50 Best Italian Restaurants near Garner

“FUQUAY LOCATION Creme de le creme italian restaurant!! This has quickly become one of our favorite Italian restaurants. This was our second visit, and it was just as impressive as the first time we came with family. The quality of the food really stands out. I had the New York strip which was excellent and easily one of the best steaks I’ve had, second only to my wife’s steak. The atmosphere is consistently inviting, with well-balanced lighting and calming music that makes it perfect for a relaxed evening out. The staff is friendly, attentive, and contributes to the overall great experience. Dessert and coffee were also highlights and a perfect way to end the meal. We’ll definitely be making this our regular date night spot and look forward to coming back again.“

“Not since dining on Terrania's shores have I tasted a pizza as remarkable as this. I can't recommend Amore Mio any higher, would gladly give more stars, but we're limited to 5.“

“Being from Upstate New York, i have been looking for good NY style pizza I habe found it here at La Roma, thank you.“

“We use to eat here at least once a week but have noticed changes the past few months. The staff is not as friendly as they use to be. The garlic knots are not nearly as good, they have been cold in the middle as if they are warming them up in a microwave. Pizza is still good but after today's visit we will have to say goodbye for a while.“

“First time!!! Will not be the last!! Wow!!!“

“My definite go to on any day!“

“We recently went to Brodeto to discover what all of the hype was about. From the minute we walked into the restaurant until the moment we walked out, I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant. i honestly believe it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food is awesome and the staff was spot on in every aspect. I can only hope that everyone has the same experience that I was able to witness.“

“One of my favorite spots to eat in Raleigh. If I had one word to describe amedeos I would say “consistent”. Never had a single problem with the service or food in my 2 years of dining there. Shout out to Nathan, who’s a super charismatic dude that makes eating there twice as nice of an experience. Thanks amedeos for bringing a classic Italian joint you can always depend on“

“We had a wedding rehearsal dinner there this past weekend. Delicious food, good sized portions, excellent service! Thank you so much for making it a wonderful occasion.“

“If you’re looking for great Italian food in Raleigh, Pierro’s Italian Bistro is definitely worth trying. The atmosphere is really nice and the service was excellent. I ordered the risotto and it was incredible. I’m very particular about tiramisu, and this one definitely passed the test. We also tried a chocolate dessert and the beignets and they were so good. Everything we had was delicious. It was a really great experience overall. It’s clear they really care about the food and the experience. We will definitely be back.“

“Great New York style pizza. Sandwiches and desserts are great too.“

“Awesome service and food!“

“Anthony literally saved the night the other night from a horrible restaurant experience at another restaurant down the street to his prime location in Downtown Raleigh it was a night and day experience, 1000% recommend to anyone who wants a great dining and great food experience.“

“Farm to Table Italian cuisine with Southern Twist, with the perfect combination of ingredients and Flavors I had the opportunity to dine at Figulina in Raleigh, NC, which offers freshly made pasta with strong Italian influences, bringing in new flavors, ingredients, and spices. The overall restaurant created an atmosphere that catered to a variety of patrons, including couples/dates, families, business colleagues, and small to large groups, with an equally spacious outside patio. The service was also a step above the rest, with curated descriptions of all the cuisines and attention to detail. They surely made the night one to remember and a reason to come back. Having traveled the globe to over 69 countries, including spending an extensive period in Italy, what really impressed me was how they took very Italian-inspired dishes but made them more elaborate and exciting for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience. We started with some appetizers and small plates, which included #1 Stuffed dates with Gorgonzola Dolce, Medjool dates, hazelnuts, hot honey, #2 Whipped ricotta with roasted muscadine, prosciutto, pickled celery, farro piccolo, and verjus, and #3 House Focaccia. The Stuff Dates was a combination of the deep sweetness of the dates, soft creaminess, and flavor from the gorgonzola, complemented by the crunchy hazelnut, and the sweetness of the honey, which produced an amazing one-bite, flavorful experience. The Whipped Ricotta goes beyond sophisticated with its rich ricotta at the bottom, farro for texture and traction, roasted muscadines that burst like little pockets of jam, and prosciutto bits for a slight salty-sweet flavor, leaving you with the desire for more. Finally, the focaccia wasn't really groundbreaking. In fact, I have had much better focaccia in other places – it wasn't exactly worth eating as it just fills up your stomach unnecessarily. We followed up with 3 entrees: #1 Rigatoni with red wine–braised eggplant, capers, oyster mushroom, and bottarga crumb, #2 Triangoli with braised guinea hen, sweet pepper tagine, charred okra, goat lady chèvre, preserved lemon, toasted pistachio, and #3 Mafaldine alla carbonara with guanciale and pecorino romano. The Rigatoni was an intricate pasta dish with a red wine braise that softened the eggplant to a silky, confit consistency, featuring subtle tannic complexity, capers that brought flashes of saltiness, and oyster mushrooms that introduced a satiny, woody texture that played off the eggplant. The bottarga crumb is the coup de grâce: sea salt salinity and sandy crunch that sticks to rigatoni ridges, salting each bite. The Triangoli was an excellent blend of Mediterranean and North African flavors, with the triangoli laminated and cooked just past al dente to accommodate the tangy chèvre's tanginess and creaminess inside. The guinea hen provides a juicy, savory, and spiced flavor profile, while the sweet pepper tagine adds warmth and sweetness. The charred okra brings smokiness and a faint grassy note, and the accompaniment of preserved lemon provides the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and citrus. There was a minor execution issue with the dish. It was too spicy. Unfortunately, when using fresh ingredients from local farms, there are always challenges in what you will receive. They believe that the peppers may have added too much spice to the dish, which made it a little overpowering. While the Mafaldine alla carbonara was a perfected classic, with the silkiness of the fresh pasta, the emulsion of the egg, and the pecorino romano, it also brought a feeling of refreshment with each rich bite. I found the dish to be a little lackluster in terms of complexity. I feel that this dish could have added dimension to make it more interesting with some different garnishes or added flavor elements, such as caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, peas, or even more impactful pancetta, which could elevate this dish to the next level. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone without reservations. The way this restaurant ad“

