50 Best Italian Restaurants in Brooklyn

“After a nice visit to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, my girlfriend and I were craving some pizza. L & B Spumoni Gardens seemed like the perfect spot to try a different style of pizza. We managed to find parking easily despite the seemingly packed lot. As we joined the line outside, we were unaware of the indoor seating until I went to check, which turned out to be a huge plus. Once seated, we ordered the Sicilian Square Pizza with mushrooms on top. The pizza exceeded our expectations, with the perfect balance of thickness and crispiness that we both enjoyed. However, my girlfriend noted that she would prefer the mushrooms cooked a bit more. Despite this minor critique, we both agreed that L & B Spumoni Gardens offers exceptional pizza, and we would gladly return for another meal.“

“Simply the best every single time we go! Super friendly with kids, outdoor backyard spaces, beautiful, and feels inside but open… And the pasta is amazing.I’m still remembering the mushroom special pasta I got months ago.Also, the wine list is great and good price points for quality.“

“Went last night for a little friend date. We were sat promptly at a nice two top by the front window. Our server, who was the most italian server I’ve had since Italy, described the specials perfectly. Everything sounded delicious and I wanted to hear him talk more. All the food was top notch. The mushroom pasta special was a bit pricey ($29 a little sticker shock) and could have used more of that mushroom flavor, however, the pasta ribbons were of a most excellent quality with a nice chew, so I was still satisfied. The best item of the night was the roasted cauliflower special with the piccata sauce. My only qualm was the server, though magnificent, described the dish as being accompanied by focaccia bread. Upon receiving the check I discovered the focaccia was a separate charge. Felt a slight sense of hoodwinked but no matter - it was delicious bread.Service is nice as relaxed in that very European way. It was nice to be given time and not felt rushed out. In fact, I requested the check, which often time a restaurant doesn’t afford you the pleasure of doing. Will be back for certain.“

“Order: broccoli, brown butter, buffalo mozzarella, rigatoni, olive oil + pistachio ice creamVerdict: first and foremost, just an awesome waitstaff. Effortless but nice. The pastas are totally fine, but honestly one note. Felt similarly about Lilia so no real change. The gelato was Excellent though. Only thing I'd come back for is the desert.“

“Couples or parties of 2 get ready to cozy up to your fellow patrons. If you need to get up tables will have to be pulled forward to let you out. Larger groups definitely have more room and spacing, but nonetheless the experience will be intimately loud. We came for the highly reviewed Coniglio (braised rabbit) which did not disappoint, but the Spaghetti Neri is a must try. The octopus was perfectly cooked and enrobed in a peppery sauce whose "slow burn" made it hard to put my fork down or prevent my partner from eating out of my plate. Their oxtail and cuttlefish appetizer is an "interesting" experience. The texture was heavy on the creamy and soft with flavors that channeled childhood memories for me, but were in conflict with each other for my partner. Thankfully, the Primitivo Orion was sublime on the palate in all the ways. If you're in the mood for a light dessert that isn't heavy on the sweetness, their panna cotta with wine infused cherries and almond biscotti is the perfect end cap. This place gets packed, so make a reservation. Our 6:45 pm booking was the sweet spot where the turnover from earlier diners gave us a little space for hand holding across the table and a mini lull to shout my man a happy birthday.“

“Scottadito is a cozy restaurant with seating in the front and back of the restaurant. If you want a more intimate setting, opt for the front. If you're okay with a bigger room and dont mind some louder background conversation the back is a lovely choice to sit as well. My fiance and I started off complimentary bread and dipping sauce. We followed that up with the katerina salad which comes with a tart dressing and generous amount of cheese. My personal favorite of the night was the tagliatelle with speck and brie... absolutely cheesy, creamy, heaven. The saltiness from the speck balanced out the creaminess from the pasta sauce. The noodles were thin and almost reminded me of egg noodles. Definitely a one of a kind tagliatelle. My fiance ordered the penne with spicy vodka sauce and spicy sausage. The sausage was broken up into nice chunks and definitely came with a kick. The portions were generous and we left the restaurant stuffed. Scottadito also offers small backyard seating, which I can see it opening up to perhaps a micro wedding for the fall/summer. Will definitely be back for more pasta and to try more dishes. Yum!“

