50 Best Italian Restaurants in Rochester

“The food and atmosphere were great. The staff were very friendly and attentive. It felt fancy without the high prices. Definitely recommend.“

“Great food, inventive pizza. Casual and friendly“

“I need to make you aware of a wonderful diamond in the rough on Rochester’s west side. My wife and I visited this quaint Lower Manhattan style eatery with my brother-in-law and his wife. This unassuming place from the outside pleasantly surprises once you enter with its quaint bar area, blacked out ceiling and twin open kitchen stations. First litmus test is the quality of bread with a full complement of spices to prep your own dipping oil. Check! Special of the day, Seared Halibut on a bed of risotto, didn’t disappoint, nor did my samples of homemade Rigatoni à la Bolognese (just like Mom’s Sunday sauce) or the Chicken Milanese! Completed the meal with an ample slice of homemade Ricotta Cheesecake with Berry Compote. The owner checked in with us several times. The table service was perfect. The glass enclosed wine cellar in the middle of the dining area completed an impressive ambience and dining experience. Run don’t walk to this most pleasant gastro treat!“

“We are from out of town but visit ROC frequently because our son plays on the Jr. Amerks Juniors/NAHL team. He and some teammates discovered this place and go there for lunch literally every day they have home games. This place is the best-family owned and operated, great food great prices, great service! Tiramisu is my favorite thing in the world and Mamma G’s tiramisu is the best I have ever had. Carlo is the bomb!“

“Our first time here and we will be back. This was one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had. Thank you for the delicious meal, hospitality and the lovely environment. 🤍“

“Ann was an exceptional waitress. We will definitely request her on our next visit. On point with great service.“

“10/10! I was blown away. Absolutely hands down one of Rochester’s best restaurants. Friendly and quick staff and the food… 🤤 oh the food. The food was DELICIOUS! Cooked to perfection, and as 2 chefs on a date who are highly critical of others cooking, we were BOTH impressed. Atmosphere was warm and inviting, and presentation was impeccable. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I took some pics & vids and have a smaller social media of 22K that i plan on directing to go to this extremely good restaurant if they are in the Rochester area. The cocktails are presented with class and flare as well. If you’re looking for that perfect place for a romantic date night dinner, business meeting or just a foodie… this is a MUST-GO! Thanks to the amazing chef who was so accommodating! We will definitely be back!“

“After a tip from friends, we checked out Merchants Wood Fired Pizza & Bistro. It's in an out of the way location, but is so worth your trip. Nestled in a city neighborhood, this place is delicious with a super cute patio. Food gave off an "Old School Italian American" vibe in the best possible way. We enjoyed flavorful housemade meatballs in a great sauce. Burrata was tasty with the most delicious charred tomatoes (we omitted the prosciutto at one diner's preference). The salads were just the right size if you wanted to have those and split a pizza, which two of us did. The Funghi Pizza was tasty and had just the right amount of truffle (some places go overboard). This was a super hit -- very crave-able! For our pickier diner, the Spicy Cup Pepperoni Pizza was the perfect option. Both pizzas had a nice crust, baked nicely, and a perfect amount of cheese. Service was friendly and attentive. Everyone greatly enjoyed the meal. We'll definitely return.“

“This pizza and gelato spot in a bakery spot is producing authentic Italian pizza with lovely, aged and developed crust. Much of the staff is Italian and generally friendly. Some of the other staff were oddly… not so much? A little surly, and couldn’t tell why. There are a few counter spots with stools and a picnic table outside but generally the seating is minimal and takeout is probably the way to go. Gelato was excellent and avail in quart containers- the coffee flavor is to die for.“

“One of the best Italian places in roc! Love it here for a quick cutlet for lunch or dinner. Definitely recommend a reservation and keep in mind it is extremely loud in there. Vibes are great with tables close together (kind of NYC style) but it’s very loud due to that.

