22 Best Italian Restaurants near Essex

“In CT, we are so lucky to be blessed with a million great pizza options- Brickside Pizza is among them in this area for sure! Great little takeout spot with big flavors! We got the Sunday Dinner with meatballs, ricotta and sauce. We also tried the prosciutto arugula pie as well! They are stocked with plenty of fox on park sodas as well to grab on the way out!“

“We visited Al Forno for Dinner and were Pleasantly Impressed by the Food, Service, Desserts right down to the Cappachinos !!Ben and his staff were Outstanding and we really enjoyed our evening, it was a very nice Food Experience and we will return with Friends and Family to share the same Nicely Done Ben !!!??“

“This deli is fabulous! We have had five different kinds of sandwiches from their menu, and they are spectacular! The pastrami on rye is to die for. I believe that is called the Manhattan. All of the Italian themed sandwiches are spectacular. Once we ordered the eggplant Parmesan special, which was a hot meal. It was enough for three meals! they do a terrific job and are such pleasant people. I would like to see them stay in business. If the weather is warm, they provide outdoor seating. They have recently added some breakfast items and are open from 7 AM to 3 PM.“

“Absolutely the best pizza I have ever had, these guys and girls know their stuff, if you love pizza then go here to meet your pizza soul mate because you will be in heaven with the first bite...!!Kid-friendliness: We brought our grand child there his name is Otto and they gave him a free t shirt ...who does that these days ....?“

“We just love this place ! The wait staff are friendly and courteous. The food is authentic Italian cuisine, like no other around. If you are looking for real Italian food, this is a great place to start. I love everything about this restaurant!“

“Well I went here initially because of reviews about the pizza, which panned out fantastically. It turns out the rest of the menu is amazing as well. Oki and his staff are fabulous, great chefs, and excellent hosts. Take a couple slices to go, or dine in for an amazing Italian seafood pasta. They've got tons of other dishes. Their garlic bread knots are also way way above average. Homemade Italian desserts, too.“

“I’d driven my 1M times and finally stopped. So glad I did…they serve an absolutely perfect Italian Grinder. The toasted sandwich was flavorful, crunchy and the know to add the lettuce after it comes out of the oven so it is not a soggy mess.I’m looking forward to going back.“

“Enjoyed a dinner out a week or so ago - having never been to Sammy's and hearing mixed reviews. We started with the fried calamari and it was excellent! Very crisp, including fried hot peppers mixed in and marinara dipping sauce and a terrific creamy concoction that were both very good. I had ordered the meatballs but they did not come and belief there was a misunderstanding as the service was excellent and the meatballs were not on my bill at the end.My Truffle Risotto was prepared beautifully with three juicy jumbo scallops half-submerged in the risotto - cooked perfectly. There were four shrimp, I think, and they seemed to be the 21-25 count size, also dunked in the risotto. These were not bad but were definitely overcooked. While I enjoyed my meal, I would not reorder it as the risotto was just too rich for my tastes but others might disagree. My wife enjoyed her grilled salmon and veggies very much and my son enjoyed is NY Strip which was cooked as ordered. He can be picky about his steaks and often when we order medium rare it is very rare but this was cooked perfectly.A nice touch, which seems to be disappearing from restaurants, was the salad that came with the entree. Mind you, this was a very small salad but it was just right and not expected. All in, including one drink and a couple of coffees at the end - the bill was about $120 - which we felt was very reasonable as compared with other area restaurants for similar orders. Again, the service was terrific from start to finish. We will definitely return.“

“Excellent food!!! Our waitress Gabriella was fantastic and the ambiance was relaxing and cozy. Loved my broiled Cod and Dans linguini with clam sauce was amazing. Can't recommend it higher. Just moved to town a couple months ago and already one of our “go to's”“

“This place is overall FABULOUS. I decided to grab a bite on a recent Thursday night around 7 pm bc I had read all the wonderful reviews. When I walked into the ristorante, there was a bevy of ppl throughout the establishment which was very encouraging. I asked the hostess if I could grab a seat at the bar & she quickly ushered me over. The bartender came over within a few mins & handed me a menu, poured me a glass of water & inquired about a drink order. I settled on a nice CA cab sauv which he poured immediately. The wine was delicious. It was Jam Cellars which I am not familiar with. I inquired with the bartender about items that people consistently love. He told me everything was great but the pizzas were fabulous. I ordered the Arugula & Proscuitto pizza. I was tempted to order an appetizer but I had a feeling the pizza would be plenty. As I was studying the decor is definitely modern with fantastic design & lighting. It used to be a casual soup, salad & sandwich place prior to this (a bit like Panera). It was busy & the dining room was bustling with staff & diners happily chatting away & enjoying their drinks & meals. Overall fabulous vibe & atmosphere. The music was low to medium & the conversation was the same. (I did not find it loud at all. It was a normal background noise). About 12-15 mins later, the pizza arrived hot from the oven. The presentation was fantastic. The fresh baby arugula was wilted over the hot cheese & the prosciutto was then layered on top of that & they used a really lovely flaked Parmesan over all of it. The dough WAS DIVINE. Freshly made, slightly airy with a slightly dense chew. I put a little cracked black pepper on top & YUM! DELISH!“

