50 Best Italian Restaurants in Raleigh

“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.“

“We drove all the way from Swansboro, Nc to eat their pizza and mozzarella cheese sticks! No joke! We take a mini trip just to eat their delicious foods! Highly recommend! Everyone is so kind! My son even loves playing the piano as we exit the building! We are already looking forward to be returning in the near future! The cheese pull on the mozz sticks is crazy! Thank you again!!!“

“I really love this restaurant and the Italian food is outstanding. Very nice management and staff too with outstanding service.“

“Hands down best Sea Bass ever! With shrimp mussels and clams! Got an early taste of the menu for tonight! Hands down John and his staff are 100%!“

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

“My partner and I decided to try Piada on Valentines Day while craving some pasta. When I tell you it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

From the greeting, to the helpful tips from Precious and Tiffany, and the quality and consistency of the food. We even tried a Spinach Artichoke Piada Pocket with marinara sauce. 10/10 and will definitely be trying again.

This will now be our a favorite spot for quick but tasty meals. They have great recipes but can also create your own. Try it for yourself :)“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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!!!!“

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

“Amazing ambience and food great location loved it“

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

“I found a recommendation for Farina on a Reddit post about Italian restaurants in Raleigh and I am so glad I decided to try it! The food was beyond wonderful with amazing portions and our server, Rachel I. was just as splendid. I can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed our experience and I will definitely recommend Farina to everyone!“

“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.“

“We discovered this restaurant during restaurant week and we are so glad that we did! We went in about an hour before closing and sometimes that can be a hit or miss, but not for this restaurant! Our food came out hot and perfectly prepared! Everything was delicious and I definitely did not expect these type of dishes at this restaurant! I’m so excited to come back in a try an array of different entrees. The ambience was also great in the restaurant and it definitely can accommodate any type of gathering or small birthday party as well.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Came in around 8p and ordered a small pepperoni (hand-tossed) with spinach (spinach recommended by cashier) and he told me 10 minutes. I sat in my car for 8 as I was walking in I was met at the door with a steaming hot pizza & may I add it was quite delicious. Don’t think I’ll be getting my pizza elsewhere!!“

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

“Great place to eat, very friendly staff.“

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

“Went here last night and the service was great and the food was as well. Shannon is a great fit“

“We just discovered a hidden gem here. It's got a very casual feel but the food is no joke. I had lobster ravioli and it was fantastic and the breadsticks that they serve with every meal are hot and tasty. They obviously have great pizza pies, although I haven't had one yet but they have a real variety of all kinds of Italian foods. My wife had a Stromboli and she loved it. She liked the fact that it wasn't real heavy on bread and it was nice and crispy with a great marinara sauce for dipping. Of course, the most important thing is the service and Marta did not disappoint. She knows the foods and is one of the nicest waitresses ever. She will take good care of you, I promise.
Thank you so much Marta!“

“This place is a gem. Food was delicious. Service excellent. Atmosphere, warm and friendly. Can't wait to return“

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

“Excellent food, service and atmosphere.“

“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.“

“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!!!!“

“Specifically reviewing our visit here over the snow day last Saturday. Arrived a bit after 5pm and only 2 other tables were seated. The snow had just started to consistently fall and they weren’t really sure how long they’d stay open.

Food was typical Olive Garden, no surprises there but our server, Alfredo was great. He was the only server when we arrived and as time went on, more people showed up and soon the entire middle section was full and he was busy.

Five stars and a huge shout out to Alfredo who walked to work that day and did a fantastic job not only for us but for the rest of the middle section!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Excellent pizza! We ordered 2 pies and a gluten free. All were excellent and piping hot. We will definitely be back.“

“Great experience Food was GREAT. Leona and Hampton are the best.“

“Excellent food and service in a cool and chic setting. Calamari is especially tasty with lemon aoli and hot honey sauce. Focaccia bread is amazing too. save room for dessert“

“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!“

“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 ❤️“

“Great experience Food was GREAT. Leona and Hampton are the best.“

“The Chicago pizza is AWESOME!!! Stopped in on a trip too get it to go. The manager (assuming he was) and/or at least bartender made great LIT’s and was a cool guy to talk to while waiting! I’ll be making the hour drive there often!“

“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!!!!“

“We have been going to Dominic's for years! The pizza is delicious. Everything else is just as good. The staff rocks and the location is beautiful around the pond. Live music on weekends and always a smile and great service inside of Dominics. Give it a try! You'll LOVE it!“