ITA Italian Kitchen

Ngl the 4 stars that I’m giving is my best yet. I haven’t had such good Italian food. The manager was friendly. We ordered pizza, pasta and two drinks. It’s slightly on the expensive side with 20+ for pizza and 25+ for pasta. I would definitely revisit here without a second thought if they bring down their prices by a tad, I would still visit regardless just gotta think twice lol.

Neighborhood? Sketchy. Parking? A nightmare. But the food? Absolute Italian perfection 🍕🍝🚗 We weren’t exactly blown away pulling up to ITA. The neighborhood felt a little sketchy, and finding parking was an Olympic sport. The atmosphere inside wasn’t much cozier—more “industrial minimalism” than warm Italian trattoria. Our waiter had a definite “old-school” vibe—gruff, no-nonsense, and definitely not there to chat. That said, the service was fine. Nothing special, but we got our food and drinks without a hitch. And now… the food. WOW. This was hands-down the best Italian we had in all of New Jersey. • The rigatoni in red sauce was bold, rich, and perfectly balanced. • The fettuccine in creamy mushroom sauce was dreamy—like a hug in a bowl. • And that pepperoni pizza? Crispy, chewy, and full of flavor. Total showstopper. Bottom line: You might question your GPS getting there, and parallel parking will test your patience—but once the food hits the table, you’ll be glad you stayed.

Me and my friends just played tennis and we were starving! We initially wanted to go to Wing bar but it was packed due to trivia (so cool! will have to go back). Mark, the owner, was very nice and trying to accommodate our needs because he owns both. We decided to stay at ITA. Turns out on Tuesdays it's half off pizzas. And these pizzas are soooo good. I got the burrata pizza, my friends got margarita and diavola? We also got the caesar salad and split it. Wow. It's enough to split for 3-4 people. The drinks are amazing too! I got the famous Espresso martini. Definitely in my top 3 list in JC. Thanks to Mark and his awesome server / Chef / bartender staff. This was a great experience. Perfect for a date night. I love that the owner tries to give a personal touch. Will be returning !

I’m going to leave a very constructive review because I like everything about this restaurant - besides the food. A few tweaks and you could take it another level. The two things I ordered: 1. The spicy rigatoni vodka was more like a mac & cheese. Let your quality pasta shine, you do not need to turn it into a cheese soup. It was very liquidy and heavy, all you need to do is pour some on top of the pasta - it really was too heavy. 2. The pizza is supposed to have Capocollo or prosciutto.. instead we got slices of breakfast ham. This is really a shame because you guys have great dough and the pizza is made well for the most part. Another tip: add pinches of sugar + sea salt to the Pizza sauce, it will bring it to life. Full disclosure : I am not a chef, but I’ve eaten pizzas around the world

The spicy Rigatoni was very yummy! Other things we tried and liked were chicken wings, Margherita pizza. You must get the Passionate Lover cocktail. I highly recommend this place!

First time trying these pizzas, 10/10!! Service was fast, pizzas were amazing and the staff were friendly. The pizzas were so good. The Rustica pizza was my favorite!

It was my first time in ITA- for a private wedding event and it was beyond expectations!The food was magnificent and delicious and the employees shout out to Sophia and Javier were very friendly and attentive to our needs.Will def go back to try more of their menu!

This neighborhood Italian casual restaurant hits all the right notes for a Friday night casual dinner. Service is warm and welcoming from the start. My highlights were the Mangolada and the squid ink spicy pasta. We didn't have a chance to try the pizza but it smelled amazing. Next time!

2nd visit here and pleasantly surprised that they have 50% off pizza Tuesday and pasta Wednesday. Went for the pizza and our favorite is the funghi pizza. Ask for extra crispy! Service is good but they are understaffed so had to wait for sometime for food. Check in Yelp for calamari which is very good, and the sauces are addictive. Will try their pasta next time.

Such a cozy Italian restaurant! My group of 6 came on a Thursday night with a reservation but we didn't need one. What we ordered - Appetizers: calamari, focaccia and olives, antipasti, meatballs. Everything was delicious! The antipasti came with their homemade focaccia and olives (+ prosciutto and straciatella) but we loved the focaccia and olives so much we had to order more! Their meatballs were also very flavorful and we loved the white sauce that came with the calamari. Entrees: chicken parm with vodka rigatoni, squid ink mafaldine, McGinley pizza. My favorite was the squid ink mafaldine - it was a huge portion with lots of seafood and sauce. The pasta also tasted freshly made. The service was also very prompt and professional. I'd return again to try more dishes!

