50 Best Italian Restaurants near Arlington

“Best food and service ever. We were a party of 12. Discussed and pre-ordered menu selection in advance. The chef was happy to offer choices not on the menu. Best lamb chops and pasta dishes. Perfect apetiser salads and special dessert. Good not expensive wine. So happy we celebrated big birthday here with friends. Very special, cozy atmosphere.

Parking: Plenty on street parking“

“Love Arlington Cafe, got delivery , ordered through Amazon Grub Hub, Great pizza with out cheese, garlic bread, Baklava.“

“The delivery is always speedy and the steak tips NEVER disappoint. So good🤤🤤🤤“

“This place is both so comfortable and so classy at the same time! Service is wonderful, the staff members are so very friendly, and the food is delicious! Ava and Kathy made the evening so enjoyable! This is definitely a place for us to visit again!“

“First time yesterday, very kind employees,fast service, wonderful meatball sub, french fries.“

“Chipotle chicken Melt on a wrap“

“Pazza is AMAZING! Great service and the food is incredible. Highly recommend!“

“This place is amazing!! The customer service was top notch!!“

“Bostons Top 50 for sure! Went 3x’s in a week, twice for dinner and once for breakfast. Every dish from the appetizer to dessert was delicious! The flavors, fresh ingredients and presentation are exceptional. The staff were super friendly and service was top notch! Can’t wait to go back. Cheers Via Cannuccia !“

“Amazing, fresh, worth going off the beaten path for!“

“Very good pizza, especially the pepperoni one, we were very well served by Gigi, very friendly and attentive.
The only thing that bothered us a little was the hostess, a bald guy with glasses, who welcomed us at the entrance to the restaurant, seemed uncomfortable with our presence, constantly looking at our table suspiciously. We were dressed the same as everyone else and our behavior was the same as everyone else there, so I really don't know what the reason was.
Other than that, great service and good food.“

“Awesomeness in their great food and wine list“

“My favorite restaurant we live in Southern NH I will only go there to eat in Boston just there yesterday for Lunch , Food and Service is outstanding we also had our daughters wedding there. Staff and food was amazing service is very professional no other place I rather be while visiting Boston will always come back“

“First time at IL PONTE! Definitely not our last time. Luigi made our experience one to remember with his expertise in making the best drinks and food recommendations. Brianne welcomed us on a crowded Friday (even though it was only 5:30) and accommodated us - a party of 2. 10 out of 10. Food was the best Italian food we’ve ever had. Staff was so welcoming and kind. Will be back again soon - on a Tuesday or Friday - because Luigi is the best! Thank you for a great experience ❤️“

“Amazing food and service with authentic Italian hospitality!“

“I attended an event yesterday at this amazing Restaurant. The atmosphere is so inviting, the drinks were delicious. Food was absolutely scrumptious. And the staff all so kind and friendly. I highly recommend stopping in for a cocktail or dinner, you won’t be disappointed!!!“

“Hands down the best in Davis. Don't think twice about going to eat here! 10/10 atmosphere 10/10 staff 10/10 food 10/10 drinks Don't believe me? Go and see for yourselves! :)“

“The food was so good it didn't even matter that the date didn't go well. Everybody involved in the service was great, John, Helena, and a manager I think. John's guidance was primordial in terms of food experience. The special with the Linguini, Black Bass and Calamari it's out of this world. Even tho it was full I never felt like I wasn't able to comfortably talk with my date. $200 plus tip for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 4 drinks and dessert felt pretty well spent honestly. 10/10 experience definitely coming back.“

“I loved the spaghetti here, and everybody loved the food too! Thank you, we will come again!“

“We tried pizza Bianca, the famous salad and pasta with aged balsamic, and finally the ricotta cheese cake. Everything was vey good. The favorite dish was the pasta. I scored it 4/5 because I think the food portion was small. But definitely one of the best Italian dishes in the area! 👌“

“Excellent variety of un *americanized" Italian fare. The lobster tasted very fresh. Service time was a little slow but my table ordered two different temperatures of steak. Overall very pleased. Prices were reasonable. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. Recommended highly“

“Love everything about this place; currently our favorite N.End restaurant. The bread and oil are excellent, the beet and burrata salad was delicious and both of our entrees were great. My wife had the bolognese (which was dense with the meat mixture) and I had the chicken piccata (which had a thicker lemon butter sauce than most places prepare which made it stick to the pasta wonderfully). Highly recommend“

