50 Best Italian Restaurants in Columbus

“Great food. Don’t miss out. Trust me, you really want to eat here. I’m a pretty harsh critic and I LOVED it. Will be back soon. If carbs didn’t make people fat, I would eat here at least once a week.“

“I get my food to go every week; the food is great; Nico is the guy who usually gets everything together. He couldn't be more efficient, helpful or friendly. His assistance is always appreciated!“

“We had a delightful lunch today at Gallo's, from the moment entering, we were greeted by a Fine Gentleman that discussed our seating options ( Yeah, I'm a bit picky) to the time we departed with full bellies that was topped off with the Belgium Chocolate Mussee cake that was Outstanding!! Ice cold beverages and our service (Bartender) was Awesome catering to our every whim. This is definitely a MUST stop when looking for a Great place to dine!!“

“We went for Valentine’s Day and it was very nice! Definitely perfect for a special occasion. We got the bread, king crab pasta, and lasagna rotolo. We finished with the tiramisu. Everything was great and service was exceptional. They also gave us some chocolates for Valentine’s Day. I thought they could’ve had more options as far as cocktails but actually super enjoyed the margarita. We had a great time!“

“The atmosphere was fantastic! The staff was absolutely wonderful! The food was beyond fantastic!!! Highly, highly, highly recommend!!!“

“Dinning is A classic vibe with excellent homemade food from pasta to pizza and subs. Highly recommend 😎😎😎“

“Fine Italian dining, with an excellent, reasonably priced menu and gracious owners, Rick and Jackie. They have been a consistently high quality venue in Grandview Heights for 22 years!“

“The restaurant was clean and had a nice family atmosphere. All of the staff were friendly and attentive. The blackened chicken was delicious. The Gelato was equally delicious. I tested a few different flavors of gelato, then settled on the Lemon Cake and Mora. We will definitely visit again!“

“Growing up in Italy, I’ve always been surrounded by food made with love, and Villa Nova Ristorante captures that same spirit. I come here often for their classic lasagna and hand-tossed pizza, and every bite feels like a return to family dinners back in Turin. The cozy, old-world atmosphere makes it more than just a restaurant. it fee ls like stepping into a true Italian home“

“Our family (7) dined at this establishment during restaurant week although we did not choose the restaurant week menu. We each had a different meal and everyone was pleased with their choice.. The server was pleasant even though it was apparent she was extremely busy. The noise level was high so it was a bit difficult to hear all the conversation. It is reasonably priced especially for the portion sizes. All in all I recommend Marcella's. You will not be disappointed.“

“This is our happy place. When there is a special family celebration, we come here. Love walking in, as David greets us at the door every time. It’s like visiting your Nonna and Nonno’s house and seeing all of your cousins and knowing that you’re in store for the best meal ever. Look forward to a leisurely feast with good wine, warm bread and some of the best Italian dishes we’ve found. The entire staff is incredible. Be sure to make a reservation because every time we go it’s a full house.“

“From the moment we walked in, we felt like welcomed guests rather than customers. The atmosphere transported us straight to Italy, with a warmth and authenticity that set the stage for what became an extraordinary evening. Each course felt like a carefully wrapped gift, designed with intention and presented with artistry. The flavors carried unexpected complexities—layers that unfolded in ways you rarely find in restaurants around here. Every bite told a story, both comforting and refined, and left us excited for what would come next. This wasn’t just dinner—it was an experience. One that lingered long after the last course, reminding us how exceptional dining can be when passion and craft meet. Truly unforgettable. We added the 4 course wine pairing with the Pelino’s Dinner. We ended the experience with espresso, which was better than any espresso we’ve ever had (even the 3 times we’ve been to Italy). Truly a special night.“

“We had a delightful Christmas Eve dinner with appetizers and three different entrees. The gnocchi was absolutely delicious and our favorite! The sauce was wonderful!“

“Last year you showed up and showed out for my cousins wedding reception Hunter and tonight again for another cousins retirement dinner! Thank you“

“Super cute. I always went to Lox next door and didn’t know this was a cafe. Great sandwiches and wine selection to take home. Very cute decor with the umbrella touches. They tried to bring in the Italian vibe and they do it very well. Small, sweet and a good place for a mellow lunch.“

“Went to Speck on a whim tonight after hearing only good things and I wasn't disappointed. The moment I walked in, the atmosphere was upbeat with a good din of conversation, but not overwhelming. I was seated at the Chef's Counter which gave an excellent view of the open kitchen. I started with the focaccia which is served with a delicious herb oil. The bread was super soft and pleasantly salty. For my main I got the Funghi pasta with occhi, white wine & crema, and fresh herbs as well as the Scallops served with a spicy yam risotto. The scallops were well cooked and the risotto was not-too-spicy and the pancetta gave it an addictive saltiness. However, the pasta was absolutely delicious and my top-pick. It was earthy, creamy, and the mushrooms gave it a great texture. The herbs also gave it a vibrant green (which, obviously means the pasta was healthy, right?). As I packed up, I ordered the Lemon Cookies to-go and was surprised with a delectable pair of mini cannoli with chocolate and raspberries as a gift from the kitchen. My waiter, Ethan, was attentive and friendly and gave some great recommendations. The next time I have someone I'd like to impress, I'm definitely keeping Speck high on the list. Can't wait to go back.“