Recommended dishes:
Chicken cutlet
Cacio e pepe
French fries“

“I took my elderly mother here for lunch with my 15 year old because she has been craving Italian and it was close to where my mother lives. We couldn't stop talking about how nice of an atmosphere it was!! There was road and parking lot construction and since we weren't use to the area , we didn't know there was a ramp to help my mother, but every staff member was so courteous and friendly helping my mom and my 15 year old get them both in (while I went to park the car). The excellent customer service didn't stop there......... throughout our meal, water was filled up and they especially made sure my mother was comfortable! We were all also impressed how wonderful the food was! We stopped there on a whim, but you definitely have some new customers!“

“We celebrated a family dinner and was very pleased with the remodel which none of us had been aware of. We had an amazing waitress , food was fantastic.: wine went down well.. and even the bread was delish. We can have a critical family but tonight everyone went home very satisfied . We will be back SOON. Thank you so much.“

“Best ravioli in town! My family's been dining there since they opened thank you mark and Andrea for taking me there last Thursday! It was nice to see Lisa too,excellent waitress!“

“Your food went way way down the way outside is so long it's ridiculous then the food is cold doesn't taste like it should taste you should get back to cook she had there when you opened the ones who came from fornataros. Got to go food for Thanksgiving no one touched it the the artichoke French looked like chicken nuggets terrible look like it was baked not sauteed the clams casino were as big as to Wegmans water bottle caps I took a picture was going to even send it to them but you know they don't do anything anyways we got 25 clams casino maybe a total of those clams were four clams that's all small they were nobody even ate them I'm going to be calling to take them back but someone said don't bother they don't care about their food coming out they think because they had a name that they were good you got to keep up that good food otherwise people stop coming“

“My wife and I finally had a chance to dine at Veneto. We enjoyed a delicious meal with amazing service. Thank you.“

“I had my 50th Birthday party here and the staff was very friendly and helpful the venue was beautiful the food was amazing and everyone had an amazing time. We will definitely hold future events at La Luna. Thank you for everything!!!“

“Late night arrival into Rochester on a Tuesday evening and I chanced upon Branca Midtown via Resy. We took a chance and I am so so glad we did. This place was divine. The host and the servers were impeccable. Sassy, funny, and attentive to a T, we were incredibly impressed and immediately relaxed with the atmosphere and the people. The ricotta appetizer was incredibly and reminded me of a favorite dish in Florence Italy, and the swordfish was perfection. Drinks were delicious, so thank you to the obviously talented bartender, as those were very much needed after our long drive. We will definitely make a point of stopping back then next time we are in town.“

“Amazing food. Way better than Bella pasta“

“Absolutely one of best Italian restaurants ever frequented. Exceptional“

“Very good food and excellent customer service“

“Good location, cozy interior, with great food choices, reasonable prices & very nice staff. Highly recommend = 2 thumbs up/5 stars“

“Absolutely fantastic food, service, quality and the photos on the wall are a whole lifetime! It’s wonderful! ♥️💕“

“Just an outstanding dinner. I recently moved to the west side of ROC and sniffed this place out for my wife and I to take our cherished friends to. Something about the menu and the vibe just told me that we should try it. Just, wow. Our friends live right on the west coast, and they said they've possibly never had better calamari. The table bread was great, almost like a sourdough ciabatta vibe. I got the short ribs, a dish I'm no stranger to, and they were phenomenal. Our party of four was extremely happy with the quality of food for the value, and would absolutely recommend.“

“We tried the Thai food this time and it was AWESOME!!! It’s our new favorite Thai restaurant in Rochester! Please give them a try…and if you don’t like Thai food, you have their traditional, tried & true Italian dishes!“

“We recently celebrated our anniversary at Pane Vino. They provided us a very quaint seat overlooking the river. They have done a nice job masking the noise level of their beautiful interior that is full of character. We interacted with 4 staff that were all very personable, professional, and efficient. The food was all exceptional and the wine list very nice. We were impressed that the owner checked on us several times, he definitely cares and pays attention to detail. We plan to return here on our next visit to the area.“

“it was good service was great“

“Best catering service I've ever experienced“

“My coworkers and I just got back from a delicious dinner at Rizzis! The Chicken French was amazing! Staff were friendly and we all enjoyed our meals! Thanks for being a great part of North Winton Village!“

“Very good food very friendly makes you like family“

“They catered our 100 person baby shower and the food was amazing. The price was great and so easy to order. They let me know exactly what we needed and were so kind and helpful. 100% recommend!!!!“

