50 Best Italian Restaurants near West Caldwell

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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 !“

“We had my 80th birthday party there with the whole family. It was wonderful. Everyone loved the food. We’ve been there a few other times too….we’ll go back!“

“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.“

“The best pizza in NJ“

“We love this place and have eaten several times for lunch. Food is consistently good and inventive.

My only warning is - if you come for dinner, especially on a weekend, be ready to wait. It's free seating so there's lots of groups standing around waiting for a table to open up. The real bottleneck seems to be their pizza oven. We got our meal almost immediately except for the pizza - had to awkwardly wait for 20 additional minutes as people eyed our table.“

“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.“

“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 am from Maryland, was passing thru on the way home. The food was excellent. The Tony salad was so good, got a meatball pizza that was delicious also. Got two pasta entrees, chicken Marsala and one other I can’t remember the name of. Both were delicious. Price was good especially for the area.“

“Muy buena comida y buena atención un sitio agradable“

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

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

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

“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.“

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

“Excellent food, excellent service and reasonably priced!“

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

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

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!!!“

“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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“We came here spontaneously and we were pleasantly surprised. Staff was professional, well mannered and welcoming. Atmosphere was romantic and classy. The food was absolutely great. A contender for the best lasagna I have ever had(and I have eaten at some great places in Manhattan), and the crab cake and shrimp were extraordinary as well. I had the chocolate mousse cake and my fiancee had the tiramisu, both were great for our individual palates. I like intense chocolate flavor, so it was perfect for me. The tiramisu was light and had a great balance of flavor. All in all, we had a great experience. We'll be back next time we are in the area, and we already recommended Primavera Ristorante to our friends.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“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!“

“Recommend: Pork Braciole & Meatball with gnocchi, fettuccine Alfredo with chicken
Good: clams and mussels in white wine garlic sauce, pan seared scallops with rigatoni
Meh: house salad

The pork Braciole was very unique but the meatballs and gnocchi were a little too soft for it to be perfect.

The clams and mussels were tasty and the sauce was thickened and was delicious on the bread.

The scallops were sliced thinly and ended up being a little overcooked.

Fettuccine Alfredo in my opinion the noodles were too thin to hold up to the thick sauce but it was the favorite of others.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Sear House is impeccably clean, pastas and steaks are prepared well, bread served warm and housemade desserts delicious. The dinner pricepoint is a little high but comparable to similar menu restaurants in NJ. Sun-Thur prix fixe is your best bet but with limited selection. We appreciated the pristine airy ambiance, service and food at an earlier repast event with screens available to show photos and videos of remembrance. They were quite respectful of what was being said and shared and waited patiently to serve at appropriate times.“

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

“Tony the manager went out of his way to drive to the bakery (where I was) and drop off cheesecake from the restaurant right at closing time! It was so nice of him to go to all that trouble for me and the cheesecake was delicious!! Thank you!!“

“Went for the first time over the weekend, food was incredible, will not disappoint !!
It's a BYOB.
Definitely make a reservation there's only about eight tables. Owners are wonderful

Parking: After 6:00 street parking is free“

“Todo excelente, lo recomiendo“

“Absolutely love their food. Also adore Patty for hosting mine and my fiancée’s engagement party, and making it absolutely perfect and extra special for us. I highly recommend Cafe Z!“

“The best of the best place to come and enjoy the ultimate dinner party on a Thursday night. Ten stars! The food is absolutely delicious and the environment is exhilarating. A must place to come and visit. Thank me later.“

“All the different meals I’ve had at Columbia Inn have been amazing! I’m never disappointed. Their pizza is amazing too!!!“