Diners' Choice: Contemporary Italian restaurants in New Jersey

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary Italian cuisine in New Jersey? 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!

Garlic Rose Bistro - Cranford

4.9

4.9 (928)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Cranford

About the restaurant

A Garlic Lovers Paradise
Established In 1996
A unique casual bistro featuring an eclectic menu that is complimented by the wonderful herb - GARLIC.
From the moment your seated you'll enjoy fresh rustic italian bread, served with our garlic rose dip and fresh warm garlic bulbs.
A relaxed casual atmosphere, paired with delicious food made from the finest, freshest, quality ingredients and attentive service makes for a great dining experience.
A full bar is available featuring the best sangria and martinis.
Garlic Rose is available for lunch, dinner, catering & private parties.
We are even VAMPIRE FRIENDLY for non garlic lovers. Items can be prepared with no garlic.
Come visit the Garlic Rose and enjoy yourself.

“Follow your nose to the Garlic Rose.”

Top review

Meghan Clark

Dined 3 days ago

One of the best meals I have ever had. Everyone’s dish was excellent. The dishes have interesting twists that execute perfectly. Plan on going back repeatedly to try the entire menu.

La Campagnola

4.6

4.6 (695)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Medford

About the restaurant

La Campagnola Restaurant & Bar serves the finest Certified Angus Beef Steaks, Freshest Seafood, & Italian Specialty Dishes. Chef Michael offers weekly specials in addition to our regular menu. Our atmosphere is casual with top shelf service. We have a fine wine list as well as 20 draft and 20 bottled beers. Our liquor assortment is broad and features all the popular brands.
We have live entertainment every Thur, Fri & Sat night.
We offer Jumbo Crab Legs on Mon & Tues, Prime Rib Specials (the best you"ll ever eat) on Thurs & Sun, and HAPPY HOUR Mon through Fri from 4 to 7:00pm.
We do Serviced or Take Out Catering.
We have a private area for Parties, Rehearsal Dinners, Baby or Bridal Showers.
We can accommodate Funerals up to 100 people.
Our Pork Chop was #1 in S.J!

Top review

JodiGold

Dined 6 days ago

We love having such a wonderful restaurant so close to home. The LC, as we call it, always delivers consistent and fantastic meals. It's great for date nights or girls night or even business dinners, you can't go wrong.

Caffe Aldo Lamberti

4.8

4.8 (3615)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Cherry Hill

About the restaurant

You can expect the very best in contemporary Italian cuisine & seafood at Caffe Aldo Lamberti. A South Jersey Landmark for over 30 years and just minutes from Philadelphia, you will find modern decor, exceptional service and mouthwatering menu selections. Enjoy our numerous seafood dishes, including our house specialties - whole fresh fish and bountiful raw bars that feature fresh oysters, clams, seafood salad, jumbo shrimp and lobster. Other guest favorites are our zucchini crabcake, seafood cioppino, pappardelle bolognese, and our selection of flame-grilled meats, including the 16 oz New York strip or ribeye, veal rib chop and our pan-seared Berkshire porkchop. Pair your menu selections with the perfect bottle of wine from our award winning wine list. Outdoor dining is available during warmer weather in both our open-air lounge are and outdoor patios.

Top review

Sydney

Dined 4 days ago

Can’t go wrong eating here. Service, quality of food and ambience are excellent! Servers are unobtrusive yet mindful of conversations going on. Been coming here for years and always more than pleased.

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4.9

4.9 (745)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Asbury Park

About the restaurant

At Piccola Italia, chef and owner Brian Gualtieri offers his unique take on classic Italian dishes, fusing fresh Mediterranean flavors with the traditional regional styles of Italian cooking. Our menu features the highest quality seasonal ingredients and bold flavors. Piccola Italia has received high Zagat ratings year after year and with its elegant full bar with an extensive wine list, patrons will not be disappointed.

ALL MENUS AT WWW.PICCOLAITALIANJ.COM

Top review

Roae Anne

Dined 7 days ago

Food is fantastic. Service is great. Always a good evening.

LaScala's Fire - Glassboro

4.9

4.9 (617)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Glassboro

About the restaurant

Welcome to LaScala's Fire at Glassboro, your home away from home for Italian American, that you can't get enough of. We offer a large selection of beloved Italian American fare, Sushi Bar, and Homemade Desserts. We have a full service bar with rotating and seasonal taps, wine selections, and cocktails.

We offer Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3:30pm - 6:00pm that includes discounted prices on some of your favorites, including our Ricotta Board and Wood-fired Pizzas!

