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!“

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

“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!!“

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

“Very friendly personnel , like hometown stations“

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

“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!“

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

“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!“

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

“Marie was great. Me and my boyfriend are from out of town and wanted to pop in. Everything was amazing.

One of the best Caesar salads I’ve ever had. My boyfriend got the Chicken Marsala and I had the Vodka Penne. Delicious. Finished with the cheesecake and had amazing espresso martinis.“

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

“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“

“Our server, Alix, was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and seemed to answer our questions before we thought of them. She is a credit to the restaurant. Our meals were well prepared and tasty. I had pasta and clam special and was very pleased. My partner enjoyed his carbonara and his side order of meatballs. I did think the ceasar salad was overdressed. In addition, the side order of bread, while delicious, should always be accompanied by olive oil (we had to request).“

“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.“

“I initially thought the staff (who was superbly passionate describing all his gelati) was exaggerating a little bit when he said the pistachio di bronte was special (only grown at mount etna, etc.) but WOW it blew my mind away with its subtle taste, nutty/caramelly scent, and smoothness. Hands down the best pistachio gelato/ice cream ive ever had!

Definitely the gem of Columbus. If someones visiting and they can only eat one thing Id take them there 🤣.

(Did i mention the sandwich was awesome too?)“

“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 only discovered this restaurant about a month ago, but it has quickly become our favorite in Columbus. The first time we came, I told my partner their Caesar salad was the best I’d ever had, and we’ve basically been back every week since!

Today I finally ordered something I’d been wanting to try for a while. The restaurant was packed, and the dish tasted a little different from what I expected. I genuinely wasn’t sure if that was how it was supposed to taste or if something had been missed, so I nervously asked. I wasn’t trying to complain or even asking for a replacement, I just wanted to make sure.

They immediately took my concern seriously, and the way they chose to handle it honestly blew us away. The owner went completely above and beyond, bringing us three different dishes to try and even extra dessert, everything was absolutely delicious. We expected nothing more than an answer to our question, so the kindness and hospitality meant so much to us.

A busy restaurant can have an off moment, but how they handled it says everything. We already loved this place, and now we have even more reason to keep coming back. Amazing food and even better people.

Please give them a try if you’re in Columbus and get the Caesar salad! We’ll definitely be back.“

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

“I already love Piada, but I especially love this location! I’m a creature of habit, so I usually order my same wrap or pasta bowl online and hit the pickup window. But every now and then I go inside, and the team is always so friendly and my food is consistently great. If there’s a Customer of the Year award, I feel like I should be a strong contender.“

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

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

“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!!“

“First time going to Marcellas for dinner and was a bit unsure what to expect upon seeing how busy it was. The waitstaff were incredibly friendly and on top of everything, not once did I not have a drink at my table. Our appetizer was the brushetta with tomato, prosciutto, and feta. It was Plated very nicely and presented with care. Our entrees arrived soon after and again, the staff made sure they were delivered with class and grace. The food was superb, the veal meatball is a great choice as is the four cheese tortellini. Marcellas delivered quality, fast friendly service, and delicious food all within a timely fashion even with a full restaurant. Definitely recommend!“

“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.“

“Came for a birthday occasion with around 10 people and was very happy with the service. Food was great and cocktails delicious. Service was interestingly slow, as in the server would check in periodically for specific things and then leave, making the entire experience last close to 2 hours. They also will recommend adding certain things to dishes, which really racks up the bill. Expect to spend some time here and spend a decent amount. The birthday girl is gluten free and had plenty of options.“

“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!“

“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 love The Little Grand, and today I tried Frascati Market for the first time. Absolutely fantastic. I got the Chicken Milanese sandwich, and their Truffle Potatoes. The sandwich...so, so good. Every part was fresh and cooked perfectly. The focaccia bread was yummy and just right. The breading on the chicken was perfectly crispy and flavorful. 10 out of 10. THE POTATOES. You would think that something as simple as smashed fingerling potatoes would be an easy slam dunk, but many places get them wrong. The potatoes at Frascati are AMAZING. Seriously. My wife is not a potato person, and she was nibbling them like, YUM. Really, really flavorful, cooked well. Did I mention the staff are lovely? 100% recommend.“

“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“

“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“

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

“Our waitress was Shauna and she was incredible!!! Give her a raise! She was the reason our experience was a 10/10. She was quick and efficient with our order but never made it feel like a rush. Very kind and attentive and quickly brought any refills we asked for. She truly was so great and had a fun personality. :)“

“We had a very nice time and a great waiter who treated us so nicely even though we ordered from their starters menu and not a full meal. He showed us how to use the electronic payment system and provided us with take home containers. Our server made the visit special!“

“Great as always! Our server Annabelle was outstanding. We got the endless pasta but after breadsticks, salad and calamarie we barely finished one bowl lol. I love this olive garden. It doesnt matter which one i step into its the same great experience.“

“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.“

“great food, comfortable environment“

“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!“

“service was excellent and food was good“

“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!“

“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!!!“

“Great food and people would Definitely go back“

“Had a delicious dinner. Service was prompt and extremely friendly!! All of the food was fantastic!“

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

“Simply outstanding hospitality and food, in every way. We will be regulars!“

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

“Food is always tasty and enjoyable! We ❤️ the Make It Good Fish Sanswich 😉“