50 Best Italian Restaurants in Columbus

“My family had the pleasure of dining at Lola & Giuseppe's last evening, and it truly was a pleasure! We began with wedding soup (some of the best I have ever tasted), a Guiseppe's Salad, and spinach-artichoke dip. Two of our group had the meat lasagna which was delicious and a huge serving. Other entrees included egg plant parmigana and chicken marsala. All were excellent, large servings, and very reasonably priced. The surprise (and a good one) was the Creme de Limocello that was bursting with lemon flavor and a nice little nip. Service was excellent and the owner stopped by to chat on two occasions thanking us for dining there. It was undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we have had in quite a while. Highly recommend!“

“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!!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Today was a first, of many visits to come! Everything we had was superb, & Devon was a great server too! 😄“

“WOW! the italian wedding soup was savory and delicious. The burrata cheese plate was loaded with fresh tomatoes, basil, pesto, and balsamic. We had the cacio e pepe and the penne alla vodka, both were a solid 11/10. This place is definitely on my list of top Italian restaurants in Columbus. The service was prompt, friendly, and attentive. Simply amazing experience.“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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“

“I'm a big fan of public markets, and decided to check out Little Grand today! Frascati is legitimately the best food I've accidentally found. The penne with pesto was amazing, as was the penne with vodka sauce! The truffle potatoes were top notch, and they have a good selection of imported goods! Definitely will be coming back!“

“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!“

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

“We absolutely love Marcella’s. It is our family’s go to for special occasions. The food is always excellent, the host staff is incredibly kind and welcoming, and the service is wonderful. Huge shout out to our server Alec for being so attentive and kind and for making our birthday celebration with two young kids so smooth and special. We will be back and requesting Alec again soon. ⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“I've been trying to get back in shape so my meal was the branzino with fennel and zucchini squash Let me just say it may not sound great to most but the way it was prepared and the flavors was beyond superb! Our server was awesome as well. We'll be back sooner than later“

“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 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“

“I decided to stop by here after work for lunch and the hot chicken carbonara was amazing. The staff was very nice and friendly, Diamond in particular was a great help with his recommendation and provided great customer service. Will be back again!“

“OMG!!! The fresh pasta with Alfredo is so amazing. I am not a cooker and this was easy and so delicious my son devoured it and he is not an eater. I cannot wait to go back and try something else. I love the new online menu too. It makes it so convenient“

“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“

“Our waiter was absolutely fantastic. He was ready to graduate and move to Texas for work . We were able to give him some pointers on where to find apartments and where to avoid since he was moving to our old stomping grounds. Very good food.“

“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!“

“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.“

“We enjoyed our family outing when we came in for a late lunch. Service was good but the food took alittle long to come out. The salad and bread sticks are always a great beginner. Prices are up like so many places. We left full and satisfied with a good desert for later. We will be back when we can afford it.“

“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!“

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

“service was excellent and food was good“

“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 a power outage in my neighborhood. I found the Olive Garden in Polaris. Although they were crowded, they kept things moving. Thats efficiency. After I ordered my food the server took my order. Remember,it's busy. My food came out hot and popping. The bread sticks were soft . Ended up eating 6 bread sticks. The food was good. I had to sit in my car afterwards from being so full. You've GOT to go to this location. They treat you right!!“

“I usually do not order the chocolate gelato flavor but this was amazing for such a common choice. The texture of the gelato was inclusive of chocolate shavings that made the overall tasting experience that much better. I tried a slice of their pizza and the seasonings and crust was en-point. I am used to NY thin slices so it is hard for me to be happy with other places outside of NYC but this was very good. We also tried the à la carte cookie section in the bakery and felt the presentation was very good but a bit pricey for what you get. We ordered maybe 9 cookies which came out to 16.00. Whether determined by weight or by individual cookie, it was a bit extraneous, however still worth it. We also bought some dubai chocolate bars which were thick and creamy. Very satisfactorily like the bars that have gone viral online. We loved it. The buffet looked very good and we may try that next time we come. This place has a little bit of everything and is truly a Little Italy and we enjoyed our visit. Thank you!“

“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.“

“great food, comfortable environment“

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

“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.“

“The food is great - we’ve tried most of their pizzas and the antipasti salad is to die for. Unfortunately I can’t speak as highly about the staff. On several occasions, usually on Sundays when they close at 7, I’ve gotten my food close to 7 but NEVER after 7. I’ve placed orders for pick-up at 6:45 and if I wasn’t there at 6:45 on the dot I’ve been called being harassed to get my food because they close at 7. Today I went in at 6:50 and they had already put everything away, taken out the trash, and sanitized everything and gave me lip about wanting to place my order (1 pizza and 1 salad). They proceeded to loudly complain to each other while making my order. Closing at 7 means you stop taking customers at 7 - not that staff gets to walk out the door and lock it behind them at 7.“

“Great food and people would Definitely go back“