto and couldn’t imagine a perfect ceremony and reception.

Dominic and the Rialto team were incredible. Super attentive and went out of their way to make sure our day was as special as can be.

We have no idea how but they managed to make sure the food was always fresh and hot when served, even the branzino, which is not easy to do all at once for ~75 people. Seriously impressive.

They really outdid themselves and we will definitely come back to Rialto for dinner which now holds a special place in our hearts. ❤“

“TL;DR: Grab a table outside, enjoy a glass of wine with a plate of pasta, and do some people-watching. This is an amazing spot to wind down the evening!

Food:
I have had the orecchiette (brunch) and the lasagne (dinner). I have also tried the chicken milanese panini. The food really is quite spectacular here: I love that you can really taste how high quality and textured the pasta is. For seemingly simple dishes, they do an amazing job at the flavor. They have good wine selection as well with some affordable options. There is also a happy hour as well to look out for!

Service:
The waiters here are quite friendly and very attentive. They regularly ask if you need anything, and they’ll come do water refills as needed. No complaints at all.

Ambiance:
Located on a street with a good amount of foot traffic but is not that loud. It’s very comfortable outside, and they have seating indoors as well (although I exclusively choose to sit outdoors here). There is a clean restroom downstairs as well.“

“Such a fun and vibrant place. Cafe Mars is playful not only through its food but with the service too. Lots of surprises throughout that I don’t even want to spoil here. It’s just to be experienced. The food itself is weird and quirky. Everything might not be a home run but that’s okay because at least they’re doing something different. That said, when a dish does work (and it worked plenty), you’re left in awe that they actually pulled it off. Such a unique experience that hopefully inspires other places to embrace fun with dining.“

“Visited on Tuesday evening quite late and had such an amazing experience at Osteria Nonnino. We shared a pizza to start, followed by fish and the vodka pasta for mains – every dish was absolutely outstanding. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and we felt so well looked after from start to finish. The food was honestly second to none. Such a hidden gem, would highly recommend to anyone in NYC.“

“Out of my expectations! Even the free bread tastes very good, so chewy and soft, I packed them home, too. There are two different types of sauces for the calamari. But the calamari itself without sauces is already amazing, one after another, can’t stop eating. It’s almost gone before I realizing I didn’t take a picture of it yet. The black spaghetti is so rich in terms of flavor, I definitely want to come back for it again. Pizza is very creative, love the restaurant!“

“The staff were amazing and so was the food! My Mom has a very restrictive diet and she was able to eat and didn’t have a reaction afterward which is rare for her unfortunately. We came into the restaurant 5 minutes before closing and was able to accommodate our large party. Cannot say enough good things!“

“Had a fabulous first time at Il Gigante. Sat at the bar - shout out to Matthew and Kayla for taking such good care of us. Great ambience, not too loud, but still a fun atmosphere. Food was exceptional. The pasta and all the ingredients were fresh and portion sizes were hefty! Great price for the food and drinks. Just all around fabulous! Cheers!!!“

“love love this place. Ive been more than twice the food the atmosphere is great .I had a bunch of apps and one entree all taste to die for and the wine a delicious ROSE (Vetere) from Italy I cant find it no where. so when I come here I indulge in everything.“

“By far our favorite restaurant we visit in the city. Have been here over 500x and the tagliatelle with sheep’s cheese cabbage and shrimp will never get old ! Carmine runs a beautiful establishment on the UWS“

“The pizza is excellent, there is a modest amount of space to eat in, and they have a bar so customers can enjoy an adult beverage with their meal. Friendly service and a reasonable wait makes this good value for one’s money. We will be back!“

“Food is yummy! My go to place in Brooklyn! Coda is excellent and the flatbread are also yummy! The Sangiovese red wine on tap is also nice! Highly recommend and make reservations in the weekend“

“Atmosfera e cibo top! Consigliassimo“

“We came here last night at the last minute - no reservation. Doing that on a Saturday night in the trendy west village usually results in a firm “no” from the maître D’. Instead , our party of 4 was welcomed into a lovely restaurant , quiet yet lively with a very friendly and attentive waitstaff. Had a great time and would definitely return.“

“Delicious food good service“

“Excellent Roasted Chicken. Burrata, Garlic bread and Brick Oven pizza. The vibe is really nice and service is excellent.“

“This is some of the best food and the best dining experience I've ever had. Everything was so exquisite, thoughtful, flavorful, surprising, lovingly made without any frills. All you really need to do is glance at the kitchen to get it.“

“The service stood out our bartender was attentive“

“Such a special family dinner at Misi. The vibe was warm and lively.

We started with the Grilled Nectarines and Whipped Ricotta Crostini (a must-order) and tried the Grilled Baby Artichokes - Amazing!

The pastas were even better: the Spinach and Mascarpone Filled Tortelli with Brown Butter, the Linguine with Anchovy, and the Mezze Rigatoni were all fantastic. Can’t wait to go back.“

“Fun indoor/outdoor dining environment and delicious food make for a nice night out!“

“Attentive staff, good food , nice atmosphere . Most definitely will return next trip into the city“