“This was not our first time at La Marea. It is one of our favorite restaurants. We are never disappointed in the quality of the food, including dessert. It is consistently excellent! The owners always visit customers at each table, which we really appreciate.“

“Our servers were excellent, our drinks perfect and the food is exceptional. You can get half orders of most items on the menu which lets you try so many different dishes , this was something our server suggested and something we'll do in the future. Simple fresh ingredients and attention to detail make a dining experience at Rustica very special. We can't wait to go back!“

“No matter what time of day me and my family go into the restaurant it’s always super clean the staff are always friendly. Nick the owner is more than likely there he greats everyone makes sure everything is good with the food and etc. no matter what dish or pizza my family or I get it’s always outstanding always cooked perfect and amazing flavor“

“Super impressed with the food, and our waiter, Troy, was engaging, attentive, and super responsive to our requests. Great option for an affordable mid-week meal or a fancy weekend date. Food was very fresh and deeeeeeee-licious! I can see this becoming a very regular foray for me.“

“Fiore pizza! Gets a recommendation from my humble taste buds without a question. The boys & I ordered a few pizzas for the big game Sunday and let me tell ya. sausage pizza, big crumbles of spicy Italian ween, ooowee gooey mozzarella cheese, and a well flavored red sauce felt like an appetizer. A chicken pesto pie(last times MP) with fresh red tomato slices, chicken, and a tart green pesto cream to complete the Christmas colorway. A pie so nice we had to order twice! And last, but by all means, not least. A mystery pie, to be unboxed with watering mouths and great excitement. The steaming pie was drizzled all over with tangy orange, sweet bbq brown, and a creamy white sauce. Freckled with diced bits of breaded chicken, this pizza was something to write home about! We HAD to call back and figure out what the delicacy contained. Described as a "special sauce" created by the chef, the crazy chicken chicken cwazy pizza was a top prospect of all the za I've had in my day. A return visit ABSOLUTELY! was my only thought when my full belly and I watched taylor swift and the chiefs take a win next to my rapidly rising rocket. Overal great experience and recommend to anyone in the area!“

“Excellent service, the atmosphere so beautiful.Our calzone was more than enough for two(we brought home half of it).The soups were delicious, perfect for a cold winter day, 1) spinach and 2)lentil-barley.Definitely we'll go back one day!“

“Five professional motor cycle riders who eat in a lot of food at different stops were very satisfied. Great prices/ great quality/ good quantity/fast service/ great waitress/ clean modern seating and restrooms/ ample free parking. Its now on our favorite list. Thank you for serving us so well!!“

“Have been going to Pasta Vita for approx.20 years! I've never purchased a meal I didn't truly enjoy! Very consistent food quality...You can't replicate the salmon meals at home for what you pay! Fav's: Any salmon, shrimp, chicken, sides or beef prepared meals! Stromboli's (huge) for price point! Hi Rich, Lou and staff!!“

“Located in Salem, Connecticut at the four corners (RT 85 & RT82) , this is the best place in the area to get a classic Connecticut Apizza. They sell by the slice or will do a whole pizza for you. Don't miss out on their collection of grinders and sandwiches.“

“Was in the area, and I'm kinda hard-wired to stop in at almost any Italian deli. So I stopped. And I ordered. Sausage and pepper sub w provy (amazing how we called them "wedges" where I grew up, "heroes" in the Bronx, and "grinders" where I currently live in northern CT).The sausage and peppers were very good, the bread not so much. Maybe it was the tomatoey/olive oil base, but the sub almost fell apart while I was eating it. Am used to the more substantial italian bread that really great Italian delis feature. Maybe a cold sub would've held up better. There is a wide assortment of hot foods (meatballs, chicken cutlets, eggplant, etc), and cold cuts. Prices reasonable. Bonus for featuring Foxon sodas.3.5 stars“

“All around fantastic! Cocktails were creative and not too sweet. Excellent wine selection. We had crispy potato for app which was amazing the excellent mushroom pasta dish and squid ink pasta dish. Service was great. We’ll definitely be back!Dietary restrictions: Delicious accommodation for allium allergy“

“Stopped by on our way through CT from Long Island. Was pleasantly surprised with how great this pizza was! A little on the greasy side but nothing you couldn’t pick up with a napkin. The only “negative” was the inside is very plain. Not a ton a decor, but that’s not really important. Would deff come “