50 Best Italian Restaurants near Covington

“We celebrated my birthday at Carmelo’s, our first time there. The experience was incredible, and our server was exceptional. The food was absolutely amazing & I can’t stop thinking about it! We had the oxtail pasta and the red fish. Fish is my favorite, and I’ve never had better tasting fish. Our server also convinced us to try the cauliflower, which was amazing. I’m already planning our next visit!! Shout out to Mitch and his partner for creating such an amazing restaurant!“

“Mama’s on Main has some of the best food we have enjoyed while visiting the area. It’s a must!!!“

“Enjoyed our dinner tonight. The Rainbow Vegetable Flatbread was delicious as was the Shrimp scampi and Caesar salad. We asked for bread and was told they do not have bread for table service. Don’t understand. I think bread should be available with the entrees. We will go back. Did enjoy dinner!“

“What an amazing place to hold birthday party and a night out! Over the weekend we hosted my husband’s birthday party at Ripples event space. They were amazing from the service to the food and they were very accommodating to all of our requests! Trish and Matt did an amazing job with service and then everyone kept going on about the food! Way to go!!! Thank you so much for an amazing night out!“

“Food was great and service was Awesome“

“The food is amazing, they have a large wine and spirt offering. The staff are always courteous, knowledgeable and very accommodating. Casual dining with an upscale feel.“

“We travel all around the world, even compared to Italy, their home made pasta was the best we have ever eaten. We had appetizers that were awesome as well. We Highly recommend this place!“

“Sotto embodies the feeling of understated luxury. From the wood-fired oven to the homemade pasta, the chef's dedication to every dish is evident. I particularly enjoyed their Italian meatballs and roasted eggplant appetizers, which paired perfectly with a glass of red wine. This place isn't just about dining; it's about enjoying a mini culinary journey. If you're in Cincinnati, be sure to make reservations in advance; otherwise, it's very difficult to get a table.“

“Authentic pizza and pasta. Staff is customer focused and quality minded. You got to get some of this!“

“Had the pleasure of dining with Cheyenne this afternoon and although our meal was amazing she was the highlight of the experience. It was my first time and she was super friendly made amazing food and wine recommendations and I will definitely be returning to this location!!“

“As I’m writing this review I’m still in shock! I’m in Cincinnati on business and I was craving Italian. I can’t believe there’s not a line around the block just for the meatballs! My family owned an Italian seafood restaurant in NJ for 26 years and I can say without hesitation the meatballs here are the best west of Arthur Ave in the Bronx! My NJ mind is blown!“

“As an Italian, I’m really happy and proud that Italian cuisine is well represented by Nicola’s. I went there with my lady to celebrate Saint Valentines in advance, and we were so happy to spend our time there. The place is wonderful, the service is perfect and the food… the food is astronomical! Personally I do love the Malfatti “A true love for Rome”. As being born and raised in Rome I do really appreciate that love for my city. Definitely a 10/10, and best place to experience Italian cuisine. P.S. Italiani, se siete di passaggio a Cincinnati fate un salto da Nicola, non ve ne pentirete“

“Always Great. Service, Quality, & Value. My scale is the only one who wishes I wouldn't eat so much & go so often.“

“This quaint, family-owned restaurant is a true hidden gem. The cozy atmosphere feels warm and inviting, and being able to watch the cooks prepare everything in real time adds a personal, authentic touch. It’s a perfect spot for a romantic date night or a relaxed meet-up with a dear friend.
I had the Caesar chicken salad and finished with the tiramisu, both were fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Everything was delicious. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Amazing food. Wonderful views. The ambiance and service was 10/10. 💜💜💜“

“Been a fan for years, this one by far best experience and customer service I’ve had. Bring on to nashville, I’ll invest.“

“The hostess who greeted us, Kennedy, was lovely, and immediately set the tone for our Sunday brunch. She was personal, warm, and highly professional, and I immediately knew that I was in extremely competent hands. Our server, Carter, could not have been more perfect. Our food was wonderful--flavorful without pretension. I am delighted to know that cuisine of that caliber and individuals of such impeccable quality and professionalism still exist in the service world! Thank you.“

“Just left the Norwood location and it was a great experience! The food was amazing and the service was nothing short of perfect! The staff was extremely personable and very inviting. It was the first time my girlfriend and I had been there and Ethan made sure that we were well taken care of! We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!!“

“Absolutely delightful. Superbly delicious Italian cuisine, served by a friendly and attentive staff.“

“It was our first time there and they had amazing food, great staff!!! We will definitely come back Again and would highly recommend them!!!“

“Food is so good! Tried the new avocado chop salad today and it's my new fave!“

“Husband mentioned privately that the dish would have been great with bread. Server was at the table next to us (very small spaces) and immediately turns around “you said you want some bread” we were kind of shocked she just barged into our conversation but replied “yeah that would be great” Someone brjngs out the bread - we think what a great server to overhear a comment on how the dish would be better and try's to do so. Server then charges us for an appetizer of bread on the check. Just a tad bit tasteless behavior.“

