Your boy has a real appreciation for an old school Italian spot, especially the kind that feels like it has stories to tell and maybe a few mob legends tied to it. This place checks every box. My guys and I kicked things off at the bar with a couple of vodka on the rocks, setting the tone before sitting down for what turned out to be some of the best food I have had in Jersey City. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the history. Tucked away on a quiet side street with barely any foot traffic, yet still thriving. That tells you everything you need to know. They are doing it right. I will not run down every dish because honestly it does not matter. Everything that hit the table was on point. Do yourself a favor and trust the wait staff. Let them guide you. They know exactly what they are doing and will not steer you wrong. This is the kind of place you keep in your rotation. I am already looking forward to coming back, next time with the family. read more

I've been born and raised in Jersey City and ,come to just, recently, find out about this hidden Jersey City gem! It's a small, house like ,Italian restaurant and it's a Must Try!! I loved the fact that it's a small house like,cozy restaurant with a valet parking lot, which makes it even more convenient . I did, however, find parking on the side street and was even a pleasant little walking distance away. Since we were just a party of two, we did not need to reserve a table , but, if you do have a large party of people, you should definitely call and reserve! The restaurant isn't that big at all, so, there might be a little wait time, if you're there at a busy time. We were there on a Saturday night( two people) and waited for about ,not even 10 minutes. However, it's definitely worth the wait! It's a family friendly atmosphere and the service was very good! Very friendly staff and pretty fast service. I loved how it's all bricked wall and just so cozy! I have heard that their Chicken Parm was absolutely amazing and delicious. And so, we ordered the Chicken Parm and comes with side dish of pasta.( I had the linguine). I didn't expect the Chicken Parm to be a pretty big portion, so that made it even better! (Especially, when you're hungry and have been waiting to try this Chicken Parm I've been hearing about. lol!). Since the portion of the Chicken is pretty big, the side dish of the spaghetti, is just PERFECT! It's sauce and cheese is just mouth watering and a must have!! Now,Let's talk about their House Salad! DELICIOUS!! Their house dressing was so tasty and fresh and definitely makes their salads stand out! That homemade tasting bread was also very good and crunchy! I definitely Recommend, trying their House Salad and Chicken Parm! The house salad portion ,was just perfect for two people. As we loved everything about Laicos, and were completely Stuffed, lol! We couldn't leave ,without having and trying their Dessert , which is the Italian chocolate round like ball,stuffed with ice cream! That just made everything ,even better, before leaving for the night! I highly Recommend and must try!! read more

We had a gathering for 8 people and it was so much fun! The restaurant was packed, so remember that you will need reservations. It's a residential neighborhood so remember to valet Park & you won't have to ride around looking for a space. We started with drinks & appetizers including eggplant rollatini, mussels in white wine, spiedino alla romana and grilled octopus. We passed them around and everyone agreed it was a delightful feast. My entree was off of the specials that night. It was a delicious sole oreganata. Others ordered veal marsala, pork chop parmesan, pork chop Milanese, orichette with sausage and broccoli, chicken breast sauteed with peppers, mushrooms & potatoes. No one was unhappy! Everything was fresh, delicious, and generous. This is the type of old school Italian restaurant where you sit, savor & talk. We were talked into dessert, although I stuck with a cappuccino since I was so full. My friend ordered a cannoli and almost everyone had some sort of coffee. The service was impeccable! Friendly, on top of things & truly personal. One of our friends drove down from Rockland county for this & he was glad he did. Prices were very reasonable! Even with all this drinks, appetizers, etc the bill was extremely reasonable. Definitely give them a try. read more

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This seems to be a popular mom and pop place but it feels overhyped. You can expect American Italian cuisine (not authentic Italian that I was hoping for). The pasta noodles tasted overdone and the marinara sauce was quite bland. For the branzino dish, the tomatoes, olives, and capers were overpowering the branzino itself. The tiramisu came with a dent on the corner. Sloppy presentation. The server just said the piece broke off, seemed unbothered and did not offer a new piece. Underwhelming place. Will not be back. read more

