Enjoy your Picante Pizza with a few drinks to wash down the spice, and be sure to try their outstanding fried calamari. There are juicy burgers, crispy fries, spicy wings, loaded nachos, and of course, cold beer. RosaLuca'sin Bethlehem was my original choice, a great find in a county not especially known for Italian restaurants. Location: FlemingtonDetails: Family-friendly, well-priced meals make this a great place to bring the kids for dinner. Location: IselinDetails: It doesnt get any more authentic than an Italian restaurant owned by an Italian native. Signature starters include their Rock Shrimp Limoncello and Mozzarella Caprese, while patrons rave about their Veal Bellisimo entree. Runnerup: Chick and Nello's Homestead, Hamilton, Middlesex: Mulberry Street Restaurant, Woodbridge. BEST BREAKFAST WINNER Brownstone Pancake Factory 979 Cedar Bridge Ave, Brick (201) 945-4800 http://www.brownstonepancakefactory.com/ RUNNER-UP Toast Locations in Montclair, Red Bank, and Asbury Park toastcitydiner.com HONORABLE MENTION Meemom's Locations in Wall Township, Middletown and Brick Township | (732) 359-8544 meemoms.com Turning Point In addition to chef specials, their concise entree list consists of pastas, seafood, and meats. (Collared shirts for the men, and dresses or dark denim for women.) Italian supplanted Mexican and Chinese food as America's favorite ethnic cuisine years ago. Recommended: the gnocchi pomodoro, the veal carciofi and the langostinos (shown in photo), which make for a great dish and photo op. 27 Ocean Ave, Long Branch (732) 222-1119http://www.sirenaristorante.com, Stella Marina, Asbury Park Allowing overseas Filipinos to rediscover theirmore, Mobility Equipment Sales & ServicesMediterraneanFood Delivery Services, Clarizio's Italian Restaurant just opened and my wife and I wanted to try it.more, Certainly the top choice for Italian food in the area..more, We enjoyed an excellent dinner with some friends at Jasper Stone Italian Steakhouse.more, It's actually a really good Italian restaurant with fresh tasting food that's on par with a Brooklynmore, I can assure you the restaurant decor inside is that of a fine Italian restaurant as is the servicemore, and see what true service is like here. The focus is on quality and freshness, and you can taste it in every sip. But even the Dolce Salad is a hit (with its strawberries, walnuts, and goat cheese over mixed greens). Of course, all great Italian meals are multi-course, and Espos has a solid lineup of starters. For instance, this functional time capsule plays classic gangster movies at the bar and Frank Sinatra on the stereo. 1. Espresso / Wine Bar Established in 2000 . Cuisines: Italian. Seafood, steaks, pasta, appetizers along with homemade desserts. And, of course, they have the flakiest croissants. You may want to call for that reservation right about now. The All Seasons Diner. 26 photos. The name, which means eleven in Italian, matches the street address. A stop at Spirito's should be on every Jerseyan's food bucket list. Location: AllentownDetails: La Piazza aims to provide great food with great portions at a great price. Or red velvet. Dolce can also cater events theyll even help plan the entire menu and offers dine-in hosting packages, too.Why I like it: Those with a sweet tooth simply must try the cannolis or Nutella zeppole at Dolce. Adding a business to Yelp is always free. Go to theCourt Jesterfor the bar foods that you know and love. Cheese Ravioli 17.00. ricotta filled pasta with meatballs, meatsauce or sausage. A lack of an online presence is a testament to their word of mouth. more. Their specials menu includes dishes inspired by all different countries. Of course, they also have a handful of signature chicken, fish, and veal entrees. Location: Pompton LakesDetails: Everything from the mozzarella to the sauces to the bread is made from scratch to ensure freshness (and deliciousness). Maybe, but either way, Via Sposito has been a family tradition for decades. The robust menu includes specialty pizzas and pastas, as well as chicken, beef, veal, and seafood. !" "Hidden Pizza & Sandwich Treasure in Dated." 6. The raw bar is delicious. For guilt free food with a homestyle feel, My Kitchen Witch Cafe is the place to go. Location: Toms RiverDetails: Villa Amalfi is open six days a week (they close on Tuesdays) for lunch and dinner. The pasta has the basil inside. Of course, this is something anyone familiar with authentic Italian dining can relate to. The winners, runner-ups and honorable mentions are listed below. The interior gives off an old Hollywood glam vibe with its unique decor. Bella's Pizzeria 16 reviews Closed Now Italian, Pizza $$ - $$$ Menu 1.3 mi Long Branch "Bellissimo!! Of course, they serve all the classic Italian favorites on the menu, plus wood-fired pizza and several House Specialties. Original Stories, Local Events, Top Business Directories. From beginning to end , all I can say is wow. Menu highlights include the popular Luca, with shrimp, crabmeat, scallops, asparagus, capers, roasted tomatoes, and linguine in a creamy white wine sauce. As for an appetizer, check out the Angry Shrimp Spring Rolls. See you next summer. Location: HammontonDetails: Illianos is a casual Italian restaurant that locals appreciate for its inviting atmosphere. Try the Octopus Challenge if youre feeling ambitious. Thankfully, she also brought along generations of homemade recipes with her. I've always thought the thin-crust pizza is better than the overhyped ravioli, but that's just me. Their lunch and dinner service features an eclectic menu of choices ranging from brick oven pizza to branzino. Runnersup:Graziano's, Chesilhurst; Caffe Aldo Lamberti, Cherry Hill, Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Every time you visit Best of NJ, you'll find stories, events, and businesses that highlight and exemplify Garden State greatness. Greetings and good-natured insults are regularly passed among regulars and staff, reservations are dutifully kept in a ledger, and it's cash only. And order the gnocchi; you definitely don't want to get on the wrong side of Grandma. Heather D. From Freehold, NJ Excellent Take out ! Location: 589 Ramapo Valley Rd, OaklandDetails: Cenzino fuses old-world, homemade Italian cooking with modern creativity and flair. You gonna mess with an octogenarian grandma who makes the gnocchi every week? Runnersup:Chef Vola's, Atlantic City;Girasole, Atlantic City. And good pizza. In particular, they serve traditional Italian dishes paired with an extensive wine list and unique craft cocktails. