50 Best Italian Restaurants near East Rockaway

“We hosted a party of 25 at Sapori’s to celebrate our son’s baptism. From the moment we went in to plan for the dinner to the entire dinner experience, we have nothing but great things to say! The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, all while providing us with excellent service - not to mention the amazing food and drinks. They were accommodating of all of our requests and everything was done so well! We highly recommend Sapori’s and will be back for more events in the future.“

“I go to VILLA MARIA regularly, for a long time, for take out, and sometimes dine in. *BEST* food I have Ever had ! They are my Favorite Restaurant ! & no where else is even close. I Always order an extra meal + soups for the next day. Like All Restaurants when you order Take Out, you MUST Confirm what you ordered is Repeated + In your bags. SAME thing for *ANY* Restaurant> If you do Not Confirm on the phone you are understood you may not get what you ordered. The words Caesar Salad may sound like Seafood Salad. This is human nature. So Confirm on the Phone, & when picking up or receiving take outs check the bags for what you requested. Villa Maria has my favorites: Whole Wheat pasta & pizza, and they make the best tasting Italian food I have ever had !. Like All Restaurants today in this post-Covid world: Either the price goes up to cover over-inflated costs - Or- Other Restaurants will make the portions smaller to cover their Higher Costs. However, my appetite remains the same, & I use credit cards that offer 5+% rewards to cover the extra costs these days, but I will Never give up on the Fantastic tasting food @ VILLA MARIA, E. Rockaway LI NY !“

“We just moved from Staten Island to Long Island and Staten Island is known for good food no doubt .Wow! We are beyond happy to live right near your restaurant and absolutely love your food and the service .. continue to do a great job! Bravo , Nicole and Michael“

“Enjoyed a unexpectedly good meal last evening here. The food was served well prepared and nice presentation. very complete menu with plenty of choices for all. my main comment is that the acoustics are terrible. (busy sat night), place was full and literally had to bend across the table to hear each other. I believe it is listed as a $$$ pricing. the bill without drinks (for 2) was 140 and 60 more for 4 drinks. i will definitely give it another try when less busy as the food and service was very good.“

“20/10 Westbury Manor was more than I could have imagined. It rained on my wedding day and all the staff worked their butts off to make sure my day went perfectly, and it did!!! This place runs like a well-oiled machine. Upon booking, I spoke with Mike. He was one of the first reasons why I wanted to book with WBM. Any questions I had, Mike was always there to give me the information I needed. Sandra was the next person I worked with and she was also just as amazing. The BEST part of my day was Phil, our Matre’d and Claudia our bridal attendant. These two are sensational!!!! Talk about TEAMWORK!!!! They were running out in the rain for me, carrying the train on my dress, keeping us cool calm and collected all day and got us anything that we needed. The list goes on for these two on how hard they worked and how much they did for us. Both of them were at our sides all day to make sure everything was up to par. Their attention to detail was phenomenal. We received so many compliments on Phil and Claudia and how wonderful they were to our guests as well as my husband and I. If you want to feel like Royalty on your wedding day, WBM is the venue for you. Jerry, the owner, even came up to my husband and I to make sure we were happy. I am now looking for ANY reason to book another celebration at WBM!!!“

“Aside from always getting a great dinner there, we just held my daughters bridal shower there. Absolutely perfect. The food was delicious, the service fantastic and every part was on point. From the champagne punch to the cake. Thanks to Chef Paul and the terrific servers and staff.“

“Hi I don't usually don't do reviews but I had a surprise birthday party for my wife on 3/23 of a party of 20 people and from the beginning dealing with and planning with EVA she went up and above my expectations walking me threw everything from beginning to end I can't say enough of her and Barbara and just wanted to thank Barbara our server handled all of us with no issues at all and all of the staff who helped with everything from Eva, Barbara and would give both of them 10 stars and more and food was absolutely exquisite“

“I need to be gluten-free and they do an amazing job. Anything I have ordered is simply outstanding. The service was also very good. However it may be a little loud at times.Dietary restrictions: I'm gluten free and they will accommodate in any way they can.“