After searching up Italian restaurants around NJ. I found this gem with a bunch of great elite reviews. I said to myself, " oh why not?" My group of 7 people came. We were greeted right away and sat down within a second. We came 2 hours before closing so there was not a lot of customers inside. Service is really important to me. The service to this restaurant is fast paced and attentive to their customers. I never had a service at what they brought out to the table. 5/5 I enjoy every piece of bites I got from the Alfredo Alfredo and the spaghetti. Alfredo was really creamy and has a lot of flavor in it that can't be described. The spaghetti brought me to Italy. Calamari was not as breaded but crunchy to it. 5/5 I recommend this restaurant to anyone that is Italian lover because it's a must try. I will be back when I'm in the area.

I was introduced to ITA through a Yelp Elite event, and was very impressed with their food then. I came back and am just as impressed! 5/5 for the food and special deals. Came here on a Tuesday to celebrate a birthday dinner and they have 50% off pizzas (dine in or take out). Service was a little slow, given there was only 1 waitstaff servicing the entire restaurant. There was also only one guy cranking out pizzas on a pizza night so we waited a bit for the food to come. The staff really try their best though, and the food and attitude of the staff were excellent.. it was worth the wait. We got: - calamari: delicious, crispy, fried calamari. Served with fresh, tomato and creamy garlic dipping sauces. Check in on yelp to get an appetizer for free and this was what we got. - funghi pizza: my favorite pizza of the two that we got. The crunchy crust on the edges, the white, creamy sauce and mushroom toppings nestled on super thin center crust creates a ton of contrasting textures - it was so good! The truffle oil drizzled on top adds the umami and flavor. Tip: Ask for an extra crispy crust! - McGinley pizza: another delicious pizza. This is a tomato based sauce topped with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella and pickled jalapeño. A classic pizza. While the McGinley pie was a delicious, well-made pizza, I preferred the mushroom one as it's just not something you'd find in any Italian place. Between the 2 of us, we could only finish the appetizer and 1 pie, and took the rest to-go. I'll be back in the future on Wednesdays to try out their 50% pasta deal.

My 2nd time dining at Ita and it did not disappoint!! My first experience was attending a Yelp Elite event where we tasted almost the entire menu!! Everything was so fantastic that i havent stopped talking about Ita to anyone who will listen!! Happy to say my family members are regulars here all because of the Yelp event I attended! The power of Yelp! So my current dining experience was met with excitement because i knew i was in for good food and i was bring my mother who has never been to Ita. Ita is nestled of the corner of Bergen Ave and Reed St in a vastly changing area of Jersey City. the restaurant is quite small so reservations is strongly suggested but its so cozy and comfy. We were greeted by the owner and a friendly staff. The cocktails were amazing. The bartenders here are talented mixologist! . We skipped appetizers and went straight for the mains. Both had the Chicken parm with the spicy rigatoni and Omg as remembered this sauce is so good. Its creamy with a kick of spice! I feel like i need to come once a month and try a couple other dishes i havent yet! The highlight for me was having the perfect seat near the oven and watching the pizza master do his work. It was warm and comfy there! I highly recommend trying this place if u want good Italian food. Fyi street parking can be a little tough so allow yourself time before ur reservation. Happy dining!

Great ambiance and tasty cocktails! The service was quick and friendly and we enjoyed the calamari and farmer's salad. The cocktails all sounded great and the passion lover was super tasty. I was a little disappointed that the bolognese sauce wasn't a traditional style bolognese but instead just a red meat sauce. It was a tad salty for me too. We were told this place also does half priced pizza and pasta certain week days which would be an amazing deal! Street parking is tricky around the restaurant but we managed to get a spot a few blocks away.

Best spicy rigatoni I've had ( pasta comparable to carbone). It was spicy, creamy, and delicious. Must try if dining here. The service was fast. The restaurant is cozy and warm. I would definitely go back. I've also ordered take out from here and the food holds up.

What a pleasant surprise! We stumbled into this place after long hours of travel, not wanting to head back into the City. Great decision! It's a "hidden" gem and is definitely a place to stop if you're in the area. Food was great, service was efficient and the place was warm, welcoming and had a romantic feel! We would definitely would go back if we are here.

First time at this restaurant, we absolutely loved it. The espresso martini was delicious. The meatballs were the best I have ever tasted in a restaurant. The pizza was delicious perfectly cooked nice and light. We will be back.