“Looking for some excellent classic southern Italian food? Old school, right out of a movie with waiters in tuxedos and decor from over 50 years ago. Fantastic chicken parm, mussels, eggplant rollatini. It’s been around since 1900 so they must be doing something right. Come down to Brooklyn and make sure you have a reservation. They do have valet parking too.#hollyshotspots“

“I grabbed dinner here and it did not disappoint. This was a cute and cozy spot just a few steps from the L train. For cocktails, I started with the Spicy Mezcal Marg. It wasn't my favorite, as I expected it to be spicier, since Szechuan peppercorn and Calabrian chili were some of the ingredients used. My next drink was the Hugo Spritz, which was amazing!! It made up for the first drink: it was refreshing and sweet (but not too sweet). For apps, we had the Rye Pita and hummus. Now let me just say, I am not a hummus girlie, but the hummus here was so flavorful and smooth. It wasn't gritty as I have experienced in the past. It definitely paired well with the pita. The star of the show was the Lahmajun, which is sort of like a pizza (without cheese) with lamb. I was pleasantly surprised. The lamb, the herbs & spices were just so delicious. Our server told us to dip it in the hummus and I had no regrets. We also had the braised chicken thigh, which felt very much like comfort food. The chicken was seasoned generously and cooked to perfection. We also had the lamb meatballs, which were so tender. The pairing with pomegranate really brought the flavors out. Overall, I definitely unlocked some new tastebuds here lol. I would return again for the Lahmajun alone! Service was exceptional as well :)“

“This is my favorite Italian restaurant in NYC. And they have the best pizza in the city in my opinion. I’m Italian and it’s very hard to find true Italian pizza!! But you can definitely find it at Aromi. You can also chat with the owners and the staff, they are really kind and the service is awesome. Also they have real delicious mascarpone and every time I ate that I wanted to cry because it reminds me of Italy! Really recommended!“

“probably the best pizza in new york city. the food was great, we tried 3 different options (and yes, we exchanged slices), they were all to die for. we ordered the spinaci salad and it was the best salad i’ve ever had. note: one salad is not enough to share since it is so good.“

“I will actually get all hoity toity food reviewer with this place. It was sublime.The thing I won't be able to stress enough is how well every thing I tried had the most perfect balance of flavors. You tasted everything, nothing was overpowering.For starters we had the seminola bread with oil, the broccoli rabe, the tuna and red pepper corsitini and the ricotta and honey crostini. The ricotta and honey crostini is a really strong recommend.For the main dish I had the maltagliati with pork sugo Bianco. The pork was excellent. My kid though, they hit the jackpot. They ordered the cavatelli with hot sausage and brown sage butter and it's literally their favorite pasta dish they've ever had. Which is saying a lot because they've been a fiend for spaghetti and meatballs the majority of their life.Our server Nicholas was an absolute pro. Very attentive and quick. The atmosphere is great. As always though, that star rating is affected by size. It's a tight fit between some of the tables, but the ambiance is wonderful.“

“Had my first dining experience this evening. My friend and I split the tuna tartare - honestly I could easily ravage that plate solo and order another! Then I had the pappardelle….talk about scrumptious! Probably the best pasta dish I have ever had! Then the ricotta cheesecake for dessert. For my cocktail I sampled the Mercutio ( huge plus that they’ve all got Shakespeare names! Love love love ! ) I shall return!!!!!“

