Whether you’re craving a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs or something a little more refined, there's no shortage of great Italian restaurants across the US. You can choose from family-run delis with a few tables attached, old-school pizza spots cooking to the same recipe for generations, or fine-dining restaurants that serve everything from hyper-regional cuisine to Italian-American favorites. To help narrow things down a little, we've picked the best places in every single state. Buon appetito!

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover where to eat America’s greatest Italian food, state by state.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

For unpretentious northern Italian comfort food, head to family-run Gianmarco's in quaint Edgewood. 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 'n' cheese.

Sorrento's has been serving loyal customers in Anchorage for more than 40 years. The family-owned restaurant serves up old-school Italian American classics like fettuccine alfredo (fettuccine pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce with garlic and parsley, pictured) and four-cheese penne al forno. Other menu highlights include stuffed mushrooms – and do save room for the delicious tiramisù. 

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 love the fully loaded, Italian-style hoagies (pictured) and baked rigatoni, known as the Baked RigaTony, which comes with a rich mozzarella sauce, garlic marinara, and Italian sausage. 

Located in a beautiful Victorian-style building in Eureka Springs, Ermilio's has built up a loyal clientele of regulars 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.

San Diego is actually home to the largest Little Italy in the US, covering 48 entire blocks. What was once a humble fishing community has grown into one of California's most interesting attractions, with diverse restaurants and lively patios, so diners are spoilt for choice. One of the area’s most iconic spots is the original location of popular California chain, Filippi's Pizza Grotto. This joint has been slinging quintessential Italian-American classics since 1950, and is always buzzing. It doubles as a deli, where you can pick up fresh cannolis, cured meats, and cheeses.

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 freshly made pasta. As well as Margherita and Neapolitan with anchovies, there are creative pizzas such as one with black rice flour dough topped with mozzarella, pistachios, blossom flowers, and Italian ham. It also has a huge patio for al-fresco dining.

If you find yourself in Colorado Springs and fancy a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, Paravicini's is the place to go. This buzzy spot is also loved for its white clam linguine, salmon in mustard and dill sauce topped with shrimp, and its juicy, perfectly cooked steaks. The restaurant is 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. 

This busy Italian in Downtown Hartford is a local staple, unbeatable in terms of atmosphere and customer service. It opened in 2010, with contemporary interiors and a patio overlooking Bushnell Park. What to order? Loyal customers are fans of the sweet potato ravioli, rose pasta (sausage, mushroom, and spinach in a tomato and cream sauce with four-cheese tortellini), and cheese bread. The restaurant has a set takeout menu that serves four, perfect for cheating at dinner parties.

Ristorante Attilio opened its doors in the heart of Wilmington more than 30 years ago and is a must for reasonably priced handmade pasta. Popular menu choices include the cheese ravioli, which is said to melt in your mouth, while the lasagna and spaghetti also come highly recommended. On 'two for Tuesday,' you can combine any two pasta dishes of your choice – perfect if you can't make your mind up or want to try more than one dish. The wood paneling and vintage interiors add to the restaurant's retro charm. 

Guests of family-owned Fresco Cucina Italiana are consistently impressed by the food and service, regularly praising it as the best Italian around. On the menu you'll find wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes – the orecchiette pasta, with broccolini, spicy sausage, garlic, and white wine sauce, is a customer favorite. Dessert has to be the cannoli or tiramisù. 

For high-end Italian in Florida’s Polk County, there’s no better place than Scarpa’s, a family-owned eatery known for its sumptuous seafood dishes and house-made pastas. The vibe here is laid-back but sophisticated, and the gorgeous decor makes it a really special spot for a celebration meal. Highly rated dishes include giant gulf shrimp wrapped in prosciutto, lobster ravioli in a creamy vodka sauce, and pillowy gnocchi with fresh basil pesto.

This white-tablecloth Italian was named the fifth best restaurant in the US, as part of Yelp’s 2024 Top 100 Places to Eat list, so you know it’s going to be pretty incredible. Diners praise the warmth and charm of owner Beto DiCarlo, a third-generation restaurateur, and the beautiful ambience of the place, saying it's 'reminiscent of a cozy trattoria.' The menu showcases Beto’s family recipes, such as his father’s melt-in-the-mouth Ossobuco Alla Milanese (pictured), as well as fresh pastas made in house and sensational seafood dishes.

This cozy Italian, famous for its creative pasta dishes, was housed in a quaint yellow renovated bungalow, but has recently moved to a majestic, early 20th-century house in midtown Atlanta with much more capacity. Happily, the food is as good as ever. The tortelli di mele – ravioli filled with apple, sausage, and Parmesan in a sage and brown butter sauce – gets rave reviews. Other delicious dishes include mushroom ravioli, buckwheat tagliatelle, and spinach tagliatelle.

