50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lexington

“I have been coming here for fifty years even when I have lived far away. High quality food, reasonable prices, friendly staff. It is a vestige of the Lexington of my childhood.“

“Family friendly Italian food in Lexington Center. We saw all ages there from 2 to 80. There are about 12 tables plus a bar area that serves only wine. This is counter service, so you order and pay at the counter and they bring the food to you when it is ready. I had the design-your-own-pasta and it was fresh and delicious.“

“nice place, good meal and quick service“

“Nick’s Place on Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington, Massachusetts, offers some of the best comfort takeout food around. I love picking up a couple of meals here for me and my wife when neither one of has the time or energy to pull together dinner after an exhausting work day. Enjoy - Robert.“

“An absolutely fantastic dining experience at Giulia. This is the kind of place that reminds you why great Italian restaurants are so special—thoughtful dishes, incredible flavors, and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and memorable.

Every dish we had was outstanding. The seafood pasta special with seabass and calamari was exceptional—perfectly prepared and packed with flavor. The squash appetizer was another highlight and set the tone for a meal where every course felt carefully crafted and unique. From start to finish, the food was creative, balanced, and simply delicious.

The service matched the quality of the food—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. It’s exactly the kind of experience you hope for when dining at a private Italian restaurant where the focus is clearly on great food and great hospitality.

To cap it all off, the post-meal limoncellos were excellent and the perfect finish to a memorable dinner.

If you enjoy Italian cuisine that’s both authentic and inventive, Giulia is an absolute must-visit.“

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

“Great dinner and absolutely superb service! Ask for Tim to be your server. Mushroom fusilli is incredible along with scallops with a limoncello reduction. Went for my wife’s birthday with sister and brother-in-law, couldn’t have asked for a better dinner and service. Will definitely come back and highly recommend. Just a great night overall!“

“My husband and I went to Il Ponte in Woburn for the first time tonight. Let’s just say it will not be the last. From the moment we walked in right up until we walked out the door it was an incredible experience. We both had cocktails: a Cabernet and falling for you and both were amazing. The bread/focaccia with garlic and oil was a fantastic start to the meal. We got the octopus and a bruschetta to start and they were flavorful and cooked perfectly. My husband had the braised short rib over saffron risotto and he said it was delicious and fork tender. He said the flavor was like nothing he’s ever had and the saffron risotto was incredible and cooked perfectly. I got the special which was a crusted swordfish with asparagus risotto and it was, hands down, the best swordfish I have ever eaten. It was crusted so lightly and the swordfish was cooked to perfection. The portion was so big that I took half home. We don’t usually order dessert but when the server said “pistachio gelato” they reeled me in. My husband got bomboloni and couldn’t stop making all the faces and sounds…it was to die for. Before we finished the owner was making rounds at the tables thanking everyone and making sure we enjoyed our meals. I would give Il Ponte a 20/10 rating. We will absolutely be back again. If you get the opportunity….do not sleep on Il Ponte.“

“Definitely worth the hype. The food is exceptional. Pizza Bianca with the tomato relish is delicious bite and the bread is so perfect, the pepperoni pizza with hot honey is probably the only thing we ate that you can skip but it's still really good, clams and guanciale is cooked to perfection and the sauce is addicting, the bucatini with chilli anchovy butter is one of my favorite dishes I've had, perfect chew and flavor. The sausage cavatelli was a delicious change of pace again a perfect cook on the pasta, finally the taleggio signature dish, absolutely delicious, if you're going with a group I'd probably get it as a shared plate because it is so so rich. Service was also stellar“

“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!“

“Great food and great service! I even got gluten free chicken parm and spaghetti which was excellent! They have a wonderful food and drink menu. Our server Jess was was excellent as well. The manager Nick greeted us when we came in and found us a great table by the window. So the bottom line is, this is a great restaurant and I'm so happy we found this little gem! We will be back!“

“I can’t recall the last time our family went out to dinner and we all had such excellent meals like this. The service, the food, the staff, everything was awesome. Marybeth, our server, was outstanding! We absolutely need to come back more often. It was really, truly that good!“

“We had dinner here for two on a Saturday evening. The vibes inside are warm and lovely. The staff were all very pleasant and our waiter was very knowledgable on the menu.