“Cafe Mars is truly out of this world! The food is delicious, exciting, and fun — the Waves pasta dish is our favorite in the city. They have excellent wine and amaro/grappa lists and are eager to find ways to introduce you to new tastes. The ambience is one of bright, upbeat, whimsy, with a number of surprises that I won't spoil here. But the star of Cafe Mars is the staff. Everyone you encounter from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave makes you feel like a beloved guest at their wonderfully wubulous dinner party. They are all warm and welcoming with just the right amount of weird, and they've mastered the art of authentic hospitality. Can't wait for our next visit!“

“I truly love this place. Everything is perfect there. Great food and atmosphere but mostly is the people. I always feel welcomed and appreciated. The biggest thanks to Andres who is always taking care of each customer making sure we are all feel good! Thank you guys and see you soon! You’re the best!“

“My wife and I went on a rare date to Fausto and it was honestly one of the BEST dining experiences I have had in a very long time. The food was excellent, the wine list was extensive, and the staff were so incredibly helpful, kind, and attentive without being overbearing. I would highly recommend!“

“i ordered their prosciutto and burrata (which comes with imported burrata and 24 Month prosciutto di parma), tonnarelli cacio e pepe (pasta with pecorino and black pepper), and infernetto pinsa (roman style pizza with tomato, mozzarella, spicy soppressata, and pecorino). all in all, every dish was made with fine ingredients and was cooked well. the burrata was very creamy and delicious, i would recommend it if you’re a fan of burrata cheese. the pizza had a good coal fire taste to it and came out hot and flavorful (the spicy soppressata was tasty, but i would like to try some of their other flavors eventually). the cacio e pepe was tasty and had a strong pecorino flavor (creamy, rich, slight cheesy musk to it). the pasta had good texture and mouthfeel (firm al dente noodles). all in all a decent spot for italian!“

“Lovely little restaurant within walking distance of where we were staying. Service outstanding! Never felt rushed despite not having a reservation. The food was delicious. As with most restaurants these days, it’s a bit noisy but the music overhead was not overpowering.We will definitely return here when back in Brooklyn.“

“We stopped by Roberta's for dinner after a comedy show. It was pouring out but Roberta's was packed and required a bit of a wait. We were seated in the back area where there was ample seating. We ordered: + Stracciatella: we attacked this appetizer once it came to our table. This dish came with two slices of bread which was enough for the big blob of cheese. + Marinated Olives: these were delicious and were fun to eat with our drinks + Little Gem Salad: this salad was refreshing, crunchy, and delicious. + Margherita Pizza: a basic margherita pizza done well. The crusts were also divulged (that's when you can tell the pizza is good). +Ice Cream Sandwich: we ended our dessert with their recommended sticky bun and ice cream dish. This was delicious and well worth the try. They tried to market it as a cinnamon roll but it is definitely much better than that. The staff was fun. They came by often to check on us but let us alone to chill for as long a we wanted. Cheers.“

“Thank you Luca and the entire team at LaRina for an amazing dinner. You exemplify the purpose of hospitality. The food is perfectly balanced and authentic. The atmosphere is fancy without the fuss. I will be back with friends and family. Keep up the great work.“

“Well isn’t this just the cutest and most delicious little snack of an establishment. After being a long time fan of Pauline Gees main shop, I decided to give the slice shop a pass and damn, wouldn’t change a thing. Place was packed on a Sunday afternoon. Felt more like the hair of the dog crowd and not the post church crowd. I’m here for it. Sipping on a beer eating za while standing at the back bar - life is good my pizza gods. Thank you.“

“While I love this place, for lunch or dinner. They should be embarrassed by the way they put their trash out and the condition of their sidewalk out front. There is grease and grime in layers on the sidewalk, beyond disgusting. That side walk should be hosed down EVERY morning after trash is picked up with hot water and scrubbed with soap. And this from a place that is looking for a star, a Michelin star. For this alone they shouldn't remotely consider it. I mean come on Sean and Misi, clean up your act.“

