With its layers of pasta, rich meat sauce and bubbling cheese, lasagne is a near perfect food – and nothing beats one that's made for you. These lasagnes, from the Neapolitan to the northern Italian, are exemplary of how the dish should be prepared. Read on and find out where to eat the best lasagne in your state. Due to COVID-19, be sure to check local travel restrictions, including state travel advisories and individual restaurant websites for dine-in, takeout and delivery options before you visit.
If you order lasagne from Giuseppe’s Cafe, a small, local restaurant with a homey interior, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. It layers homemade meatballs, cheese and seasonal veg with pasta and is swimming in a plate of red sauce. Customers rave about it and say it’s the best in town.
At busy family restaurant Sorrento’s the Lasagna al Italiana is made with meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan. Customers comment on how meaty it is and love that it comes with garlic bread and a choice of salad or soup. Other great reasons to visit are you don’t need a reservation and the service is excellent.
Family-owned Caruso’s has been serving its famous Lasagne al Forno to customers since 1938. It’s made with homemade pasta and a cheese-meat sauce, and is baked in a blanket of cheese. As if that’s not enough, it can be served with chicken parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana or homemade meatballs. Fans order it every time they’re here.
Hailing from Naples, Lasagna Imbotito is “stuffed lasagne” and the signature plate at one of Arkansas’ most popular Italian restaurants, Bruno’s Little Italy. It features layers of fluffy ricotta, mozzarella, romano cheese, Italian sausage, meatballs and cured meats, and is covered in meat sauce. The legendary item has even featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
For some, the best part of lasagne is the crispy, burnt edge and when you order the dish from casual lunch spot Pasta Sisters, you’ll always be served a corner piece. The stunning dish showcases bolognese, béchamel and Parmigiano Reggiano between pasta sheets. Customers won’t stop talking about it.
Love this? Follow our Pinterest page for more food inspiration
The most-ordered dish at family-owned Cranelli’s Italian Restaurant is its beef, Italian sausage, ricotta and béchamel lasagne. It comes in two sizes (half and full) and the smallest is positively huge. Customers say it's the best they’ve ever eaten – even better than their grandma’s.
Widely known as the best in Connecticut, the Meat Lasagna from intimate Italian Rossitto’s Ristorante receives rave reviews. One customer calls it “technically and structurally perfect”, when describing the ratio of pasta, meat, sauce and cheese, and says the flavours work in harmony.
Capers & Lemons’ meat lasagne with béchamel, mozzarella and Parmigiano wins the approval of its Italian visitors and has been called the best in Delaware. However, its pasta-less 'lasagne' featuring sliced aubergine, tomato sauce and sautéed spinach is also worth checking out.
The 8 Layer Lasagna from Midtown Table is given positive review after positive review. It features ricotta, mozzarella, basil and Sicilian sauce, and customers say it has a great flavour. Add bolognese for an extra $4 (£3) to turn it into a meaty dream. The restaurant, with its chic interiors and outdoor patio, is a stunning place to spend the evening.
A highly-recommended spot for Italian food, Campagnolo has a buzzing atmosphere, exceptional food and live piano music. One of its best dishes is its Lasagna Matta made with fresh pasta, beef and pork bolognese, béchamel, mozzarella and Parmesan. Customers say the fresh pasta makes all the difference and it’s a choice you won’t regret.
An unusual concept, La Ciccia Italian Fusion and Brunch Bar is a bring-your-own-booze place known for its seafood starters, lasagne and tiramisu. Its lasagne is made with beef, ricotta, mozzarella and marinara. Customers comment that it always tastes fresh and is filling.
At craft pizza and cocktail bar The Wylder, the lasagne gets people talking. Made according to a secret family recipe, it features delicious, freshly-made marinara, torn basil leaves and grated hard cheese. Plus, it’s large enough to share. If you really enjoy it, you can buy it frozen to bake at home.
The best traditional bolognese lasagne in the city can be found at Volare Ristorante Italiano, a fancy Italian restaurant that’s a favourite for celebrations. Customers say it’s baked to perfection with many layers of meat and cheese. You’ll also definitely have leftovers to take home. We recommend booking as it’s very popular.
Family-run Iozzo’s Garden of Italy, so called because it has a beautiful garden patio, dates back to the 1930s – so its Lasagna Bolognese has stood the test of time. One for the carnivores, it’s meat sauce heavy and can be accompanied by meatballs. It’s also artistically draped in marinara and buttery alfredo sauce.
Don't be fooled by the strip mall location of Lunardi’s Italian Restaurant. If you venture inside you’ll be rewarded with the best lasagne in the area. It boasts 17 layers of ricotta, pepperoni, meatballs, Italian sausage, mozzarella, romano cheese and pasta, and is large enough for two people to share. The service here is also outstanding.
Tucked just off the interstate, Toni’s Italian Restaurant with its old-fashioned decor is like travelling back in time. But the beef lasagne is outstanding. Although the portion is huge, it’s light and fresh. The marinara, a rich ruby red colour, definitely hasn’t come out of a can.
