50 Best Italian Restaurants in Rochester

“Two Words…. Absolutely Delish…❣️❣️“

“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!“

“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!“

“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. 🤍“

“I was craving a real Italian deli sandwich, not some coldcut behemoth from DiBella's that costs like $40, but a real actual sandwich.

I wanted roast pork (or a chicken cutlet, god what I would do for a proper cutlet and broccoli rabe up here) with broccoli rabe/greens and extra sharp provolone on it, and you know what? This is the only place I could find in the Rochester area that is actually making it.

It's slightly smaller that I had hoped, and they didn't overload it with greens like they do in Jersey, but it still tastes incredible.

It's a slice of home, and I'm glad I ordered a second one for tomorrow.“

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

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

“Absolutely the most remarkable experience and exquisite Roman food. We will be back very soon! This is definitely a hidden 💎!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“The food was top notch! And customer service was wonderful!“

“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.“

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

“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!!!“

“Very good food and excellent customer service“

“Thank you, Veneto, for hosting our company holiday party this weekend! The ambience was amazing, food was delicious, and service was wonderful. Coordinating the event was easy, and our team had a really great time! Thank you for a memorable night!“

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

“Amazing food. Way better than Bella pasta“

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

“Rizzi’s was the perfect place to host my bridal shower. From the moment we arrived, everything felt warm, welcoming, and effortless. We were greeted by the beautiful Tevis, who was behind the bar serving everything herself, which made service fast and seamless. Guests enjoyed bright, fun mimosa options including classic, pomegranate, and pineapple, along with perfectly crafted Bloody Marys garnished with jumbo shrimp, olive and lime skewers, bacon, and celery. The drinks immediately set a fun, celebratory tone and made everyone feel taken care of right away. The ambiance was cozy, intimate, and full of classic Italian charm, creating the perfect setting to celebrate and capture meaningful moments without feeling overwhelming. The food was outstanding. The charcuterie spread was delicious and paired with an olive tapenade I am still craving, along with thoughtfully selected accompaniments. While I chose classic, simple entrées, they truly shined. The rigatoni with red sauce was rich and comforting, the chicken cutlets were perfectly tender, and the seasonal vegetables were fresh and beautifully prepared, all served in generous portions. Everything was flavorful, satisfying, and exactly what you hope for when hosting a special event. The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive, kind, and incredibly accommodating, allowing us to fully enjoy the day without worrying about a thing. What truly stood out was how affordable everything was for the quality, presentation, and level of service. Rizzi’s delivers an elevated experience without feeling overpriced. I am so grateful we chose Rizzi’s for such a special milestone and would highly recommend it for any bridal shower or intimate celebration. 🤍“

“Very good food very friendly makes you like family“

“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“

“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.“

“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!!!!“

“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.“

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

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

“great food, great people THANKS“

“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 is excellent, Server was exceptional, wait time was a little too long for my likely and I'm a very patient person.
I would have given a 5 star review however our wait was just too long. We waited 45 mins after being told 20 minutes.
Had we not been celebrating a very important birthday or I personally would have left.
My only suggestion is to make a ghost kitchen for pick up orders and leave the restaurant kitchen to ones who actually want to dine in. In my opinion I'm sure this will help the wait and most likely the staff/cooks as well.“

“It was late in the evening around 9pm after finishing my work reports I was hungry for a drink and a meal. Olive Garden showed up as nearby restaurants so drove up there . They were closing 10 pm and rushed in ordered their Italian Margaritas yes I have ordered many times in past with shot of amerello liquor. Minestrone Soup and salad was ordered afterwards as Bar was about to close but my waitress was very polite and efficient so went ahead to order drink first and then took my food order . Nice service and good food see photos“

“From the gal at the counter all the way through….everything was exceptional!!! It’s so hard to find chicken and eggplant Parmesan in take out pizza shoppes up here in Rochester….but this place DID NOT disappoint!!
I’ll be ordering from here on a regular basis now“

“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!“

“A classic Italian family pizza spot that is clearly doing something right.

I ordered a half cheese, half peppers and onions large pizza for a family birthday and it came out smelling exactly like the pizza my mom used to make when we were kids.

Everyone who works there clearly has decades of history between them, communicating in quick glances, jokes about family members, and sharing a warmth that you can only get in a place that is doing something well. Definitely want to try more of their specialty menu at some point and will be back for more.“

“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.*****“

“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!“

“Great 🇮🇹 food , Great Atmosphere!!“

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

“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!!!!“

“Pollo Guisado was fantastic. Great flavor and value. Will definitely order again and highly recommend.“

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

“What a sweet way to end a wedding trip! This airport eating expereince almost makes me want to a delay so we can come back for our next meal. Warm atmosphere, awesome owner, extensive list of beverages, cozy hot chocolate, friendly banter from the kitchen...overall great experience!“

“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“

“Too expensive in the food's not as good as it used to be“