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!!“

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

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

“Very friendly personnel , like hometown stations“

“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! 😄“

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

“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.“

“This is a great place. Everything we ordered was excellent, from the bruschetta to all of the entrees. Our server did a wonderful job for our party of seven. Though the establishment was very busy on a Saturday night, we never felt rushed or hurried in any way. We had a wonderful experience at this fine restaurant.“

“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?)“

“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).“

“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.“

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

“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“

“My major complaint is with the Salmon. I ordered the carbonara with Salmon. The Salmon was Dry and Extremely Tough to chew, I had to spit out half of it because I couldn't chew it. I don't know if it is a Quality issue, an over Cooked issue, or maybe it sat out too long. But, it was Terrible. That protein was definitely not worth the $6 add on. I will Not be ordering the Salmon ever again. Very disappointing, because I love this place. Please fix it.“

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

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

“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“

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

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

“The food is exceptionally delicious, service great, atmosphere is great but too dark inside for me. I'm 70 and the lack of lighting made it hard to read the extensive menu.
My sister has to eat gluten-free food, so we picked this place to eat. They have many gluten-free foods. She got gluten-free bread while we had regular bread. Her meal was gluten-free chicken parmesian and she loved it.
Huge portions except for the salmon I got. The salmon was a tiny bit over cooked for my liking but I am hard to please when it comes to salmon.“

“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!“

“the ambience and service was phenomenal. our food was absolutely delicious, everything came at appropriate times. our drinks were scrumptious. our table was situated in a corner, but we still felt like we had enough space around us while not feeling like we were shoved there. it was a good place to celebrate a birthday!!“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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.“

“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“

“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!“

“Italian food made the way few restaurants anywhere manage to; simple, flavourful and true to itself. But the true surprise was the impeccable world class service. Thank you. This gem would be a wonderful surprise in Italy and NYC, yet, we found it in Columbus. (The mussels are a must have.)“

“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“

“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 Pasta. Top notch service and wine selection!“

“Just ate at Olive Garden and had Lance as our waiter. He was one of the best waiters my boyfriend and I have had in a long time! He was so kind, friendly, and attentive, and he really made our whole dining experience enjoyable. Great service like his is hard to come by. Thanks, Lance, for making our visit such a great one!“

“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.“

“service was excellent and food was good“

“This review is entirely because of Amaya, I have never had such incredible service at any chain restaurant and Amaya made the dining experience come alive. Everything was quick, if there was a problem she was on it (even when it was our fault), she made sure our never ending items felt truly never ending, everything was absolutely delicious, nothing could have been better. 100/10 experience“

“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!“

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

“great food, comfortable environment“

“Great food and people would Definitely go back“

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

“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!!!“

“This was our first visit to Figlio's in many years. (Was our daughter's favorite place when she was growing up here). We had a very nice evening. The food was as good as we remembered - two different pizzas. Our server was very helpful and attentive. The highlight was when we learned they still have the French Quarter Ice Cream Torte. Not to be missed. Hard for a restaurant to maintain such a consistent level of delivery over time. Congratulations!“

“Best take n bake pizza shop around! All of their pizzas, salads/homemade dressings, and lasagnas are amazing with so many options and fresh, local ingredients. And they have my favorite tiramisu that I can find. If you've never had Mama Mimi's, it's a must try for sure!“

“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.“