Best Italian restaurants in Monmouth County, NJ

65 local picks across 33 towns, hand-picked by Monmouth Guide.

Monmouth County has deep Italian-American roots, and it shows in its trattorias, red-sauce joints and handmade-pasta kitchens. Here are 65 Italian restaurants across 33 Monmouth County towns, from Red Bank to Colts Neck.

Local favorites

Albivi

Millstone · Italian, brick-oven pizza · 4.6 stars across 220 reviews

Family-run Italian restaurant and brick-oven pizzeria in Perrineville, run by the Castronovo family since 2004.
Anjelica's

Sea Bright · Italian, seafood · One of the area's highest-rated Italian spots (4.5 stars across 350+ reviews)

Long-running Italian and seafood restaurant on Ocean Avenue in downtown Sea Bright.
Birravino

Red Bank · Italian · Time Out Red Bank EAT List

Modern Italian on the Navesink with a glass-walled Pasta Lab where the fresh pasta is made in view of diners.
Buona Sera

Red Bank · Italian · Wine cellar with 15,000 bottles

Longtime Red Bank Italian with Neapolitan brick-oven pizza, handmade pasta and a 15,000-bottle wine cellar.
Dolce Fantasia

Asbury Park · Northern Italian · Yelp top-rated in Asbury Park

BYOB northern Italian spot for homemade pasta, short rib and house-made desserts like pistachio cheesecake.
Federici's on 10th

Belmar · Italian · Federici family pizza, four generations

Belmar outpost of the century-old Federici family, known for thin-crust brick-oven pizza and Italian classics.
Gargiulo's Tinton Falls

Tinton Falls · Italian (Neapolitan) · Sister to Brooklyn's famous Gargiulo's

Offshoot of the long-running Coney Island institution, serving classic Neapolitan Italian dishes from the Russo family.
Il Posto

Neptune City · Italian · Weekly specials, including half-price spaghetti & meatballs on Mondays and prime rib night on Thursdays (4.5 stars, 240 reviews)

Italian restaurant serving traditional homemade dishes with a modern twist, plus a martini and specialty cocktail menu.
Jimmy Pecci's Taste of Italy

Tinton Falls · Italian deli & market · Local favorite for Italian subs; second shop at 4060 Asbury Ave

Gourmet Italian market and deli since 1996, beloved for heroes on brick-oven bread and prepared Italian dishes.
Jimmy's Italian Restaurant

Asbury Park · Italian · Asbury institution since 1982

Old-school red-sauce Italian (since 1982) with booths, a classic bar and a '50s-'60s atmosphere, plus valet parking.
Judy & Harry's

Asbury Park · Italian-Jewish · Three-time James Beard nominee chef

Chef David Viana's Jersey-style Italian restaurant with a Jewish lens (think matzo ball soup and roast chicken) plus a cocktail lounge, inside The St. Laurent hotel.
La Dolce Vita

Belmar · Italian · Ocean views across from the beach

Family-owned Italian restaurant since 1980, directly across from Belmar Beach with ocean-view porch dining.
La Lupa di Roma

Neptune City · Italian, pizza · 4.7 stars across 150+ reviews

Italian restaurant and pizzeria on West Sylvania Avenue offering take-out, dine-in and catering.
La Mondina

Brielle · Italian · Brielle's top-rated restaurant (4.5 stars, 440+ reviews)

Italian restaurant on Union Avenue near the Route 71 bridge over the Manasquan River.
La Piazza Ristorante

Allentown · Italian · 4.6 stars across nearly 400 reviews

Italian restaurant off Main Street with a rustic dining room styled after an Italian piazza, less than a minute from I-195 Exit 7.
Limoncello at Piazza Di Roma

Aberdeen · Italian · Rated about 4.8 stars; reservations recommended

Intimate Italian dining room with a garden courtyard, known for stuffed pork chops, seafood specials and limoncello spritzes.
Pazzo

Red Bank · Italian · Pre-show favorite near the Count Basie

Family-owned Italian with a coal-fired pizza oven, fresh pasta and seafood steps from the Count Basie Center.
Porcini

Highlands · Italian · Rated 4.6 across 200+ reviews; a date-night favorite

Intimate Italian restaurant on Bay Avenue with indoor dining, seasonal outdoor seating and takeout.
Posillipo Italian Restaurant

Ocean Township · Italian · Serving since 1929

Traditional Italian restaurant dating to 1929 in Asbury Park, now on Route 35, known for seafood fra diavolo, scampi and generous dinner specials.
Ristorante Maietta

