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“

“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“

“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“

“Ok first of all I’m from NJ. South. Now living int hr Carolina’s. Food is blend down there. Had a layover at JFK and not eating airport food. A friend of mine Freon the area told me to go to Gino’s. Oh my even the small bruschetta is delicious. Miss food ….“

“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 :)“

“Went to dinner here with my cousin after seeing a Broadway show & we had an amazing dining experience! Food was incredible, drinks were delicious, service was fast, and staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, especially Albert! Very much planning on going back.“

“I loved my dinner here and will be coming back again and again. The food and service are exceptional (the tomato salad is amazing and their grilled chicken outstanding) and it's one of those restaurants -- increasingly all too rare -- where you feel genuinely welcome and wanted from the minute you walk in the door. My friend broke her wine glass towards the end of our meal (we were both finished eating our main courses) and the maitre d' offered to give us two new main courses because there was food left on our plates and they were concerned about glass shards in our food. We declined but it was an incredibly thoughtful offer (and the accident was entirely our fault). Lovely atmosphere, top-notch cocktails and outstanding food. Go!“

“The wait staff and food were absolutely amazing.“

“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“

“I just love this place... !“

“Great food, warm and welcoming staff.“

“repas poisson excellent et canolli extra“

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

“The atmosphere was classy and inviting, and the food was delicious. My friend and I had the calamari, baked clams, chicken parmesan, and an eggplant dish, and everything was really good.
The cocktails were superb! I hardly ever drink, and mine was just right. The service was also excellent—the waiters were attentive and on point throughout the entire meal.
I live in the neighborhood, so I’ll definitely be ordering takeout and stopping by again for dinner or maybe brunch. It’s a great neighborhood spot, and I highly recommend it!“

“A meal we'll always remember. Every dish was creative, surprising and absolutely delicious. Wonderful, funny and talented chef. We loved our server. Great bright quirky space. The fresh mozzarella was the best we've ever had. special from start to finish.“

“EXCELENTE SERVICIO MUY ATENTOS, SALUDOS DE KEYLA B FOSTER“

“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.“

“This place is truly a hole in the wall! In the best way! My son recommended us this Italian wine bar with real candles, lighting the entire restaurant and with a very romantic ambience upstairs! The food was phenomenal, our waiter was friendly and the wait staff was quick! I must say the hostess was a bit distracted when we arrived, while she was sitting on a table by the entrance on her phone. I think that looks unprofessional for “the face” of the restaurant. We enjoyed our meal and were sat upstairs aside not having a reservation. We will definitely be back next time we are in the city!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Had dinner at Rosticceria Brooklyn last night and it did not disappoint. The chicken was perfectly roasted, juicy inside with crispy, well-seasoned skin. We got the focaccia on the side, which was soft and pillowy with a great olive oil flavor.

Everything felt fresh and made with care. This is exactly the kind of neighborhood spot you want in Brooklyn. Will definitely be back!“

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

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

“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!“

“The food was amaze. Cute place.“

“I traveled all the way from Upper West Side because a friend suggested it, and it was absolutely worth it!!! I loved the atmosphere, the restaurant, the wine list, and the food! I highly recommend trying the fagioli all’uccelletto, and don’t miss their pastas, we had a phenomenal cacio e pepe, and the cotoletta alla bolognese was truly amazing. Food is so authentic and spontaneous!!! We shared a bottle of their Poderi Melini Chianti Classico, which was perfect with our food and was recommended to us by Jacopo, in his typical Tuscanian accent. I’ll definitely be back! Ridgewood has a great Italian spot. What a discovery!“

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

“It is theeeeBEST! Make a reservation NOW!“

“Casa Lever may be my favorite expression of Park Avenue: architecturally serious, commercially consequential, and somehow much more playful than the traditional power lunch establishment. Lever House itself is one of my favorite classic buildings in New York, a 1952 modernist landmark whose glass-and-steel design still looks almost impossibly sharp against this stretch of Midtown. For my money, the design relative to the location is unbeatable if you prefer great twentieth-century architecture to new construction.

Park Avenue from the high 40s through the upper 50s is the highest velocity investment corridor in the world: information, fundraising, and transactions all moving through an extraordinarily dense piece of Manhattan. Third Point once headquartered here before moving to Hudson Yards, which I always thought was incredibly cool and a particularly fitting choice for Dan Loeb. I’ve experienced Casa Lever on several different occasions, including meeting a friend outside for a beer after work and, on another visit, having lunch inside.

Inside, everything feels considered, from the curved architecture and sculptural ceiling to the wonderfully restrained Casa Lever typography. The Warhol portraits were the masterstroke when I knew the restaurant: Giorgio Armani, the Shah of Iran, Farah Pahlavi, Aretha Franklin, and Dennis Hopper were among the faces looking out over the dining area. There is something deliciously apt about dining beneath that Warhol pantheon on Park Avenue, where financiers, media titans, and dynastic fortunes have long crossed paths with the people shaping fashion, advertising, and culture.

Later, on a completely separate occasion, I returned for dinner with a larger group and remember sitting around a big round table near the banquettes. Across lunch, dinner, and drinks, what stayed with me was how polished the service was and how effortlessly chic the whole experience felt. There is a more creative, feminine energy here than at many of Midtown’s harder-edged power restaurants, sophisticated without becoming stiff and glamorous without feeling theatrical.

The prices are pure Park Avenue, but so is the proposition: extraordinary architecture, extraordinary geography, and one of the coolest places in New York to bring someone when you want the city itself to participate in the evening. Casa Lever feels timeless because it never seems to chase relevance; the building, the design, and the people passing through already provide enough electricity. Few establishments capture this particular intersection of commerce, taste, history, and social theater quite as well.“

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

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

“Absolutely fantastic dining experience at Da Adriano! The food was fresh, authentic, and full of incredible flavor. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the quality really stood out. The staff were warm, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. Cozy atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious Italian cuisine—I can't wait to come back. Highly recommend!“

“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.“

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

“One word DIABLO !!!🙏❤️ Frost Beer was ice cold !!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Best pasta I’ve had since visiting Italy. The paccheri with pork shoulder ragu is something I’d come back for. Loved the vibe of the room as well. The wait staff gives you space to enjoy your meal and you don’t feel rushed at all.“

“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!“

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

“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.“