There are so many great Italian restaurants in NJ that it’s difficult to choose just a few favorites. From modest Italian restaurants to gourmet dining establishments, this state has something for everyone.
So, if you’re craving pasta, pizza, or other innovative Italian meals, we’ve compiled a list of the best Italian restaurants in New Jersey just for you.
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Best Italian Restaurants in New Jersey
1) Scalini Fedeli
Chef-owner Michael Cetrulo opened Scalini Fedeli in 1995, and it rapidly became New Jersey’s highest-rated Italian restaurant.
The restaurant is housed in a 260-year-old farmhouse in New Jersey. The interior has lofty vaulted ceilings, old pine floors, and a sense of design that is unmistakably Tuscan.
Location – 63, Main St Chatham, NJ 07928
For reservations – scalinifedeli.com
2) Zeppoli
“Zeppoli” or “Zeppole” means “fried dough” in Italian. Zeppoli, a 35-seat BYOB restaurant that opened in 2011, is a modest romantic and charming spot. It serves classic Italian food with a focus on Sicilian specialties.
Antipasti, homemade/imported pastas, grilled/roasted meats and fish, as well as house-made pastries and Gelati, are all on the menu.
Guests can unwind and enjoy authentic Mediterranean food while surrounded by antique black & white photographs of Sicily and dark timber walls.
Location – 618 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08107
For reservations – zeppolirestaurant.com
3) Porto Leggero
Although there are many waterfront restaurants along the Hudson’s Gold Coast, just a few can match Porto Leggero’s food.
The futuristic interior is softened by mahogany archways, tumbling masonry, and richly textured furniture. White linens are used to set the tables.
Enjoy your dinner while gazing out the restaurant’s fully exposed two-story glass wall towards the water. Porto Leggero’s menu includes a variety of seafood dishes inspired by Italian cuisine, as well as chicken, lamb, and vegetarian options. Pasta dishes like pappardelle con vodka and penne al arrabiata are available at all times.
Among the robust and tasty entrées served are pollo scarpariello, vitello capricciosa, agnello griglia, bistecca giambotta, and gamberi scampi.
Location – 185 Hudson St, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
For reservations – portoleggero.net
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4) Bottagra
The restaurant has been welcoming guests at noon and night since 2008, with a warm and inviting ambiance, a southern-Italian attitude, and sincere cooking.
Bottagra is Northern New Jersey’s go-to Italian restaurant, presenting a simple modern Italian menu.
The nicest part about Bottagra is that there is something on the menu for everyone, and their staff is dedicated to making your meal a memorable one. A full bar and an extensive wine list are offered, as well as private rooms.
Location- New Jersey – North 80 Wagaraw Road, Hawthorne, NJ — 07506
For reservations – bottagra.com
5) Bareli’s Restaurant and Bar
Bareli’s has been the top Italian/Continental restaurant in the neighbourhood since 1986. The inside is opulent, with a garden-like atrium that houses part of the dining area and a greenhouse window.
The overall atmosphere is one of restrained luxury. An award-winning wine list complements a cuisine made with the best quality ingredients. Grilled pork chops, oysters sambuca, and hanger steak are some of their most popular dishes.
Their award-winning chefs will make your favourite cuisine according to your preferences.
Location- 219 State Route 3, Secaucus, NJ 07094
For reservations – barelirestaurantandbar.com
6) ll Capriccio Ristorante
Fresh flowers, soft romantic lighting, comfortable chairs, and live pianists make Il Capriccio a wonderful dining experience. Il Capriccio maintains an upmarket yet easygoing ambiance, so they follow a business casual dress code.
The excellently prepared food and carefully selected wines from all around the world are further enhanced by the knowledgeable and attentive personnel. There are over 15,000 bottles of wine available from over 400 choices on the drink menu.
In fact, the chefs are so serious about wine that they have a national exclusive arrangement with Case Paolin, which means these wines are only accessible at il Capriccio.
Location- 633 Rt. 10 East, Whippany, NJ 07981
For reservations – ilcapriccio.com
7) Di Paolo’s Restaurant
It is a well-established, family-run restaurant that is ideal for both quiet dinners and special gatherings requiring excellent service and delectable cuisine.
They just erected a banquet hall that can hold up to 250 people. Di Paolo’s provides live music on the patio on a regular basis and posts the calendar online. The food and drink menus change with the seasons, so there’s always something fresh to taste.
However, regardless of what you eat, we recommend starting with the Traditional Italian Arancini; these crunchy rice balls are not to be missed!
Location- 28 South Broad Street, Penns Grove, NJ 08069
For reservations – dipaolosrestaurant.com
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Because of its large Italian population since the early 1900s, the Garden State not only boasts the best pizza in the country, but it also has some of the best Italian food in the country.
Apart from the restaurants stated above, there are many others that should have been included in this list of the best Italian restaurants in NJ. Make sure to try the ones mentioned above at least once if you find yourself in the state.
