Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Essex? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Giorgio's Ristorante - South Orange

4.9

4.9 (525)

$31 to $50

Italian

South Orange

About the restaurant

Giorgio's of South Orange has always been one of the landmarks in the area. Specializing in fine Italian cuisine and catering, we have a wide range of signature soups, salads and of course, our special, main-course, all-time favorite items.

Top review

LarryVIP

Dined on Jul 1, 2025

Delicious meal! I had the Chicken Portofino. So good! Loved hearing the live jazz featuring Kate Baker too!

LuNello Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1181)

$31 to $50

Italian

Cedar Grove

About the restaurant

Since 1990, Chef Seger's use of unique ingredients, homemade pastas, and innovative specials has created a loyal following. His modern flair mixed with traditional culinary skills has created a whirlwind of praise. You will not see seafood options on the regular menu for one reason; All our Seafood is wild not farm raised and we carry ONLY what is available and offer them as our daily specials.
General Manager Stephanie Voulgaris
Floor Manager Henry Calderon
Sommelier Stephanie Voulgaris
LuNello has gone right to the source when purchasing ingredients and each dish reflects the attention placed into its preparation. All our meats in our menu have grown and purchased from meat purveyors that there is no use of antibiotics or hormones. Enticing presentation and courteous and professional staff are integral to LuNello's success. We are also excited to offer Wine Dinners and special events hosted in our private event spaces. We look forward to making your experience with us a special one!

Top review

Joseph Galasso

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful service- beet salad excellent-pasta course very good- filet of sole with long hots - delicious - espresso could be better- nice dish of biscotti

La Cucina Piccola

4.8

4.8 (650)

$30 and under

Italian

Roseland

About the restaurant

La Cucina Piccola is an Italian restaurant in Roseland, NJ. We offer classic cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients daily. Join us for dinner and you'll feel welcomed and well taken care of.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Remains our favorite local spot and is one of the best Italian restaurants in NJ. Food is consistently delicious. They always have great specials in addition to the regular menu and service is always excellent.

Sapori Ristorante - Montclair

4.8

4.8 (709)

$31 to $50

Italian

Montclair

About the restaurant

Welcome to Sapori Ristorante, where we’ve been delighting taste buds for 20 years! Recently restored, our charming eatery now features a vibrant, inviting atmosphere that perfectly complements our exciting new menu. With our personal experience from around the world, we are bringing you the best taste of authentic Italian flavors, crafted from the finest ingredients and traditional recipes.

Whether you’re enjoying a classic pasta dish or one of our innovative new creations, every bite promises to transport you straight to Italy. Join us for a memorable dining experience that celebrates two decades of culinary excellence!

Top review

Elena

Dined 1 day ago

We had a great dining experience. The burrata and filet mignon were both delicious. The place has a warm and cozy atmosphere, perfect for a nice evening out.

Laboratorio Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (2455)

$30 and under

Italian

Montclair

About the restaurant

Laboratorio Kitchen offers guests a modern atmosphere paired with seasonal food and tender service. We are a BYOB restaurant. Chef/Owner James DeSisto has a seasonal a la carte menu featuring fresh seafood, pasta, steaks, and appetizers. In addition there is a chef’s special menu featuring local and seasonal food from all over NJ, PA, and NY please keep in mind this menu changes weekly. Chef DeSisto also has gluten free and vegan options for guests as well. Our outdoor patio is weather permitting, if we cannot accommodate outside due to weather we will move you inside depending on availability. Some must try’s are the giant meatball, house made pastas, steak au poivre or our delicious day boat scallops!! Do not skip dessert everything from start to finish will be memorable, so come in and enjoy culinary excellence with us!

Top review

Judy

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience..one of my 2 favorite restaurants in Montclair......D

Lumis

4.8

4.8 (431)

$30 and under

Italian

Fairfield, New Jersey

About the restaurant

Lumis is dedicated to delivering the finest Italian cuisine with one of the most innovative and interesting menus. Our extensive ala carte menu is sure to appeal to even the finest of palates, as well as a wide variety of fine imported and domestic wines and cocktails in a beautiful multi-room venue. Great for intimate or large parties for lunch or dinner being served by professional old school waiters in the heart of Fairfield.