We have private dining room options that would be perfect for your next event or gathering! From Corporate Business Meetings, to Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Birthdays, Holiday Parties, and so much more, there's nothing we can't handle! Inquire today to book your next event, or talk to one of our team members about Catering options!

From our family to yours,

Let's Eat!

Top review

Megan

Dined 4 days ago

I’ve been going there for years! the service is always great! the food is to die for. the portions are huge!!! highly recommend

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The Queen Bean Bistro

4.8

4.8 (164)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Ventnor City

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Queen Bean Bistro—the hidden gem of the Ventnor Boardwalk, where exceptional cuisine meets an unforgettable ocean view. We’re proud to be the only restaurant on the boardwalk offering panoramic seaside dining. Whether you are looking for the best brunch in Ventnor or best dinner in Ventnor, we have you covered.

At the heart of our kitchen is Chef Sal, who brings over 20 years of expertise in epicurean cuisine. His passion for flavor, balance, and wellness drives a menu that proudly avoids seed oils and emphasizes clean, high-quality ingredients. Many of our fresh ingredients are sourced directly from local farms, supporting our community and bringing seasonal flavors straight to your plate.

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or simply craving something extraordinary, we offer thoughtfully crafted options to delight every palate.

Come experience Queen Bean Bistro—where the food is as elevated as the view, and every dish is served with heart and soul.

Top review

keith

Dined 4 days ago

Celebrated my Sister & my Birthday was a wonderful evening. Chef Sal had a special fried green tomato topped with crab imperial was delicious. Melissa his wife makes the best scones & bread make sure you take some home. We also had a wonderful dessert.

La Finestra

4.8

4.8 (2885)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Sea Isle City

About the restaurant

An unforgettable fine dining experience with favor-filled dishes and unobstructed ocean views.

Top review

Marguerite

Dined 4 days ago

We eat here often. Last night for the first time we had Marley as our server. She was awesome. She memorized all the specials and was knowledgeable about each of them. She was very responsive to any of our requests. She is excellent at her job and an asset to La Finestra.

Angelo's Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (874)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Bordentown

About the restaurant

Trattoria
A trattoria is an Italian-style eating establishment that is generally less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria.

Seasonal
We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant. That's why our high-quality ingredients are always fresh and locally sourced.

Top review

Brian

Dined 7 days ago

Had a great meal .Food consistently good. David is the best. Great spot in Downtown Bordentown city. Make the trip in, you Won’t be disappointed.

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LaScala's Fire - Marlton

4.6

4.6 (1030)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Marlton

About the restaurant

Welcome to LaScala's Fire at Marlton, your home away from home for Italian American, that you can't get enough of. We offer a large selection of beloved Italian American fare, Sushi Bar, and Homemade Desserts. We have two full service bars with rotating and seasonal taps, wine selections, and cocktails. FIRE Marlton offers indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an Indoor/Outdoor Bar Lounge.

We offer Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3:00pm - 6:00pm that includes discounted prices on some of your favorites, including our Ricotta Board and Pizzas!

We have private dining room options that would be perfect for your next event or gathering! From Corporate Business Meetings, to Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Birthdays, Holiday Parties, and so much more, there's nothing we can't handle! Inquire today to book your next event, or talk to one of our team members about Catering options!

From our family to yours,

Let's Eat!

Top review

Michael

Dined 3 days ago

Lively environment, food is always good. We will be back.

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IL Villaggio Restaurant & Bar

4.7

4.7 (3230)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Cherry Hill

About the restaurant

IL Villaggio Restaurant & Bar, established in 2013.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, IL Villaggio Restaurant & Bar offers a warm indoor-outdoor dining experience. Family-owned and operated for over 13 years, we're dedicated to fresh ingredients, classic Italian flavors, and genuine hospitality. Our menu features premium seafood including crab cakes, calamari, oysters, shrimp, and fresh shellfish. Daily specials highlight seasonal and locally sourced Atlantic tuna, golden tilefish, swordfish, diver scallops, Mediterranean branzino, and Holland dover sole filleted tableside.
We offer domestic meat selections such as veal chop, pork chop, tomahawk ribeye, and filet mignon, along with homemade pasta prepared daily, including gnocchi and signature ravioli like Lobster, Villaggio, and Bolognese.
IL Villaggio Restaurant & Bar provides customized menus for private events up to 200 guests, including business meetings, weddings, birthdays, bar and bat mitzvahs, showers, and celebrations of life.

Top review

Paul

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food and service. Wine selection was fantastic!!!

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon Carpaccio

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