50 Best Italian Restaurants in Columbus

“We ate there for the first time tonight and everything we had was amazing. Very very friendly staff. I highly recommend this place.“

“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!“

“Thank you Caitlyn & Jade for a great experience and service, positive energy and cozy atmosphere) The food was delicious and fresh 10 from 10. Cocktails ? was nice and good balance ?I love Italian food and it was the best carbonara I ever had! Kind people, beautiful design and great hospitality. Highly recommend ??“

“I can’t believe I just found this place after living in Columbus for 20 years. What a gem???!! The food, service and atmosphere could not have been better. The outdoor patio had a fun little bar and heaters to make it very comfortable on an autumn night. Our server was the cutest nicest thing ever. Loved her. She gave us samples of so many things that the experiment became a truly enjoyable exploration. I will definitely be showing off this classy gem to friend and visiting relatives in the future. Go Basi!!! ????“

“Best italian food I’ve had in the states- if we lived in town this would be my new go-to! Visited for anniversary dinner and everything was perfect- food, service and atmosphere“

“A wonderful date night experience with attentive service, large portions and delicious food.“

“What a cUUUUuUuUUUuUuUuuuuute littel deli!

I placed a phone order for pickup here on a whim. My fiance wasn't feeling well and wanted some food brought home after work. Not knowing the area I did a quick Yelp search and VOILA! Prices were super fair and the establishment wasn't too far away from my way home, so I went ahead and gave them a call.

The outside isn't anything special looking, kinda drab but not unkept. I was SUPER impressed once I walked in. The place is bigger on the inside that it looks from the outside, looks well organized and clean! I also LOVE the wall murals! SOooOoOoOo cute! It looks like a traditional NY family style deli on the inside! SO cute!

I ordered a ruben sandwich and two sides of macaroni salad. Fiance devoured the sandwich so I assume it was a hit. :P The macaroni salad was SO affordable I couldn't pass it up! Could have used a bit more mayo but not a biggie. I added some and it was right to my preference!

Wasn't busy at all on the inside, did have a few ppl stopping in to pick up, like myself. The wait wasn't long once I arrived and then I was onnn my wayyyy!

DEFFFFFFFFFFinitely will be ordering from here again! :P

Parking: very small little couple spot parking up front“

“I have been to Marcella’s many times and ordered food on door dash. I love their food and atmosphere. Today I did door dash because I got devastating news about my cat and I wanted comfort food and to not leave the house. Jenna was beyond sweet and let me make a few changes to my favorite dish’s- Penne Alla Vodka- and to make it a custom way. She went above and beyond and that is just unheard of these days! Not only is their food amazing— their customer care is also top notch. Thank you Jenna for making a really hard day better, I will not forget your kindness. ?“

“Went for happy hour and very much enjoyed my drinks and food! After my margarita, I ordered the Beef Carpaccio and Pennette alla Vodka and was more than impressed with both. The noodles were fresh and the sauce was genuinely delicious. My drink was strong but tasty and our server was great!

Parking: The best bet in terms of parking is either of the garages around that intersection - there's one on Vine St. and one on Goodale Blvd across from the convention center. They are both paid garages and average about $10 for three hours. The restaurant also offers valet parking for $15 and there is some but very minimal street parking (paid).

Wheelchair accessibility: This restaurant is very tight in terms of seating and not the most wheel chair friendly in terms of navigation.“

“Amici!!! Qui Si Mangia Bene!!! All the positive reviews are correct! All the negative reviews must be Olive Garden Diners. Fantastic food and service. Italian Maria Victoria was awesome as was the wonderful Emily!!! Well informed team and training!!! Best Cacio e Pepe outside of NYC and LA. I will definitely be back everytime I'm in Columbus! Grazie a tutti! A presto!“

“This is my newest fav spot in Columbus. We first went for my bday with our two little kids. We were nervous at first bringing them, but felt welcome and they ADORED their dishes. It was, until Speck graciously brought my a mini ice cream cone for my bday when all hell broke loose ? we were SO close! My husband and I knew we wanted to come back....solo, for a date. We made it happen quickly and I again basked in the culinary experience. Servers are attentive, the ambiance is moody yet delightful, feeling as if you walked into a NY spot. We sat at the chef's counter, which was cool to watch the action.
Twice I for the Fungi Pasta Dish... I would eat it every night if I could. The server recommended a Pinot Noir to pair with it and oh my gosh, he was right. Those little moments is what sets restaurants a part. His knowledge for the dish, even though he said he didn't like mushrooms but knew the two paired together brilliantly was like YES!! THIS IS AMAZING!
Oh, the tuna Crudo dish??? I had to stop myself from being awkward and moaning out loud. I will be dreaming of that dish and counting till the next time we go again.
Well done! We are foodies and it's been awhile since a place has really WOW'd us and I'm so so happy to have Speck in Cbus!“

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

“Me and my wife came here for lunch on Sunday 3/31. This was literally the best Italian food we ever had. Highly recommend!!“

“This was my first visit to Nicola. I think there are quite a few excellent classic Italian restaurants in Columbus. I felt I was getting nickel and dimed. I feel paying for bread is a little much in an Italian restaurant in Columbus. The food was good, but the menu is a little limited. Our service was good and because we needed five checks an additional charge was supposed to be added to our bill. Our waiter said he didn't do that which I felt was very nice. I guess you might say everything was good, but certainly not at the level I read about in the reviews.“

“One of the best dining experiences ever.“

“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!“

“Piada always hits and this location is great. I always have to get the pepperoni sticks. The spicy red sauce is great too. They have some awesome workers too. Shout out to Johnathan and Sequoia. I tried their new lemonades and those were amazing! Try them out!“

“I’m mad at myself for not trying this place sooner!!

