There’s no shortage of great Italian restaurants in the USA and many have been in the same family for generations. To help you seek out the best Italian dishes in the country, we’ve picked our favorite spot from every state – buon appetito. Be sure to check each restaurant’s website for changes due to COVID-19 before you head there.
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Alabama: Gianmarco’s Restaurant, Birmingham
For unpretentious northern Italian comfort food, head to family-run Gianmarco’s in quaint Edgewood, which was established in 2003. The menu includes indulgent dishes such as mushroom ravioli with black truffle and spinach; risotto with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari; and the less traditional but still irresistible wagyu steak with mac and cheese. What’s more, customer service is of utmost importance to the father and son team.
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Alaska: Sorrento’s, Anchorage
Sorrento’s has been serving loyal customers in Anchorage for more than 40 years. The family-owned restaurant offers dishes such as fettuccine alfredo (fettuccine pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce with garlic and parsley) and four-cheese penne al forno (pictured). Guests are particular fans of the stuffed mushrooms and tiramisù.
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Arizona: RigaTony’s Authentic Italian, Tempe
Reminiscent of restaurants in New York’s Little Italy, RigaTony’s is a spacious old-school spot with bags of personality and vintage style. Located in Tempe, the restaurant has cozy booths and low lighting. Customers praise the homemade bread and baked rigatoni (pictured) which comes with a rich mozzarella sauce and garlic marinara, and Italian sausage.
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Arkansas: Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking, Eureka Springs
Located in a beautiful Victorian-style building in Eureka Springs, Ermilio’s has earned a loyal following over its many years of business. Customers love the attentive service and dishes such as pan-roasted pork chop with porcini mushroom sauce and shrimp in a creamy white wine sauce over linguine. The meatballs in red sauce with linguine (pictured) is a comforting classic.
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California: Terún, Palo Alto
You know the food is authentic when it’s the first choice for Italians living in the area. They flock to Terún for its wood-fired pizzas, small vegetable plates and homemade pasta. As well as margherita and Neapolitan with anchovies, there are creative pizzas such as one with mozzarella, Gorgonzola and pears. It also has a huge patio for alfresco dining.
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Colorado: Paravicini’s Italian Bistro, Colorado Springs
Consistently named one of the best Italian spots in the area, Paracivini’s is loved for its linguine in white clam sauce; salmon in mustard and dill sauce topped with shrimp; and steaks. It’s owned by an Italian chef, Franco Pisani, who grew up watching his mother cook in the family bakery. After years of training as a chef, he opened up shop in 2003 and has been going strong ever since.
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Connecticut: Salute, Hartford
This busy Italian in Downtown Hartford is a local staple, unbeatable in terms of atmosphere and customer service. It opened in 2010 and is upscale, with contemporary interiors and a patio overlooking Bushnell Park. What to order? Patrons are big fans of the sweet potato ravioli, rose pasta (sausage, mushroom and spinach in tomato and cream sauce with four-cheese tortellini), and cheese bread.
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Delaware: Ristorante Attilio, Wilmington
Ristorante Attilio opened its doors in the heart of Wilmington more than 30 years ago and is a must for reasonably-priced homemade pasta. Customers can’t get enough of the cheese ravioli which is said to melt in your mouth, but the lasagna and spaghetti also come highly recommended. The wood paneling and vintage interiors add to its retro charm.
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Florida: Fresco Cucina Italiana, Orlando
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Georgia: Pasta da Pulcinella, Atlanta
This cozy Italian can be found in a renovated bungalow in midtown Atlanta. Famous for its creative pasta dishes, the tortelli di mele is what guests rave about – ravioli filled with apple, sausage and Parmesan in a sage and brown butter sauce. However, you can also get mushroom ravioli, buckwheat tagliatelle and spinach tagliatelle.