Taormina Sicilian Cuisine serves up Sicilian-inspired pasta dishes with a Hawaiian twist. Chef Hiroyuki Mimura makes use of Hawaii’s incredible seafood offerings, combining these with his indulgent fresh pasta dishes. The bestseller is uni (sea urchin) pasta, but he also serves up the classics like carbonara with a generous sprinkle of truffle shavings (pictured), and Sicilian lamb chops.

Luciano’s was voted Best Italian Restaurant by Boise Weekly in 2018 and remains hugely popular thanks to its Tuscan-inspired dishes and generous portions. Opt for the freshly made pasta, such as the manicotti (large pasta tubes) stuffed with ricotta and herbs, or the Chicken Scaloppini, with sautéed chicken, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and prosciutto tossed with angel hair pasta in a lemon butter caper sauce.

The upscale yet welcoming Sapori Trattoria is often named among the best Italian restaurants. Start with the calamari fritti and burrata platter, the perfect accompaniment to one of the restaurant's hand-crafted cocktails. Other menu favorites include spaghetti in red sauce with veal meatballs and Italian sausage, and pasta stuffed with lobster in a creamy sauce. 

This college town is renowned for its diverse dining scene, and Trattoria Demi is the go-to spot for homely and delicious Italian cooking. This cozy neighborhood trattoria has been going since 1993, earning a loyal local following for its affordable prices and simple yet perfectly executed food. Diners rave about the hearty beef meatballs in the joint’s signature marinara sauce, as well as the shrimp risotto. It also has a charming terrace out front, great for enjoying antipasti and a spritz in the warmer months.

Mama Carolla’s is a stucco house that has been transformed into a glamorous 1920s-style Mediterranean villa. For a magical dining experience, try to get a table on the outdoor patio, where you can dine surrounded by fairy lights, fountains, and Roman statues. Order a plate of rosemary chicken lasagna or seafood linguine, sit back, and relax.

Joints don't get more old-school than Tumea & Sons, a family-run Italian parlor located in Des Moines. Choose your favorite pasta variety and add meat, sausage, and white or diablo sauce, and top with a meatball or sausage link, depending on what you fancy. Other much-loved dishes on the menu include lemon chicken, veal marsala, and shrimp primavera.

A feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach, Cinzzetti’s is a one-of-a kind buffet experience where it's impossible to leave hungry. Diners enter a Tuscan-style 'village,' centered around a cobblestone piazza, and are welcomed with a sprawling buffet with 14 open-view cooking stations. There's an amazing variety of dishes on offer, from bruschetta and pepperoni pizza to profiteroles and gelato. There's a second location in Northglenn, Colorado.

Silvio's Italian Restaurant is one of Kentucky’s most popular Italian diners, dedicated to serving classic Italian-American family favorites. It’s owned by Bill Silvio Melillo, who’s no stranger to the industry – he ran popular Melillo’s, in downtown Louisville, until it closed in 2008. The marinara sauce is the star of the show, featured on a number of entrées such as the chicken parm (pictured).

Vincent’s has been named Louisiana's best Italian joint in numerous local publications, based on local votes. It was opened in 1989 by a New Orleanian named Vincent Catalanotto, who grew up in a Sicilian family. The menu is quite meaty, with dishes such as lamb chops with marinated vegetables, osso buco, and a signature lasagna that fans rave about.

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, and there's a real focus on showcasing the freshest local produce, from wild rabbit to foraged mushrooms. In fact, customers say that dining here feels like eating at a restaurant in Italy, and rave about the freshly made pasta, especially the carbonara. 

Manalú in Frederick is owned and managed by Italian chef Marco Pontecorvo, his wife Naomi, and daughter Lucia, who are originally from Naples. Pasta dishes, such as the Puttanesca and Pasta Alla Vodka (bacon and shallots in a creamy tomato sauce), are customer favorites. The brick-oven pizzas are also highly rated. 

This buzzy Italian wine bar in Springfield’s historic downtown only opened in early 2023 but it’s already a firm local favorite at lunchtime, creating a huge buzz with dishes like the Chicken Napoli panini (pictured), sensational Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, and hearty chicken gnocchi soup. At night, the spot transforms into a more intimate bistro, with fantastic small plates like the burrata focaccia, chicken parm sliders, and fried ricotta.

Trattoria Il Panino claims to be Boston's first original trattoria. It's a casual, affordable restaurant serving freshly made pasta and sumptuous seafood. The calamari, zucchini flowers, slow-cooked lamb, beef, veal, and pork ragù all come highly recommended. For the authentic Amalfi Coast experience (when the weather allows), grab a table outside overlooking Boston's historic, and very Italian, North End. 