The food here is disappointing, and so is the service, so I give only two stars for ambiance. I've been here about five times because I was living around the corner and had no terry much no other place close by to go for a sit down Italian drink and meal. The times that kept me coming back were because the bartender would make these great cocktails, and they had a very nice spritz menu priced at just $11. But if I did not sit at the bar, I noticed the service severely declined. I once waited 35 minutes for my drink, well into my meal, only to find out that they raised the prices of the drinks without updating the menu, then refused to rectify this when I pointed out the menu did not have the new prices. The food is most disappointing. The vibe of the place gives such a cozy European feel, but the food tastes like boxed Italian. Wrong textures, wrong flavors, strange ingredients. I wouldn't recommend anything here. Even the pizza isn't great, which says something because JC has fantastic slice pizza, so the brick oven stuff should blow your mind. But the crust is spongy. You could take a date here if you don't care much about quality Italian food or service, but I'd recommend sitting at the bar to ensure you don't get ignored.

A hidden gem in Jersey City. The restaurant has somewhat of an open vibe with a low bar counter and very little separation from the dining area and the kitchen. It's a very inviting and transparent feeling. The calamari had great crispiness without the fried breading overtaking the squid. The rigatoni bolognese was spectacular. The meat sauce had the ideal meat to sauce ratio and the rigatoni was perfectly al dente. Also had the hibiscus cocktail, not as sweet as expected which was great for my taste.

Nice space but they need to turn up the heat in the winter. All the customers had their coats on during dinner. Service was good. We had the meatballs for an app. They were alittle dense and needed more salt per my taste. I had the grilled salmon and ordered temp medium and they actually got it! Usually every salmon I get comes out well done. Nice seasoning on the outside, spinach was good, mashed potatoes lukewarm. My husband liked his chicken parm. He said it was a thicker cut than some places but well cooked. He thought the tomato sauce was alittle bland over the chicken was alittle bland compared to the sauce over the pasta which was strange because it looked like the same sauce. We had the walnut brownie which was heated and served with ice cream and was good. Overall, a nice meal, just some tweaks needed here and there. I hope they crank the heat up in the winter.

I previously came here for a private Yelp elite event and had the best time and have been dying to bring my boyfriend. We came around 7 on a Friday and was luckily able to get seated rather quickly. We started with calamari and antipasto, a Smokey margarita (an old special not currently on the menu) and a rum punch (forget the exact name). We also wanted a kale Caesar but unfortunately the ran out of kale - looking forward to getting it next time. The calamari was good but it wasn't the same as the version I previously had the previous version was the traditional battered one. This one seemed to have a spiced rub and did not include any tentacles only the tubes. Still good but think I prefer the traditional version. The antipasto was delicious. My favorite part is the stracciatella cheese, amazing. To eat I had the fettuccini Alfredo and my boyfriend had the boulevard pizza (a summer special). We also ordered another round of cocktails, the Smokey vibes and amore mio. The fettuccini comes with shiitake mushrooms which I found unique. I do wish I the mushrooms were sautéed in garlic/that the whole dish had garlic. The pasta was good but I needed a little more flavor. I added more Parmesan which helped. My bf liked his pizza but wished that there was more Mozzarella. The pizza was a little "wet" but the crust is so good. My bf wasn't wowed but the cocktails but I enjoyed them. A lot of them do tend to all lean towards the fruity/sweet side (which I like). From my 2 experiences I'd say that the appetizers and pizzas are the real winners. I haven't been the biggest fan of the pastas thus far but I'm open to trying more of them from the menu. I really enjoy this place and will add this to our date night roster. I like that they have seasonal items that get switched out. The staff is really nice and I love the interior.

My husband are in town visiting and we wanted Italian, and stumbled across ITA Italian Kitchen. The whole vibe here is great. The atmosphere is cozy, and intimate. The staff is friendly, the drinks are amazing, and the food is to DIE for. The next time I'm in the area, I WILL be returning! We didn't get a photo of the calamari and the Caesar salad, but both were just as delicious as everything else. 10/10 recommend.

Service was friendly and reasonably prompt, they listened carefully to our needs and adjusted accordingly. Food arrived as advertised and in good time (Tuesday night Pizza s were 1/2 price on a special). I had a McKinley Pizza and my companion had a pepperoni pizza. Pizzas were tasty, crust had good chew but tended to be a little soggy in the center as were my previous visits here. Not overly seasoned, a little salty but not terribly, in general a decent meal.