Casual Italian café Pasta Garage’s lasagne is a saucy, cheesy dream. It’s made with sausage, beef and ricotta, and comes with a breadstick to soak up its tomatoey goodness. The restaurant isn’t fancy: you order at the counter and take a buzzer which tells you when to collect your meal.
Mixing up the classic, the lasagne at trendy Domenica in The Roosevelt hotel (next to the Sazerac Bar) is made with green pasta, pork ragù, béchamel and mozzarella. The portion is huge and comes to the table in a roaring hot casserole dish. Executive chef Valeriano Chiella from Campania in southern Italy is the brain behind it all.
For something lighter, check out the Eggplant Lasagna from Isa. Fresh and flavourful, it features homemade pasta, ricotta and tarragon. The restaurant, a little off the beaten path, is small, cosy and friendly. The combination of great food and service inspires many return visits.
If you’re after a pasta fix in Baltimore, head to Little Italy. The lasagne from low-key, family-owned Amicci’s, featuring minced beef, ricotta, marinara and mozzarella, is a local favourite. It’s always served hot and cooked to perfection. Be warned, come early as it's a popular spot and you might have to wait for a table.
Mom’s Lasagna della Casa from Trattoria Il Panino is legendary. Sometimes it’s made with beef and ricotta, and served on a plate of addictive, creamy tomato sauce (although the kitchen likes to switch it up). It’s many people’s favourite food and the restaurant gets busy so reservations are recommended.
For a lasagne that’s bursting with flavour, head to pizza and pasta spot La Lanterna and order the Lasagna alla Bolognese. The meat sauce is super rich and it’s covered in a generous serving of cheese. Some guests say it’s the best they’ve tasted. You can find it on the menu at the restaurant’s sister sites too.
Another old-school gem, DeGidio’s dates back to the 1930s. It prides itself on cutting lasagne pieces so large you can’t possibly finish it all, and have leftovers to take home. Made with Italian sausage as well as ricotta, Italian cheeses and tomato sauce, it has a bit of a spicy kick to it.
At tiny, family-run Italian The Sicilian II, Great, Great, Great Grandma's Lasagna is the winning dish. Only one batch is prepared a day with fresh pasta, mozzarella, ricotta and beef. The recipe is over 100 years old and has been passed down five generations. It runs out quickly so get there early.
Love this? Read your state's best independent, family-friendly restaurant
Family business Cupini’s makes everything from scratch including the pasta and marinara for its signature beef lasagne. Customers are impressed by how light it is and the large portion size for the price. It’s also always served hot, which should go without saying, but being served cold lasagne is a surprisingly common problem.
Looking for lasagne in Montana? Check out fun and atmospheric On Broadway. The lasagne is of incredible quality made with fresh pasta, spicy Italian sausage, ground tenderloin, ricotta, mozzarella and four different cheeses. Plus, dining here is a real night out. The restaurant is dimly-lit and frequented by a three-piece jazz band.
Surprisingly the best place for lasagne in Nebraska is meatball restaurant The Blackstone Meatball which has two locations in Blackstone District and West Omaha. The Classic Lasagna is made with beef and your choice of sauce with options including braised pork shoulder and sun-dried tomato pesto. It has lovely toasted edges.
Family-style Carmine’s Italian Restaurant is known for its huge sharing plates, so if you’re dining here make sure you come with a group. The lasagne lives up to expectations, a tower of beef, veal, marinara and cheese layered between pasta sheets. A dish worthy of an Italian-American wedding feast for sure.
Patty B’s is the go-to spot for great Italian cooking in Dover. Its Meat Filled Lasagna impresses customers and is made totally from scratch, including the pasta and marinara. What’s more, the portion size is huge and it comes with garlic bread.
Local favourite Trattoria La Sorrentina is known for its brick-oven pizzas and seafood dishes, but the Lasagna Napoletana is its best-kept secret. It’s made with ricotta, mozzarella and a meat and tomato sauce. Customers say it tastes like an Italian grandma made it.
The lasagne at friendly, family-owned Joe’s Pasta House is made with beef and Italian sausage for depth of flavour. It features plenty of homemade tomato sauce and just a little mozzarella cheese so it’s not too heavy or salty. It comes with Parmesan on the side so you can add more to your liking. Some say it’s by far the best lasagne they’ve ever eaten.
With the largest Italian-American population in the US, New York is a hard crowd to please. However, La Lanterna di Vittorio manages it with its Lasagna al Pesto, an incredibly rich plate of basil pesto, béchamel and Parmesan layered between sheets of homemade, fresh pasta. Everyone who tries it says it’s to die for. The restaurant has also recently launched a lasagne flight, because why have one type when you can have many!
Aptly-named Mama Ricotta’s serves a southern Italian lasagne that’s made with beef, veal, sausage and three different kinds of cheese – and you can be sure it’s big, rich and cheesy. That’s just one of the reasons why the restaurant is Charlotte’s leading spot for Italian comfort food.