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Hawaii: Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar, Honolulu
For incredible Italian food and wine on the Honolulu waterfront, look no further than Vino. Created by master sommelier Chuck Furuya and restaurateur D.K. Kodama, the laid-back bistro has previously been nominated for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine Program. In terms of food, the osso buco and crispy calamari come highly recommended.
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Idaho: Luciano’s, Boise
Luciano’s in Boise was voted Best Italian Restaurant by Boise Weekly in 2018. The restaurant serves Tuscan-inspired dishes in generous portions. Opt for the homemade pasta, such as the manicotti (large pasta tubes) stuffed with ricotta and herbs, or the angel hair pasta with garlic, white wine, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, feta and pine nuts.
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Illinois: Sapori Trattoria, Chicago
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Indiana: Mama Carolla’s, Indianapolis
Regularly tipped as one of the best local Italian restaurants, Mama Carolla’s is a stucco house that has been transformed into a glamorous 1920s-style Mediterranean villa. Grab a table on the outdoor patio beneath the fairy lights, fountains and Roman statues. Order a plate of the highly-recommended rosemary chicken lasagna or the linguine mixed with shrimp, scallops, clams, squid, crab meat and mussels.
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Iowa: Tumea & Sons, Des Moines
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Kansas: Cinzetti’s, Overland Park
A feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach, Cinzetti’s is a buffet with five dining rooms and 14 open-view cooking stations. Customers love the variety, from bruschetta and pepperoni pizza to profiteroles and gelato. It’s impossible to leave hungry. It also has a second location in Northglenn, Colorado.
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Kentucky: Silvio’s Italian Restaurant, Louisville
Silvio’s Italian Restaurant has only been open for a few years but it’s already one of Kentucky’s most popular Italian diners, dedicated to serving Italian-American family favorites. It’s owned by Bill Silvio Melillo, who’s no stranger to the industry having run Melillo’s in downtown Louisville until it closed in 2008. The marinara is the star of the show, featured on a number of entrées such as the chicken parm (pictured).
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Louisiana: Vincent’s Italian Cuisine, New Orleans
Vincent’s is without a doubt one of the best Italian restaurants in Louisiana, having been nominated numerous times by readers of local publications. It was opened in 1989 by a New Orleanian named Vincent Catalanotto who grew up in a Sicilian family. The menu is quite meat-heavy with dishes such as lamb chops with marinated vegetables and osso buco.
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Maine: Solo Italiano Restaurant, Portland
Elegant, refined Italian food is what you’ll find at Solo Italiano Restaurant. Many of the dishes are inspired by the northern Italian city of Genoa, which is where chef Paolo Laboa is from. In fact, customers say that dining here feels like eating at a restaurant in Italy and rave about the warm octopus salad and homemade pasta, especially the carbonara.
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Maryland: Manalú Italian Restaurant, Frederick
Manalú in Frederick is owned and managed by Italian chef Marco Pontecorvo, his wife Naomi and daughter Lucia, who are originally from Naples. Customers love the pasta dishes, such as the puttanesca and pasta alla vodka (bacon and shallots in a creamy tomato sauce). However, the brick-oven pizzas are also highly rated.
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Massachusetts: Trattoria Il Panino, Boston
Trattoria Il Panino claims to be Boston’s first original trattoria. It’s a casual, affordable restaurant serving homemade pasta and sumptuous seafood. Customers particularly rate the calamari, zucchini flowers, and the slow-cooked lamb, beef, veal and pork ragù. For the authentic Amalfi Coast experience, grab a table outside overlooking Boston’s historic and very Italian North End.
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Michigan: Supino Pizzeria, Detroit
This legendary spot in Detroit’s Eastern Market is loved for its gargantuan pepperoni pizzas and specials such as kale pesto, smoked ham, feta and ricotta. Partnering up with local producers, Supino Pizzeria champions organic ingredients. Also, be sure to follow your pie with a cannolo as there are heaps of cream and topping options to try.