Pros: food is a solid 5, tasty and portions are great. Cons: Service is a hit or miss. We were here on a Tuesday and our waiter was great! As a group of 7 we explained we wanted to break down the check into 4, he was super accommodating and we enjoyed our meal and paid without a glitch. We loved the place so much we returned on a Friday. We were served by Laz, when we arrived, again we asked for our orders to be broken down into 4. He made a rude face and said he would take down our orders and break it down when it came time to pay. We received mediocre service and when it came time to pay, we received one check with 20% gratuity added. We reminded him we had asked for the orders to be broken down. Again, he made a face and said it would be too much of a hassle and it would take him an hour to do. We reminded him we had asked for this in the beginning to avoid this same issue. He then broke down our tickets but made sure to drag it out to punish our group. We received our broken down bills with gratuity included and were forced to over pay for terrible service. I recommend the food but not Laz's service. Hope he can work on his customer service skills and willingness to do things right from the beginning to avoid unnecessary issues.

Missed the Yelp event here awhile ago but it stayed on my list of places to try. Parking seems to be street parking only but not too hard to find. Some spots in front of the restaurant too. It's a beautiful rustic modern (?) design with an open kitchen layout where you can SEE the wood oven. Such a nice charm and cozy feel. It's small, so I would recommend calling ahead or reservations unless you think you would sit at the bar area. The food is AMAZING from appetizers to entrees. Too full for dessert. The meatballs are huge, packed with flavor, and accompanied by a delish tomato sauce and a piece of bread. I didn't care much for the bread. The margherita pizza is perfection! The thinnest crust I've ever seen and so buttery and soft. No burnt bits or cornmeal bottoms here lol. Sauce and cheese ratio was excellent. Nothing overpowered the other or salty. Also tried the spaghetti which was also delicious but the noddles were a little bit undercooked. I love al dente pasta but some of the noodles needed a few more seconds to reach al dente vs raw/dry. Great drinks as well! Smokey vibes was a vibe if you like mezcal.

We really enjoyed this Italian bistro very much. 4.5 The server was friendly and helpful, as this was our first time here. We began our meal with the free calamari (thanks Yelp) which was tasty. Erin Jo ordered the salmon and potatoes I had the rigatoni bolognese and focaccia bread was the best I've ever eaten. We finished our meal with the mini cannolis. Everything was very nice and my wife appreciated the decor.

The food here is great but the ambience is hard to beat. The servers and bartenders are sweet. There isn't a thing on this menu I haven't liked. Highly recommend!!

Have been multiple times and the food is always fantastic and the service is great. Worth the drive over for a drink and pizza.

Back at ITA, and the place still hits the damn spot. Service was on point & it was fairly empty on a slow weds night when i came with my date. Unfortunately, the focaccia bread is no longer on here, which was such a hit the last time i was here! started off with crispy potatoes. this was a big serving, easily shared. i liked them, but feel the green churri on top was not needed. i would have liked more of a pesto based sauce on it. the bianco pie was the absolutely star of the show. let it sit for a few mins, but you will fall in love with this pizza. the sauce is so damn good, but the crust is so nicely done. chicken parm with spaghetti was a bit of a hit and miss. first off, their sauce is loaded with flavor and has nice texture. pasta was cooked well. both of us felt the chicken parm was less than desired for. i think the bread crumbs were slightly burnt, and chicken was a little overcooked and bland. it was still edible, but disappointing. despite a few hiccups, we loved the meal and would come back for the pizza & service alone.

If all the food in the area was like this, I'd consider moving to Jersey. I was craving Italian food, and this place really hit the spot. Can you see the steam coming out of the pasta picture? It really is as good as it looks! They even gave a free calamari with a Yelp Check In! The service is very friendly, and the ambiance is really mature. This would be a good place to go out with your friends or have a date. This was such a memorable restaurant even though I came here to visit New York!! 10/10, only good things. Of course, I came in good weather, but that's out of anyone's control.

