This list is close to my Italian-American heart. Half of my great-grandparents emigrated from Southern Italy (Avellino and Calabria) in the 1890s, passing through Ellis Island and settling in New Jersey via the Pittston, PA coal mines. Authentic Italian for me is red sauce and pasta Italian, not white sauce and risotto.
My favorite dishes growing up: lasagna, braciole and mussels in spicy tomato sauce. Now I appreciate bistecca alla fiorentina, osso bucco and ricotta gnocchi.
In an authentic New Jersey Italian restaurant, somebody should be speaking Italian, at least one of the waiters or bartenders should be over 60, and a few of the customers should be dead-on Sopranos casting-call types.
Don’t see your favorite Italian? Share yours. I’ll add the most popular to the list, and to the map. Looking for New Jersey’s best pizza?
Spirito's - Elizabeth
My Favorites
My current favorites, all within 20 minutes of my house:
- Spirito’s, Elizabeth
- Ristorante da Benito, Union
- Bona Vita Osteria, Summit
Worth a Visit
- Arturo’s Osteria & Pizzeria, Maplewood
- Fascino, Montclair
- Il Vecchio, Caldwell
- Osteria Giotto, Montclair
- Scalini Fedeli, Chatham
- Squan Tavern, Manasquan
- Stella Marina, Asbury Park
- Tuzzio’s, Long Branch
Tuzzio's - Long Branch
On My List to Try
Where can’t you find Italian food in New Jersey? These have good reviews and look authentic.
- Amici’s, Linden
- Amor, Somers Point
- Anjelica’s, Sea Bright
- Attilio’s Tavern, Dover
- Avanti, Pennington
- Bertucci’s, North Brunswick
- Cafe Bello, Bayonne
- Cafe Michelina, Hoboken
- Callandra’s, Bloomfield
- Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
- Cavallo’s, Nutley
- Chef Vola’s, Atlantic City
- Cotardo’s, Clementon
- D’Oro Ristorante, Chatham
- Dinallo’s, River Edge
- Divina Ristorante, Caldwell
- Due Mari, New Brunswick
- Eno Terra, Kingston
- Fontana di Trevi, Leonia
- Forte, Caldwell
- Francesco’s, Woodland Park
- Giamano’s, Bradley Beach
- Graziano’s, Point Pleasant
Squan Tavern - Manasquan
- Graziano’s Ristoranti, Chesilhurst
- Grissini, Englewood Cliffs
- Il Capriccio, Whippany
- Il Giardinello Ristorante, Toms River
- Il Mondo Vecchio, Madison
- La Sicilia Pizza & Cafe, Belleville
- Luke Palladino, Northfield
- Luna Restaurant, Three Bridges
- Marsilio’s Kitchen, Ewing
- Maria’s Italian Cuisine, Manasquan
- Michael’s Pastaria, Nutley
- Il Michelangelo, Boonton
- Nellie’s Place, Waldwick
- Nonna’s, Florham Park
- Oliver’s Ristorante, Garwood
- Palermo’s, Bordentown
- Panatieri’s Pizza & Pasta, Martinsville
- Ralph’s, Nutley
- La Riviera Gastronomia, Clifton
- Santillo’s, Elizabeth
- Semolina, Millburn
- Spano’s, Point Pleasant Beach
- Taormina, Kenilworth
- Triestina, Cranford
- Uncle Vinnie’s Clam Bar, Raritan
- Val’s Tavern, Rumson
- Vesuvio, Belmar
I Didn’t Like It, But You Might
- Basilico, Millburn
Links
Best Italian Food in New Jersey
Where to Find the Best Italian Food?
Catherine
on Jul 13th, 2010
@ 9:02 pm:
Check out Luce on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell AND Russillo’s on Bloomfield Ave in West Caldwell – both totally YUMMER!
Jay F
on Oct 14th, 2010
@ 10:55 am:
You say your Italian is red sauce and pasta. That sounds very much like my grandmother’s next door neighbor when I was growing up in Plainfield. I think, but I’m not sure, that she was from Naples. Anyway, I wonder if your mother ever made her own egg pasta, or was it always from the box.
Thanks.
Anthony
on Oct 14th, 2010
@ 9:24 pm:
Usually from the box (Ronzoni) growing up, but on special occasions, my Mom would break out the pasta maker and press out her own fresh egg pasta, leaving it to dry on towels on the kitchen table.
meade
on Feb 9th, 2011
@ 4:31 pm:
Pete & Elda’s in Neptune City consistently wins New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s best pizza award. They have the best thin crust pizza at the Jersey Shore. Not to be missed. I don’t know why it was left off the list.
meade
on Feb 9th, 2011
@ 5:28 pm:
Was hoping someone could post a thread for good Greek food and Korean. My favorite Asian Food is the Noodle House in the Borgata in Atlantic City. They have a great variety and really good cimchee(spelling?)
meade
on Feb 9th, 2011
@ 5:33 pm:
Was also wondering the best place to get a hamburger by the Shore. The best hamburger I ever had was a Santa Fe burger at Bobby’s Burger Palace at the Freehold Mall. This is owned by chef Bobby Flay.
Anthony
on Feb 10th, 2011
@ 9:04 am:
Many people like Pete & Elda’s. For me, the crust is way too thin. That’s why it’s in my “Didn’t Like It, But You Might” category over on the Pizza list.
Anthony
on Feb 10th, 2011
@ 10:47 am:
They’re not featured categories yet, but there are two Greek restaurants and eleven Korean places on the EthnicNJ.com map so far. (Use the search box for the full list of ethnic cuisines.)
Anthony
on Feb 10th, 2011
@ 11:01 am:
Meade – I’m working on the burger category. For now, check out “Burgers” in the search box. Bobby’s Burger Palace is on the map.
meade
on Apr 27th, 2011
@ 4:29 pm:
My barber Tom owns Bella Sogno in Bradley Beach. They are rated well and have a good Zagat rating. Their website is bellasognorestaurant.com. Reservations are suggested.
meade
on May 8th, 2011
@ 7:21 pm:
I think Maco Polo in Summit should be featured. They are a landmark. They have been in Summit since the ’30′s and have an excellent menu. The canneloni is excellent. I used to go in the Seventies when they had live entertainment. They used to have a combo called Jon & Elaine. Jon would play trumpet and piano and Elaine would sing. I ran into them at a wedding a few years back. Good family restaurant/many good memories.
Anthony
on May 8th, 2011
@ 9:31 pm:
My Grandfather used to take me to Marco Polo. I haven’t been in a long time. I see they get mixed reviews these days – have you been recently?
Teresa
on May 19th, 2011
@ 10:46 am:
As a suggestion you should try Giulio’s Pizzeria in Dunellen, NJ
it’s a nice italian family oriented restaurant with great food and at a nice price too!! a must try Penne alla Vodka or Chicken Francese