50 Best Italian Restaurants near Watervliet

“Thank you for everything. I placed a large order a day ahead of time and everything was delivered perfectly. It was on time, hot and delicious. Your antipasto is the best I’ve ever gotten and the wings were huge! Everyone was so happy and full. Great job!“

“Me and my hubby had a wonderful meal , excellent service and definitely going back again .“

“Absolutely wonderful experience! I took 12 employees out to celebrate the holiday season and see a show in Albany. From the time we called for a reservation, right through dinner, the entire staff, and especially our server Casey were so welcoming and accommodating. The drinks, food, and service were all superb! Casey made us feel like we were the only thing that mattered in the restaurant, while the kitchen and bar handled some special requests with ease! In a world where the meaning of hospitality seems to have been forgotten by so many, this restaurant still knows what it means, and executes flawlessly. I highly recommend, and will definitely be back when in the Albany area. (I may even have to make a special trip back just for this restaurant!)“

“Grappa 72 has always been my favorite. ❤️here’s why. I hadn’t been in awhile- used to go frequently, so I grabbed a to-go order of their excellent fettuccini bolognese and some bruschetta to take home after a very long drive- ❤️❤️❤️and had a glass of wine at their friendly and comfortable bar while I waited. It’s 100 degrees outside- so I wasn’t dressed (shorts and an ocean city tee lol) but it was early.. so I popped in to wait for my order. From reception to bar to the chef popping out with my order- to the other lovely guests who were popping in as well and enjoying banter and kind conversation.. the bartender primo making everyone happy- I can’t tell you how much that atmosphere warms my soul. Good people, great food, no pretensions, phenomenal service.. and I can attest from so many previous visits- a warm and inviting dining room where when they have music you never want to leave. Soooo well done from every aspect. Thanks Grappa!!! I’ll be back soon, I’ve missed you while I’ve been away! Did I mention the bolognese? It’s better than my own- and that’s saying a lot! 😉Sincerely, Mary“

“Great happy hour spot. Don't arrive during happy hour for a dinner table without a reservation on a weekend night. High tops are seated for dinner guests only when guests finally are done with the long happy hour.

Drink specials at happy hour are worth the trip but someone has to wait in line at the door at 4:30 for high top seating. Meeting people at happy hour is easy because seating is close and you can hear everyone's chatter.

Well staffed. Good service. Catering takeout is easy and consistent.

Parking: EV charging for a fee.“

“Cute, authentic Italian deli, mac salad hit the spot, not too much mayo-just right. Turkey sub tasted like an authentic Italian deli sub should taste, I didn't find the bread to be too thick whatsoever - it seemed like authentic Italian bread. Impressive selection of Pastoso in the freezer, Manhattan Special (coffee) soda, nice assortment of imports, interesting confections packaged Italian desserts. May not be Brooklyn, but for upstate NY, this place is top notch. Thank you.“

“Just this evening, I ordered take out from the wrong location. I called Stuyvesant plaza instead of Slingerlands. When I called Stuyvesant about the mistake the manager said, “ No problem”. What’s your address ? I will drive it out to you. Within a 1/2 hour this awesome guy Justin pulled into my driveway with all our food. Hot food and cold salad !! Thank you. Way to go!!“

“Excellent vibe and interesting food choices what really makes the experience is the super down to earth staff that seems to know their crowd. Asia especially was a breath of fresh air with quality recommendations and exceptional service. I will definitely be back“

“Great apps, amazing entrees, decent wine list, and omg those desserts! Our waiter was awesome. We shared the garlic bread and calamari, we all loved both. I had the veal parm, so good. For dessert I had a pistachio ricotta pie that was out of this world. Highly recommend checking Anthony’s out asap. Great new space too, I had only been to the original restaurant. Love the addition of the salad bar too!“

“The best chicken parm around!! It never disappoints! ☺️“

“Pollo alla Rusa, perfection, bread and butter, perfection, vegetables, perfection, portion sizes ample. BYOB Chef seasoned my meal expertly! Atmosphere could use a bit of upgrading. Best real Italian meal I have had in Florida.“

“My husband myself and my mother went there tonight to celebrate my birthday August 24. We’ve never been there before and I just want to say that the service was fantastic! The food was fantastic! Our waiter really outdid herself and we will definitely go there again.“

“My son goes to RPI and we discovered Moscatiello's Italian Restaurant two years ago. We love going there for dinner. The food is great, the menu is HUGE and the customer service has always been excellent! It is our go to restaurant in the Troy area.“

“The restaurant offers a relaxing and upscale vibe. The food was fantastic. We started with the prosciutto and mozzarella, this seemingly simple meal was so flavorful I nearly ordered a second one. The chicken parm was arguably the best in the area. Finished it off with the tiramisu, can’t go wrong with that. Would recommend to anyone that wants an Italian meal that is a step above the rest“

“The food the atmosphere... Ali, the owner .... I’m speechless ... best Italian food , no other place exists around here ! You want to experience great food ? Go here !“

“Best coffee in Albany, flavor and comfort guaranteed!“

“Absolutely phenomenal establishment! The staff here go out of their way to meet, greet and actually take time to have a conversation with you. This restaurant feels like home. There are a lot of regulars here.

