50 Best Italian Restaurants near Saint James

“I don't know how I missed this hidden gem in St.James, but I was fortunate to have dinner there last night. A small, but intimate restaurant, almost missed it traveling from south to north on Moriches Rd. Not your typical menu that you would find in your average Modern Italian restaurant. Delicious, authentic italian regional dishes, like mama made. Interesting appetizers to wondetful pasta dishes, and the braised beef over polenta was incredible. You can bring your own wine, and the wait staff was very attentive, great place, looking forward to returning!“

“This is my fiancé and mine official favorite restaurant of st.James and surrounding areas! Always great food and staff, we have even used their catering and the owner Sal always comes over and says hi! Keep it small and make sure you come to this amazing small business. Skip the sushi and big chain restaurants 😂“

“Reliably great food and friendly service!“

“Great food great services good astosophere“

“I can not believe that this restaurant has been here on Main Street in Port Jefferson Village for over 20 years and I never ate there!!! This is my new Favorite place to eat. The food was exceptional and good size portions. The pita bread they put out on the table was so delicious I could have made that my meal. The service was extremely attentive and so personable. The Owner came around greeting everyone and made us feel like we were all family having dinner together. I am looking forward to my next visit.“

“Just visited Osteria Umbra yesterday evening for the 2nd time. This place has quickly become my favorite Italian restaurant on Long Island. The quality of the food is extraordinary, and the service/wait staff is second-to-none. Both times I visited, everyone in my group had a truly exceptional evening. From the moment you walk in the front door through the completion of dessert, this place provides first class service. The Black Truffle Taglierini in the Parmesan cheese wheel is a must try and delightful experience. The Australian Wagyu Tomahawk was absolutely delicious and well worth the order. The Italian Cheesecake is homemade, and is the best I have ever had. If you have the opportunity, make a visit and give this place a try. You won't regret it!“

“These guys are the best! They make you feel like a king when you walk in and treat you like family! God bless 🇺🇸“

“We have dined at Ciro's a few times before. We ordered from the regular menu even though it was restaurant week. Everyone's food was prepared to their liking and enjoyed. The desserts were decadent but quite delicious. The service was slow, but we didn't mind because we were not in a rush. We will be back.“

“What a wonderful anniversary dinner! They were more than accommodating and friendly. The 3 course meal was definitely worth it! Top notch service as well!“

“This place is amazing. The food is delicious. I enjoyed the crab cocktail and the lobster crêpes the people there are awesome and the place is nice fancy.“

“A must go to you will not be disappointed!!!!“

“My family bought me here for Mother’s Day and it most definitely did not disappoint.“

“Staff and food were amazing. High recommended“

“Delicious food from start to finish. Wonderful service (we had Gina but all others were great as well) and Friday night they had a singer and had the whole restaurant singing together. Comfy intimate spot that I will definitely return to.“

“Love the food. Service and atmosphere.“

“Love their food. Just not happy with the pizza“

“Had my bridal shower here and it was a dream! The food is delicious and the staff is wonderful. The catering manager Byron is a pleasure to work with and was so accommodating! Our guests can’t stop talking about how great the event was!“

“Instagram: @fabricioportillof

I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Famiglia, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, the level of hospitality and professionalism from the entire staff was outstanding. The servers, managers, bus staff, and every team member we encountered were exceptionally attentive, courteous, friendly, and genuinely welcoming.
Their dedication to customer service created a warm and comfortable atmosphere throughout the evening.

One of the first things that stood out was how immaculate the restaurant was. Every area was spotless, beautifully organized, and maintained with remarkable attention to detail. The ambiance is modern, elegant, and inviting, making it the perfect place for both family gatherings and special occasions.

The black-and-white photographs displayed throughout the restaurant added a truly special touch. They beautifully capture traditional Italian culture and family heritage, creating a nostalgic and heartfelt atmosphere that makes the dining experience even more meaningful and memorable.

The food, served family-style, was absolutely exceptional. Every dish tasted incredibly fresh, flavorful, and carefully prepared. The presentation was elegant and thoughtfully done, showcasing both authenticity and creativity. You can immediately tell that quality ingredients and passion go into every plate served.

La Famiglia delivers far more than just an excellent meal — it offers a complete dining experience centered around hospitality, cleanliness, tradition, and outstanding Italian cuisine. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Italian food, exceptional service, and an unforgettable atmosphere on Long Island.“

“Arrived approximately 8:00 for a late dinner. Not too many tables left Dinners: lasagna and Manicotti were delicious. Nice surprise to get a complimentary glass of wine. Took a bit longer than we expected to get our meals and our server seemed a bit confused.. but all and all a good experience. We will be back.“

“Food was delicious and nice presentation!“

“I have been ordering from them for years. They always deliver a tasty meal for a great price. Sandwiches, pasta or pizza, they have the best food in town!“

“Always the best, food is delicious and very consistent, the staff is exceptional.“

“My brother mom and I came here on easter, we all ordered pre fix menu , My brother and I had the most succulent delicious rack of lamb we ever had with wild mushroom risotto and my mom had the stuffed flounder. the desserts with to die for! They did not disappoint! will be back many times in the future. Thank you Ruvo!“

“Happened upon this restaurant while visiting Port Jefferson. And glad we did. Got here early enough that we could get a table right away. Steve took great care of us without being overbearing. We started off with the stuffed mushrooms, which were so freaking good. For main course my husband got the Chicken & Sausage Scarpiello, and I had the Veal Scallopini - both were delicious. We finished off sharing the Rainbow Cookie Cheesecake. This exceeded my expectations. Everything was so good that my husband wants to go back tomorrow!“