“Similar to other Mother Kelly’s this place has a fantastic menu of beer (and ciders and wines if that’s your jam). The game changer is the pizza, it is simply amazing. A whole pizza is MASSIVE although quite a thin crust so manageable between a couple of you. They sell it by the slice too. Had some birthday drinks there recently with a group of people and they went down a treat. Don’t know if they still serve the meat and cheese platters, don’t care - get a pizza.“

“I came here a few times with my boss. The staff are very accommodating. The food is absolutely excellent. I can recommend all the foods we try to be delicious. We started with the special appetitezers of the day, so good the bake oysters, burrata cheese, and calamari. The main courses we have are veal chop, Pollo marsala, and bolognese pasta. Desserts they gave us 3 different kinds, and out of all the three, I won't forget how smooth and perfect the napoleon cake is. Plus, we have the cappuccino. So good. It is one of the best diner we have in an Italian restaurant. The reason being I gave 4 stars is that I didn't feel warm with other staff, and i noticed the eyes of other customers. I ignore them since I am also a customer. Who cares with them, but I couldn't stop noticing that I am the only different skin color that night. I hope to bring my friends and family here since the food is great. Me and my boss will surely come back. Hope that time is not as intimidating as the ambiance is.“

“Great Italian deli. Good for lunch but if I had one complaint is that they give you way too much food! When we get this at work for lunch, I have to plan it as a two day meal. But I will say, their catering blows away any other catering place. You order a tray of chicken francaise or parmigiana and you get more chicken than you could ever expect. They do not short change you on the amount of food they give you. But add to that, it's outstanding! The catering here is unbeatable! Trust me when I tell you, next family party, get it catered here. You will not be disappointed! You will be so happy you went here!!“

“Haven't been olive garden for a long. I could see the company manages very well when it was not so busy. There were very good option meals for elders for weekday lunch. Good to see. People came and paid less than 15 dollars and had unlimited soup or salad with bread sticks.Kid-friendliness: Variety kids menu is available“

“I've been coming here for almost two years now. After my first visit I was very impressed. We've been coming almost every week since then and I have never had a disappointing meal or experience. The chef cooks everything well from seafood, pastas, meat, chicken and veal entrees to fresh salads, potato croquettes and sautéed veggies! Great selection of wines, drinks, desserts. Lovely clean dining room. Service is always extraordinary whether super busy or just a few tables. Now that I'm retired we livecgoing at lunch time. They have a terrific lunch specialist you're on a fixed income. Generous portions off the regular menu 75% of the time I'm bringing some home. Danny the owner couldn't be nicer or more accommodating. Most of the time Wilson is our server and Luis is the helper. Entire staff is great but really have to applaud Wilson and Luis for how well we've been taken care of from day one! My favorite restaurant, go enjoy, you will go back again and again!“

“We had my mothers' 90th birthday last Saturday and we are very pleased with the entire experience. Robbie was a pleasure to work with, he answered all our questions and was helpful with the food choices and the entire setup. Ignacio and Rueben provided outstanding service the day of the party, and dealt with late comers and we even went over the time frame a little bit. Now to the food, wow wow wow! Everything was delicious. The crowds favorite, Ravioli's and Pollo Zingarella. Highly recommend it all! Thank you Piccolo's“

“I was at the restaurant with a large party and was so impressed with everything from the food, to the staff, they went above and beyond, we’re so gracious and so polite and just wonderful, I am just so happy with everyone there and I think they all deserve a raise ha ha but seriously what a wonderful wonderful staff and food, everything was wonderful, thank you!“

“This weekend we hosted a baby shower brunch at The Chefs Table. From beginning to end there was great communication and everything went smooth and turned out perfect. The service, food & drinks were all complimented on by many of our guests. Not only was everything great as far as food and service… but it was closed off to our party only, there’s a very spacious parking lot, and the restaurant itself is very nice looking and provides a nice blank canvas to set up for your event.Thank you Sam and staff for being so helpful and making sure everything was great for us.“

“I did not think when booking this restaurant that my girlfriend and I would enjoy the meal as much as did. We are always trying to try different restaurants since we go out to dinner so often. At Lenox and Park the service was excellent, the ambiance for a local restaurant was quite lovely, and the food was extremely tasty and delicious. Oftentimes, when you go to restaurant based on an Open Table hype --- it sometimes be not as described. This restaurant however, truly lived up to its hype. We will back again sometime in the near future.“