“What an incredible restaurant and delightful owners! From the moment you step in, you're greeted with laughter, positive vibes, and exceptional cuisine. Meeting the charming couple behind this establishment is an experience in itself. And of course, the culinary delights they serve will leave you thoroughly satisfied.“

“Enjoyed this friendly, classy, modern European brasserie whilst staying nearby in Greenpoint. Burrata and pasta were the highlights combined with a local IPA from a micro-brewer just down the street. Warm and friendly service from the team, but relaxed and casual. Great job guys!“

“We had a birthday table at Faun's and everyone had such an amazing time! The food was excellent and so was the service. Their amazing cocktails and wine selection went perfect with our meal. Great options for vegans as well (just let them know in advance).“

“Adult pizza place. We chose an app, a pasta (on special), and a pizza. Our simple palettes chose the Margherita pizza, the pasta assasina (assassin's pasta), and the fried calamari & zucchini app. First of all, every ingredient in everything tasted extremely fresh, down to the basil on the pizza. The calamari is now on my list of favorite calamaris out there! It was light, tender, piping hot and fresh, and the zucchini mixed in was a nice added flavor. It came with lemon wedges and some kind of mayo-based-tasting sauce. Fantastic! The pizza was rustic, purposely irregularly shaped, and fresh. It was thin on the bottom with a toasty tasting crust. With the other 2 dishes also ordered, we split this approximate 10" pie. We likened it to Patsy's. The assassin's pasta was described as cooked in sauce rather than water and then baked with some cheese and chili oil. It was crunchy, and flavorful, but not something I'd order as my meal. It was a good crunchy side to the pizza, and was kinda reminiscent of frying leftover spaghetti to a crunchy texture. The chili oil added a pleasant twist. There are many other pizzas on the menu, but we chose the simple, non-fussy one. But if you're into pizza that's a little different you'll enjoy it here! The small dining room was warm and rustic, and the service was great!“

“Incredible dining experience. I’ve been wanting to come here for some time and finally got reservations last night, did not disappoint! The space is comfortable and roomy. Service was welcoming and relaxed in the best way. We came at 5 and by 6:30 when we left the bar had slowly filled up so might be a good time to come if you’re walking in on a week night. I love that they switch their menu around weekly based off the seasons. We tried the fava bean puree, fried cauliflower, spaghetti with smoked mushrooms, the ragu, and panna cotta. Everything was delicious. The fava beans are not to be missed! Can’t wait to come back throughout the seasons and see what they have to offer!“

“Michael’s is my favorite Italian restaurant ever. There is nothing on the menu that I do not like. Their sauce is the best I have ever had, their pizza is amazing. Their lobster bisque is out of this world and their cookie skillet is the best cookie I have ever had. I will never stop coming here because this is my favorite restaurant ever. And the waiter Michael is the best!!“

“I wanted to come to Ammazzacaffe for a while. One of my friend told me that they have a great wine list and authentic Italian food. Last night was a good day to go so because of they have a limit of seats I made a reservation before I go. I have a glass of Toscana Rosso and because it is happy hour I get two for one. That is awesome! I order pasta so I only have Sea Trout Tartare as an appetizer. I love that they make it sour and taste so delicious. Quadrotti and Reginette are very good and perfect cooked pasta. Service is nice and friendly. I enjoy so much of this meal. I will probably come back when the weather is warmer.“

“I ordered take out from here so I cannot comment about ambiance or service. I got the pasta with vodka sauce. It was good. Nice portion. Just needed more cheese. The arancini was really good but the sauce didn't go with it at all. I used the leftover vodka sauce instead.“

“Stopped by for aperitivo hour. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us out with selections. The cauliflower bites were so good, and the homemade focaccia was so fresh and soft, I highly recommend! We also ordered the burrata that went great with the focaccia.“