“Great authentic Italian cuisine! Great friendly staff!!“

“Amazing ambience and food great location loved it“

“The food is pretty good, The service is hit or miss and even if you've been a customer for 10 years it doesn't account for anything at times.
We come every Monday at 5pm but this week we were 5 minutes late and they had already given our reservation to someone else.
The owner says a reservation doesn't guarantee a specific table but if that's the case why make a reservation?
Too many young 20 year olds running the place that don't have a clue.“

“Just had one of the best Philly cheese steak subs ever! Definitely would recommend.“

“Love coming back to this place for our corporate parties. Delicious food, great service, beautiful design and warm atmosphere.“

“it was ,by far, one of the best restaurants for authentic Italian food that I for one grew up eating in New York. we came for dinner on 8/29/2024 to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. it looks like the restaurant has changed hands, as all of the staff with the exception of one of server has been replaced. and, the quality of the food has gone down quite a lot. there's no where near the consistency and portions, yet they have new menus with higher prices. we sure won't be going back. this is a shame, as we've been going there for quite a long time.“

“Nothing beats the comfort and quality of Bella Monica food! I first dined here in college when I was looking for some eggplant parmesan - since that day 20 years later it’s still my favorite Italian restaurant in Raleigh! Btw their eggplant parmesan uses in house ROASTED eggplant not fried and I cannot explain how delicious it is. I’ve likely tried everything on the menu by this point and not once have I been disappointed.“

“As always, it was excellent. We found this place during covid, now we drive 90 miles for Dr. appts. at Durham and make sure we get to eat here before we leave. Excellent! Excellant! Excellant!“

“Such a great place. So yummy and friendly :)“

“Our entire family celebrated my daughter’s birthday on a busy Friday night, but we felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant! Personal service, great wine, and the food makes you want to go back every day for something new!!! Thanks to the Longp family for a spectacular and fun celebration! Will be back soon!!!!“

“best food ever“

“Absolutely highly recommend. Even for some late night carbs. The staff are extremely kind, and offer fantastic recommendations. I had the baked ziti but with alfredo sauce, and the sauce flavor is absolutely amazing. Not bland at all. I highly recommend this place whether it's lunch, dinner, or even an 11pm date night. They deserve much more business! The sauce is thin and a little runny, but dip your bread sticks in it for a great dipping sauce. The flavor alone captivates it.“

“Excellent pizza and food, great service with pleasant staff.“

“This was a surprisingly good place! I always am picky about Italian food because I spent a month or so in southern Italy and it high key ruined my ability to enjoy normal American italian food.Anyway! My friend got a feta and some other type of cheese calzone and thought it was great! (It had real feta!) I got chicken parm. The sauce was super nice and it was a good amount of chicken and pasta. The salad was fresh too!It's in a little building, and I only found it because of reviews on Google. Make sure you park in the paved lot to the left~In short, give it a shot! You'll probably be pleasantly surprised!“