“Wow, wow, and wow again! What a treat that my dear friend and I happened upon this GEM! At first glance it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you step inside it’s like entering a whole new world. It is elegant and beautiful, a fantastic combination of fine dining with an atmosphere like coming home. Such a quaint spot with the best quality Italian food I have ever had. Cristiano was the kindest server on the planet, so attentive, and so welcoming! As a worker in the food service industry, I was blown away! First off, drinks. To our surprise, Arancini has a BYOB policy (SO COOL! People had brought their own bottles of wine, which Cristiano offered to open and put on ice). Other than that, they offer your typical sodas, some juice, and a variety of sparkling and still water options. Let’s talk food. Right away, they bring fresh, warm, house-made bread, with fantastically seasoned dipping oil. Other than that, we started off with the Caesar salad and the friend mozzarella appetizer. The Caesar salad (despite it being just about the most basic thing that someone can order) was so well put together. It had just the right amount of dressing, and fresh grated, high quality parmesan cheese! The mozzarella app was quite possible the tastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth. Oh my god, it just about dissolved in my mouth. Imagine the best mozzarella sticks you’ve ever had in your life, but the cheese is so high quality and it is freshly battered and friend minutes before it is brought to your table. Never frozen - just made hot and fresh for you to eat. Don’t even get me started on the marinara sauce. Again, clearly house-made and so fresh. I could’ve had it as a soup! For a main meal I had the most delicious fettuccini Alfredo. The sauce was TO DIE FOR. The pasta was perfectly cooked (I didn’t know pasta could even taste like that ). I asked for chicken in the pasta and… oh. my. god. I have no words. I mean I can attempt to describe it but I won’t do it justice. Tender, JUICY, and you KNOW it’s authentic because the chicken was battered in egg. I was drooling before I took a single bite. I also added broccoli and it was SO PERFECT. The whole meal, it was just the best food I have ever had I swear. PLEASE give this place a shot! You’ll probably want a reservation because I don’t think there are more than 10 tables there! It’s small but mighty. Thank you Cristiano for making this experience incredible!“

“The Boston Harbor Angels as part of the Boston Harbor Angels dinner club had a wonderful meal at Gufo. The elaborate pizzas just kept coming. They enjoyed the prosciutto and anchovies appetizers. The staff were wonderful and the atmosphere was jovial and lively. Thank you Gufo!“

“Grilled Clams make it so worthwhile“

“I recently dined at Prima Italian Steakhouse, and it was an absolutely incredible experience! From the moment we walked in, the warm ambiance and rustic Italian decor set the perfect tone. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel like part of the family.

As for the food – wow! The ribs were perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful, with a nice Italian twist that made it unique. We also tried the handmade pasta and some classic Italian sides, and each dish was bursting with authentic flavors. The wine selection was extensive and featured many excellent Italian options that paired beautifully with the meal.“

“Absolutely Outstanding. Ambiance, impeccable service and amazing food. Authentic. Just like my mom and grandma used to make from Sicily. Hard to find that kind of Italian food. Mostly you see Italian food from Tuscany & Calabria. Our waiter was a gem. Will come again. Tucked away a block off the touristy section. Nice quiet less bustling street. Family owned business.“

“Wonderful food and great service in an amazing setting!“

“Dino's Special was the best sandwich I have ever eaten!“

“I had an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back🥰“

“My second review went less than a week. Got takeout tonight. The food is fabulous. Staff is wonderful. There was a mess up with the toast app. They quickly fixed it. I got to sit at the bar and talk to the bartender. Really nice guy. The food is so flavorful. Usually my wife says I can cook better than the food we eat at most restaurants. (I love to cook. Both grandfathers were chefs in Boston) She can’t say that about this one. The chefs there do a great job. Love to get some of the recipes though.“

“Phenomenal food, wine, and service. Some the best food I’ve had in Boston.“

“Stopped by Davios on my way out of logan. Food was pretty good. Had the burger which was very filling if you're hungry. The bartender Diego was awesome! Friendly knowledgeable and hilarious. I'll be stopping in again and again just for the great service!“

“Another wonderful family lunch today! Thank you Chris and the Carlo’s Cucina family. My second visit in three weeks. We’ll definitely be back! My new favorite dining spot on my visits to Allston, from the Cape. 👍🍽️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mark N.“

“The food was very tasty, but the overall experience was a little unsatisfying. We had a reservation for 8pm but were not seated until 8:20, after being told it would be 10 minutes a few times. It was extremely loud and hard to hear each other talk, but I guess that speaks to how popular it was on a Saturday night.“

“What amazing food! Salvo took such good care of us. Recommended fabulous dinners and made us a specialty cocktail. Highly recommend!“

“Gigi’s had everything we were looking for in a cozy dinner date spot! The atmosphere struck the perfect balance between intimate and lively, with soft lighting and chic decor that made us feel at home the moment we walked in. Whoever handled their interiors really nailed it—modern, comfortable, and full of character.

For dinner, we tried the Chicken Parm and Rigatoni alla Vodka, and both dishes were absolute winners. The Chicken Parm was perfectly breaded, juicy, and covered with just the right amount of rich, flavorful sauce. The Rigatoni had this creamy, dreamy vodka sauce that we couldn't get enough of! Each bite was packed with flavor, and you could tell that quality ingredients were at the heart of everything on the menu.

