50 Best Italian Restaurants near Howard Beach

“Absolutely adore coming here. The service is attentive but not overbearing. The food is top notch with great selections. It’s a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion, or just to treat yourself. The manager Pure is friendly, and Gian who has been our waiter the last two times is wonderful. Top notch place.“

“Poly is a great person , the first sausage sandwich I’ve ever eaten was from this food truck about 20 years ago, and guess what , will be no other Italian sausage sandwich I’ll eat, the freshness and the quality here is incomparable, thank you POLY🫡“

“Really good place for special occasions, the service is excellent and the food it’s amazing, I have been twice and I am coming back because the food is fresh and delicious, everything you get there !“

“Delicious food always fresh and if you c ant pick it up they will deliver“

“Always consistent! Nice staff“

“My wife and I were recently at your restaurant our server who told us he was new to his position (2weeks) gave us amazing cartious and attentive service like an experienced professional unfortunately I didn't get the young man's name..our visit was on Friday 2/25 at about 3:30 in the afternoon . I just wanted to give him his due compliments“

“I was visiting friends in NY, and on the day of my return to FL, my girlfriend took me to Panino Rustico, where I met JACK, he was excellent and authentic New Yorker, with accent and all (adorable).. The menu choices are excellent, we had truffle fries, I had the P48 Panini (steak, mozzarella with peppers & onions) and to cap off as a desert, I had the Iced Nutella Latte... All were excellent. I love a Hot Panini and it was perfect, flavors were cheesy perfect. Even the ambiance was charming and the Service was impeccable. I truly cannot say enough. So when you go, say HI to Jack!! The address is 161-16 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach, NY 11414“

“Gino's Pizza is a great spot if you’re craving classic, no-nonsense pizza. The slices are fresh, cheesy, and satisfying, with a crust that has just the right balance of softness and crispiness. It’s the kind of place that keeps things simple and gets the basics right.

The menu usually has a good variety of options beyond pizza too, making it easy to grab a quick meal whether you’re dining in or taking out. Service is typically fast and efficient, and the staff is friendly and straightforward.

It has a casual, neighborhood feel that makes it a reliable go-to whenever you want something quick, filling, and tasty.

★★★★★ 5/5 — Great pizza, solid portions, and a dependable spot for a quick and satisfying meal.“

“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.“

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

“Spectacular meal! Best veal and Taglioni that we have had….

Noli was excellent and we had a Barollo we will search out when we get home….

A perfect end to a first day in NYC of museum and a show….“

“I just love this place... !“

“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!“

“The wait staff and food were absolutely amazing.“

“repas poisson excellent et canolli extra“

“Great food, warm and welcoming staff.“

“Wonderful Christmas Eve dinner on our visit to NYC. Service & Food were both excellent. Lovely family setting.“

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

“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.“

“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. ❤“

“Amazing dining experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. We tried a few dishes from the menu, and everything tasted authentic with generous portions. The ambiance is cozy, and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Definitely a place worth visiting if you're looking for quality Italian food. Highly recommended!“

“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 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!!!“

“We went into Cafe Mars with little knowledge beforehand and we're pleasantly surprised by our experience there. The food was overall excellent. We went when they had the Japanese Italian fusion menu and loved most of the inventive dishes. The salt bread was our standout favorite and the tofu time was solid.

We loved that the staff and the ambiance made it feel like it was a fun celebration of dining. From the first seating through the plating and music, it felt like a welcoming and positive environment to enjoy inventive dishes.

The staff was friendly and professional. It made me feel like if the staff are this happy with there, then they must be treated well by the restaurant ( I hope).“

“everything. food is delicious!“

“Delicious food good service“

“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“

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

“Had a great time at Misi last night. Ricotta crostini was served with nectarine; very good, still was nicely savory despite being fruit-forward. We also had the artichoke hearts; the mint made the dish exceptional. For pasta, we went with the tortelli and the lamb ragu. The tortelli was exceptional but I would try something other than the lamb next time; wasn’t bad, but wasn’t stand out. For dessert, we had strawberry and cream gelato and double chocolate gelato, both were great but the strawberry and cream was the better.