“Best Location Piada Location! Friendly Workers. Food always cooked Fresh!“

“I brought 14 travelers in on a bus trip with 1018 Travels this morning. Called last minute and we had a beautiful table set for us when we got there. The food was amazing but the server was so sweet! We asked about the history and he answered . What a great place, will be back for sure“

“Outstanding food! Outstanding service! I enjoyed the "Pasta My Way" with fettuccine, bolognese sauce, and meatball. Amazing sauce. Truly delicious. Meatball was large and delicious. My server was excellent. Kind and attentive but not overbearing. All in all, a wonderful ex.“

“My all time favorite pizza. Only thing I miss about Ohio.“

“This was our first time dining at Martini's, only due to another one of our favorite spots being booked for the night. But we sure were glad we did! Beautiful restaurant! Lively bar area, but quiet table areas in the upper level. Ordered the truffle garlic bread, to die for! Also had the mushroom cavatappi, so delicious. Really a wonderful dinner, and we will definitely be returning.“

“Ciao Cafe Gelato was the perfect addition to our wedding reception! The gelato was absolutely delicious, and our guests couldn’t stop raving about it. Many even commented on how friendly and welcoming the owner was. Communication throughout the process was seamless — the owner was incredibly responsive, reliable, and easy to work with. We’re so glad we included them in our big day!“

“Stopped into Little Grand for lunch and ended up making the best decision of the day by heading over to Frascati’s. The spicy salami on focaccia might just be the best sandwich in all of Columbus — bold, perfectly balanced, and unforgettable. The pasta dishes were just as impressive: the vodka sauce had the ideal touch of heat, while the pesto pasta was bright, fresh, and packed with flavor. We added the meatball appetizer on a whim, and it turned out to be the perfect complement to the meal.

Already looking forward to the next visit — and it’ll probably be sooner rather than later.“

“My family visited the La Baia food truck during the Pumpkin Aglow at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus. No kidding, this was the best pizza I’ve ever had! The dough is amazing, the flavor of the sauce..just plain delicious. All of the ingredients are fresh and everything is prepared on site. I highly recommend. Be advised that since all of this is prepared at time of order that there is at least a 30 minute wait for your food to be prepared and oven fired cooked. Definitely worth the wait! The staff is very friendly and courteous as well. La Baia - Please consider looking up Knox Foodies on FB. (Ann is the page admin ) Tho we just had our annual food truck festival, we would love to see you in our town at that event, or other events that are held throughout the year. I know the witches walk is coming up, if there is still time to sign up for that. Keep up the good work and I hope to be able to dine with you again soon.“

“We went there today { 2/14 ) As always great service. I have a fatal Dairy Allergy. So I always order Cherfs choice. I had the red Snapper. THE BEST FISH I HAVE EVER HAD. I even ate the skin ( which I never do ) Atmosphere as always was great even on a busy night!!!!!. Don't think about it, JUST GO“

“Fantastic food and service. Top notch - if your in Columbus this restaurant is a must.“

“Chef Kevin knows what he is doing! Went in with my family of 3 and he was so hospitable and gave prompt service.

As we ended our meal he stopped to see how our meal was and helped clean up.

My favorite Piada in Columbus, hands down :)“

“I’ve been coming to Olive Garden all my life. However I was surprised at the incredible service and delicious food I received tonight. I felt like a celebrity. Ren and the rest of staff was attentive, and friendly and comforting. I will never forget this random dinner on a Monday for As long as I live. 10 stars, no notes“

“I buy pasta, sauce, coffee & desserts here and I’m never disappointed. My SIL is NJ Italian & a tough critic so I’m only going to serve him the best I can find. I recently tried PD’s gelato and I’m going to be eating this all summer. You can really taste the difference between grocery gelatos and the real thing.“

“We were very impressed. Their Gluten free options were amazingly delicious, they took it seriously and everything was fresh, seasoned to perfection, and we will be going back. The portions were large, the presentation was immaculate, the wine and cocktail list was the stuff of dreams and legends. The restaurant was cozy and comfortable in a sexy Italian style. It could have come to life off the page of Conde Nast Traveler. Hidden jewel of Ohio worthy of the drive. The staff was professional and very welcoming. We loved it!“