Such a cute, homey vibe restaurant. The food was delicious, can’t beat the combo prices! HANDS DOWN THE BEST TOMATO SOUP I’VE TRIED!! & do you see the size of that complimentary cake??! It’s the most generous portion & it was delicious!! They even give you a card with a hand written note, what a thoughtful touch!!

Service was wonderful, absolutely no complaints!!

My best friend & I both agreed that this might be our annual birthday tradition, I’ll definitely be back way before then.

If you haven’t tried this place, don’t be like me; do yourself a favor & try it ASAP!!“

“Best sandwiches in Columbus! Massive sandwiches! Fresh quality ingredients, light fluffy tender focaccia, creamy cheese and savory pesto, cut with salty imported Italian meats. Definitely worth a visit.

Vibe is solid fresh Italian quality foods at a cafe.

Fyi parking is not great, recommend parking 1-2 blocks away.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Ciao! Catered our wedding of 110 guests, making a huge feat look simple. Our guests were served just as fast as any buffet style catering would have got their meals. The food was fantastic and the beautiful Ciao! truck gave the wedding the relaxed yet elegant vibe we were looking for.We served their standard menu but put the Alfredo and Parm on pasta verses a sandwich. We also had salads and bread to go with. All meals had good praises but it was the arancini that stole the show ??The crew put so much into our event and we are beyond thankful. For the rest of the night everyone raved on how good and unique the dinner was!! Highly recommend for any event or for a fun night out when they are around town. Thank you Ciao! team!!“

“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!!!“

“Classic Italian Restaurant that has been around for decades.“

“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.“

“They offer an appetizer or starter salad ? or soup (you can choose) additionally they offer you delicious fresh bread; They have variety on the menu and the portions are large, I found everything delicious and they have excellent service ? 100% recommended.

Parking: The establishment has its own parking lot, it is quite spacious and is in front of the restaurant.

Kid-friendliness: Suitable for going with children, they have chairs suitable for children in the place ? and the atmosphere is very calm and familiar for everyone's enjoyment.“

“Was delighted to find a olive garden that is still doing it the right way. Bread sticks weren't overcooked like most now. Salad did have a bit much dressing but can happen to anybody at any point. Chicken n gnocchi was perfectly seasoned and balanced flavor. Fried mozz was also very fresh with fresh oil. Service was great and appreciate everything. The olive garden experience you use to get and still want. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.“

“I love this place! For a quick snack I tried the Piada pockets...meatball and spinach artichoke. They were just what I needed. I appreciate the wonderful staff, especially Shelly who answered my questions, and Naomi who completed my orders and introduced me to the Passionada...a great refreshing drink!

Ryan and the management staff were energetic and passionate and made my day. I will come back to Bexley location to try that Power Bowl recommended by Ryan!
Ty all!“

“Those who think the big chain Italian Restaurants are the only places to go, STOP, and go straight to Tony’s on Beck St. You’ll never want to go chain restaurants ever again!“

“Great service and food. Came at the wrong time for one of their deals but they still helped me through it patiently. Ordered the calamari and it came fresh prepared and with a generous portion (picture only shows about half the calamari). Overall the food was great and the service was amazing, thank you very much! Will definitely come again.“

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

“service was excellent and food was good“

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

“Excellent food. Great and fast service. Love the atmosphere and staff was super friendly! Definitely recommend.“

“Went for a late dinner and got an appetizer and soup and salad. We got seated right away. The hostess was very polite and greeted us with a smile as we entered. Our server was very nice and suggested an appetizer (baked ziti, which was good). Our food came out within 15 minutes. She kept our drinks refilled and got us more soup when we asked. There isn't a lot of parking up front, they have to go order pick up. But there is plenty of parking on the side of the building. There is a ramp to get onto the sidewalk. Dedicated handicapped spots. The bathroom was clean.

Parking: Limited spots in the front but plenty of parking on the side of the building.

Kid-friendliness: They do have a kid menu and coloring sheets avaliable.

Wheelchair accessibility: Dedicated handicapped spots. There is a ramp to access the front door.“

“We enjoyed a delicious dinner there this evening!! Thank you to our excellent waiter, Alejandro, he provided exceptional service and was so sweet!!! We will definitely return and hope we get you as our waiter again!! They are very lucky to have you!!! My Sicilian Sunset cocktail was delicious, too!! Thank you so much for a great dining experience!!“

“We had a family dinner there this evening and the food was excellent the service was top notch! We will definitely be repeat customers! Thank you for a wonderful evening…“

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

“When I moved to Columbus 3 years ago I tried this place and wasn't impressed. Today I got the $5.99 2 Cheese slice and Can of Soda. Very good. They don't give tou pizza that has been sitting for an hour....made it fresh. Very good. Only thing would make it better is a little more sauce. Thank you....very good deal.“

“The food was delish and the service was excellent … we will be back for sure …“

“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.“

“From the moment we walked into the door and were greeted by Dave, we were treated to a special evening. Starting with a unique and tasty Bourbon Smash, we enjoyed the meatballs, excellent Chicken Marsala, finishing with the best Tiramisu and Limoncello we've ever had (thanks Tim). Everyone treated us as guests in their home, John( Batender), Brenda our server was the most delightful person ever, thank you Tim and Julie for the recommendations and our desserts. 5 Stars all around, we' ll be back.“

“The salad was big enough for 4 adults to share & was delicious! We had pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion pizza and it was AMAZING !“

“great food, comfortable environment“

“We ate there for the first time tonight and everything we had was amazing. Very very friendly staff. I highly recommend this place.“

“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.“

“I’ve been going to Rubino‘s for about 40 years. The pizzas is great. I love the thin crust and how the store hasn’t changed a bit. Looks just like it did in the 80s.“