30 Best Italian Restaurants in Louisville

“It's rare that we have a date night on a weekday with two young children, but tonight was the exception. When I realized our anniversary was falling on a Wednesday, Perso was the first place that came to mind. Perso's Prix Fixe Menú is available every Sunday through Wednesday and offers a three course meal for $29. It's no secret that I'm a fine dining enthusiast; but who doesn't love a bargain? If you're looking for a nice night out without breaking the bank, this is your spot. Perso sits at the corner of Oak and Shelby in the same location as the former Square Cut Pizza. The giant windows in the front provide an abundance of natural light. The interior has a modern industrial vibe with painted exposed brick, plants, and Edison bulbs hanging on pendants. One wall with wooden slats gives a Scandinavian feel to the main dining area. It's a small-ish intimate space with a beautiful patio. For my first course, I chose Crostino Di Tonno- olive oil poached tuna, stracciatella, pickled celery, and Calabrian chili. I followed my first course with olive oil poached swordfish, corn chowder, and golden zucchini scapece. For dessert, I had the chef's choice: apple strudel with whipped cream cheese. My husband chose heirloom tomato with roasted eggplant, bagna couda, and fine herbs. For his main course, he had pork tenderloin with edamame, beef dashi, and fine herbs. We both opted for the chef's choice for dessert. I tasted each of his courses and they were every bit as delicious as my own. The edamame provided the perfect texture and his tenderloin dashi tasted gravy-esque without being overly heavy. Mostly notable, besides the insane deal for such decadence, was the fresh flavor combinations throughout. Our table had fresh rosemary as a centerpiece. The corn chowder was right up my alley. I could've licked my bowl if I wasn't trying to pretend to have a bit of class. The swordfish was tender, juicy, and not overly fishy. The tuna flatbread was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The mint on top of my whipped cream cheese truly set it apart. My lavender Manhattan was earthy and smoky, not just in flavor. It was literally smoking. My husband had an old-fashioned. Neither of us were disappointed. Our server, Amanda, was phenomenal. She offered recommendations. She visited our table to ensure we were satisfied the perfect number of times. Her warm demeanor was professional while also being personable. She was everything we hope for in a server. Perso's Sunday through Wednesday Prix Fixe Menú is hands-down one of the best opportunities for an affordable night out. That being said, once you get a taste of what they have to offer, you'll be sold on splurging any day of the week.“

“We always enjoy our experiences at Volare’. Fresh seafood dishes flown in each Friday for another one of their exquisite seafood entree’s. Large portions are in order and our favorites are the steak with bourbon glaze and salmon with a hot pepper sauce. Don’t forget to order their decadent desserts, even if you take it to go. Caring staff that make certain that your visit is flawless.“

“Visiting Louisville and two days in a row coming to this fabulous establishment! Absolutely amazing food and Lexi at the bar offered the best service!“

“I have had several of the Middle Eastern menu items multiple times. Without a doubt it’s one of the best places here in Louisville. If not the best. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are healthy. I need to try some of the Italian dishes. The owner used to work in a top rated Italian restaurant for 17 years.“

“Friendliest staff!! Most delicious food! All around perfect dining experience!!“

“My friends and I got their pizza with vegan cheese, vegan pepperoni and vegan sausage and it was amazing! We’re stoked about their new plant based options and it’s going to be our new go to spot. The customer service was top notch too.“

“This place was wonderful! Yesterday was my first time coming to Grassa Gramma and my husband and I went for an early Valentine's date. The decor and atmosphere was breath taking! Just so gorgeous! Our waiter was kind and gave us the specials for the day. I ordered the baked seafood scampi and my husband ordered the cacio e pepe and we loved it! I even reheated my pasta today and it tastes just as delicious as it did yesterday!“

“The food was enjoyable. The unavailability of beer was uncanny specially, no availability of the only one Italian beer offered. Cost way too long to be taken to the table. Some of the staff are welcoming. Others seem a little too good to help certain customers..“

“The experience was excellent from start to finish. The food was wonderful. Jordan was our server and she made the evening very enjoyable. She and the rest of the table staff were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. It was a grand evening.“

“We had an amazing first visit and had to share! Yondel provided incredible, genuine service from the moment he greeted use through the end of the evening. Every dish we chose was carefully prepared, flavorful, and fresh. The atmosphere was cozy and upbeat, and the weather allowed us to take advantage of the lovely patio. Five stars and look forward to returning!“

“My wife and I have been coming here since 2018 or so, we have loved it every single time, enough that I proposed to my wife in the restaurant! Great food, kind staff, excellent decor. All around a great date night location!“

“I like Brian the bar tender. He is nice, friendly and does a good job. He sure knows how to make a good manHatton I would recommend this place to every body.“

