50 Best Italian Restaurants near Upper Arlington

“MOUTHWATERING. HOMEMADE AND AUTHENTIC. HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

“Very nice menu -we had a hard time deciding. The specialty popcorn is a fun selection and so good. We had flatbreads, crab-cakes, shrimp mac & cheese, tomato basil soup, meatballs. Excellent wine choices. Will definitely be going back. “

“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!!!“

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

“Overall our experience here was fantastic. Our server was excellent (I wish I could remember her name but I'm terrible with names), most of the food was incredible and the ambiance was so lovely. For appetizers we did the focaccia and tomato bread, bruschetta, arancini, and ricotta spread - these were all amazing. We also did a Caesar salad and it was the best I've ever had. It had house made dressing with a hint of lemon, so refreshing and delicious. Our mains were good, but they were not outstanding or incredible. The lasagna rotolo was soft and the sauce was flavorful, however the dish was not very filling as it did not have much meat. If you order this know that it doesn't come prepared as a traditional lasagna, in my opinion Valentina's lasagna is far superior to this dish and we would not order it again. The bolognese was very meat filled however it was very salty which I dislike, not a bad dish but not my preference. We also tried a special dish of the night which was a truffle pasta with mushrooms and it came with a hefty price tag but was delectable and worth it in our opinion. This was our favorite main dish. We ordered dessert to go and Nutella gelato to eat in the restaurant. The gelato was the worse I've ever tasted, it was gritty and had an almond flavor as opposed to hazelnut. We could not eat it and the server removed it from our bill. The tiramisu was great as was the panna cotta. I also tried an amaretto sour with house made sour mix, this drink was delicious and definitely an elevated version of this cocktail. The wait staff was so quick to refill our water, remove dirty dishes and bring out our next dishes. Again, overall our experience here was fantastic but I would try different main dishes next time or stick to appetizers and drinks!“

“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.“

“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“

“Can’t say enough good things about our first visit to this wonderful place. What a gem ! Atmosphere is stylish, warm and friendly. Service was experienced and very nice. House wine perfect. Complimentary fresh focaccia bread scrumptious. Salad was excellent. Chicken Parmesan outstanding. Tiramisu was so worth the calories. Can’t wait to get back there asap! Compliments to the chefs working hard in the kitchen.“

“We love the spaghetti & breadsticks.🍝 We do miss the caesar salads though.“

“When we come to downtown Columbus, we always eat here. The food is great, prices are reasonable, drinks are good, and there's a great vibe. Our sever Saturday night was amazing I regret I cannot remember his name but he was outstanding!!“

“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 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“

“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!!“

“I never really leave reviews like this but this meal was really good! Yes it is about $44 for two sandwiches and two drinks but I think the quality is there. Also the sandwiches are pretty big, like you can only finish that in one sitting if you are pretty hungry! So you get your moneys worth. They are served cold(?)/room temp but honestly for the sandwiches me and my boyfriend got, they were best served that way, I don’t think I would’ve liked it warm. The gelato was out of this world and definitely much better than the gelato I had in Cleveland’s Little Italy- I felt like this was much more authentic. Love love love this place.“

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

“It's been a while since we've been to The Rossi and we are so glad we dined there yesterday. First, they have one heck of a Happy Hour both for their food and beverage offerings were fantastic, I mean how often do you see French 75s and Palomas on a Happy Hour menu. Second, their staff, front of the house, bartenders and servers all have the impeccable timing as far as knowing when to check-in which made the whole experience relaxing & leaving us truly happy! Finally, the restaurant itself has character in a good way... the rays of sunlight dancing thru the windows and the sparkle off of the lighting fixtures leaves patrons with the impression the owners of this bar care about the ambience! We'll be back for sure!“

“Delicious and affordable, with super friendly staff!“

“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.“

“Had a filling and delicious meal! We planned our stops on a trip south and back so we could eat at Fazolis’ since there are none where we live. Wish they would expand north into New York State!“

“Took my mother there for her birthday last Saturday evening and I just love the service and the food. Our server was outstanding and was very attentive to our needs. He was very knowledgeable about the menu as well and was able to recommend good options for us to choose from. My mother was quite late to the restaurant, but he always assured me that it was no rush and had a great attitude. They even let us stay a bit past the 10pm closing time without rushing us out the door.

I had been here once before, and the food was consistently delicious both times I went. The fresh-baked focaccia is a must-try for all newcomers, and the broccolini we tried was also spectacular. The pasta was delicious (I ordered the pumpkin filled bowties) but I found the portions a little lacking (in contrast to the sausage ragu I ordered in my previous visit which was heaping). Do note that depending on the pasta dish, you will get either a hefty portion or a very small portion so make sure to ask the server for details before ordering.

The cocktails are interesting and quite nice as well, so this is a great spot to get some drinks and a light appetizer to kickstart a night on the town.

