3 Local Italian dishes among best in New Jersey

When it comes to Italian food, few states can offer what New Jersey does.

There are so many great options, but three local Italian dishes were ranked among the Top 23 in the entire state of New Jersey.

We're not talking about restaurants here, we are talking about actual dishes.

So what are your favorite Italian dishes in the area?  These three made NJ.com writers Jeremy Schneider and Peter Genovese list of the state’s 23 best Italian dishes.

First up, coming in at No. 15 in the rankings, was the gnocchi pomodoro from Sapore Italiano in West Cape May.

Something about tomato sauce and gnocchi always floats my pasta boat. The gnocchi pomodoro at Sapore Italiano was one of the surprise hits of our epic search for New Jersey’s best Italian restaurant. The dish is proof you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make a deeply satisfying meal.

You can get this dish at Sapore Italiano, which is located at 416 S Broadway, West Cape May. The restaurant is described as having 'old-school Italian cuisine served amid an elegant white-tablecloth setting in a restored home.'

Next, coming in at No. 13 overall on the list of 23 is the Rigatoni Bolognese at Cafe 2825 in Atlantic City.

The winner of our New Jersey’s best Italian restaurant showdown, Cafe 2825 remains relatively under the radar 30-plus years after opening. Old-school atmosphere meets high-end dining at the small and cozy restaurant. You absolutely must order the mozzarella made table side, then a meat or pasta dish, such as the terrific rigatoni Bolognese — simple and sensational.

Locals from in and around Atlantic City know about Cafe 2825, but getting a reservation is easier said than done. However, if you are lucky enough to get a table, it sounds like you should try the rigatoni bolognese.

Finally coming in at No. 2 overall in the state is the veal parmesan at Chef Vola’s, in Atlantic City.

Chef Vola’s is on the short list of legendary New Jersey Italian restaurants. The portions are huge, it’s cash only, there’s no real website and reservations must be made well in advance. The restaurant opened in 1921 in what was then a rooming house. What then-owner Joe Vola cooked “is what you got,” current co-owner Lou Esposito told me. The veal parm is the absolute best example of that classic Jersey dish. And don’t you dare leave without trying the banana cream pie.

As many from the area know, you must have a reservation to dine at Chef Vola's, but if you are able to get in, give the Veal Parm a try!

Here are a couple of recent reviews about the Veal Parm

Lots of talk about the best veal parm ..... well they backed it up - truly worth it!!

My bone-in veal parm was fantastic

The veal chop…melted in my mouth, I could cut it with a fork and it was scrumptious.

Veal Parm with the bone. It was AMAZING !!!!

Chef Vola's is located at 111 S Albion Place in Atlantic City.