“We ordered a meat lasagna and a make it yourself pizza and picked it up yesterday. Guys. Lemme tell ya. You can just tell it’s made with love. The pasta sauce is so fresh, it’s literally the best ricotta I’ve ever had, nice and cheesy all around and even the garlic butter and loaves of bread you get it really good! Haven’t done the pizza yet but I expect no less! Thanks so much!!!“

“Great customer service! I walked in just after opening and they were still setting everything up so I got the chicken free cuz I was waiting for 5 min for it to come and since their Apple Pay machine wasn’t working and Danny was such a nice person giving it for free just for the waiting on the system!! Will definitely eat here again 10/10“

“Last night was our first time at Tony’s and I will absolutely be back! The service there was so accommodating and friendly. Tony himself was our host! The man even helped someone with wheelchair needs by storing the chair and bringing it back out when they needed it and was so kind. Our waitress was so friendly and outgoing and was so accommodating when my husband needed plain noodles with no sauce for his marsala. Speaking of food we ordered the chicken Marsala and Tony’s Own Fettuccine and oh my god they were both mouthwatering. They both came with salad and my husband switched to a Cesar salad instead for an upcharge and it was soooo good. I loved the uniqueness to the house salad with the two garbanzo beans, one pasta salad noodle, olives, tomato and blue cheese. It was soooo good especially for someone who loves blue cheese. The Cesar salad was also so good. We also ordered an appetizer of the bruschetta and it had to be one of the best orders of bruschetta I’ve had in a long long time. The bread they used complimented the ingredients so well and really brought the flavors together. Tony’s own fettuccine is now hands down my favorite pasta I’ve ever had to date. The cream sauce was so so good and the crab used was melt in your mouth amazing along with the shrimp and scallops. The chicken marsala was incredible and the sauce was so savory and perfect. My husband and I will definitely be back soon!! If you haven’t tried Tony’s yet please do!“

“My husband and I took a friend with us for dinner. It was exceptionally clean. Our food was pretty much perfect. So was our service. We had a late dinner so it wasn't too crowded and they went out of their way to accommodate us for our disabled dinner quest. It was very enjoyable. Everyone was very polite and helpful. Our server even chuckled at my husband's corny jokes. He was a peach. We will Def return to that location.“

“Great food for lunch and the patio area is a plus. 😊“

“Great Pasta. Top notch service and wine selection!“

“The ONLY place to get pizza from. Nicest guys in the world and piled on toppings! Professional, polite and LOCAL! Thanks a lot!“

“service was excellent and food was good“

“Our waitress Kendra was amazing! The food and drinks were fabulous! Our extremely picky child said they have the best pizza she’s ever had. We had to order an entire pizza to go! Thanks for a great time! We will absolutely be back!“

“Great place and food! I’ve been getting the Chefs Favorite w/chicken. Bomb every time! I prefer getting food here than getting Chipotle.“

“Everything we had was AMAZING!!! You gotta try it for yourself.“

“Our server Romina was great! Our food was fresh. Romina took very good care of us when it was like 25 to 40 of us. Overall, I had a really good experience at this location and would be willing to go back again. Thanks, Romina, for looking out my family and I. We appreciate you!“

“I can’t remember my servers name but I’m pretty sure it was Assad (man with dark skin and curly hair with the section in the back of the restaurant on 11/24). But he was a phenomenal server, very attentive, and very friendly. Great service and will definitely be coming back :)“

“I dined here for the first time yesterday and order the Fettuccine Alfredo w/chicken and a Caesar salad…both were absolutely delicious, the flavor was amazing and so was the Moscato wine which had the perfect amount of sweetness that I like! The breadsticks were amazing, they melt in your mouth. My server Aaron, was excellent, great personality with a wonderful sense of humor! I will definitely be back and will be making Milanos a regular place to have dinner! If you’ve never been here, I totally recommend giving Milano’s a try!!!“

“I had an unfortunate mistake with a holiday carryout order from Carfagna's this past weekend. The response by Carmen Carfagna has been superb and quite frankly, unwarranted. Had I done a better job of placing my order, the entire event could have been avoided. My wife and I love their restaurant, market, and catering. If you haven't already, please make the trip to Polaris and enjoy a wonderful dining or market experience. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Carmen and the team at Carfagna’s.“

“When are you guys going to come into this century and sign up with GrubHub or DoorDash? You'd definitely increase your profits. Driving to pick up food is old school, LOL!!“

“This place really does have delicious food. Even the shrimp we ordered were perfectly cooked. We hadn't ordered from there before, but I'm glad we finally did. Highly recommended. Edit: Order from there and pick it up. Don't order it through a service if you can help it.“

“Someone recently mentioned this place in a pizza group on FB. I decided to try it today & I'm glad I did. Probably the best non-deep dish pizza in Columbus. The prices were good as well. There's also plenty of nearby parking.“

“This is gotta be hands down. The best pizza and salad in Columbus period“

“great food, comfortable environment“