“Ordered delivery the other day and had the manicotti. It wasn’t what I ordered, but mistakes happen, especially with delivery service so no big deal. The food was phenomenal and I will DEFINITELY be dining there again.“

“Food was great. We enjoyed the very relaxing atmosphere without any televisions blaring in the background“

“Great food and service. Always a fun night.“

“The best pizza I've ever tasted in Rochester and nearby areas. It's worth every penny. You can feel the good quality of the products.Definitely my new favorite pizza spot. Continue with the tremendous service and your good quality products.“

“great food, great people THANKS“

“We had a retirement party for.my sister 5/6/22.The service was top notch,the menu was bold and the kitchen put a nice spin on all they presented.THE OWNER STOPPED AND GREETED THE TABLE.WEwere able to bring in our special dessert's and they didn't push us out the door . Bravo from top to bottom.*****“

“I personally have never appreciated Olive Garden’s lack of support and assistance the company poorly provides to their servers, but Ashley is an amazing addition to the team and they should be grateful that she is a part of their culture. Otherwise their atmosphere would be terrible. She is a positive light that only brings happiness and joy radiating only positivity throughout the restaurant. She voiced her opinion in an article appropriate manner about a topic that needs to be addressed and is too often neglected, and these businesses.“

“Not much to rave or rant about, finally had a few hours alone with the wife so he grabbed some lunch at Olive garden kept it simple soup salad bread sticks service was great waitress was awesome We were set immediately food came out quick soup was pretty fresh salad not so much breadsticks was good so the only problem was the salad wasn't that good didn't seem fresh did everything else was great no complaints.“

“Awesome awesome awesome food. Loved the meatball and cheese garlic bread appetizers. Lot of flavor and lot of cheese! Also had chicken parm sandwich and meatball sandwich. Bread was great, not a tough or super thick ciabatta. Also placed a to go order and had no wait upon arrival. Very much looking forward to returning!“

“Honestly one of the best restaurant experiences my friends and I have had, service drinks and atmosphere were all solid. But the FOOD was unreal. Everything across the table was amazing. Coming back for sure!“

“Love this place always great food and friendly people and atmosphere“

“SERIOUSLY?!?!
This place is close to where we live but just tonight we ordered pizza for a party for the first time! We're seriously kicking ourselves for not trying this place sooner. This pizza seriously blows away all competition. It's seriously delicious!!!
YOU SERIOUSLY MUST TRY IT!!!!“

“This place... is special. I just had a fantastic meal and got a chance to chat with one of the partners and someone else working there. I wish I got their names, because they made me feel like I knew them forever and they were just wonderful. anyone should make it a point to head down there, try whatever they recommend, and have a chat!“

“I had Ciaccia’s cater a work event today with Boxed lunches to make it easier for those traveling. Boxed lunches isn’t something they typically do, but when I asked if they could, they did not hesitate to say yes! All I can say is they KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!! You could see the thought and time that was put into making these lunches and everyone was very impressed! Lots of compliments on the tastiness of the food and presentation of the boxes! Extremely happy as always with Ciaccia’s and their team! Highly recommend!!!!“

“Great 🇮🇹 food , Great Atmosphere!!“

“Highly recommend, went last night and the chicken French and veal parm was excellent!“

“Amazing seasoned to perfection! The best rice and beans! The jibarito plate is an explosion of flavors!“

“Ok so people don’t understand how to rate an establishment on Google… people, your rating needs to be based on where you are and relative to that environment: if you’re in a mall looking for fine dining… guess what? You’re not going to be happy (generally speaking). Likewise, if you’re in an airport and want cheap, high quality food… guess what? You’re going to be disappointed.

Gusto is not cheap, but it is high quality, handmade food, with what seem to be high quality ingredients. Furthermore, the staff and ambiance/seating/atmosphere of Gusto is a 10/10 (for an airport). They do a terrific job here. Had the chicken pesto panini (and three beers) and it was fabulous. Will eat here again.“

“Service was phenomenal! Everything is homemade including drinks and is so delicious!“

“Went for my birthday dinner with my family, none of us had been there before, and it was an overall great experience, both the service and the food. I wish I had gotten the waitress’s name, because she did an excellent job and definitely deserves the kudos“