Let’s talk about the food…. As the pictures indicate, plating is beautiful! The portions are generous. The flavor is exquisite! Everything was just Perfect.

Rachel was our server. She was very attentive even though she has a lot of tables. We didn’t have to wait or wonder when a drink would be refilled. The remainder of the wait staff hustled and bustled. Tommy and Joe made us feel welcomed and important. We can’t wait to come back! Go Bills! Oh and Josh Allen, Joe says hello :)“

“The food, service & ambience were all superb!! 5⭐️“

“The staff is absolutely awesome. Make sure to get a reservation as the place fills up fast. The place is nice but by the time we were nearing the end of our dinner, the place was packed and conversation was near impossible. They need to install a noise-absorbing ceiling or something to help minimize that.“

“Thank you! For a great take out order!! For my Mother on Mother’s Day! Delish! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I will be back!“

“Ordered pick up and it was out to my car almost immediately despite being there early. Everything was well packed, generous portions, hot and fresh- breadsticks soft and warm. Food was delicious. Shrimp scampi, Pasta Fagioli Soup, Shrimp Carbonara, two large salads with all the fixings and a really great Raspberry lemonade. I shared with a friend - ate for dinner, lunch, and leftovers the next night. $50, 3 meals, 1 meal was for 2 people. I'd call that a win #happycamper“

“Was recommended here by someone we met on a flight! And to say the least it was well worth the trip.
Lunch on a Friday, and it was a PACKED house.
Was sticker shocked at the menu, specifically the prices for every selection. Very reasonable to the point of LOW. Especially for the entrees.
The Waitress was extremely helpful and friendly. Ordered the Veal Antonio, and it came with delicious spicy sausage soup and a side of pasta. The bread & butter, old school whipped butter and Hot fresh bread. Amazing.
Accompanied by a Peroni drink order in a signature glass.
The veal was outstanding. One of the best dishes we've had anywhere. Cannot recommend this enough to anyone looking for an excellent dining experience. There's a reason it was a room full of very happy diners. MUST GO BACK to try more of the choices. The picture is of one entree they split for us. That's how generously sized the plate was!
The person who recommended it, said his friends and neighbors drive a full hour to go for the food that they can't get nearby! Wow that is the truth.“

“We waited over an hour for a table, which is sort of to be expected on a Friday night, but still a bit ridiculous. They do not accept advance reservations. We ordered a Gracie pie, a New Yorker, and a buffalo chicken pie. All were delicious! Though it falls just a little bit short of making up for the wait time. Next time I'll be ordering takeout from here.

The parking situation here is a nightmare on a busy night. I had to park in the plaza across the street.“

“Sat at the bar and was served by Vinnie. Vinnie was super nice and we had great conversations. Gabriella was also very smiley and friendly (she drinks a lot of water lol [inside joke]). I ordered the veal cordon bleu and my adult son had the lasagna. I’ve been to Italy and this meal was just as good, if not better, than some of the food I ate in Rome, Gaeta or Naples. The food was nice and hot, the bread was perfect and the everything was tasty. Great job we will definitely be back!“

“Great menu....great food... courteous service....fair pricing...Great people! I've never been disappointed with my meal.“

“As someone who’s traveled around the world and lived in many different cities, I can confidently say I haven’t found pizza better than Red Front’s—especially their incredible COB pizza.

Their chicken wings and antipasta are also top-notch. And seriously… what I wouldn’t give for their red sauce and pizza dough recipe! This place is a gem and a must-try for any true pizza lover.“

“Fabulous food and friendly people! Lots to look at while you eat or wait. Thanks everyone! ❤️🥰“

“So this was my first time here…we had a birthday celebration for my boss! About 13 people. Reservations were for 6:00pm. I came about 15 minutes late, and some people had drinks already. We waited for our waitress to return and it was almost 1/2hr. She took our second drink order, and seemed annoyed. The restaurant was very busy (which we were told by other servers) another 1/2hr pasted and finally she took our food orders. At this point, we were very hungry and disappointed-I guess our server had another big table.. So our salads were dropped off but another female server (who seemed very professional and much nicer than our original server) After that things seemed better. Food was good! I just thought about the customer service of the first waitress. She seemed like she didn’t want to be there. I work in customer service (which is very important especially for first impressions) would i recommend this restaurant yes, food was good. Service was not so great.“

“Solid and reliable! Always good food and great portions- easily accommodated our large party and super attentive staff.“

“A very heartfelt evening with family and friends to celebrate my retirement with a catered dinner and drinks at IL Faro. My deepest thanks to Jessica Lamoreaux, Chef Christian Lofaro, and our server, Valerie, for an outstanding culinary experience.“

“Thanks for the pickle pizza!! You made this pregnant lady very happy 🥰🥒🍕“

“Great place to stop when passing through Albany for some quick fresh Italian food take-out for the whole family. Seriously, forget the Thruway rest areas. If you have kids whose staple food is boiled noodles and butter, no matter the time nor the day, Bellini's will satisfy, and won't break the bank. Without a Noodles & co around for at least 100 miles, Bellini's has you covered, and is a must-stop for us. I can also recommend the meatballs and sausage.“