This legendary restaurant 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. 

An old-school Italian through and through, Yarusso Bros is one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in St. Paul, in operation under its current name since 1947. It's a mom-and-pop place serving pure comfort food with pasta, garlic cheese toast, and pizza options on the menu. But its mainly famous for these huge meatballs, pictured, served with red sauce and spaghetti.

A local favorite, Cerami’s was established in 1977, but closed for 14 years only to reopen in 2006. Much to the delight of locals, it picked straight back up from where it left off, with old favorites such as the lasagna. It also surprised with new additions like the grilled rib-eye and flatbread pizzas. There's live music several nights a week, too.

A St. Louis institution, Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill has been serving traditional Italian dishes since 1981. The toasted, meat-filled ravioli with tomato sauce, thinly sliced veal, and ricotta-filled manicotti all come highly recommended. There's another location in Maryland Heights, too.

Ciao Mambo is one of the best restaurants in Montana thanks to 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). Customers rave about the friendly staff and fun atmosphere.

For great Italian in Nebraska, Vincenzo’s Ristorante is the place to go, receiving a Best of Omaha 2019 award for Italian dining from Omaha Magazine. We like the sound of the salmon soto (topped with cheese, cracked black pepper, and mushrooms) and the penne marsala (topped with beef, mushrooms, and scallions, in a marsala wine sauce). 

Piero's Italian Cuisine has been a wildly popular spot since it opened in 1982. Old-school charm and traditional dishes make dining here a real occasion. Customers love the atmosphere and highlights from the menu include jumbo shrimp scampi and rigatoni Bolognese. Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, and Bill Clinton have enjoyed meals here, while a scene from 1995 movie Casino, starring Robert DeNiro, was filmed in the restaurant.

Campo Enoteca closed in 2022 but reopened under new management in March 2023, much to the delight of its loyal fanbase. This chic bistro has a farm-to-table philosophy and a menu of freshly made pasta, Italian charcuterie, small plates, and classic Italian dishes, as well as regional specialties. This Maine lobster ravioli in a lemon zest sauce is especially delicious.

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 customers love the cozy atmosphere almost as much as the dishes. Among the top-rated menu items are the garlic bread, spinach and mushroom ravioli, and fried calamari with sweet and spicy marinara.

M’tucci’s Italian is a real family affair. It was opened by Jeff Spiegel and Katie Gardner in 2013, and they’ve since added several more M'tucci’s locations. Menu highlights include potato leek bisque, tiramisù, and the beef, pork and veal meatballs, which come with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

Patsy's Italian Restaurant in NYC has been serving up Italian classics since 1944. Frank Sinatra, who often sang at the restaurant, was a regular and now has a private dining room named after him. Patsy's prides itself on serving simple, unpretentious comfort food, such as spaghetti and meatballs, linguine with clam sauce, and veal Milanese with arugula – reportedly Franks's favorite dish.

A Hudson Valley favorite, Cosimo's Brick Oven has four locations in Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Woodbury, and Middletown, and has a reputation for serving up exquisite plates of Old World cuisine with a modern twist. As you might guess from the name, a brick oven plays a central role in the kitchen, with wood-fired pizzas, loaded flatbreads, and baked pasta dishes all getting the live fire treatment. Highlights from the menu include the 8-Hour Pork Cacciatore – melt-in-the-mouth pork braised in Chianti, caramelized onions, portobello mushrooms, and tomatoes – and the fried calamari.

Gravy celebrates traditional Italian-American cooking and prides itself on creating nostalgic pasta sauces 'just like grandmother used to make.' Regardless of whether their grandmas had such top-notch culinary skills, customers praise the risotto balls with marinara sauce and Parmesan, the kale Caesar salad, and the mouth-watering lasagna.

Though not strictly authentic, Nardello’s Pizza in Bismarck gets rave reviews for its incredible steak sandwiches and hoagies, made using thinly sliced rib-eye on Italian bread. It also serves huge slices of pizza with toppings such as spicy barbecue chicken, Hawaiian, and pepperoni. This is Italian-American food at its finest. 

This lively Columbus restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere with a vintage-inspired interior. There's a menu of comforting Italian dishes such as risotto with chicken, sundried tomato, and torn basil (pictured), baked rigatoni, and ravioli with ricotta, Parmesan, and truffle. There's also a great wine and cocktail list, with a daily, early evening happy hour.

Proud owner Lori Burson came up with the idea for Stella Modern Italian Cuisine while studying in Rome. Located in Oklahoma City, the restaurant has a seasonal menu and a hip atmosphere. On the menu you’ll find popular dishes such as charcuterie, wild boar Bolognese, and grilled peach and prosciutto pizza. The joint also serves brunch at the weekends, with Italian-inspired burgers, French toast (pictured), and amazing egg dishes.