Englishtown · Italian · 4.6 stars across 220+ reviews

Family Italian restaurant and pizzeria on Tennent Avenue serving lunch and dinner.
Semolina

Red Bank · Italian / farm-to-table · BYOB fresh-pasta specialist

Chef-owned BYOB focused on handmade pasta and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Sirena Ristorante

Long Branch · Italian · Ocean-view Italian in Pier Village

Pier Village Italian with floor-to-ceiling windows over the Atlantic, often called one of New Jersey's most romantic restaurants.
Solo Trattoria

Freehold Borough · Italian · BYOB with handmade pasta

Roman-born chef's BYOB trattoria serving handmade pastas, risottos, grilled seafood and brick-oven pizza.
Sorella's Trattoria

Upper Freehold · Italian, pizza · 4.8 stars on 90 reviews

Italian trattoria and pizzeria on Yardville-Allentown Road with online ordering.
Teva

Deal · Kosher Italian · 4.6 stars; third floor of the DSN Beach Club

Upscale kosher Italian restaurant with a seasonal menu inspired by the Roman roots of executive chef Valerio Brambilla.
Trama's Trattoria

Long Branch · Tuscan Italian · Google 4.7 (400+ reviews)

West End Tuscan trattoria where chef Pat Trama cooks seasonal, farm-to-table Italian dishes.
Tre Pizza Pasta Beer Garden

Freehold Township · Italian / Pizza · Beer-garden patio with bocce

Brick-oven pizza, pasta and craft beer with a patio featuring bocce and fire pits; Sunday brunch has a Bloody Mary cart and live band.
Undici

Rumson · Italian · Huge Italian wine program

Romantic Tuscan-farmhouse-style Italian with handmade pastas and what it calls the largest Italian wine selection in New Jersey.
Via Roma II

Upper Freehold · Italian, pizza · 4.7 stars across 100+ reviews

Pizzeria and Italian restaurant in the Yardville-Allentown Road shopping strip.
Vic's Italian Restaurant

Bradley Beach · Italian / Pizza · Serving since 1947

Family-run Italian-American institution since 1947, famous for its thin-crust bar pies.

More Italian restaurants to try

Amelia's By The Sea

Spring Lake · Italian

Italian-continental restaurant inside the Grand Victorian hotel, across from the ocean with wrap-around porch dining.
Antonio's Trattoria Cucina Italiana

Wall Township · Italian

Popular Route 35 Italian spot with homemade pasta and extensive gluten-free options; book ahead on weekends.
Capitoline

Asbury Park · Italian / Pizza

Craft-casual Cookman Avenue Italian with fresh pasta, New York-style pizza and seasonal cocktails, turning into a late-night lounge on weekends.
Catezza Italian Kitchen + Bar

Red Bank · Italian

Upscale, contemporary take on Italian classics from the team behind Centrada, in the former Catch 19 space.
Christie's Italian Seafood Grill

Howell · Italian / Seafood

Italian seafood restaurant with Sicilian specialties like seafood fra diavolo and gnocchi.
Christine's Italian Ristorante

Atlantic Highlands · Italian

Family-run BYOB Italian fine-dining room known for prime cuts, fresh seafood and veal chop specials.
Da Rosario Ristorante

Freehold Borough · Italian / Pizza

Downtown Italian restaurant and pizzeria known for big portions of fresh pasta and pies.
Ember & Eagle

Eatontown · Italian Steakhouse

Italian-inspired steakhouse in the historic TillingHouse at Suneagles Golf Club, with a raw bar and live music in the Parlor Bar.
Federici's Family Italian Restaurant

Freehold Borough · Italian / Pizza

Downtown Freehold trattoria famous for its thin-crust pizza, family-run since 1921 (cash only, ATM on site).
Fratello's

Sea Girt · Italian

Italian restaurant and lounge serving seafood, steaks and Italian dishes with a full bar and wine list.

Plus 25 more in the free app, searchable by town and distance.

Italian Restaurants by town

Quick answers

What are the best Italian restaurants in Monmouth County, NJ?

Local favorites include Albivi in Millstone, Anjelica's in Sea Bright and Birravino in Red Bank. This guide lists 65 Italian restaurants across 33 towns, each picked and described by Monmouth Guide.

Which Monmouth County towns have the most Italian restaurants?

Red Bank (7), Asbury Park (4), Tinton Falls (4) and Freehold Borough (4) have the most entries in this guide.

More Monmouth County guides

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