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It was great to be able to spend time with our family at Laico's. They are made to accommodate large groups, like ours (12 people). I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. When ordering, check out the soup of the day and their specials. I had the clam and linguini dish. It was very filling, but not overwhelming. Their food comes in very big servings to take that into account when ordering. I would recommend the Octopus as an appetizer. But I'm not sure if they always have it on the menu. You can also ask your server. They're very accommodating and make very good recommendations. read more

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Every thing we order was delicious ,staff was on top of everything.The pork chops were the most tender I ever ate,we ate family style,so we had the pork chops,steak and chicken parmigiana,the side linguine with white claim sauce was perfect .It was the perfect Birthday dinner .I read about Laico's on line,and it didn't disappoint.My daughter who lives in Jersey City,said she heard it was very good but had not eaten there,we are so happy we checked it out.If you haven't been there,you need to go read more

Laico's - Birthday Dinner - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

This restaurant was on my must try list. I am so happy with the experience! It really is an old school Italian restaurant in the best way. The food was great (bonus points for the bread and salad to start). We had a large party of 11 and the staff was attentive to our needs. The ambiance is perfect for a date night. read more

Laico's - Chicken Rollatini - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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We have lived in JC over 30 years, but didn't know about this restaurant until recently. I happened to find that the restaurant was voted by NJ residents on Facebook as one of the best restaurants in JC. So we went to check it out. It was a little bit hard to find a parking spot nearby the restaurant because it's located in very condensed residential area. The Food was very good overall. All vegetables in salads were very fresh. Loved the Italian dressing. Spicy sausage Pizza was excellent. Very tasty with a touch of spice. Grilled octopus was very good with generous portions. Shrimp Fra Diavolo was good and loved the spicy taste in their red sauce. Italian Cheesecake was okay, nothing special about it. We Liked their cozy family warming atmosphere and the servers were very nice and quick service. We will come back to try out more.. read more

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This places feels like a relic, and should be treated as such. This restaurant sits in a residential neighborhood and offers free valet parking which was a big relief for us. You walk in to and immediately see a large bar filled with regulars enjoying their beverage of choice. We eat in the back of the restaurant, which was beautiful and surrounded by brick. Our service was very good! The waitress brought us hot fresh bread which was absolutely delicious. It was like pizza dough bread, thick and heavy. We also got for free the house salad, and the dressing was absolutely delicious. For mains, we got the eggplant parmesan and fettuccine alfredo. The fettuccine noodles were thin and perfectly cooked. The alfredo sauce could have been thicker, but was perfect for dipping that fantastic bread in. It also reheated perfectly when I brought home the leftovers, which I had a ton of. The portions were generous. My only piece of feedback is that there are limited vegetarian options. I felt like for mains I could only get the fettuccine or the ravioli which is not a lot considering how large their menu is. I would go back here, definitely makes a good date night. I wouldn't go with a party larger than four based on the seating I saw. read more

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Visited Laicos for dinner on a Friday night with my friend who dines here often. She drove and is familiar with the valet parking situation - definitely need to valet since it's on a residential street with very limited street parking. We arrived a little after 7 pm and there was no wait for a table for 2. We opted to sit in the back area which was a little bit more quiet than the front by the bar. The restaurant is in an older building and it definitely has that old-school Italian vibe. To start, we tried the baked artichokes appetizer special which was covered with tasty bread crumbs and a decent portion. For our mains, we shared the rigatoni Bolognese and the chicken parm. House salad and Italian bread are complimentary as well. The chicken parm was tasty; smaller chicken portions than the restaurant I usually order from in Hoboken but also cheaper. The Bolognese was underwhelming - the sauce was more watery than I'm used to. We also shared a piece of Italian cheesecake for dessert. It was so fresh that it was still warm. I wish it would have been cooler but it was still tasty. Service was pretty good throughout the meal and they definitely don't rush you out of there which was nice. We had a good time catching-up. I'm not sure if I'll be back here anytime soon just because it's a bit of a drive for me from uptown Hoboken and there's better options closer to me but I'm not opposed to eating here again. read more