“We recently attended a private "pop up" dinner here. The home made pasta dishes were absolutely delicious and the best pasta that I have experienced outside of Italy. All meal courses were wonderful and unique. The chef has a true gift. The service was friendly and efficient. We will definitely return!“

“THIS is for the College Hill location... that Big Gripp is absolute ⛽ 🔥 👀 🤤“

“Been a fan for years, this one by far best experience and customer service I’ve had. Bring on to nashville, I’ll invest.“

“A hidden Gem in Wyoming, Ohio.
The staff was exceptional! We had their meatball appetizer and supreme pizza. Both were AMAZING! Owner came over and introduced himself which shows the customer service is alive and well here!! We will be back!!“

“We had a lovely time at this gorgeous restaurant. You can sit up front by the bar area and windows or back by the bustling kitchen. Delicious food and exceptional service. It was quite busy and loud when we were there and you needed a reservation.“

“There for a special Birthday Lunch. We were very fortunate to be seated with Shayla. I hope i spelled it right. She was very attentive, warm and welcoming. She offered a lot of knowledge of the menu, and was very informative. Great Service we we won't forget.“

“Was in town for the weekend and stumbled upon Pompilios. We were pleasantly suprised how good our meals were! The homemade Italian dressing was one of the best I’ve had.“

“My go to spot for all my fresh pasta and sauces. Love this place!!!“

“The food and atmosphere were classic olive garden, but the service was outstanding. Dylan and Hannah Grace were absolutely wonderful, very attentive, and good sports with some of our table’s more tedious requests. The hosts and manager were clearly busy but handled every customer with grace and patience!!“

“I love Scotti's we have been going there for over 45 years. We have never had a bad meal. The food is great and so are the are the owners.i give Scotti's a 5“

“We have always enjoyed the pizza, and especially the family atmosphere.“

“Quite possibly the best meal we’ve ever had!“

“We went to Buca today and our food came out so quickly after ordering and was delicious! Our waiter, Griffin, was wonderful and answered all the questions we had with delight. 10/10 would recommend.“

“I absolutely love everything on the menu! My favorite is the Meat Lasagna. I also enjoy the 'Old World Italy' feel and the friendliness of the staff.“

“We went for my birthday to check out the place. Good food and top notch service.“

“Amazing food, huge portions at a reasonable price. Perfect for “pre gaming” before a show at Bogarts.“

“I have been here several times and it has always been a great experience.This place never disappoints.Wonderful food,top notch service and a great relaxing atmosphere.Amazing view of the city.“

“Y’all, Francesca is the best. These are the best croissants I have had in Cincy, and some of the best coffee. I came in to pick up a birthday cake and Francesca spoke with me in Italian and was so, so kind and generous. Definitely go see this place.“

“Absolutely fabulous experience! Amazing food, drinks, and fun vibes. The roasted eggplant is to die for, and the Sauvignon Blanc blend was fantastic. Great time with friends and wonderful staff made it even better!“

“Son un verdadero Gelato italiano, frescos y de calidad. Y lo mejor es la atención, te sientes como en casa.“

“THIS is for the College Hill location... that Big Gripp is absolute ⛽ 🔥 👀 🤤“

“By Far….this is the best pizza I have had in along time. Been ordering from them for a few months now. Never been disappointed. Customer service was incredible when a mistake occurred with our order! Wonderful customer service.“

“First time here tonight and the service was amazing and quick we were worried coming in about 7:50 since they closed at 9 and we didn’t feel rushed at all.. Food was absolutely delicious we ordered a pizza and hoagie with some cheese sticks, and that dessert especially the peanut butter pie was absolutely amazing I ask the girl at the register who makes it and Nicole idk if you will see this but you know what your doing with that peanut butter pie, it was absolutely the most delicious peanut butter pie I ever had.. it took a lot of self control to not buy every last piece that was left..“

“absolutely delicious food! i am so appreciative that they have vegan-meat options available for many of their subs! i got the vegetarian meatball sub and it was so tasty— loved the garlicy bread. can’t wait to try more off the menu! the wait to place an order to go was only about 15 mins. friendly staff & lots of seating options inside!“

“Very good quaint place Pizza was really good“

“Came to Taglio’s for my girlfriend and I’s first Presidents’ Day together and had their vegan (veggies) pizza with pumfuroni added. It was so good! And then we couldn’t help but try the chocolate sorbet (dairy free). She said she would only try 20% but it was too tempting to resist! Definitely recommend Updated from previous review on 2026-02-16“

“"Rockin Robyn" was an INCREDIBLE server (I think it was on October 23). She was attentive and very pleasant, and most of all, her service ensured that I will surely return again very soon!! I watched her attend to other guests as well, and her quick and efficient service showed that she was personally concerned about the enjoyment of each guest!! i do hope she is training others!!!“

“This is my favorite restaurant on campus and one of my favorite pizza places ever. The only reason it's missing a star is because they sometimes take the thin crust to the extreme. And I mean sometimes it's so thin it feels like the pizza is gonna disintegrate when I pick it up. I feel like this has happened more often than not this semester, and today was especially bad. The crust on about 1/3 of my slice was as thin as the cheese.“