“I would give this place 10 stars if I could! The vibe in there is amazing. If they picked this restaurant up and placed it in NYC, I guarantee they would be booked every night. The food was beyond delicious. There was not one bad bite. Constance was an excellent server and she was very intentional and sweet. We will definitely be back again because there's so much more I want to try!“

“Some of the best food in Louisville!“

“I inadvertently made a reservation for the wrong day for the table in the kitchen. Manager, Dino, took care of us even though it was my mistake! We always have a great experience at this location and will keep coming back!“

“I normally don't do reviews but I had to just give a HUGE shout-out to our server tonight! Jaiden, you were AWESOME!!! We appreciate your service tonight and GREAT customer service! Thank you for making our experience tonight awesome!
Food was good and hot and everything was on point! A little busier than usual but overall great experience!“

“We had dinner here tonight for the first time ever. Our waitress was well organized and stayed right on top of getting our food out to us. Perfect! Every platter of food was tasty. Absolutely no issues at all. My one complaint would be the restrooms and the area just before entering them. It was SO cold my grand children didn’t want to sit on the toilet. It’s was freezing-no joke! Please consider a small space heater there for winter nights. Not a deal breaker and will definitely be back!“

“I had lunch at Ziba’s yesterday and it was fantastic! The food was fresh and delicious and the team was super fun and friendly! I highly recommend stoping by.“

“I had never heard of this restaurant until a family member from out of state sent me a link as a suggestion to cater our grandson’s first birthday party. We were expecting 80 people (adults and children) - he is a miracle baby and this was a big celebration! We wanted to make sure there was enough food that both adults and children would enjoy. Paula was so patient and gracious to us as we went back and forth about what we wanted, even changing the menu at the last minute. She was also extremely helpful and gave us the perfect suggestions for a crowd our size, with something for everyone. She even made a low sodium option for my husband who is on a renal diet. We ended up with two pasta dishes and two kinds of panini sliders, with garlic bread bites and a complimentary tray of cookies. Everything was incredibly delicious, and we had tons of food! Everyone raved about it and commented it was like food at a wedding reception. The panini sliders were a huge hit! This is not your typical Italian food - it is high quality cuisine, and you can tell it is “made with love” as my husband says - and very reasonably priced especially for the quality. Lastly, Paula’s husband, Anthony, delivered the meal all the way to Bernheim Forest where we had the event. We were running behind and it was so chaotic when he got there - but he was so gracious and helpful, and even brought a birthday gift Paula had gotten for our grandson! Our entire experience with them was wonderful. They served us well, and we’ll definitely go back. They are busy, so if you don’t get a call back, be patient - it will be well worth the wait!“

“We were traveling and got a recommendation to try Osteria. The evening could not have been better. Our server Kristy was wonderful and had a great knowledge of the food offerings and their preparation . The food was fantastic. The experience was a 10 out of 10. Thank You Osteria“

“The best old fashion cocktail we have ever had. The staff were friendly and food was excellent. We will definitely go back.“

“Pizza is amazing!!! So yummy. The bartender is HORRIBLE. Stood at bar showing pictures to someone and totally ignored me. I had to end up leaving and have someone else get our drinks. She was extremely rude!“

“Reviews are typically about the great food (rightly so), however I would like to give a shout out to the bartenders, especially Reyna. Rena is a true delight. Attentive, knows how to make a good drink, and most importantly takes care of her customers and keeps it fun. Awsome atmosphere and service!“

“Ryan was our server this evening and he was absolutely amazing! We had a large group for our kiddos graduation. Thank you for the great food, atmosphere, and drinks! Was well worth coming from Texas 💕“

“​I had an incredible dining experience at the Brownsboro location! From the moment I walked in, the hosting staff greeted me warmly and escorted me to my seat.
​Right off the bat, I started with a great glass of Chianti. My server, Kaylee, was absolutely fantastic from there on out. I’m currently on a diet, and she was incredibly helpful and accommodating, making sure I could get the minestrone soup to keep my meal light but delicious.
​The entire staff was helpful, delightful, and professional—five stars across the board. The food came out piping hot, and the overall vibe was excellent. To the GM running this place: huge shout out to you and your team for maintaining such high standards. I will definitely be back!“

“The best, authentic Italian food in the entirety of Kentucky. GP was our server and did not steer us wrong - every recommendation was fantastic. The Chef Rocco came out to serve our cacio e pepe and was so kind and personable. Make sure to get the Tiramisu - It’s the best you’ll ever have! We had a fantastic experience and will absolutely be back!“

“Aimee was an excellent server. She was very friendly and even remembered my drink order from my last visit. She, Blyth and Ava always make an effort to say hi and make us feel welcomed. The BoomBozz at Westport Village is a standard for all.“

“wonderful experience for our 1st meal in Louisville. Great vibes and atmosphere. outdoor bar area with live music on a Friday night was so nice. best shrimp and grits ive had in a long time. drinks were amazing anf food was even better. fantastic service“