Craving some spaghetti carbonara or perhaps a delicious cacio e pepe? Jersey City is well known for its pizza spots (Razza is on the rankings released by 50 Top Pizza) but it also has a number of Italian restaurants where you can find a comforting bowl of pasta.
If you need some ideas for your next meal out, here’s a list of the best pasta spots in Jersey City.
Chickie’s
Located near Hamilton Park, Chickie’s is a chic Italian eatery known for its chicken parm and choice of round or square pizza pies. They also have a good selection of pastas, including spicy rigatoni, tagliatelle bolognese, cacio e pepe and linguine with clams. In addition to lunch and dinner, this spot is open for brunch on weekends, serving a variety of egg dishes as well as their popular brunch pizza.
15 Fox Place
If you’re looking for a unique experience, book a table at 15 Fox Place – a reservation-only restaurant inside a private house. This hidden gem is located in the Journal Square neighborhood, and is only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The experience is like going to a group dinner party in someone’s home, with a fixed price, six-course Italian menu. The menu is a surprise, but in the past guests have enjoyed dishes such as carpaccio, lemon pasta and stuffed peppers.
https://www.instagram.com/15foxplace/
Battello
In the mood for an Italian meal in a chic venue with waterfront views? Battello will be right up your alley. This gorgeous restaurant is popular for events and weddings, and is the perfect spot for a date night or special occasion. The food here is excellent, and I still dream of the mafalde cacio e pepe I had here. The modern Italian menu has a seafood focus, although you’ll also find things like prime ribeye and roasted chicken on there.
Barge Inn
Located at the top end of Newark Ave, Barge Inn has been around since 1969. Run by the Marto family, this is the oldest Italian restaurant in Jersey City and the old-school interior makes you feel like you’re dining in someone’s living room. Try their “Pork Chops Bitsy” and “Chicken a la Barge” along with one of their pasta dishes. Wednesdays is all-you-can-eat pasta night, which includes a glass of house wine for just $12.95.
https://barge-inn-italian-restaurant.business.site
Corto
One of the best Italian restaurants in the tri-state area, Corto never disappoints. This cozy neighborhood restaurant in The Heights is BYOB and has a romantic outdoor courtyard – perfect for date nights. The menu changes seasonally, but always has a good selection of pastas and every dish is made with love using the freshest ingredients.
Laico’s
One of the oldest restaurants in Jersey City, Laico’s has been around since 1972. This family run restaurant is located inside a legit house in the Greenville area of Jersey City. The brick-lined walls give it a cozy vibe, and the menu features all kinds of pastas including cheese ravioli, rigatoni arrabbiata and orecchiette with broccoli rabe, among others. Their chicken francese is very popular, and this restaurant also serves one of the best chicken parms in New Jersey!
Luna
Occupying a former bank building on Grove Street, Luna is a rustic restaurant with good cocktails and special Happy Hour nights. Wednesdays is bottomless mussels, while on Mondays you can enjoy $10 Che pizzas and $10 glasses of Malbec. There are around a dozen pastas on the menu, as well as mains such as chicken Milanese and braised short rib.
Porto Leggero
For a fine dining experience, head to Porto Leggero, which is located over by Newport in a two-storey, glass fronted building. Porto Leggero is one of those places you can dress up for, and is often frequented by finance workers on weekdays. The dinner menu is pretty extensive, so you’re bound to find something on there to suit your taste buds.
Pasta Dal Cuore
No list of the best pasta in Jersey City would be complete without mentioning Pasta Dal Cuore, which sells fresh pasta in the store front and also has a dining room in the back. Here you can enjoy authentic homemade pasta dishes, such as linguine alla burrata, spaghetti alla carbonara and spaghetti alla vongole. Don’t forget to try their handmade arancini and their homemade tiramisu.
Porta
Housed in a former pharmacy building on Newark Avenue, Porta is a three-floor restaurant with a rooftop that’s perfect for the summer months. This spacious Italian spot is open for lunch, brunch and dinner, plus there’s Happy Hour at the bar from 4pm to 6pm Mon-Fri. Their pizzas are fire, and their pastas are available as single or double portions.
https://pizzaporta.com/jersey-city
Satis Bistro
While not technically an Italian restaurant, Satis Bistro in Paulus Hook serves some very good pasta dishes, including cacio e pepe, squid ink rigatoni, spaghetti with crab and mushroom ravioli. Their brunch menu also features several pastas, including a burrata basil linguine and short rib bolognese.
Roman Nose
This spacious restaurant on Newark Ave has an extensive menu featuring salads, pizzas, pastas and Italian entrees. Pasta-wise they offer a decent selection of dishes – cacio e pepe, spaghetti alla carbonara and tagliatelle al ragù are just some of the things you’ll find on the menu. They also have a decent Happy Hour from Tuesday to Sundays, with $10 spritzes, $7 wines and $5 draft beers.
ITA Italian Kitchen
This Journal Square restaurant is a modern Italian restaurant that opened up in 2020 and has become quite a hit. Yelp New Jersey listed it #3 on its list of the best restaurants in New Jersey, so you can expect good quality food from this establishment. Rigatoni bolognese, spaghetti alla vongole and spaghetti pomodoro are just some of the pasta dishes you’ll find on the menu. The cocktails here are colorful and yummy, as are their pizzas.
Love this list? For more restaurant inspiration, check out our lists of the best ramen restaurants in Jersey City, the best steakhouses in Jersey City and the best sushi spots in Jersey City.