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Hidden gem! Amazing Italian food hidden in back streets of JC. Came to celebrate birthday, reservations highly recommended. It's a small family restaurant and it was packed Friday night. Simple ambiance, nicely sized bar area, parking valet only. Food was absolutely delicious. read more

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Hmmm... I used to love this spot for the food and local ambience. This last time I visited, although the mushroom pizza was still delicious, the octopus was very very very chewy which was unfortunate as this used to be my favorite appetizer. Did management change? Seems a bit off... I may not revisit anytime soon. read more

Laico's - Spinach n provolone pie...in an old-school Italian joint? F yea. - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Started visiting Laico's in the 1970's and continue to visit since leaving for the Jersey Shore. We forget how wonderful it is and will continue to visit for it's excellent food, wonderful staff. read more

Repeating your past is a dangerous game: you might end up providing living proof of why the rest of the world moved on. Laico's is a textbook red-sauce joint, belonging firmly to the part of New Jersey that specializes in the unironic export of the no-apologies working-class culture from a bygone era. But Laico's isn't stuck in the past so much as it's eternal. And they deserve to keep on trucking. One bite of the eggplant rollatini was enough to convince me that I was not dealing with some kind of overhyped Olive Garden cousin. Crispy and soft by turns, complemented by a herbaceous, acidic marinara. (Upon reflection, I think good marinara is the secret to a red sauce joint.) The free Italian salad and garlic bread were the best I've had, and maybe a good indication of the emphasis Laico's places on quality. It was all served family style, but I kept hoping more would land on my plate. I was full by the time my eggplant parm entree arrived, but it was quite good. Again, the marinara was the star, but good cheese and well-cooked eggplant worked well together. The portion sizes are a dare, a challenge, like the agitated person on the train hoping somebody will make eye contact. Just give up and ask for a doggy bag when you're ready; no need to be a hero. But save room for the heavenly tiramisu: delicate espresso flavor, the right amount of sponge. Should you be eating this much cheese and carbs on a weekly basis? Would it get tiresome if you had it more than twice a year? No and yes, respectively. But it's an experience worth having. read more

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Please do yourself a favor and head to Laico's! When you first go to the restaurant, you'll notice that it blends in with other houses on the block. It was a house that was turned into a restaurant and gives a warm, cozy atmosphere inside. They have valet parking! Once you are seated, you immediately get bread and salad (served family style) to enjoy while you decide on what to order. This spot is vegetarian friendly and you can customize a lot of pasta dishes to your liking. They definitely make everything fresh to order! I've gotten the penne vodka, eggplant rollatini (you can get it as an entree with a side of linguine and sauce or as an appetizer) and have tried their fettuccine Alfredo and pizza in the past. Other popular appetizers we've ordered include the calamari, meatballs, spedini, burrata and stuffed mushrooms. We've been quite a few times over the years and have always been satisfied! Portions are large and prices are reasonable. They also have a nice selection of wine and cocktails (recommend the freshly squeezed orange juice as a mixer). Service is prompt and attentive and everything is friendly! Highly recommend coming to Laicos! read more

This place is a classic hidden gem, and great Italian spot with the best pork chop. I could stop there, but that wouldn't give it enough credit. This is the kind of old-school Italian you really only see in NJ. Hidden on a residential block, you walk into a small room with a bar and seating, with additional seating in the back. Usually the first staffer to see you will try to seat you or tell you how long the wait is. There isn't a formal process for seating. You get the feeling you're showing up to a family dinner. It's pretty cool. We started off with a dirty martini and beer, then switched to a bottle of wine with dinner. The selection is limited but satisfactory. For apps we got the spiedini alla romana, and the baked clams. All entrees entitle you to salad with homemade dressing and bread. The dressing was good, and the bread was nice and crispy. My friend got the pork chop. It was juicy, delicious, and quite large. I had the linguini with white clam sauce, and that was also good. It's a dish so few places do well, but this was a good representation. We were too full for dessert, but we walked/rolled out happy. read more

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Amazing restaurant! The food, the staff, the ambiance was top notch! Everyone enjoyed their dish! I'm not a fan of octopus and I went back for a second bite! the espresso martini was delicious! Adding this place to my monthly rotation! GO! read more