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Located on one of the most charming Main Streets in New Jersey, this Italian spot offers incredible pasta and spectacular service. It was worth the drive.". The latter is a signature dish featuring hand-rolled pasta with chicken, basil, ricotta, spinach, and tomato vodka sauce. Their menu is complete with something for everyone. LuNello, casually elegant, was in the Italian restaurant limelight well before Teresa Guidice infamously flipped over a table there in a Real Housewives of New Jersey episode. Runnersup: Battello, Jersey City (currently closed for pier repairs);Trattoria La Sorrentina, North Bergen. In particular, we like their berries and cannoli cream. Clarizios Italian Ristorante 227 Italian $$ "dining option when you are in or around Freehold, New Jersey and craving some quality Italian food ." more Outdoor seating Delivery Takeout Find a Table 2. Patio heaters are available, but please dress accordingly and consider a blanket for your lap. Clarizios dine-in is always a great meal, but they did a amazing job during the Covid-19 restrictions. Owner/Chef Andrea Di Meglio hails from Ischia, a small Fishermans Island off the coast of Naples. Casual, convivial - call it the Italian restaurant version of a Jersey diner - Paisano's offers northern and southern Italian dishes, like pappardelle rustica and short rib with gnocchi. For instance, they can accommodate any allergy or food sensitivity and also offer a kids menu. Location: Sea BrightDetails: Anjelicas has been in business for over 25 years. They specialize in pizzas, pastas, and traditional Italian dishes, in addition to sides and salads. Truffles, fudge, and chocolate-covered strawberries? Dimly-lit interior, wooden booths, waitresses who have been here just shy of forever, no butter for the bread, and oh those ravioli. From their simple Penne Vodka to the Chicken Savini, every dish is brimming with flavor. The restaurant also sells homemade juices and offers cooking classes. Patrons go wild for the pasta dishes and, in particular, the lasagna and ravioli options. Good luck getting past the apps; the black mozzarella appetizer (shown here) with balsamic caviar, mortadella-topped melon, crostini of arugula and artichoke heart, is a show-stopper. Bagelmastersprovides customers with the classic bagel experience. For those who havent discovered Porcini in Highlands, let us let you in on a little secret. Location: MerchantvilleDetails: The Blue Monkey Tavern may not sound like an Italian restaurant, but the menu is full of Italian classics. 200 Reviews. As for the entrees, standouts include fresh Mainer lobster, Broiled Stuffed Shrimp, and their Swordfish Sicilian. The sprawling menu would shame most diner menus; if you can't find a favorite dish on there, it probably hasn't been invented yet. (First course is typically a pasta dish, while the second course is a meat or seafood entree.) Casa Comida offers Mexican food that is uniqueand delicious. 837 West Park Avenue, Ocean Twp. And you gotta try the guac. Runnerup:Nino's Family Restaurant, Cape May Court House, Cumberland: Andrea Trattoria Italiana, Millville. They do offer sit-down dining, however, in a BYOB restaurant that seats about 25 guests. This Italian restaurant serves a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes that feel both familiar and innovative. Menu highlights include the eggplant rollatini and a recent menu update, the Drunken Chicken Parmigiana. This coffee shop is open until 3 am, and its an extremely popular hangout spot. Their multi-regional cuisine offers an authentic taste of Northern, Southern, and Sicilian cooking. Weve gone from not getting enough of the Regola, Vongole e Bottarga di Muggini to cleaning our plates of the pan seared polenta with a sausage and mushroom ragu. Monmouth County, New Jersey is a place with a ton of pride. Best Burgers in Monmouth County B2 Bistro + Bar, Red Bank Bar A, Lake Como Harpoon Willy's, Manasquan Barnacle Bill's, Rumson The Bonney Read, Asbury Park The Bonney Read Burger Monmouth County Pizza If you're in New Jersey, you are in the land of great pizza and Monmouth County has its fair share of outstanding pizza places. Ranked #3 of 15 Restaurants in Rumson. The Best of NJ. Other standout dishes include the Lemon Sole Verde and Arrosto D Anitra, half roasted duck in raspberry port wine sauce. Of course, its hard to beat classics like the chicken parmigiana (or pollo alla parmigiana as they call it). The winner of our N.J.'s best Italian restaurant showdown, Cafe 2825,so named for its address, combines old-school atmosphere with high-end fare. Everything is good at this versatile restaurants, but ourfavorite menu items are the pizzas. Patrons can join the VIP club to access secret menus, discounts, and more. 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