We got a couple of the pastas for entrees that were good, but weren't too impressive. The real standout for us was the mussels toast appetizer. The flavors were well balanced and complex. Overall a great dining experience.“

“One of my favorite restaurants in the area for a night out with friends, especially when we are meeting partway between Boston and western suburbs. The food is really delicious, the drinks are great, and the service is attentive. It can get a little loud, but you can definitely still have a conversation. Don’t miss the focaccia and ricotta, but the pizza and pasta are also always outstanding. So are the salads. This place is just really solid.“

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“DELICIOUS food & wine, good 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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Molto bene! The decor was bright & cheerful, with yellows and whites. The owner’s daughter was friendly, fun, upbeat and managed a very busy & very loud restaurant with grace and patience. She was our server. The food was exceptional. I got meatballs (homemade) and spaghetti. I’m a homemade meatball chef at home and these were delicious! My husband’s braised beef and mashed was delicious, too. Looking forward to coming again!“

“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 best meal- great service- Beautiful atmosphere And warm friendly hostess“

“Great atmosphere. Excellent service. Delicious tiramisu & raspberry cheesecake. Very tasty watermelon strawberry sangria. & the absolute BEST chicken limone with fresh pasta!“

“The woman who waited on me and my family was incredibly kind. We have a wheelchair bound daughter and I just hope the know how come the made us feel plus the food was amazing. Save room for a cappuccino and tiramisu!“

“We’ve been trying to book for dinner a few Saturdays now but always the place was booked, finally we booked few weeks in advance and made it.
The atmosphere and interior is amazing, white/gold tones with chandeliers and floral decor.
The service was amazing, our helper was Alejandro, he didn’t rush us at all and was very attentive and on top of things.
The cocktails and appetizers were awesome and the food was delicious.
Overall it was a great experience, Alejandro made it a very pleasant experience.“

“Great place, great staff and amazing food. Their pizza is as good as it gets.. But it’s tough to decide with so many great offerings.“

“Family style dinner which is nice because you get to try a couple of things. The chicken parm was huge and delicious! I would also recommend the arancini and we also split carbonara which was good but not as standout as the chicken parm. Everyone there was super friendly! We went on a Monday so it was pretty quiet but still a really nice vibe.“

“Excellent high end meal in Waltham. The mushroom souffle is a signature dish with great sauce. The Tuscan kale ceasar salad is likely the best kale salad I have ever had. The chicken schnitzel main is a bomb of flavor. Strong, attentive service from the staff.“

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

“Spiga is our absolute favorite restaurant!! We've come a dozen times and it is always the best meal! This particular time, I made a reservation for Father's Day but I accidentally booked it for a week prior - the manager was so incredible and could hear the desperation in my voice, so squeezed us in and made it work by his own kindness, even though the restaurant was fully booked. Our waiter was amazing - the service was incredible from beginning to end and our meal was absolutely delicious and so freshly homemade as always! We cannot wait to come back, thank you Spiga!!“

“Best Italian pasta I ever tried!!!“

“Beautiful interior and food was amazing. The staff and bartenders were very attentive as well.“

“Thank you for a nice chicken parm dinner. It was very good and a nice portion. I'll be back!“

“One of our favorites! Delicious authentic Italian dishes! Awesome mixed cocktails!“

“This was our first visit. The restaurant has plenty of natural light, space and free parking in back. Our meals were delicious and the portions are very generous! I especially enjoyed the peach panzanela salad and chicken marsala. The service was on point. We will be back!“

“One of my favorite local Italian restaurants! Their homemade pasta is delicious. Their service is fast and their portions are gigantic!“

“excellent friendly service, delicious food, awesome date place.“

“Enjoyed a delicious brunch here today - they also serve their regular menu all day. Staff was friendly, beautiful space.“

“always excellent food and service!“

“Went in for my birthday dinner. Service was great and the food was fantastic. Will definitely be back again.“

“Excellent food and service!!!“

“Awesome people and delicious food done fast and for a reasonable price! Quit reading my review; pick up the phone and order! 🤤“

“It was our first time at Mario’s on Saturday and you all did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the place was warm and festive. Christmas music was playing. Our appetizers were so good. The wedding soup was perfect! My husband had the meatballs with pasta and he loved it. The cannoli’s were delicious. Our server, David, was personable and fun. He knew the menu very well. We definitely will be back!“

“Great service and delicious food“

“Was there for the first time for Valentine's Day. Food was delicious and our waitress was very attentive. We look forward to returning again soon!“

“Excellent food and cocktails! Service was wonderful. The bartender, Bernie, is wonderful! She makes the best Old Fashion I have ever had. It’s a small neighborhood “hole in the wall” vibe. Definitely worth trying.“

“We all had something different and everything was equally delicious. We started with a Caprese salad (amazing) and then each had a different pasta dish - including spaghetti with mussels. The sauce was slightly spicey (as advertised) and SO GOOD! The chef’s specials were perfect.

We enjoyed the relaxed interior and could comfortably converse in the cozy and authentic space. The chef checked in on us multiple times and the waiter was friendly and attentive.

We HIGHLY recommend this local gem!“

“Local family owned gem. Great service, Amazing food.“

“I had a great meal at BE Pasta today for lunch, Chef Fernando was very helpful and friendly and the caprese salad with chicken cutlet that he made me was delicious. It's always nice to find a casual place with great service. Thank you Fernando!“

“Superb restaurant, one of my Top Three Favorites.“