We came to ITA for a beautiful Italian dinner last Saturday night. This location is nestled in a cute corner and has very homey vibes. the open concept kitchen and bar is a delight and really sets the mood right. This makes ITA a great place for a date or a nice dinner with friends. To start off, we ordered cocktails. My mangolada was delicious and appropriately balanced, I loved the flavors. My friend said her drink was a little too overpowering, perhaps because of the mezcal. Service was impeccable and our waiter checked on us several times through the night which we appreciated very much. We proceeded to order the calamari and the fungi pizza. We asked for the pizza to be cooked crispy however, it was still quite on the soft side. I liked the pizza, but I do wish it had more mushrooms, and a lot more truffle flavor, because that definitely did not come through. CalaMari was fried perfectly, I loved the sauces on the side. However, the breading on it was slightly too salty. On the waiter's recommendation, we ordered the shrimp scampi and the arugula salad. I liked the salad a lot but would've liked more chunkier chunks of cheese. The shrimp scampi was pretty standard, not as buttery as a lot of other places, but definitely delivering on the garlic flavor. To end our meal we had the tiramisu, which was definitely the highlight. It was very light, very creamy, and definitely not overpowering. All in all, this was a great meal. This is a solid neighborhood Italian place with some room for improvement in food. If you're in the area I recommend coming here and giving it a try.

***3 1/2 stars*** For me at least, ITA did not meet the hype. I stopped by here for an early dinner yesterday with my chum the Shanimal around 5:30pm. I've noticed several other reviewers have mentioned that this isn't a restaurant you can really walk to - having walked here from the Liberty State Park & Ride, I can tell you that what that actually means is that you'll have to stroll past some low-income housing and a few possible chop shops. It's honestly not something I'd recommend when it's dark out (the sun was going down on my way back and there was definitely an uptick in groups of people swigging out of airport bottles of vodka on the street), but it just seemed rundown when I went through. And I noticed multiple cars blasting Daddy Yankee, which was honestly a bit of a selling point for me. Anyway. I love the vibe and interior. The Shanimal was happily drinking a beer at the bar when I came in, and I had no issue staying right there. It's weird to describe a bar as spacious, but it really is - the bar counter is super wide, with I think a marble top. Very comfortable, and I'm pretty ambivalent about eating at the bar (I do think you tend to get better service, depending on how crowded it is). One of the reasons I wanted to come was to take advantage of their March free app deal on Yelp, so we ordered the calamari (normally $16 I think). Delicious, and the highlight of the meal for me. Cooked perfectly, great seasoning, and since the Shanimal apparently has moral qualms about eating them due to a poignant documentary she watched, I got all the octopus ones. Would absolutely get that again. I was famished, fresh off a long hike earlier in the day, so I went with the Rigatoni Bolognese ($27). It was very solid, though honestly not the best I've had. The selling point for me was the meat, which was flavorful and also cooked perfectly (that seems to be an encouraging theme). I also liked the generous inclusion of the pecorino, which I think always adds a nice zip to a pasta dish. Personal palate-wise, I'm not crazy about chunkier tomato sauce, and that is DEFINITELY this; it literally has halves of baby tomatoes in there. I'm probably in the minority on that one, but I ate around a lot of the tomato chunks and focused on the meat chunks, which I feel good about in hindsight. The cocktail situation was unfortunately a little underwhelming. I was intrigued by the Love Bomb ($14), which I believe included mezcal and hibiscus. The presentation was indisputably top-notch - you can see per the attached that this is one of the best cocktail pics I've ever gotten - but I don't think the flavors paired well at all; it ended up tasting sort of like a leathery sweet tart to me. And while the egg white foam works visually, in this instance it's too overwhelming. Inevitably you end up with half of your sip being the foam with the actual cocktail ingredients fading into the background. I'm a big proponent of adding egg whites to cocktails, but it DOES have a stronger scent that you need to be super cognizant of so it doesn't become too dominant. I would definitely cut the foam situation in half, at least. The service was pretty good for the most part. We both really liked the bartender, who was very personable and clearly knew his way around the mixology table. I don't recall having to wait a particularly long time for anything we ordered (and in fact, when he realized I was very hungry, confirmed that it was okay to bring all of the food out at once). The only issue was at the end, when we paid the bill. We gave both of our credit cards, with the intention of splitting the bill, and he didn't notice the second card right underneath and just charged mine. Not a huge deal (God bless Venmo, etc.) but a little annoying/inconvenient, especially since it wasn't a $20 charge, it was about $90. Definitely not a bad experience but I can honestly think of at least two other Italian restaurants in Jersey City that I prefer over this.

Totally forgot about trying this restaurant but luckily a friend brought it up & we all met here. The service, interior design & energy are all so homey worth returning for. The food & cleanliness was also great. I love chicken wings if you recall from many of my reviews. These honey wings were questionable given cashew cream threw my off on the menu. To my surprise they were delicious Omg! Also, compared to other Italian meatballs at other restaurants these were great. I ordered the margarita pizza as well and I've had better but it was good still fresh out of the visible brick fire oven. This is certainly a restaurant I highly recommend & will revisit! Go, enjoy!!!