Thanks for the great night, Misi team!“

“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“

“If I could give more than five stars, I absolutely would! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the service was exceptional. A special thank you to William, who went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. Friendly, attentive, and professional from start to finish. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back!“

“What an incredible experience! My friend and I sat at the bar inside of restaurant and were lucky to be served by Alex. He was so attentive, caring, and genuinely kind. You can tell he puts his heart into what he does. We’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“It is theeeeBEST! Make a reservation NOW!“

“My first time at Wonder was exceptional. Was recommended it by a friend has no idea what I was walking into. Food was exceptional - I got the Tejas Barbecue brisket meal. The place was clean, people were kind. First time here and I’ll definitely bb back.“

“Fantastic authentic Italian in a cozy atmosphere. My friend has a gluten allergy and eating here was the big event of the trip. We loved everything we ate. The boar risotto was outstanding as was the chocolate cake. Ten out of ten, greatly recommend.“

“Took my 2.5 year old niece to Da Adriano and they could not have been nicer or more accommodating to us. We ordered the bolognese and the special of the day which was pistachio pesto and better than any pistachio pesto i had in Sicily two weeks ago. My niece said it was her new favorite restaurant and she loved the pasta. Clean ingredients, evoo only and authentic! Can’t wait to come back to this neighborhood spot!“

“Delicious food!! The best place I've been to in the east village in a very long time. I highly recommend it 😋“

“Sooooo good and so delicious and great attention A+“

“A wonderful restaurant - delicious food, wine, marvelous service. Thank you“

“We used to frequent the Astoria location which was always so great. The new Manhattan location is no different. Somewhat smaller, but just very cozy and very nice looking. Amazing food as always. The flavors and taste are just the best. No matter what you order you will not go wrong. The service is top notch and Rocco and his staff are just the best at what they do. Just go, you won't regret it.“

“Amazing pasta and staff, that are actually from Italy! 🇮🇹“

“We had a great experience learning how to make pasta! The food was so delicious. This would be something fun to do with a group or family members. Our waiter Mica was fantastic as well as the chef who taught us Anthony. Thanks guys for a fun night in NYC!“

“We happened to be walking by on a Friday night and my husband pointed it out. Our pasta was fresh and delicious and served so quickly. The staff was beyond attentive and professional. The bathrooms were gorgeous and clean. It delivered on all aspects. We had Zeppole with lemon curd for dessert and it was unreal!“

“I called around 5 p.m. looking for a last-minute reservation for a friend and me. The only thing available was “outdoor seating on the patio,” and I was a little disappointed. I’ve been dying to try this place, though, so we took it. Turns out I was completely wrong, the patio is gorgeous. It’s tucked away in the back, mostly shaded beneath a tree, and sits beside a sizeable fountain that provides a constant, pleasant background soundtrack.

The waitstaff was fantastic. Danya was friendly, knowledgeable, and helped us navigate the menu. Another member of the waitstaff whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch was equally warm and welcoming. We ordered the bufala mozzarella with smoked cherries, the focaccia (which I am very grateful Danya talked us into, holy hell), the guinea hen ragu, and the sea bass with some sort of saffron and tomato magic happening in the sauce. Everything was excellent, but definitely don’t sleep on the focaccia and ragu. The reviews do not lie about the ragu, and the focaccia ruined me for lesser breads. Whoever engineered the martini’s on the drink menu deserves an award. Hell yeah.

For dessert, we ordered the mint ice cream. I am neither a mint person nor much of an ice cream person, which makes it even more surprising that I thought it was fresh, surprisingly herbal and fantastic, the ultimate summer solstice dessert. The kitchen also sent out a chocolate cake with ganache and orange that was absurdly good. We weren’t a particularly big-spending table and have no history with the restaurant, so I can only assume they could tell we were vibing hard with the food and decided to send us completely over the top. Thanks, you guys.

10/10 experience. We’ll both be back as soon as we can.“

“Always come back to this special place in NYC for dinner, jazz show up stairs on weekends. Quality cuisine and service is the best in NYC. Special thanks to Luis, Lopez, and bar-tender Angel for making our night so special and showing us the jazz bar recommendations.“

“🔝🔝🔝 Giovanni e il suo staff 🥰“

“Forsythia NYC looks great. I love Italian food, and the photos look warm and real. The pasta looks delicious. It is affordable at $100+, but it seems good for a special dinner. I am saving this place. I want to open the app to see the full menu and more photos.“