Gigi’s is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. Both the chef and designer deserve applause for creating such a memorable place!“

“Outstanding menu that changes seasonally and with specials. Service is superb! Especially Christina. We love to visit and eat here with goid friends. Never a bad meal. A plus! 10 stars! All quality food! Worth every penny. Love pans cota too!“

“Being 100% Italian also the food was amazing! They started us off with real EVOO to dip Our bread in with salt & pepper you can tell the EVOO was straight from Italy. I started with the arancini special which was sausage and saffron sitting in a white creamy sauce that was absolutely delicious. Then it was a toss up on my pasta dish between lobster raviolis and wild mushroom pappardelle I went with the lobster raviolis in a pink sauce. I never finish my food and I ate ever single ravioli. The portion was good enough for me and the proper way to eat a pasta dish so you don’t have left overs or waste. The pink sauce was creamy and delicious (I even dipped my bread in it at the end). Then I went straight for the dessert and ordered affogato (gelato with espresso) wow amazing not too sweet and not too bitter from the espresso perfect blend. Then my friend and I still were not ready to leave so I ordered a espresso martini and again amazing only advice I would give them is shake the martini more to make it foamy And that was my first experience at Gusto’s I give it a 10/10 Oh and the pizza looked really good that will be my next outing.“

“Stella’s is absolutely incredible- even the arancini held up during a short drive home! It was incredibly easy to place my order online and loved the happy hour appetizers so I could try two. I was able to try the arancini which were so creamy and crisp and the meatballs which were so flavorful. The chicken parm was served with a garlic sauce for the pasta which I never would have chosen, but absolutely loved!“

“Delicious approach and amazing pizza! Service was spectacular!“

“Amazing! What an experience to find this family-friendly (yes, they have a kids menu thank goodness!), inviting atmosphere, social staff, and delicious food! Everything was incredibly fresh and the staff were beyond welcoming and accommodating. We felt like we were dining with folks we’ve known for years. The bruschetta was fresh along with the pink penne vodka and kids meals. We felt so full but beyond grateful to find BenCotto!“

“Amazing food and good service. I will go back.“

“My husband and I made reservations for Valentine’s Day after a wonderful first visit to this cozy spot! Our wait for food was a bit long, but that is to be expected on a particularly busy night. The food and drinks certainly made up for the wait. We had bruschetta to start, which is of course a staple of any Italian spot; it was delicious. I loved the goat cheese on this rendition. For our entrees we decided to get two different dishes and share. I had the vitello saltimboca, and my husband had the heart shaped ravioli, a Valentine’s special. Both entrees were delicious, filling, and easy to share on our appetizer plates. I also loved the drink special for tonight. I feel specials can be very hit or miss, but Ciao Amici did not disappoint. I highly reccomend this cozy restaurant for its fine food, kind service, and comfortable atmosphere.“

“Wow. This is the kind of place where I’m sitting there thinking, “now this is 5 stars.”

It came to light because at some point we heard that 1) they had won a James Beard award (which is on display right up front), and 2) the Culurgiones (Sardinian stuffed pasta) were to die for.

When we arrived, we immediately appreciated the level of service provided - for example, our coats were taken and hung up. The wine menu is also authentic Italian - I ordered a Nebbiolo rosso.

As a party of two, we split an antipasto, a primo, and a secondo. First was an excellent burrata. Second was the famed Culurgiones (pictured) - so pillowy and tasty. Third was the roast half chicken. This was the best roasted chicken we’d had in quite a while. So juicy and well seasoned.

We finished with the tiramisu (tasty, well-presented, and bigger than we thought) and the cannoli (comes with two).

The atmosphere was lovely and so was our server, Paige.

Looking forward to coming back sometime!“

“One of the best dining experiences I've had in years. Food serving was well paced, and waitstaff were extremely doting without being overbearing. It was crystal clear to me that the culinary staff know what they're doing as it was some of the best food I'd ever eaten. Would and will return in a heartbeat.“

“We had a fabulous lunch here this past weekend. Best food ever! Thankfully, we also brought home several pastas and sauces. Tonight, we cooked up the jumbo cheese ravioli and tossed them with some of the incredible pesto sauce. It was absolutely delicious! Paired with a simple salad and a glass of wine, I felt like we had brought a bit of the North End home with us. Can’t wait to get back to enjoy another meal and pick up more goodies for our freezer! Thank you for being amazing!!“

“One of the best Italian restaurants I've seen! Great food, the servers are nice and pay attention to drinks, and the atmosphere is amazing. I recommend if you can, sitting in the pizza bar, where they have the pizza oven right in front of you!“

“Food was very well prepared and the food runners delivered it quickly. The waiter himself was a bit slow to visit but quick to run off, once with my unfinished beer glass. Didn't even have enough time to tell him I was not finished. Forgot our bread. Asked if we wanted parm cheese then forgot to bring. The open view kitchen is great. Only thing that bothered me from atmosphere was the acoustics. Difficult to hear people talk at the table.“