Fantastic from beginning to end. You must order the focaccia bread. Decadent! Had pizza, pasta, salad. I would return for the bread and salad alone. Chef is amazing.

Went to a small dinner party at my friend's house the other day and they served 4 pies from Ita. Safe to say I'll be ordering from them in the future The pies we got were - Pepperoni: Solid pie, the pepperoni's are the smaller type, crispy on the edges. It was delicious - Prosciutto di Parma: I personally loved this one, just wish there was more prosciutto - McGinley: Similar to the pepperoni but with a fun kick cause there's pickled jalapenos And I forget what they said the other pie was, even though it was my favorite... Great place for anyone who's a fan of thick fluffy crusts

I was quite impressed with this joint recently. New management is definitely upping its game. The bartender is definitely well informed and is gracious with the balance of sweet and sour. Damn good cocktails on both fronts. Will return.

Good experience. 2 of us had chicken Parmesan it was average based on other Italian restaurants I have been to. The Arugula salad with prosciutto was fabulous. Wine and drinks also great. 3rd person said his pizza was exceptional. Service and ambiance excellent. Highly recommended

We were looking for Italian and found this place. We were able to reserve a table same day online. Because we were over 4 people it redirected us to Open Table. Simple. Easy. We showed up and got a great booth. It suited us perfectly with half in the booth, half in chairs around the table. Appetizers were good. Salad was good. Some got pizzas-all liked them. Chicken parm was the right size. Salmon was delicious. So food was worth it. We had a newborn with us and the server accommodated us with getting hot water to warm a bottle. Anything we needed arrived within moments. Great service. Highly recommend and seems you can't go wrong with what you order.

I saw my meatball appetizer being microwaved in the kitchen. They were not fresh. I'm not sure how it is possible for Neapolitan pizza to taste cheap, as that is supposed to be an authentic Italian style pizza, but unfortunately the crust / dough of the margarita and pepperoni pizza tasted like $1 pizza. I have never had such an experience with Neapolitan pizza before, and I chose this restaurant specifically because they served this kind of pizza style. Very disappointed. The pepperoni also tasted very cheap, cheap style.

If you're craving an authentic Italian dining experience that transports you straight to the heart of Italy, look no further than Ita Italian Kitchen. From the moment you step through the door, the warm ambiance and inviting decor set the stage for an unforgettable meal. Service at Ita Italian Kitchen is exceptional. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, ensuring that every aspect of your dining experience is catered to with care. Whether you're a connoisseur of Italian food or new to its wonders, the team here is more than happy to guide you through the menu and offer excellent recommendations.

IM NOT A PASTA PERSON BUT this place is amazing!!!!! The server was super kind her name was Zelda and the vibe was so cute! The pasta was served quickly and my friend and I found it to be delicious!

Amazingggg is the only world. Definitely don't miss! The food, the ambiance, the service........everything beyond words

Found this gem on a random evening the family wanted to go out for dinner. From the service to the food and drinks, we were EXTREMELY HAPPY with everything. The bartender Lazarus knows how to make a mean drink and keeps the bar popping!! Our server Oscar was extremely busy but somehow managed to be attentive to our group of 4. We will definitely be back because there's a whole lot on the menu we still need to try!! UPDATE: Of course we came back. And per usual, the food didn't disappoint. I think this place is our go-to. Excellent service , always !! Wish I could give more than 5 stars !!

It's a great date night place. Portions are perfect t. Drinks are great and the attention you get from staff is top notch

Came twice after my first review... Mussels and clam- the bread it comes with is crispy and crunchy... perfect for dipping or letting it sit in the broth. The broth is a little on the salty side.. the dish was good and I personally liked the clams a little more Chicken parm- huge dish! Portion size was big so the two of us shared and had leftovers. This was also a little salty. Not sure if things just tasted extra salty to me that day though... ---------- Service was okay and got better throughout the night. Since we went on a weekday I don't think there are as many servers so I understand. Our waiter brought our food to us and said to go? And we were like no it's for here so not sure where the confusion was there. Also learned from the bartender and seems like owner... that the delirium tremens beer glass has an elephant under the glass... like where the cup meets the stem area. So cool! Anyway... Most recently got- Sesame crusted tuna- pretty good :) I would get it again. There was warm bokchoy under the salad and tuna. Rigatoni bolognese- yummm! My bf really liked it and he's picky with his bolognese cus he makes it so good. This and the branzino are prob the top two dishes we like so far... Def going back to get the branzino again and try the pizza ------ The bartender who seems like the owner but idk for sure is who everyone raves about. I do like that he walks around and checks up on everyone and he seems very aware of things and seems to make sure customer service is good. We have received drinks on the house and he seems to do that often when able... and I appreciate that kind of service cus you don't see it often. There seems to be many regulars and I feel like customer service is one of the main reasons and the food obviously has to be good. Parking is not the most convenient. Street parking and lots of one way streets. Outdoor dining is available Bathrooms are clean!