“Ate dinner here last night! Food was great and our waitress, Hannah, was the best!“

“The atmosphere was romantic and the food was absolutely amazing! My husband had one of the best filets that he has ever had and the homemade pasta was as close as I’ve found to true Italian pasta. Highly recommend for a romantic date night ❤️“

“I love the pizza even after the next day. that cheese pull is everything and the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo is amazing!“

“Some of THE best pizza I've ever had! We drive an hour just to come eat this pizza. The cheese is my absolute favorite but the chicken bacon ranch is awesome too!! Can't go wrong with any choice!“

“The most amazing food. Always delicious at ALL locations, friendly service and wonderful atmosphere.“

“La Piazza catered my daughter's wedding this past Saturday and OMG, it was the best EXPERIENCE ever!!!! The food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS, the amount of food was incredible. Guests were coming up to me all night and the next day asking who catered the wedding, because the food was so delicious. I HIGHLY recommend Anthony for all your catering needs. If you are looking for delicious authentic Italian food then he is your guy to go to. He was absolutely the best to work with. He stayed in constant communication with us the entire time. We also had him make 20 pizzas for the rehearsal dinner and EVERYONE loved the pizza's. He helped make our daughter's dream wedding come true. His staff was AMAZING. Anthony, WE APPRECIATE YOU!!!!THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!!“

“I already love Saks Deli for their restaurant (the Mad Mushroom Philly with Cooper is my all time favorite), but this review is all about the wonderful part they had in catering my sister’s bridal shower. Matt and his team provided turkey & provolone pinwheels, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cream puffs — everything was delicious and such a hit with our guests! As always, Matt handled the order professionally and on time, making the whole process easy and stress-free. I highly recommend Saks Deli not only for catering special occasions but also anytime you’re looking for a great meal in Clayton off Hwy 70.“

“This place blew away my expectations! The food was delicious at a great value. The staff and manager (Joyella) are the best!“

“If you are looking for amazing authentic Italian food (especially the pasta) look no further. I also love the whole atmosphere - it was wonderful to sit outside in a place that doesn’t feel like it is in the city and genuinely has a beautiful view.“

“The food is always fresh. And the meal is always hot. My only suggestion is that, even if we have to pay extra, if we ask for more of your delicious sauce, please deliver it.“

“I had a great meal tonight consisting of veal parm and pasta, bread and salad. The veal and pasta were very flavorful. The rolls were very tasty.“

“Kaitlyn did a great job. She checked on us often, the food was great and the music was a nice touch.“

“Staff is great and friendly. Location is clean. I have gotten take out here many times and every time the food was great. I have gotten subs, wings and today the deluxe pizza which is fantastic. The steak sub was very tasty and the deluxe pizza had a generous amount of items. I have had Marcos pizza a few times and it was ok but I much prefer Bella Roma. The crust is like traditional Italian crush and the sauce was very very good. Marcos sauce I found to have a bitter after taste and didn't agree with my belly. This location on New Hope is some of the best pizza in the general area. I highly suggest eating here or for take out.“

“As a native New Yorker, I really enjoyed the pizza! The entire atmosphere is very “Brooklyn-like”. Order by the slice…I missed this. So happy we found this slice of heaven 🍕“

“Greyson was the best server I’ve ever had in a restaurant. We’re from out of town, and I’m envious that our Olive Garden service isn’t this great. Every service member were so so great. Highly recommend.“

“My definite go to on any day!“

“So delicious!!! Ravioli and chicken cacciatore.Yum!“

“Phenomenal food at a family owned business. So glad my wife & I found this hidden gem today. We were very pleased with our tasty food, large portions, & great atmosphere. We will be back.“

“Wow! Totally impressed, The soup I had was incredible! I'm not sure of the name but Chilli something. Just get it it was awesome! Shrimp Fettuccine, amazing.
My waitress, The best. A+++. 10 out 10, At The Olive Garden. Wow! Blown away!!!“

“The cheese pizza was nasty...where's the cheese...it was dry!! Very unhappy with my order.“

“This is 2 years overdue. I am from Philadelphia where primos originated. The girls running this joint have the best primos i have ever been to... the 2nd best primos isnt even close its kind of embarrassing for all the other primos. Everything is always stocked and they are super friendly and nice. Reccomment 12 out of 10“

“Despite the late hour , the staff was very accommodating. Our waitress, Brook was awesome and so we’re the drinks and pizza.“