Top review

StevenVIP

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Another really good dinner,great food and service

La Pergola BYOB

4.7

4.7 (1711)

$31 to $50

Italian

Millburn

About the restaurant

Indoor and Outdoor dinning . BYOB *Outdoor dinning weather permitted.
Nestled in the heart of Millburn, walking distance from Paper Mill Playhouse, La Pergola has curated a delightful outdoor garden dining experience in addition to our signature indoor space. Now whether you prefer to dine surrounded by the lush, flower-filled beauty of nature or in the candlelit elegance of our chic interior, we look forward to serving you the region's best Northern Italian cuisine in style! Please specify your choice with your reservation.
To access the outdoor dinning go around to the back of Fidelity Bank.
Follow LA PERGOLA GARDEN signs.
Bring along your favorite bottle of wine or champagne. LA PERGOLA IS BYOB
Open 7Days
Lunch and Dinner: 11:30 am to 10pm
Orders to go is Pick Up before 6pm!

Top review

Michael

Dined 4 days ago

We have eaten at La Pergola a number of times. However, this was the first time we ate in the Garden section in the back of the restaurant and we loved it. Looking forward to eating in the Garden section going forward.

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Popular dish

Lasagna Bolognese

Cucina Calandra

4.6

4.6 (819)

$31 to $50

Italian

Fairfield, New Jersey

About the restaurant

Modeled after a Courtyard Villa in Southern Italy, Cucina Calandra is a family-friendly restaurant featuring a menu emphasizing southern Italian cooking. Cucina Calandra emphasizes pastas, thin crust pizza and dry-aged steaks prepared over an open wood mesquite grill, custom-made especially for Cucina Calandra. Our Pizza Man is here to entertain the children and adults too with his skills at making a pizza or flatbread while you watch.

The Calandra Family has enjoyed providing generations of families and friends, including yours, with our famous baked products.

The Calandras look forward to providing outstanding service to you and your families at Cucina Calandra.

Top review

ChristineVIP

Dined on Jun 13, 2025

Ravioli w breaded chicken was absolutely amazing. Great food and service at a decent price

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Popular dish

Rigatoni alla Vodka

Calandras Italian Village

4.6

4.6 (707)

$30 and under

Italian

Caldwell

About the restaurant

The Calandra Family welcomes you to "Calandras Italian Village". The Calandras passion for their Italian heritage and the importance of family values and traditions is evident throughout the "Villaggio Italiano.” Experience the old world atmosphere with European charm. Calandras il Vecchio Café where you and your family can enjoy homemade pastas, panini sandwiches, burgers, entrees and salads as well as pizza, flatbreads and calzones made with natural whole grain ingredients on our stone deck wood burning oven.

Top review

NanciVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Staff very friendly and makes you feel at home. Food tastes like home made and delicious. Portion sizes for some items could be larger in serving.

Basilico

4.7

4.7 (1708)

$31 to $50

Italian

Millburn

About the restaurant

Basilico Restaurant, located in Millburn, New Jersey was established by owner Mario De Marco , formerly of Sergio's, also in Millburn. Graduate of the Hotel Management School in Alassio, Italy. From Italy, he brought his original and authentic Italian cuisine to Millburn.

Basilico has a definite New York look and feel, which reflects in our food items. We use the best of ingredients. "Casual and chic" is how we have been described by reviewers. The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and energetic. Our goal is to maintain the highest level of hospitality, remembering that you are the guest, and it is our ultimate goal for you to leave thoroughly satisfied. Special requests can be accommodated.

Top review

PeterVIP

Dined 3 days ago

AS always, a totally excellent dining experience. That is why we'll be back VERY soon

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Popular dish

Ravioli ai Porcini

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