I had an amazing time at this restaurant from the authentic scratch pasta to the craft drinks this place is a must go! My friend and I started out with the wings and the meatballs which were both saucy and delicious wow! We had the burrata pizza which was melt in your mouth delicious! My friend had the rigatoni bolognese probably the best I have ever tried. Full but the owner Lazaro's insisted we had dessert and I'm glad we did ! Lazaros was the most accommodating and helpful host attending to our every need, amazing experience!

We went here for a recital dinner and man was it good! The pizza was yummy (a little moist in the middle). Chicken parm was just done, but served warm. All other courses were amazing. Spicy vodka rigattoni was the best dish of the night. Salad with prosciutto was good. The tiramisu was also amazing. Staff was SUPER attentive and made the family dining experience amazing. We will stop by if we visit the area again.

ITA is a hidden gem in the McGinley Square area. Great food. Top notch environment. Quality service. You can't go wrong whether you order a pizza or go with one of their pasta dishes. A great meal for an affordable price. Highly recommend.

Short update. Went on a nice Friday evening. About the same but 3% charge for credit card transactions. Minus a star.

Ita had been recommended to me by a friend and suggested if I was in the area that we should try it. Last night we were in Jersey City visiting family and told them that we were going to try Ita and everyone said let's try it. Let's put it it this way, not one of the seven of us was left the restaurant disappointed. From start to finish our experience was a pleasure. We made a last second reservation with no problem at all. When we arrived, we were greeted as if we were long time customers. From start to finish, drinks, appetizers, main courses and desserts were on point. The service was excellent and attentive but not overbearing. I cannot say enough about Ita. We definitely will be back and if you live in the neighborhood, run, don't walk to this diamond in the rough.

Visited Ita's with my boyfriend for date night and it was absolutely amazing! I made a reservation online for a Friday night at 7pm and it was pretty busy. They have outdoor and indoor seating to choose from. Parking in the area is rough so I'm lucky that I found a spot right in front! Upon walking in, I was immediately greeted by the host and seated. The inside is absolutely beautiful and modern. My first visit was actually a Yelp Elite event and within the same week, I HAD to come back. I told my boyfriend that their calamari beats our #1 choice in Bayonne and he agrees. Now Ita's calamari is #1, haha! For drinks, I ordered the passion lover (sooo good). I also tried the strawberry limoncello and tiramisu cocktail, DIVINE! For my entrée, I ordered the spicy rigatoni pasta and my boyfriend ordered the fettuccini alfredo w/ chicken. We loved our dishes. The spicy rigatoni came out piping hot it was absolutely delicious! We finished off with what I was really craving from Ita, their tiramisu. BEST I'VE EVER HAD! The owner, Lazarus, is so nice! He's the one behind the bar crafting up the best cocktails. He also went around to each customers table to make sure they were doing okay. His parents were dining in right next to my table so it was nice to meet them again. Ita is killing the game!! Can't wait to visit more often. Thank you Lazarus and staff!

Entrees and pizza were a bit heavy on flavor (salt), however, ingredients tasted good quality. Appetizers brought this experience up. Burrata salad was solid. Meatballs are nicely cooked with great lean meat to a higher fat ratio.

