50 Best Italian Restaurants near West Caldwell

“My go-to call for a great-tasting, large, plain cheese pizza. Friendly staff. Quick local delivery. Great job, Franco’s! 😊👍🏼❤️“

“Title: One of the best Italian Restaurants in North Jersey

I am so surprised that I haven’t been to Mandara’s before considering that I have been frequenting the Essex County area for the past four years. Decided to go for dinner tonight and we can’t wait to come back!

Highlights:
You HAVE to try the pizza, one of the best margherita pizza’s in this area and the chicken marsala was phenomenal! The portions are generous!!

The service was amazing, our waiter came by to check in on us at appropriate times, they brought over extra napkins without us even having to ask, and were attentive to our requests.

Overall, ambiance was amazing, great food with huge portions, and amazing staff!“

“The other day I ordered, Frank’s Trattoria (West Caldwell), for lunch. I got their Pepperoni, Chicken Parmesan, & Plain Slice’s. From the toppings and the cheese(s), to the sauce. This place was phenomenal! Their pep & plain slices were a solid 9/10. Excellent flavor, and great texture!! the Chicken Parm slice was extremely sub par though. Was really disappointed. But the pep and plain slices GREATLY impacts my total score. The person who took my order was very rude. I asked if I could leave a tip, they vehemently expressed that they ‘do not need tips, they’ll be ok.’ Their pepperoni and plain pizza was really, really good. Like borderline top 5. Excellent pep slice, excellent pizza. I’d highly recommend this place to anyone looking for really good pizza, and happen to be in the, West Caldwell area. Just don’t expect the best 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.“

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

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

“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.“

“Wonderful food. Nice attentive service!“

“Just delicious and the service for our large group was fantastic“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Muy buena comida y buena atención un sitio agradable“

“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!“

“I recently celebrated my birthday at an Amore restaurant, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment we walked in, the warm ambiance made me feel right at home. The staff was friendly and attentive, Marco and Roberto ensured our evening went smoothly from start to finish. The food was absolutely phenomenal. We started with an assortment of antipasti & family style appetizers that were fresh and bursting with flavor. My guests enjoyed a variety of dishes, from delicate seafood pasta to juicy skirt steak, and everyone left raving about their meals. The portions were generous, and each dish felt like it had been prepared with so much care and attention. To top off the meal, we indulged in classic cheese cakes, chocolate cake, espresso, cappuccino…all with just the right amount of sweetness. Overall, this restaurant made my birthday celebration extra special. The combination of delicious food, excellent service, and cozy atmosphere created the perfect dining experience. I can’t wait to return! Thank you, Marcos and Roberto ❤️“

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

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

“One of the best Italian dinners I've ever enjoyed! Silvio is a great owner, host, chef. The food, including the appetizers were spot-on delicious. The bread was spectacular. We celebrated our daughter's engagement and my 74th birthday and it was excellent. Silvio, Mateo will definitely be back! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

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

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

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

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Excellent food, excellent service and reasonably priced!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Divina’s Restaurant hits the “bullseye” I. A wide variety of categories.
Great food, amazing attentive service, and the chef/owner is really Italian.
Price wise is another bull’s eye.
The management/owner Mario has an astute sense of knowing what the clients want, resulting in the restaurant being always packed.
Kudos to Mario, the waiter, and kitchen staff!!“

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

“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!!!“

“This is my husband’s favorite pizza. He has been coming to this place since he was in high school. The best! We love positano!“

“Had some errands to do in Newark, me and friend stopped in for a cocktail and lunch 10/10. great atmosphere, awesome staff. If I didn't live so far I would be a regular“

“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.“

“Has been our favorite restaurant for quite a few years. I LOVE their Veal Chop (I've had close to 100 over the years!!) and if i stray and go to pasta, the Wild Mushroom Ravioli has one of the best sauces you'll ever taste. My friend loves the Lasagna, various Chicken dishes and this time, she said the Orechiette alla Maria was so delicious! We've been starting with the Hot Antipasto for Two to get a taste of varied favorites (but they let us substitute NO mussels for extra clams). The Caesar Salad is always crisp and tasty. The service is outstanding and friendly with ample busboys delivering the extras and cleaning the table. We should also mention the super-friendly hostesses who start your meal off with a very positive note. Thank you all for an all-around enjoyable evening time and time again!“

“Fantastic!! So glad we came, by far the best Italian we’ve had….ever! Service from the outset was 1st class, very attentive team, could not do enough for you. Food quality was outstanding. Definitely worth the price tag.“

“I was asked what’s one of the best things you’ve eaten?? I have to say… because of my love for eggplant … Nadie’s eggplant spread is my favorite thing!! It is absolutely the best!!. I wish he would bottle it & sell it!!!! Although….I’ve never had a bad meal at Nadie’s… everything is delicious!!!“

“In a business that pushes cheaper food for faster table turnover, Primavera holds onto a phenomenal tradition of quality and service. The service is knowledgeable, the dishes traditional and the atmosphere primed for conversation. The restaurant never forgets that the experience of the food and your company comes first. The pride in their name is tasted in every plate. Best Italian food in the area.“

“Excellent food & service!“

“Such a great place, from the food to the staff there is no where else I go to enjoy quality time with friends and family. love it here and thank you Ilpanino for always going above and beyond.“

“This place is TOP SHELF. Went twice this past week and honestly feel there is NO place in the area that comes remotely close to this restaurant! I moved from Bergen County and until now, could not find that rare combination of quality food, CLEAN and attentive , personable staff. The seafood is AMAZING. I’ve heard some comments in reference to the owner….guess what…he’s doing a whole lot of right, maybe you just don’t know the difference.“

“Wow! Took us years to get here… but so glad we did! I’m an Italian originally from Queens who doesn’t much care to eat an Italian restaurant when I can get it home cooked. My better half, however, is a boy from Brooklyn, who is Italian by osmosis & loves to eat it out of the home. For his birthday we wanted to go somewhere special. We did! LuNello ranks up there as one of our favorite Italian Restaurants EVER… From the valet staff, to the maitre D, hostesses & waitstaff, to the ambiance… and the FOOD. There are basic dishes on the menu but so many interesting & varied plates that I was blown away! Everything we ate, from appys, to main courses, and dessert (famous bread pudding) were the best!“

“Tino's is the only pizza restaurant that we know of that is organically sourced and where the staff is knowledgeable regarding what brands are used for ingredients and the contents of the labels for the ingredients used in cooking. We very much appreciate their understanding and transparency and how accommodating they are to dietary concerns. We highly recommend them and for the delicious and healthy crust options they offer. The brick oven keeps the pizzas thin and crispy! Salads are fresh and delicious as well. Thank you to the entire staff, highlighting and commending Eduardo and Khaya's kindness and professionalism!“

“This foursome found Enzzo's by luck. We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed delectable appetizers including antipasto, eggplant and meatballs. For certain, the next time we're in town, we'll stay longer and enjoy more of Enzzo's tantalizing menu!“

“My team had a lunch booked today and stepping into L’Allegria was a beautiful surprise. I booked the restaurant based on the menu and ratings, plus parking looked easy. Without planning it we had a private room where we could celebrate the departure of one of our colleagues. Alana took great care of us and the food was delicious and well executed. Temperatures were perfect on the food too. The zucchini blossoms and homemade gnocchi were the best I’ve had in YEARS. The chef and restaurant team are to be commended. I look forward to returning with my husband for dinner. Thank you!“

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

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