Not much of a meat eater? Casual Italian café Luna Fargo serves a vegetarian lasagne that gets great reviews. A plant-heavy plate, it packs roasted red pepper, mushroom and kale between sheets of pasta, and is topped with a modest grating of hard cheese. Don't worry if not everyone is veggie, the joint serves a Braised Beef Lasagna too.
Want to see more vegetarian restaurants? Find the best in your state
Do you like your lasagne saucy or cheesy? At quaint mom-and-pop restaurant Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria, you don’t have to choose. The five-layer dish is made with ground chuck steak, four cheeses and lashings of homemade marinara. Guests call it a masterpiece and say they’d eat it for every meal if they could.
Lasagne heaven is a place on earth and it’s Papa Dio’s. Opened in the late 1970s, it’s a buzzing wine bar with five top lasagnes and delicious wines. Although the chicken alfredo lasagne and veggie spinach, onion and mushroom lasagne sound tempting, the seriously saucy Italian sausage lasagne wins the hearts of diners.
Small, takeout spot Geraldi’s is popular with the lunch crowd. Around since the 1980s, it serves no-frills Italian food that makes New Yorkers feel at home. The lasagne is the favourite here, served piping hot with crisp garlic bread. Many customers ask for meatballs on the side, because why not?
One of those rare famous restaurants that lives up to the hype, Villa di Roma doesn’t miss. Everything is insanely delicious but the lasagne is a must-try. The indulgent dish is made with homemade pasta, ricotta, meatballs and mozzarella, just how you’d get it in Naples. It’s no wonder the restaurant has been going since the 1960s.
Lasagne lovers in Rhode Island need to visit landmark Italian Camille’s on Federal Hill. La Lasagna di Camille’s is made with bolognese, sausage, ricotta and mozzarella, and receives great compliments. The sauce is superb – better than you could make at home. The spot has been here since 1914 and has a gorgeous outdoor patio.
If you’re in Charleston and craving a hearty pasta dish, Mario’s Italian Ristorante serves a much-praised Lasagna al Forno. It’s made fresh every day with bolognese, ricotta and mozzarella that is melted in the wood oven, and looks and tastes amazing. The restaurant is low-key and you don’t need a reservation but the service is phenomenal.
Named after the word that owners Nancy and Darren’s son used to call lasagne when he was little, Darren Jr's ZaZa is a hit. It’s a traditional lasagne with meat sauce, ricotta and mozzarella, and it has the crunchiest cheese lid. The building Nonna’s Kitchen is in is one of the oldest in Spearfish, dating back to 1895. It’s a perfect setting for a night on the town.
Located in the L&L Market in West Nashville, PennePazze has an open kitchen so you can watch your food being made by the Italian chefs. The quality shines through – the lasagne, which layers spinach pasta, ragù and mozzarella cheese, has customers coming back for more.
People say the best Italian food in the Dallas and Fort Worth area can be found at Kenny’s Italian Kitchen. The lasagne, described by some as “to die for”, layers well-seasoned beef with ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, pasta and red sauce. It’s huge, hot and has so much flavour. You can ask for a gluten-free version too.
One of the more high-end Italian joints, Antica Sicilia is known for its homemade pasta. The Lasagna Tradizionale, made with eight-hour braised bolognese and béchamel, isn’t a whopping portion, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavour. Customers say you can taste the freshness of the meat sauce and that it’s slightly sweet. The restaurant group has two other locations in Farmington and Salt Lake City.
Busy local restaurant Jr’s Original keeps its lasagne classic and simple with minced beef, tomato sauce and cheese. You can taste the quality and the portion is very generous. The restaurant's interiors are cosy and you can see the chefs working away in the kitchen.
From its neutral colour palette to its sleek furnishings, everything about Casa Italiana says sophistication. The Lasagna Della Famiglia is no exception, made with béchamel, homemade pasta and fresh herbs. Many customers say they can’t eat lasagne elsewhere.
Some who’ve tried the delicate lasagne made with pesto, spinach pasta, béchamel and marinara at The Pink Door make the bold claim it’s the best in the world. It’s not impossible that it’s true. This is a swanky restaurant too. Think candlesticks, tables for two and a trapeze artist performance.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our tips for getting lasagne perfect every time
Divey diner Rocco’s Little Italy is a hidden gem near the Marshall University campus. The lasagne isn’t fancy: it comes in an aluminium pan, drenched in Muenster cheese (a semi-soft European imitation cheese), and bathing in red sauce. But it’s extremely well-priced, gets great reviews and is available until 4am.
When you order the Classic Lasagna at family-owned Capri di Nuovo, you aren’t getting a reheated dish prepared hours prior. Each plate is made to order following a recipe that includes a meat sauce that has been passed down generations. Ricotta can be added for a little extra cost. It’s rich and bursting with Italian flavours.
Il Villaggio Osteria’s lasagne incorporates ragù, béchamel, mozzarella and Parmesan. It’s a little expensive, but customers love it because it's cheesy and large enough for two meals. The restaurant is at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a lovely place to warm up with its outdoor fireplace.