“My mother has been a patient for years. I'm very grateful/ lucky to have such an amazing/ caring/ dedicated professional team, helping my mother manage her pain with treatment/medications. Dr. Ji Han and the entire staff are amazing professionals, knowledgeable. Thank you for always making sure, that my mother receives the best care tailored to her specific medical needs.“

“From the moment we arrived, the parking was convenient and close to the entrance. Upon opening the door, there was a beautiful Easter display. We went there for Easter/my mom's 65th birthday, they had no problem serving us the outside cake we brought, at no extra charge. All the staff were extremely friendly. High recommend! It was a great experience.“

“Rialto's motto: Good Friends. Good Food. From my research I surmised Rialto has been around over 14 years. I was surprised the restaurant does not market their establishment date with their motto, as 14+ years is no small feat. My original visit a few years ago, attending an event with my colleagues bundled in a smaller section of the restaurant left a lot to be desired. It had myself questioning whether I should attend yet another milestone event squished in a corner. After succumbing to the pressures as to why I should attend, I was pleased that this evening's Jan 2024 Retirement Dinner, was set up in the larger part of the restaurant. Great company. Entering from the main door you are met with a warm, cozy glow on the smaller, bar side of the restaurant and then an immediate separation to the larger main dining area. The main area allowed the space needed for co-workers not seen in ages an opportunity to mingle freely. Much more comfortable. Good food. A small sample of the Berkshire Pork Chop was perfectly prepared. I definitely recommend. My Almond Crusted Stuffed Chicken Breast was a savory, sweet dish with the accompanying mashed Sweet Potatoes. Another perfect combination. To add to the pleasantries of the evening, our obviously skilled servers offered prompt, satisfactory service. Any request I or my table companions made were fulfilled without any necessary follow up. There may have been exceptions, though all appeared content with the service. If the opportunity arose again and dependent on the circumstances I would return to Rialto. TIP: Parking Lot in back Residential parking available“

“This is our new favorite restaurant. From the time we arrived to when we left, the service was over the top. They had live music which was excellent! There were 8 of us there and everyone loved their dish and the apps. Can't wait to come back.“

“Nine of us gathered to celebrate coworkers 60th-- and I must say I was nearly bowled over by the beauty of the main dining room's decor... The streams of "flowers" haning from every inch of thr ceiling were absolutely STUNNING. The wait staff are very amiable and the food is ok. The cocktails and dessert are definitely worth a visit. Yet be warned... It's a bit pricey-- and withnthe tables upon tables of people celebrating the milestones of life in their existence... It... is-- LOUD!!!“

“As a first time customer, I absolutely loved it. The food was delicious. It's a lovely space. I was promised crying children by a 1-star reviewer. The children must've had the night off (wink ?). Perhaps they'll be back on the clock on my next visit. ? Families warm my heart & kids are beautiful. The waiter was quite nice. He was very busy, but our service was not lacking. All the staff were helpful and courteous. I will absolutely be going back. I'd love to flower-up this review more. I'm not a professional. Portions were perfect. Presentation was beautiful. I've heard restaurant work is difficult, and you all made it look easy. Thank you.“

“We recently moved to Lynbrook and Gallery Four is one of our favorite restaurants for take-out. We order frequently. Our meal comes with salad and bread. Their food is delicious, fresh, and affordable. We have ordered chicken francese, lasagna, chicken parm, penne alla vodka, and garlic knots. Will continue ordering from them and trying new meals. ?“

“This place was solid. The food was fresh and tasty. The service was spot on. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly. The veal oso bucco was perfection. Highly recommend. Bring your wallet if offering off the specials menu. They do have a price fix also.Parking: A small lot on the side of the restaurant.“

“Service was excellent our server had the patients of a Saint. We were a large party and she catered to all of needs. The food was not rushed and the food was never ending. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We all left full and happy. Highly recommend.“

“Classic Italian dishes fill the menu. They also have some dishes you'll only find here. Their daily specials are also very good. Staff is extremely friendly. Dinner at the bar is very popular. Gary is a great bartender. I recommend reservations, especially on weekend nights.They are open for lunch. Lunch is a great value.Highly recommend a visit.“