“Lunchtime Discovery That Demands a Dinner ReturnMy first venture into Rucola for lunch turned out to be an unforgettable experience that has me eagerly anticipating a return visit for dinner. Nestled in a space that can only be described as a rustic cabin meets modern chic, Rucola instantly charmed me with its unique and dope vibe.The highlight of the visit was, without a doubt, the sandwich – a creation so deliciously satisfying, it left me in a state of "nom nom" bliss. It's rare to find a dish that makes you dream about your next visit before you've even left, but Rucola managed just that.Adding to the overall excellence was our server, whose recommendations were spot-on and service was impeccable. It's always a pleasure to encounter staff who enhance the dining experience with their enthusiasm and knowledge.Rucola's ambiance, combined with top-tier cuisine and service, makes it more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary destination. If lunch was this impressive, I can only imagine what delights await at dinner. Counting down the days until I can return and dive deeper into their menu. ???️“

“Came here twice since we like the vibe so much. Excelent Italian spot around the area, if a bit on the expensive side. The best dish by far has been the Pappardelle with Boar Ragu. The Rigatoni with Lobster Bisque gets a shout out, as well as the meat and cheese appetizers. We tried the Cacio e Pepe too, and it is good but pales in comparison to the more meaty pasta in my opinion. Can’t miss the Tiramisu and the huge and varied wine selection!“

“The food here is so so good!! I'm still thinking about it days later. The 2 of us split a salad, mushroom pizza, and pasta & there was not a crumb left on the plate. Everything is super fresh and perfectly cooked & they have plenty of vegetarian friendly options. Service was speedy & I definitely recommend a reservation because it was packed on a Friday night. The restaurant is not too big so it did feel a little cramped but it was worth the squeeze for that meal. They also have some really great drinks.“

“Awesome waiter. He was really friendly. The food took a little longer than is usual maybe but they only have 1 oven and that's part of the charm. It's good pizza good calzones. The oven is hot. People are happy. It's a loud family vibe kinda place. I'd take my kid here if I had a kid. I feel like a kid would love this place.“

“No indoor dining because Covid They have taken great care of making a lot of available tables and even have some enclosed outdoor booths. The use of space is pretty amazing and well adapted to the neighborhood They neighborhood is great I saw the prettiest dogs in Brooklyn all walking in full force The place has a friendly family-type vibe Th coworkers are all friendly with each other and warm to their clientele The food is impeccably well prepared, tasty and quite authentically Italian I doubt one could find anything more authentic with such fine ingredients and creatively presented anywhere other than Italy. If you do, let it be known and I’m sure the staff here would feel the kindred spirit of another fine cuisine It’s in the medium-high priced category but it lives up to the prices in its quality Wait staff is genuine and kind and do make a great effort to make one comfortable and enjoy their meal Highly recommend“

“Shoutout to Niya for holding down the entire second floor on her own. She made sure we had all of our bottomless drinks and anticipated our orders, while making sure all other tables were ok. Awesome experience I’m always happy comig to Ainsle for brunch.“

“Good food, good wine! Everything here is really fantastic. It's some of the best pasta I've ever had. I seriously have to question how Franklin Ave has such an outstanding restaurant, but I'm sure glad it does. They're even family friendly and did a spaghetti with butter sauce for my picky 3-year-old. The process are reasonable too, just beware that they do add a 20% gratuity automatically if there are 5 or more people in your party, which annoyed me quite a bit after tipping an additional 20% and not realizing it until after the fact.“

“Delicious pasta either great ambience in the backyard. We visited last year in the fall and I got demolished by mosquitoes. We got 2 pastas and a burrata. One pasta was delicious and the other felt a bit bland. Overall cute date place if you are craving Italian and it's close by, but not a place to go out of your way to visit from another area. It's good for the location and great addition to local addition to bedstuy Overall food was good but felt a bit overpriced. I think it's mostly because of location and lack of competition in the area. Burrata wasn't worth 17 dollars. And everything felt 1-3 dollars too expensive. Service was good and ambience was great. Not sure if I'll be visiting again but maybe if friends really want pasta.“