“Absolutely excellent, pleasantly surprised“

“My new favorite place in Port Jeff! Food is delicious, staff are great!! I used to manage an Italian restaurant in Manhattan, I tend to scrutinize restaurants, 2 thumbs up for Pasta Pasta, say it again!!! 😋 🍽 🍷“

“i came here to celebrate my birthday w my cousin and grandma and our waitress Kaitlyn was the sweetest person ever. she has so much personality and her service was impeccable.
the food was good too, but thank you Kaitlyn for making this dinner enjoyable.
i had no idea my grandma asked them to sing to us… she is usually here weekends so we will be back!!“

“We have eaten here for many years and I have also had many business meetings there. I recently called to make reservations for mother’s day as we do every year and was told we could not get a reservation because we had 11 people and it could only be 8. What should I do leave the other 3 people home. I think that is so absurd that I will never eat there again! So people if you want a fine Italian restaurant that doesn’t care how many in your party go to Oster Umbra in Smithtown.“

“Great consistent food. Priced very fairly. Great atmosphere. Enjoy seeing Todd O and Richie. It's like the 90s and Sprats. We are just missing Danny S.“

“A few months ago my daughter passed away. I had family coming in from 4 different states. We needed a place we could all meet and have dinner. We called Nesconset Pizza&Pasta to see if we could use their back room. They said yes and set up the room for us on short notice. The service was excellent and the food was amazing. All my relatives from out of town were very pleased. The staff was kind and compassionate and did not rush us. I have had dinner many times before and after that night and they are always attentive and accommodating. This is a really great place to dine out!“

“Classical Italian Dining, Best Chicken Parm on the Island!“

“Service was outstanding!!! Nice atmosphere.. First time there, food was amazing definitely going back..“

“Ate at this location for the first time Saturday night. We have been to the original Westbury location several times. The food and service are exemplary ! We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Highly recommend this hidden gem ! 10 out of 10“

“Thank for my roast beef and mashed potato and my buffalo blue pizzas 🍕 yesterday, my husband was so happy I bought his two favorites back to Pennsylvania for him! They travel great and always delicious 😋“

“Such a wonderful experience! We had the blackened tuna done perfectly, ordered 5 different pasta dishes all perfection not to mention the lemon cake and creme brulee was perfect!“

“😀This is the third party he has catered for us. Sooo good. Thank you!!“

“We used Bonappetito Pizzeria and Ristorante for the first time for a retirement Luncheon the FOOD Was a great success it was wonderful and delicious. The price was reasonable.“

“This is easily our favorite local spot. While you can’t go wrong with the pizza... which is excellent, the real reason to come here is for the pasta and the daily specials.

​Everything is always incredibly fresh and consistently exceeds expectations. You can tell they put a lot of care into the food. On top of that, the staff is always welcoming and genuinely friendly, which makes the whole experience even better.

​If you haven’t been here yet, you are missing out.“

“Friendly service and delicious food.“

“Mother's Day was such a great day, at ITA. The Hostesses, Waiter and Bar Tender were all so wonderful. Atmosphere was quiet, we actually heard our conversations at our table. Wonderful place to go eat, food was excellent.“

“there customer service is a trip ! been waiting over an hour for a slice when they told me 30 mins. unbelievable this is the last time I will order from here.“

“Pizza and calzones are always burnt, effecting the taste. Even when you ask the staff to cook it lightly, they still burn them. Calzones have way too much mozzarella cheese, and not enough ricotta cheese. Burnt is the norm here. Staff are friendly.“

“I cannot say enough good things about our first dining experience at Elaine's. From the moment we walked in the front of house manager and our waitress Bella treated us with the utmost respect and attention. We had our 16 month old with us and they kept checking to make sure she was OK and had what she needed so we could have a nice family date night.

The food was superb. Truly reminded me of being in Italy with the fresh high quality ingredients. We did the meatballs, Cesar salad (with house made dressing and croutons, gnocchi, bolognese and ended with canoli and cheesecake. Truly the perfect meal. We can't wait to come back.“

“They have been working with so many families in need. They are helping feed Long Island families while the SNAP program is still not being funded. In addition to a friendly eatery that truly cares about people their food is amazing. So many options to choose from! Stop by and say hello, grab some delicious food and help spread the love. Donate today or share their mission to feed Long Island families in need during this difficult time. No child should ever be hungry.“

“They catered our party and the food was fabulous. Their meatballs are soft and the best we’ve tasted. The trays were filled to the top. The chicken parm, chicken francaise, and pasta dishes were great. Hero was great too. I was a little hesitant hiring them only because I had never used them before. I decided to use them because we had gone there for dinner a few times and loved the meatballs and other dishes (chicken bruschetta for one) and their homemade dipping sauce for their bread. I could be happy with the dipping sauce and bread alone, delicious! We will definitely use them again to cater. They delivered and were right on time.“

“This was an online delivery. Great job by everyone. Full portions of entre, soup and salad. A lot of to go orders from other places cheap out on portions but this was possibly more than would get in restaurant. They even gave utensils, packets of croutons, grated cheese, salad dressing and even the andes candies treats. I highly endorse 😃😃“

“We had a delicious meal with the family.“

“Just had my grandmother’s 90th birthday here last weekend, and it was amazing! Maria (manager) was an absolute pleasure to work with from the beginning to the end. The staff was on top of everything, led my Wilma. The food was phenomenal! All our guests raved about how beautiful it was, how good the food was and how there was so much food! I can’t wait to go back!!!“

“Great food, great service, great ambience and fair prices make for a great dining experience!“