“Delightful Italian experience! We started with sautéd calamari and the Ceaser perfect for the both of us. The penne a la vodka was aldente and creamy, and the halibut was perfectly cooked amazing with the potato and escarole combo. Exceptional flavors, friendly service a must try! True hidden “

“Met a friend of mine at this restaurant for dinner. We were both very pleased with our experience. The staff was so friendly and accommodating, and efficient. Great selection on the menu. We both ordered the salmon which was delicious. Absolutely a place that we will frequent again. Overall friendly and comfortable atmosphere.“

“Hidden gem of elmont, restaurant nestled in corner of small strip mall. Large portions, family owned, after one bite I thought my grandma was cooking in the kitchen. Everyone eventually starts talking to each other praising food, atmosphere. Owners make you feel like your eating in there home, go back in a heart beat. Give it a 10 if possible only goes up to 5“

“Gio's has become one of my favorite restaurants to dine. Not only is the food delicious but the staff is truly the best, so friendly and accommodating. My husband and I have dined here 3 times (twice bringing friends). We look forward to bringing more people with us that haven't experienced it yet. My go to dish is the Veal Sorrentino, I can't get enough of it. It really is “the best in the city”. Last night we also had the Bolognese, it was perfect and the stuffed artichoke. Sop up the sauce with their delicious bread. Great cocktails and wine too. Everything we had has been amazing and flavorful. Kudos to Deena (hope I spelled correctly). She's a gem!!“

“It's really about a three and a half star. We came here for my birthday brunch. We had a reservation but we didn't really need it. When we entered there wasn't anyone to greet us. It was a good five minutes before anyone came to check on us. But after we were seated we got our menus and water. There was also a complementary cornbread that was still warm. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Steak. My husband had the French Toast and my daughter wanted the Nutella French Toast. When our orders came out I didn't notice right away that it was incorrect because it did look good but before I touched it I got it returned. They apologized and brought it back in. My husband already started eating his before he realized he got the waffles instead of French Toast so we decided to ignore it. My daughter really liked her Nutella French Toast. When I finally got my order, it was very good. The eggs were nicely poached. The hollandaise sauce was creamy. The steak was a perfect medium. My only criticism was that hash brown looked good but tasted stale. There were parts that looked crunchy but were mushy and gritty. (I wonder if they just reused the hash brown from my first order.) And not that it matters to anyone but I love Pikachu so they get a half star back for the Pikachu decor.“

“My main local hangout since I was 15! If you're a vegan, gluten-free or whatever, this place has got you covered! They have a great food selection and an amazing coffee/tea selection too! Try the awesome deserts as well! Atmosphere is that of gothic/punk east village right here closer to home! Tell them "Gordo" sent you!“

“Although the place was busy for a Friday, we were seated immediately at the bar. Food choices is mostly italian and a brick over pizza. Bar service is good Adrian the bartender makes the best Martinis.. Tried the wild berry cosmo and I'm addicted. Also tried the coconut Martini which was also quite good. Pours are generous. For appetizers the Octopus was quite good. Served with Hummus and Crisps.. You will eat everything in the plate.. Perfect compliments. For my entree.. Had the RVC pizza.. White sauce pizza with toppings which included Prosciutto, arugula and parmigiana cheese. Fantastic... Will make this a part of my regular rotation“

“My twin daughters' had their Sweet 16 dinner with 20 friends. The food, the atmosphere, the service, the accomodarions....OUTSTANDING!Vegetarian options: The have plenty of vegetarian options.Kid-friendliness: The staff was so welcoming to 20 teenagers for 3 hours! The owner and staff were so very considerate to them all!“

“After hearing about this restaurant from many friends, I decided to give it a shot and it was fantastic. The food and service were top notch. There are a couple of restaurants that I consider staples of mine and this one might be joining that list“

