50 Best Italian Restaurants near Garner

“5*! Went 1st time today, was excellent, food, service, cozy atmosphere, big room, will be back.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Established Italian restaurant, and an NC State centric place. We only sat in the restaurant but they also have a bar attached . Lots of photos and things. Our pizza was good as was the caprese salad. We'll have to come back and hit the bar, and try more of the menu.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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“

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

“I went for lunch and ordered a pizza with sausage and pepperoni. The pizza was very good having a crisp crust and flavorful sausage. The servers were attentive and pleasant. The food came out hot and it was prepared in a reasonable amount of time.“

“We visited Anthony’s La Piazza for Easter lunch after church today, and it was easily one of the best dining experiences our family of five has ever had. My husband is Sicilian, and he said the meal tasted exactly like his grandmother used to make with love.
We shared the Lobster ravioli, Veal Parmigiana, tortellini, and lasagna—every single dish was authentic and packed with flavor. The bread was perfect, and we didn't leave a single crumb of the tiramisu or cheesecake! Beyond the food, the drinks were a highlight; I had the absolute best amaretto sour of my life. It was so much fun to dine at a place that bears our family name, Piazza. We felt like guests in a home rather than just customers. If you want authentic Sicilian soul food in Raleigh, this is the place!“

“Awesome service and food!“

“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!!!!“

“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!“

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

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

“Amazing ambience and food great location loved it“

“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.“

“best food ever“

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

“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!“

“My wife and I walked down to Smokey Hollow for a late lunch /early dinner. We were quite impressed with La Cucina. We had the Bianca Pizza which was top notch (the crust was nice and crisp). They also had my favorite Raleigh Brewing IPA on tap. The pizza chef came out to ask us how it was, and also offered us to taste their marinara sauce which they offer on their pasta (next time). All in all, I recommend these guys highly.“

“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!“

“Great place to eat, very friendly staff.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“Excellent food, service and 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!!!!“

“My waitress Alexis was the best! I ordered the Salmon entree and it was so delicious! The bread and oil were the best I’ve ever tasted! This was my first visit and I’ll go back!“

“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.“

“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.“

“We chose the Cary location Olive Garden to cater my daughter’s wedding of 90 people last Saturday. The were fantastic. Dana helped us so much with quantities we needed for that many people. Delivery and set up was right on time and everyone LOVED the food! Recommend for any catered event.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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 ❤️“

“So let me say when I went into Olive Garden I walked in with an attitude determined my food wouldn’t be correct. But I came and walked into Andrew one of the managers he was like a shining light my whole mood changed he was so welcoming and concerned even before I came to the register. His demeanor immediately changed my mood his kindness and concerned was refreshing, then Jennifer another manger stepped up and I was like this can’t be real because they were so genuine and receptive. Andrew fixed my food personally and Jennifer discussed my concerns prior to my entrance, they were beyond reproach welcoming and caring. While I waited Shanti even though I had a to go order was very engaging to ensure that my needs were met while waiting, then Brandy I believe she’s a regional manager her kindness exuberated and she promoted her staff. I promise if you follow me on google you will know if something isn’t right I will say something. Kudos to this Olive Garden because you hired really fine individuals to work this establishment and to Andrew blessing to you in everything you do!!!!“

“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 🍕“

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

“My definite go to on any day!“

“My husband sent me a link and asked me to check out PrimoHoagies. I looked at the link and read reviews. I also looked at photos of the sandwiches. We decided to try Primo tonight AND THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT! First of all, when we walked in I told the staff it was my first time there. She said ok, I'll walk you through the menu. She gave the lowdown on the sandwich sizes, the spicy spice blend and gave me a sample of the broccoli Rabe (which SLAPS!). We settled on the Big T, a regular turkey and cheese and Turkey Diablo. The sesame hoagie roll is ALL that too. Recommend you go with that one. The meats are shaved to order. The toppings were plentiful with no bald skimpy spots. They went end to end on the rolls. The Diablo seasonings were really good and the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles were fresh. All in all a great experience. Will definitely be back and we're telling our friends because we don't gate keep. Thanks PrimoHoagies!“

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