“All of the food here is amazing! Wonderful family and wonderful food!“

“Thank you! For a great take out order!! For my Mother on Mother’s Day! Delish! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I will be back!“

“Been seeing the shop. Finally ordered tonight. Chicken parm sub and a buffalo chicken wrap. Fresh ingredients. Hand cut fries. Excellent. Now my go to for to go.“

“I usually order a white pizza with sausage, onions and roasted red peppers. I get a Gino's salad and on occasion a piece of cheesecake. All excellent choices, and I recommend them highly. Less than 30 minutes from call to pick up!“

“I’m a chicken parm “connoisseur” and this is the absolute BEST I have ever had!!! Bottomless drinks and brunch are amazing, and Nicole is the best server I’ve ever had!!! Can’t recommend this place enough. I’m from South Carolina but will make it a point to come here next time I’m anywhere near NY!!! 11/10!!!“

“Hands down best Italian mix sub I've ever had!!! The care and time that they put into their food and customer service is exceptional! Owner, Jason, recommended hot peppers on it 👌😋🔥 all about it!!! If you haven't visited this local business what are you waiting for!? They cater too!“

“Went there twice, I'm a single mom of twins with one daughter who has autism. I wanted to start going here regularly if I could because the first time I went here was absolutely perfect and the waiter was very patient, understanding, terrific and helpful. I wish I knew his name because he provided outstanding service. He bagged everything for me, went to my table multiple times to check how everything was going. Even gave my daughters two tablets to play on while we sat down and ate (this was also during a busier time of day). If I could I would request this waiter again in the future if he was ever on shift. The second time I went there, today, exact opposite experience. the waitress who waited on my table wasn't as helpful as the first guy and it was dead silent when I went in. Told me they had no other tablet to give my daughter who has autism when there was only a couple of other people besides me. Gave me the smallest boxes to pack everything myself and the thinest bags when we had a lot of food to take home. Told me those were the only boxes they carried when the other waiter before packed everything properly in bigger casing. I'd consider going more often if the waiter prior was always working if I'm being honest but either the one today was a trainee or she just didn't care enough to do it herself. Other than that the food is always great to me but sometimes I want to personally get out for the one day I'm available to.“

“Picked up some takeout! Awesome as usual! Hard to find a restaurant that is as good takeout as in house. Chicken parm, Caesar cutlet and arancini! All still crisp and delicious!“

“The best pizza I've ever had! (I'm old and have had pizza from MANY different places) I've enjoyed everything I've ordered, which has been most of the menu. They care :) The downside is that I'm within walking distance from them LOL!“

“We went to Milanos for the first time today, and we’re never going back. To say that the service was terrible would be an understatement. Ordered a large pizza and watched it sit there on the counter getting cold because the server was MIA. I was going to walk over there and pick it up myself, but I flagged down the other server who did it for me. Same thing when I asked for the check. I could see if the place was busy and they were understaffed, they weren’t. As far as the food goes, mediocre at best. The “large” pizza was actually small and we left there hungry. We should have eaten at the burger place a few doors down.“

“I frequent here often and the food is delicious- reviewing the posts here all I can say is because the food is soooo good I can see them struggling with deliveries occasionally- they're that popular!!“

“I visit there about 4-5 times a month to grab a bite to eat, I usually get the lasagna dinner or their hot subs. Hands down the best in the area. The staff is always friendly and helpful. when in the area a must stop it won't disappoint!“

“Just had date night and have absolutely nothing bad to say! Brian served us and he was knowledgeable and knew the menu well. The food was cooked professionally, there was no feeling of “another chain restaurant “ it was delicious! Cocktails were nice, presentation was good. It was everything we needed tonight!“

“girlfriend said it was good so I tried it. was a solid 9/10 on any scale imaginable I'm picky af. I like a flop free cheesy light sauce crispy pie and they made it perfect. it's salty and not too much water content in the sauce FOR ONCE. was FASTER than their time estimate and its well worth $1 for what tastes like amazing breadsticks as your crust. best $15 8 cut in the 518 so far“

“Very delicious pizza, very good recommended to anyone.“

“I can’t recommend this place enough! It’s not just a pizza place—it’s a haven for anyone who loves delicious artisan food. Their pizzas are phenomenal, with a variety of creative and flavorful options that cater to all tastes. But it doesn’t stop there! Their Mediterranean bowls and dishes, like the Gyro and meze platters, are equally amazing—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I order from them at least four times a month, sometimes even more, and they never disappoint. The food is always delivered on time, piping hot, and exactly how I want it. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction truly set them apart. Nasıl? The quality of their ingredients is exceptional, and everything is so clean and fresh. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick snack or a hearty, healthy meal, this place has it all. I genuinely look forward to every order. Fast, reliable, and absolutely delicious—this restaurant is a gem!“

“Yo Venezia is the best dam Pizza & Pasta Shop !! Highly recommend this Old school family oriented restaurant. Been coming here for years. Food & service is outstanding.“