It's an incredible atmosphere. Really well done on all the decor and aesthetic. I felt comfortable, welcomed. There's an upscale fine dining atmosphere to the interior, which doesn't quite translate to the outdoor seating of course, but none of this is a negative. Service is quality. And I appreciated the check-ins by the host who also inquired as to what we were enjoying "the most" out of our selections. They seemed keen to know what was working and perhaps what wasn't. Although they mention draft beer available in their menu, apparently that wasn't the case for my visit, as I was informed they only had bottled beer. They did serve my Peroni with an ice cold glass though. My partner ordered a Smoky Mezcal cocktail (not pictured) and had high compliments for it. Once the orders were in, it didn't take long for the food to come out. We enjoyed our appetizers of meatballs, calamari, mussels & clams. Everything was quite good, especially the focaccia which went very quick to sopping up all the butter sauce with the mussels and pomodoro tomato sauce with the meatballs. My mother is a massive seafood fan, and she was very quietly enjoying the mussels and clams as her main course! This is a very high compliment, as my mother always has something to say. On the pizza rossa though, there was no mozzarella cheese. As it's a red pie, this makes sense. Perhaps we misunderstood as the menu implied the tomato sauce was made with the Jersey tomato, but instead it's presented as the star of the dish, sliced on top with basil. I found this to be slightly disappointing. The dough is perfection however, beautifully thin underneath, but holding up all that delicious tomato & garlic flavor. For desert, my partner enjoyed her chocolate walnut brownie with vanilla gelato. I had a bite and can confirm it's incredibly rich chocolate, with sliced walnuts delivering a satisfying crunch & texture to the richness. The vanilla gelato cuts through the rich flavor adding balance and depth to the dessert. For myself, the tiramisu was a standout. Its layers speak highly to the flavor. Creamy light texture with the balanced notes of coffee, chocolate, & mascarpone floating in the airiness of the tiramisu - just wonderful on the taste buds, and great way to finish off a delectable experience at ITA. I also enjoyed a cappuccino with my tiramisu, and unfortunately it was a bit too bitter. And my final note is that my partner and I both suffered an upset stomach the following morning, perhaps from over-indulging, but upon reflection we noted the calamari seemed undercooked. Everything considered we WILL be back to experience more of ITA's menu & atmosphere. It's a wonderful place and I'm very thankful it's within walking distance.

I've come here twice now and I've enjoyed both times! From a girl's night to a family dinner, everyone had a great time! What we got: Mussels & Clams Calamari Sausage & Kale pizza Burrata pie Squid Ink Mafaldine Farmer's salad with shrimp Tiramisu Service was great! Shout out to Gina! Everything we ordered was cooked well and seasoned just right-- no complaints! Lazaros made amazing drinks where you didn't taste the alcohol, but you sure did feel them! This place is a gem in the neighborhood for sure!

The food it's good I'm not so sure about the bar I sat down to eat and Oder 2 sodas the bartender full the glass with so much iced and pour only half of the can soda,I don't understand why I'm being charge for a soda that he kept in the back bar without even bothering to refill the drinks with the rest of the soda,this kind of behavior makes you feel discriminated,Im not going to a restaurant to beg or ask anything for free,I don't like when employees discriminate people because of their nationality,social status or dress up,employees need to be multicultural educated a restaurant is a place to eat and food It's for everyone regardless of your nationality,sexual orientation,race or social status No everyone has to dress flashy to show up their money,but you can tell employees treat you based on race,nationality and how you be dress up,If im a local I shouldn't have to dress in a suit to be treated accordingly.

At first $22 for a thin crust pizza 1-2 people was expensive but tonight was 1/2 price. So we were happy! The chicken wings were great as well and went well with our vegetarian pizza. Great ambiance and very nice and prompt staff!

What a darn experience! I came here for my birthday with friends and had the most amazing experience, even getting to meet Lazarus himself, as well as the chef. Immediately upon entering, Lazarus recognized my friends from their last visit, and thanked them profusely for returning. When my friends said to him that we had dinner plans somewhere else, but deliberately switched our reservations to here despite me never being there (that's how much they believed in the quality!) he couldn't do enough for us. He personally made all of our drinks for us, and asked if we were willing to wait for a table, and promised it would be worth it. It was! He gave us the best seat in the house. We ordered two pies for an app, both of which were absolutely fantastic. The pizzas change as they source their ingredients, so what we got isn't on the menu this season, but watch for it ... they are so fresh and committed to only using the best local and fresh ingredients that they will update the menu. We got the "Bergen pie" (tomato, capicollo, jalapeno, cippolini onions, garlic, fresh mozzarella) and the Pizza Rosa (jersey tomato sauce, heirloom tomato, garlic, basil). For the pasta I got the spicy rigatoni vodka. I told our server that the pizza was better than Razza. I meant it, don't get me wrong. But then the owner and the pizza chef came out and the owner said "can you tell him what you said to the server". When I did, the guy gave me a legit handshake and so did the owner. I could tell they were moved. I'm so glad I said it! They deserved it. They topped it off with a surprise for my birthday ... a tiramisu martini! I was floored. Never had anything like it. I love this place and will definitely be back. I will also be trying the other restaurants on the block. As it turns out, it is the same owner. If the same thought and care is put into those (and why wouldn't it) then I have me some good food to eat in my future!