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Minnesota: Yarusso Bros Italian Restaurant, St Paul
A traditional Italian, Yarusso Bros is one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in St. Paul, in operation under its current name since 1947. It serves pure comfort food with pasta, garlic cheese toast and pizza options on the menu. But customers are really there for the huge meatballs and red sauce with spaghetti.
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Mississippi: Cerami’s, Flowood
A local favorite, Cerami’s was established in 1977, but closed for 14 years only to reopen in 2006. Much to the residents of Flowood’s delight, it picked straight back up from where it left off with old favorites such as the lasagna. However, it surprised with new additions like the grilled rib-eye and flatbread pizzas.
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Missouri: Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill, St. Louis
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Montana: Ciao Mambo, Billings
Ciao Mambo in Billings is one of the best restaurants in Montana and customers rave about the excellent service, pasta, wine selection and garlic bread. Start with the antipasti followed by the pasta ravenna (farfalle with chicken in a roasted garlic cream sauce) or the penne isabella (penne with spicy Italian sausage and fresh ricotta).
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Nebraska: Vincenzo’s Ristorante, Omaha
For great Italian in Nebraska, Vincenzo’s Ristorante is the place to go. It received a Best of Omaha 2019 award for Italian dining from Omaha Magazine. We like the sound of the veal soto (topped with cheese, mushrooms and white wine sauce) and the veal marsala (topped with mushrooms and marsala wine sauce).
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Nevada: Piero’s Italian Cuisine, Las Vegas
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New Hampshire: Campo Enoteca, Manchester
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New Jersey: Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
This restaurant is named after owner Mark Pascal’s grandmother, who came to the US from Naples. The menu is based on her recipes and customer favorites include the garlic bread; the salmon and garlic risotto with tomato and fennel confit; and the clams casino (clams baked with bacon and breadcrumbs).
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New Mexico: M’tucci’s Italian, Albuquerque
Touted by many as the best Italian restaurant in New Mexico, M’tucci’s Italian in Albuquerque is a real family affair. It was opened by Jeff Spiegel and Katie Gardner and they’ve since added several more M’tucci’s locations. Customers praise the beef, pork and veal meatballs which come with spaghetti and marinara sauce; the potato leek bisque; and the tiramisù.
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New York: Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, New York City
Reported to have been a favorite of Frank Sinatra, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in NYC has been in operation since 1944, which is no mean feat in this fast-paced city. It prides itself on serving simple, unpretentious comfort food, with popular dishes including the pork chop in red wine with vinegar peppers and the linguine with clam sauce. Or you could try what was reportedly Sinatra’s favorite dish – veal Milanese with arugula.
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North Carolina: Gravy, Raleigh
Gravy celebrates traditional Italian-American cooking and prides itself on creating nostalgic pasta sauces just like grandmother used to make. It serves a cracking brunch as well as lunch and dinner. Customers praise the risotto balls with marinara sauce and Parmesan, the kale Caesar salad and the lasagna.
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North Dakota: Nardello’s Pizza, Bismarck
Though not strictly authentic, guests of Nardello’s Pizza in Bismarck can’t get enough of its incredible steak sandwiches and hoagies. Using thinly-sliced rib-eye on Italian bread, some tip them as the best in the state. It also serves huge slices of pizza with toppings such as spicy barbecue chicken, Hawaiian and pepperoni. Italian-American food at its finest.
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Ohio: Marcella’s Short North, Columbus
This lively Columbus restaurant is a real hit with its customers. It has a relaxed, vintage-inspired atmosphere and serves comforting Italian dishes such as risotto with chicken, sundried tomato and torn basil (pictured); baked rigatoni; and ricotta, Parmesan and truffle ravioli.
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Oklahoma: Stella Modern Italian Cuisine, Oklahoma City
Proud owner Lori Burson came up with the idea for Stella Modern Italian Cuisine while studying in Rome, where she fell in love with the Italian way of eating. Located in Oklahoma City, the restaurant is a resounding success and gets great reviews. On the menu you’ll find charcuterie boards with homemade pâté, wild boar bolognese (pictured), and grilled peach and prosciutto pizza.