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I've lived in JC for 5years and recently discovered this place by accident which is 5mins drive from my house. The experience was great, the service was excellent and quick, the long time patrons are like family to the staff. They provide you with a shared house salad and bread before you order. For starters, we shared eggplant rotallinni, and for dinner, we had lobster ravioli, shrimp scampi over linguine. Whit wines were our choice of drinks; Sauvigon Blanc and Pinot. The dessert was on point. The tiramasu was exactly how I liked it with a cup of cafe and my love had Italian cheesecake, which was also good. Our meals were affordable and had the perfect ambiance for date night. Small parking lot but there is also street parking. I saw a sign for valet parking but did not inquire. read more

Laico's - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

After years of knowing about Laicos and growing up in the area, I finally made it here for a Valentine's dinner--and wow, I've been missing out! This place is everything you want in a classic Italian spot: warm, welcoming, and absolutely delicious. The service makes you feel like family, the salad and bread are next-level, and the entrees? Chef's kiss. Plus, valet parking and reasonable prices make the whole experience even better. If I could come back every week, I would. New favorite unlocked! read more

Laico's - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Great food Had the shrimp pasta Service is top notch Christina was my bartender and I will be returning ! I went to an "Italian" spot earlier and it was nowhere near this Will be returning. read more

Very cozy, intimate, old-school Jersey vibes Italian spot. The old oak bar is beautiful and the brick walls in the back are lovely. The burrata was some of the best I've ever had, so fresh! read more

Laico's - Back of the bar, well stocked - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Don't believe the hype. I came here for my birthday because it was advertised as the best Italian restaurant in Jersey City and I was completely disappointed. Food was okay. Just okay. Nothing to rave about. My husband makes better scallops than the ones he was served. And my shrimp was salty and overcooked. Service was poor. Place has an uncomfortable vibe. No. read more

I grew up in Jersey City Heights and I've never been to this place until recently. this is my second visit here. I visited for the first time in 2018. What a gem of a place! It is located on a residential street and parking is hard. They do offer valet. Just pull into the parking lot beside the restaurant. I took my mom here for the first time yesterday and we both loved it. very charming decor and homey feel. Service from start to finish was excellent. Now for the food. Prices are reasonable, great quality and good size portions. Lacios has it all. We loved the complementary garlic bread and the house salad had a nice mustard garlic dressing. Both entrees were amazing. Mom had the Scallop over risotto special. I had the Pork Chop with mushrooms and vinegar peppers. The pork was cooked to perfection. It was so juicy and the flavor was wonderful! We didn't save room for dessert as we were too full. lol. Maybe next time. Dining at Lacios was pleasant dining experience. I will definitely return when I'm visiting Jersey City. Also the valet guy is very nice. He was kind enough to take a picture of me and mom outside the restaurant so we could have a memory. read more

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This review is way overdue. Hidden in a residential neighborhood is one of the best Italian restaurants in NJ. Everything I've tried here at Laico's has been a hit. I find myself craving their pasta pretty frequently. The Fried Calamari is very fresh and the breading is so light and crunchy. The Meatballs are also a great appetizer. The sauce is delicious and not too salty like most places. As far as the entrees go, I'm a fan of the Shrimp Fra Diavolo with white wine sauce. The linguine they use is a little thinner so it absorbs the sauce really well. Service is great here but dinner gets pretty busy and the servers have a lot going on so just be patient! Definitely recommend. read more

Laico's - Linguine alla frutti di mare with white sauce - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Best Italian food hands down. Beautiful ambiance and excellent customer service! Huge portions and very reasonable prices. Great wine list too! and they offer a variety of delicious Italian desserts and appetizers as well!! Highly recommend!! read more

Nothing changes here. Good food and great service. A true hidden gem. Ben coming here for years and every time I walk away pleased and happy. read more

Local gem that never disappoints. I've never had a bad dish at this place. Some place are just timeless and this is one of them.

A hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere! True hidden gem!! Yes, this is a house turned into a restaurant/bar on a regular street. Don't be confused when driving up this one way block, it sits right in the middle of the block. When you pull up to this house the valet will handle your vehicle. Since it is very difficult to find a parking spot this will be your best bet. Once you walk in you will see a packed house...literally. The plates of food coming out will get your appetite going into full gear. Once you are seated the fresh bread comes out with the house salad. They use a creamy Italian dressing for the fresh salad. They use 2 kinds of bread: garlicky powder topped bread with lots of flavor, and a crispier skin bread...both soft and gooey on the inside. The menu is as good as it gets. Robust Italian flavors from all the dishes. No bad dish had here. Fried calamari was not rubbery and very tender. Chicken Francese can be cut with just your fork. The cannoli was SUPER stuffed! VERY excellent Italian joint, and can not wait to come back. I would like to see some more fresh homemade pasta and "off the menu" specials on the weekends. read more

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Was a regular twenty five years ago Go back every year since we have moved to central New Jersey. Amazing constancy ! Great food Friendly service A true local restaurant! read more

This is truly a must-do gem. Tucked smack in the middle of a house-filled residential area in Jersey City's Greenville neighborhood, this oasis of Italian ambience delivers from start to finish. When you need a relaxing and delicious break from the buzzy, overhyped, overcrowded scene, Laico's has you covered. Not everyone gets it - for instance, the table of three youths next to us on our most recent visit were on their phones most of the time when they weren't eating, and they barely said a word to one another. This is a place to be convivial and embrace an Italian-ness that is at the core of the New Jersey experience. The Spiedini Alla Romana is particularly decadent, as are the desserts. Finish with a nice grappa and you're good. Buon appetito! read more

Great portions and love the extras (bread and salad for free). The pricing sealed the deal and our waitress, Iliana, was so great. Free valet because of minimal street parking which was nice. Loved it there and can't wait to go back! read more

Laico's - Chicken piccata - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The Shrimp Fra Diavolo was so good and also Spicy calamari taste really great. The good crisp and well-seasoned too. It was not so chewy and has nice pleasant texture. Great quality of seafood. This place was wonderful and has so many great flavors. The restaurant was so cool. The staff in the counter was friendly. Recommend us great drinks too. read more

Laicos is a jersey city tradition. Great food. Love it it's a great place to see meet old jc friends read more

The food was fantastic! Everything was top notch The shrimp appetizer-very very good The pasta with broccoli rabe and pasta bolognese were equally delicious True old school Italian read more

Maybe because the location is not convenient for me, but after eating here for restaurant week 8 or 9 years ago I haven't been back until last weekend, and that is about to change! We brought some out of town friends here for dinner and every single one of us thoroughly enjoyed our food. As a pescatarian i appreciated that i was able to order shrimp scampi to be made without chicken stock. A friend ordered a chicken parm and eggplant parm entree that was insane. Everything was delicious but the eggplant rollatini and burrata apps were standouts. For dessert, the chocolate mouse cake and tiramisu were the stand outs. I will be back soon. Staff did a great job getting everyone seated despite absolute pandemonium. Definitely make a reservation. read more

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Forty plus years of outstanding service. When zi worked in the area, we would have the specials faxed to the office in order to have our lunch ready on arrival. The best food and service! read more

The chicken parmigiana is delicious!!!!!! The food is all so delicious! Friendly staff and a hidden gem in Jersey city! read more

We made a reservation far in advance for a group of six. There is street parking and valet parking. We were seated promptly. Staff was friendly and attentive. We noticed that there are a lot of regulars that dine here. Appetizers were great. There is a lot to choose from entrees. The drinks were really good. We all enjoyed the dessert. We will be returning. read more

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A hidden gem - we have been coming here since I was a kid. I'm never disappointed with the food and the service is great but there can be a wait. One thing to be aware of - challenging parking but they do have valet! read more

Laico's - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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My favorite restaurant in Jersey City. Love the staff (shout out Nicole!) and family. great ambience, service, and the food is unbelievably good. i've been coming here for years with large and small parties and it's consistently top tier. nothing but love x read more

Laico's - Grilled octopus, Eggplant Rollatine, Stuffed Mushrooms, Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey