ITA Italian Kitchen

Great service. Awesome selection on tap. Can’t wait to go back!

Tonight was my third or fourth visit. I only live a few minutes walk up the block. The food is excellent. My culinary expectations have been honed by many years of living in areas with a high Italian presence, such as New York, Chicago and New Orleans as well as many visits to San Francisco, Florence, Italy and those little towns in northern Italy that are absolute gems.

This restaurant is up to those standards and that prices far below them as well. having said all that you may wonder why I have not given it five stars.

I wish I did not have to say this.but I don't care if I am the only person who says it, which is what I was told when I questioned.

The proprietor seemes not to understand the difference between a neighborhood bar or a local fast hamburger joint. Loud pounding music sourced far away from Italy is not appropriate for an upscale dining experience.

CONS
1. Roasted Half Chicken needs more Salt.
2. Rigatoni Bolognese needs more Flavor. (Perhaps, adding Chopped or Pureed Garlic/Onions/Salt towards the last 10 minutes of cooking?)

PROS
1. Roasted Half Chicken is a Nice Size.
2. The Rigatoni is Homemade and Cooked Well.
3. Carrot Puree is Tasty.
4. Sauteed Kale is Cooked Well.
5. Heirloom Carrots are Cooked Well.
6. Brown Butter Sauce is Tasty.
7. Interior is Warm and Welcoming.
8. Staff is Friendly.
9. Outdoor Seating is Available.
10. Prices are Reasonably Above Average since it is Made to Order.

Overall, great addition to Jersey City. We need more Italian Cuisines.

An Italian gastropub joins the food scene of the McGinley Square area at Jersey City, New Jersey. The owner, Maksym Rudenko stated that his love for Italian cuisine is what inspired this restaurant. With an expertise in Italian cuisine, the head chef Dylan Golden also expects to utilise his experience working at Michelin starred restaurant. ITA boasts of using fresh and local produce for all their dishes, so you can expect one of the best dining experience.

With the new outdoor dining regulations due to COVID in mind, they have set up some tables with patio umbrellas following proper social distancing guidelines. They have a special brunch menu on the weekends and the regular menu on weekdays. The bartender Kevin suggested us his favourites from their seasonal special cocktails menu and we decided to go for the “Italian Black & Tan” and the “Summer Tonic”. Within no time our drinks were ready and we absolutely loved them both. The Italian Black & Tan is a beer infused cocktail and perfect for a warm sunny day. The Summer Tonic as the name suggest certainly beat the heat with a sweet orange/hibiscus taste.

For appetizers, we got ourselves the Crispy Potatoes with Salsa Verde and the Stracciatella and Peaches Salad. The Crispy Potatoes were an absolute banger of a dish. The garlicky kick of the salsa verde flawlessly complimented the crispy potatoes. On the other hand, the Stracciatella and Peaches Salad had a sweetness from the fresh peaches but the Stracciatella and the generous amount of EVOO didn’t let it overpower the salad.

For mains, we were really excited to try their authentic Neapolitan Pizza and their in house made pasta. Among the huge list of pizzas we went for the “Pizza Rossa”. The sauce, the crust and the toppings were all on point and we can’t stop raving about it. Next up, we got the “Chicken Parmigiana” which is served with a hearty portion of spaghetti. Firstly, the spaghetti was simply outstanding and the breaded chicken was nice and juicy.

Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience at ITA and would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for some authentic Italian cuisine and exquisite service.

Their brunch is the absolute best in the neighborhood. Get the lox pizza and the summer and tonic. K Vin is the absolute best server.