My only gripe with that night I had was that I had mentioned multiple times (In the reservation) and to the server that this was a birthday celebration. The server noted that they would bring out a little dessert for us, but it never came (though this was probably in part due to my mother being quite late and perhaps maybe the server had forgotten, we are all human after all)

Regarding the atmosphere: Some other reviewers have mentioned a clash in the dark-lit room and the clothes of the staff, and I can see those as legitimate critiques. The dining room isn't really that spacious and the design on the walls is very minimalist. The menus and the servers' aprons match (flowers) which was very cute, but there are little rips and scuffs on the pillars near the back of the dining room which kind of seems a bit unprofessional. Overall, a great experience and phenomenal food, would certainly come back for a quick bite or for a more formal occasion without thinking twice.“

“The food was phenomenal, and our server at the bar, Lindsey, was fantastic. I just wanted to mention one thing that really bothered me. Our power went out - again - in Muirfield, so we decided to go eat dinner at Moretti's. When we walked in, the hostess, who could have been the manager for all I knew, just stared at us as we walked up to the podium to request a table or seating at the bar. She just stared at us! No "hello," "Thanks for coming to Moretti's, can I help you?", nothing. I finally said we'd like to sit at the bar, and she said seating at the bar is self-service. I said thank you, and we sat down at the bar and had a fabulous dinner. My question is: With all the places to eat in the Dublin area and beyond, wouldn't you think a hostess would be grateful that you are there and at least try to make you feel welcome? Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but it was a strange encounter.“

“Food was great . Had spaghetti with meatballs and short rib ragu all I have to say is wow. David was very nice and had really nice suggestions and was new a lot about the wines we were interested in definitely will be back soon“

“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.“

“Had a very nice experience there for a Sunday afternoon dinner. Espresso Martini and Bridgepark Manhattan were nicely done. Server was a pleasant person with quite a nice table side manner. My wife had the Tagliatelle pasta with veal and mushrooms. She said the veal was extremely tender. I had the lasagna. Large portion and very tasty. perhaps a little sauce on the side would be nice. We met the manager there and he was very accommodating. He is a long time Cameron exec and we can see why. Just the person you want to have overseeing your service. Recommend you go for lunch or early dinner. Reservations strongly suggested.“

“This is a hopping place, food was good, cocktails were great but you want to know what was really cool…the staff.

We sat at the bar and I witnessed the most amazing thing. All the staff worked SEAMLESSLY as a team. Any server who came to get drinks at the bar also served dinners, bussed, prepped, stocked. This was a machine of efficiency and I could only hope replicate that at my own restaurant. Kudos to those who trained and came up with this super efficient system. You’re the real MVP 🙌 #amazingstaff“

“My husband & I had the privilege of dining at Z Cucina in Dublin on Valentine’s Day. The concierge’s at the front were wonderful, and our most pleasant experience was not only they food, but our wonderful waiter, Benjamin. He is such a great host at one’s table, but has an expert knowledge of the menu. I will request him again!“

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

“Good food and friendly staff 👍“

“First time having Piada. I’m not big on trying food im not familiar with but tied off the same ol stuff. Since this was my first time I decided to grab the kids meatball with penne noodles, marinara and garlic dough. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Where have I been all my life?! I could eat this all day, everyday!! Sorry, Piada it has taken me this long to meet you, you forever now have a friend ❤️“

“Customer Service was 5 stars!! The staff including manager made my day! Every staff member was so nice. The manager noticed I hadn't been there before (seemed he recognized other customers) he offered me items to try for free. The food was great place was clean and by far some of the best customer service I've experienced! Will difently be back“

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

“Tables are in need of wipe down, floors are in need of sweeping but, Lobster bisque is delightful but can't see lobster chunks but it's in there.“

“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!“

“Wow! On an overnight school bus trip from Centerville, Ohio, pizza and cheese curds were AWESOME!“

“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!!!“

“The experience here blew me away. The chef/owner creates a new tasting menu everyday based on local, fresh ingredients. The pasta is home-made daily. Other ingredients are imported from Italy. The lamb ragu with pappardelle reminded me of Tuscany. The wine pairings were thoughtful and well done. Seating is very limited. Recommend booking in advance.“

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

“We were just in here (leaving the lot as I type this) and I have to applaud the crew tonight. The food was hot and fresh with great taste. I also want to give a standing ovation to Emily who was running front cash and handled one of the most rude individuals I have ever encountered in food service. He was belittling, demanding, and arrogant from the start and she never once stopped smiling or offering him the best service.“

“Absolutely amazing! My friend and I got done walking at Inniswood and happened to be passing by and decided to stop by! Everyone was incredibly sweet! Our food was hot and delicious! Our waitress recommended the Italian fries (so delicious!) my friend got the ravioli and I got the Cajun pasta with shrimp. Both incredible! We will be back.“

“Thank you for supporting Dublin Coffman Athletics Track and Field Team. You helped us raise much needed funds ! For any 5013c organizations wanting to do a restaurant night I highly recommend Piada Italian Street Food“

“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.“

“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“

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

“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!“

“Ordered online and the delivery was missing a meal. I called and was immediately given to a manager, who apologized and my entire order (not just the missing meal that I asked about) was credited back to my card immediately. Mistakes happen, but how a place responds is what matters. They will continue to have my business. Food that did arrive was also very tasty.“