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 (pictured) on the menu.

Chef-owner Pietro Carcioppolo and his wife Antonella opened Gabriella Italian Ristorante in 1997, and it's been providing a great dining experience ever since. As well as the classics, it serves specials such as scallops, sautéed cherry tomatoes, and basil in a garlicky sauce over linguine, and portobello mushrooms in a garlic white wine sauce. Visitors agree it has a great atmosphere. 

What could be more quintessentially Philly than a restaurant that featured in a Rocky film? Victor Café is a classic red-and-white checkered tablecloth affair that’s been going since 1918, and featured as ‘Adrian's restaurant' in the 2015 Rocky Balboa franchise film Creed. It's famous for its singing servers – who serenade diners with Italian opera every 20 minutes – walls lined with memorabilia, and hearty Italian-American food cooked with love. Fans rave about the chicken piccata, burrata salad, and baked clams casino. 

This old-school Italian restaurant has been serving its loyal customers, who praise the great food and service, since 1988. Head there for Martinis, perfectly fried calamari (pictured), arancini, and huge pasta dishes. Expect low lighting and a musical soundtrack featuring the Rat Pack.

For authentic Italian dishes in elegant Roman-inspired surroundings, Villa Romana Italian Restaurant is the place to go. It opened in 1985 and serves family recipes such as Veal Absolut (veal cutlets sautéed in a mushroom, vodka, and cream sauce) as well as great seafood. The Shrimps San Marzano (jumbo shrimp with zucchini, provolone, prosciutto, tomatoes, and wine) comes highly recommended.

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 praise the vegetarian and gluten-free options, too. 

This modern restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee specializes in elevating rustic Italian food into contemporary, refined dishes. On the menu is a hot honey and sausage Calabrese pizza and black spaghetti with lobster ragù, shrimp, and chili. The appetizers and pasta dishes are just perfect and there's also an impressive wine list. 

The team that runs this farm-to-table bistro takes ingredients very seriously, sourcing a huge amount of produce from the restaurant’s own backyard vegetable garden. The menu is described as ‘Italian cuisine with a Gulf Coast perspective, dictated by Houston's growing seasons,’ so it’s packed with fresh-tasting delights like the ricotta cavatelli (handmade pasta shells) served with roasted carrots, almonds, and carrot-top pesto. The pizzas are also innovative and incredible – try the one topped with clams, gulf shrimp, kale pesto, and shaved fennel.

Executive chef Fiore Tedesco and his team at L’Oca d’Oro create high-quality, contemporary Italian dishes for their seasonal menu, which uses only the freshest ingredients. Expect to find classics like rigatoni a la pomodoro with whipped ricotta, alongside innovative dishes such as grilled kampachi with hydra kale, vadouvan, bonito oil, and coconut namnam.

Valter's Osteria serves high-quality Tuscan food, such as the pasta sampler, which includes four of the daily homemade gnocchi and ravioli. The butternut squash ravioli, angel hair pasta, and bright, airy ambience are other highlights that make this restaurant a must-visit. The joint was founded by the charismatic Valter Nassi, who passed away in late 2022, and his spirit lives on in the menu.

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. The same team runs Pizzeria Verita next door – said to have the best Neapolitan pizza outside of Italy, according to regulars.

This quirky and lively restaurant has been built to look like an old Italian train station. At Trattoria Villagio, visitors can choose between the classic dining room or opt for drinks, cheese, and salumi at the marble-topped bar. The grilled octopus appetizer and the freshly made pasta, in particular the seafood pasta with mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp, come highly recommended.

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 seafood dishes, such as grilled octopus with chimichurri, and the pizzas come highly recommended.

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 menu highlights are the meaty lasagna with sausage, ham, and provolone, the wild mushroom ravioli, and the cannoli.

Family-owned Tenuta's Italian Restaurant was founded by Cesare and Antonia Tenuta, who came to America from southern Italy in 1961. The traditional recipes they brought with them can still be found on the menu, including their original sauces and seafood and pasta dishes. Customers rate the thin-crust pizza, butternut squash ravioli, and tiramisù.

Established in 1966, Calico claims to be one of the oldest restaurants in Jackson Hole. The wood-fired pizza, family-friendly setting, and extensive wine list make this restaurant a firm favorite. There's a lovely deck area to dine outside, and a menu of classic dishes. We recommend trying the Tom's Bomber pizza, with sausage, grilled hamburger, pepperoni, scallions, and black olives.

Now take a look at the most historic restaurant in every state