“No frills, no glam, just GOOD PIZZA. This is our absolute go to spot for pizza anywhere in there city. I am out in Queens and whenever me and my family want pizza, this is our go to place.We’ve had almost every type of slice at this point and none of them disappoint.“

“The brioche French toast is otherworldly. We also got one of the testos and the eggs Benedict with prosciutto- all of it was so so good! Also got limoncello shots at the end which were delicious. Highly recommend! Aperol sprits was perfectly proportioned. Shocked it wasn’t packed for a 1:15 pm brunch!“

“Our go to spot in the neighborhood! The service is great, the food is even better. And don’t sleep on their brunch! They are also great for private events. We hosted a baby shower on their back patio and they couldn’t have been more helping in the planning process! Will definitely host events here in the future.“

“Just came back from Mother's Day Brunch with my sons and husband. Food was excellent as was the service! Beet salad was so good, burgers cooked to perfection, shakshuka with merguez sausage was delicious, the white truffles pizza with poached eggs was amazing!! Thank you Wild for a 100% gluten free restaurant with 100% great food!“

“Our local pizza gem!Shrimp / Clam / Vodka / Funghi are the mvp slices. Picante also good if you like the heat.Tried the burger today which really hit the spot.Owner / Staff are very friendly. Pizza chefs care a lot about their craft, down to the last basil theyre garnishing with.“

“Very wholesome, traditional Italian food. I've tried multiple of their pasta plates - which are always great. Personally, I love the Chicken Parm sandwich - perfect cutlets with red sauce, mozzarella, & basil. The full sandwich is a hefty meal, but if you're hungry you can add a side. The Fried Rice Balls (Arancini) are great, the Tiramisu is also worth trying. The service has always been great, with very friendly staff. Keep in mind they don't have a large dining space - so don't bring large groups. If you're in 3+ order takeout.“

“Wow! Soo soo good!!! I love when I can taste real ingredients and it's not overpowered by salt! Seriously so hard to find real pizza like this- thank you !! my kids and I really enjoyed !! I wasn't impressed with the salad but the pizza made up for it lol“

“This is the first time we have gone getting the time to enjoy the experience.Tomao was our waitress and she gave us outstanding service and attention.We ordered a Caesar Salad which was outstanding and excellent dressing as it should be.Dear Wife ordered the Filet of Sole which she found outstanding. I ordered the Pasta Di Mara which also outstanding and had enough to enjoy the following day.We finished the meal with a hot drink and she had the Chocolate Layer Cake and I enjoyed and had the Aunt Lori Italian Cheesecake with was lite and delightful..We even took home a portion of the Eggplant Parm use in the future.Delightful and we will be back!“

“I finally returned for the first time in over ten years, and Il Passatorehas maintained its high quality and modest prices. Hope to return again sooner than in ten years. I dine at some of the best Italian spots in Brooklyn, including Lilia and Michaels of Brooklyn, but this place, in its own way, can hold its own.“

“The people 's brunch spot! Cool crowd, great service and absolutely delicious food for a reasonable price! Our server Hector, was incredible! He took excellent care of us even though the spot was jamming! The drinks were great and they kept them coming! Food was delicious and came out quickly. Overall, this is one of the best brunch spots in Brooklyn!“

“If you are a pasta lover then this is a must visit. All pasta is made fresh and tastes incredible. They have a special of the day and a great menu. Me and my partner did the pasta and wine deal for $19 which was amazing. We got there just as it opened and we got a seat but it does fill up fast so try and get there early. We have already planned to go back for one of their daily specials!“

“Lillo is the best! I can’t believe I have not written a review for him yet! It’s a hole in the wall, but everything I have tried was delicious! Really good Italien cuisine. I try to come back here every time I’m in the city. It’s cash only and fills up pretty quickly for dinner time, so come early and prepared. The owner has such a calm and friendly vibe.Thank you, Lillo ❤️“