“Had a terrific lunch @ Maggianos! Our group of 6 placed our lunch orders in advance on their website. Upon arriving, our food was ready and our service was awesome. The staff brought out a happy birthday dish with cookies and candles for our friend after we casually mentioned it was her birthday. We only have an hour for lunch before returning to work and they really made our experience seamless. Can’t wait to come back for another lunch combination; salad and flatbread. Came w delicious bread!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Amazing place. Definitely a Greek touch, even to the Italian dishes. Their avgolemono soup is amazing. Pizza is excellent, too. Ingredients are fresh. Staff is lovely and the service/ambiance are very welcoming and quick paced. Would recommend to anyone.“

“First time here. Great atmosphere, the place looks great. The service was on point. We shared the excellent meatballs and lasagna as an appetizer. The only critisizm an its nit picky is the pasta in the lasagna was a bit over cooked. It was still delicious. The pizza who's name I regretfully forget (rectangular crust, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil) was excellent, particularly the crust. We will return!“

“Just went for the first time in December, but I've been there 3 times since. Easily my new favorite diner the food is really good and the service is great as well. According to my 6 year old son, it's a 5 star restaurant because he loves the bacon! I do agree, though it's a very nice little diner. Excellent burgers and French toast, fresh black and white cookies for dessert and great milkshakes!“

“Meta is a neighborhood gem in Oceanside, NY... Italian food at its best. Went this time on a Thursday so the noise level was low. Always sit next to a wall which also helps. Baked clams and Cesar salad to start. Both excellent. Then both chicken & Veal parm. Generous portions which could not be finished. Service is excellent never having to ask for water refills. Love this place.“

“Pretty nice Restaurant, I like this place. Only thing that disappointed me is my entree Easter menu, the lamb chop milanese, the most expensive one on the menu, but it was over deeply fried, too dry, I can bearly taste it's still a lamb.“

“Very delicious local spot. We ordered the 11375 mushrooms, rigatoni ala vodka, and the spinach and Asiago ravioli. Very very delicious at a reasonable price! Would definitely hit up this spot if you are in the area. Small space but it’s very comfort cozy! Love the interior!“

“The food was good but not as good as I remember and not as good as the location in the city. The ambience was okay but my seat was broken. Our server confused our order putting in an extra appetizer, resulting in us being overcharged which I didn't realize until just now when I scanned the receipt. And he also didn't check in on us often enough.“

“This restaurant is top tier , the food is so delicious and amazing. Inside is so beautiful and all of the workers and managers are friendly . This is my new place to go for now on for dinner since I’m new to the neighborhood with my wife . We both enjoy this place I would give 10 starts if I can . Before I left one night I’ve left my wallet and didn’t notice until the next day then I went back to ask and they had it right there and then returned it to me with nothing missing at all . Thank you guys so much !!!!“

“I always enjoy dining at Piccolo Bussola! My family and I often dine there and it's the first place I go for gift cards! Everyone I know enjoys receiving a gift card for a wonderful meal at Piccolo! The waiters are always kind and very attentive. The food is delicious! I highly recommend this wonderful neighborhood spot.“

“Uva's got this chill vibe, kind of like your favorite rustic spot in the neighborhood where everyone kind of knows your name. Walked in last Thursday and the place was buzzing with this cozy, warm atmosphere - really sets the mood right. Had this server, Fernando, who mixed up a mean ginger cocktail that just hit the spot. Tried the spaghetti al pomodorino, and it's a game changer, especially when they whip it out in that cheese wheel right at your table. It's just a solid place to grab a bite.“

“Best place to celebrate a birthday, yesterday we.celebrated to my wife with the people’ church and some friends, and it was great experience, the delicious food, the gourmet gastronomy, the service is the best, the kindness people and the excellence of the place was wonderful, highly recommended, it’s the favorite place to have a dinner with my family and friends“

“We went to the restaurant to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We were seated on time and the waitress immediately came over to ask us if we would like any drinks. Our water glasses were filled. The menu was loaded with great choices. I think the most difficult part was deciding what to eat. From appetizer to dessert we were very pleased. Highly recommend this restaurant for casual dining, celebrations, a girl's night out or date night! We will definitely be going back “

“Amazing!!!! Ordered several appetizers, one better then the next!!! From the calamari to the artichoke hearts to dinner, fresh tuna yummy. Food wasn’t the only delight… lots of smiles, fantastic service, would recommend highly. I will be back Anthony to see what’s new on the menu. You will be in heaven … Thank You Anthony“