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Oregon: a Cena, Portland
For an unforgettable Italian dining experience in Portland, head to a Cena, a chic yet unpretentious restaurant with some of the best reviews in the state. It’s not difficult to see why with dishes such as butter-poached lobster with stuffed raviolini or grilled octopus on the menu. Visitors praise the ravioli and desserts such as tiramisù.
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Pennsylvania: Gabriella Italian Ristorante, Harrisburg
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Rhode Island: Andino’s Italian Restaurant, Providence
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South Carolina: Villa Romana Italian Restaurant, Myrtle Beach
For authentic Italian dishes in elegant Roman-inspired surroundings, Villa Romana Italian Restaurantis the place to go. It opened in 1985 and serves family recipes such as Veal Absolut (veal cutlets sautéed in mushroom, vodka and cream sauce) as well as great seafood. The Shrimps San Marzano (jumbo shrimp with zucchini, provolone, prosciutto, tomatoes and wine) comes particularly well-recommended.
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South Dakota: Roma Ristorante Italiano, Aberdeen
One of the most top-rated Italian restaurants for pasta in South Dakota, Roma Ristorante Italiano is loved by locals and visitors alike. Try the baked ziti, angel hair pasta with meatballs or spinach ravioli. If you can’t decide, opt for the pasta sampler which comes with lasagna, cheese ravioli and manicotti. Customers love the vegetarian and gluten-free options too.
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Texas: L’Oca d’Oro, Austin
Since the opening of L’Oca d’Oro, executive chef Fiore Tedesco and his team have been impressing with high-quality, contemporary Italian creations. The menu changes but you might find dishes like carbonara with pink peppercorns, short rib confit with polenta and eggplant Parmesan.
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Tennessee: Moto, Nashville
This modern restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, specializes in elevating rustic Italian food into refined dishes. On the menu is a hot honey and sausage Calabrese pizza and black spaghetti with lobster ragù, shrimp and chili. Customers also rate the appetizers and say the pasta dishes are spot on. It also has an impressive wine list.
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Utah: Valter’s Osteria, Salt Lake City
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Vermont: Trattoria Delia, Burlington
One of Burlington’s most historic venues, Trattoria Delia is located in Vermont House – a former hotel built around 1900. Established in 1993, the restaurant celebrates seasonal ingredients and local produce. Favorite dishes include the truffle gnocchi with sausage and Parmesan, and the grilled rabbit and polenta cake. You’ll also find some impressive Italian selections on the wine list.
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Virginia: Trattoria Villagio, Clifton
This quirky restaurant in Clifton has been built to look like an old Italian train station. At Trattoria Villagio guests can choose between the classic dining room or opt for drinks, cheese and salumi at the marble-topped bar. Guests often rave about the crispy shrimp appetizer and the homemade pasta, in particular the seafood pasta with mussels, clams, calamari and shrimp.
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Washington: Cinque Terre, Seattle
Cinque Terre celebrates the cuisine of the Italian Riviera in contemporary surrounds. Opened by the owners of already popular spots Barolo and Mamma Melina, the restaurant is a firm local favorite in its own right. The gnocchi with veal and beef sauce; the grilled octopus with chimichurri; and the pizzas come highly recommended.
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West Virginia: Figaretti’s Restaurant, Wheeling
Figaretti’s Restaurant’s legacy dates back to the early 1940s when Italian immigrants Anna and Joe Figaretti began making and selling spaghetti sauce to local grocery stores. It was such a hit, the family opened Figaretti’s Restaurant. It’s now still owned by the family and customers praise the meaty lasagna with sausage, ham and provolone, the wild mushroom ravioli, and the cannoli.
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Wisconsin: Tenuta’s Italian Restaurant, Milwaukee
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Wyoming: Calico Italian Restaurant, Wilson
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