50 Best Italian Restaurants near Upper Arlington

“I came in hungry and left spiritually healed. Whoever is in charge of making the piadas deserves a raise because that thing barely survived the drive home. The food was fresh, the staff was awesome, and the whole place had a great vibe.

Honestly, if loving carbs is wrong, I don't want to be right. Definitely one of my new favorite spots!“

“MOUTHWATERING. HOMEMADE AND AUTHENTIC. HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

“Stopped into The Wine Bistro while in town for business. This place came recommended by the hotel I was staying at and since it was only a couple blocks away (walking), I decided to go! I sat at the bar and talked with the bartenders - they were very friendly and great at recommending wines to try. The food was great too! I had the cheese plate with my wine and then an altered version of the chicken breast dish for dinner. I have dietary restrictions and the bartender was fabulous at helping me to customize my dinner to meet my needs! I had a lovely time, and only wish that I would have taken a glass of wine outside on the patio to enjoy more of the atmosphere outside. If I am ever in this part of town again, I will stop back for sure!“

“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!!!“

“Delicious and affordable, with super friendly staff!“

“Very friendly personnel , like hometown stations“

“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!!“

“Wow.. I've been to alot of reetaunts around the us, AND a lot of Cameron Mitchell restraunts.

This hidden gem in the German Village Community of Columbus is hands down the best experience I have had at any of his restraunts.

The Arugula Salad was put together with flavors that complimented each other perfectly.
HOWEVER, by far, the Gnocci Filet Tomato dish was by far the best in 48yrs of being alive... the best steak!
I mean it was to the point you couldnt eat quick enough or wait long enough to get the next.

In 48yrs that has never happened before!! Stunned.

Thinking it was over until Mairren, convinced me to try the desert.. she has already had me try the new drink that she created, a whiskey (that's my go to) spin off of an old fashioned that was spicy. Liked it, but not a spicy booze guy.

I went with a new the Chocolate dessert, I don't usually do dessert so I can't comment on it, but leading is to say it was good. Not too rich and overpowering.

Between the Service from Mairren Exceptional...and the two best dishes I think I've had maybe ever let alone at a KM restraunt.. make this the best flaovered steak and salad combo , I've ever experienced.

Ive been to a lot of places and I don't give this recommendation out ever. But this is legit the BEST restraunt in Columbus!!!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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! 😄“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Such a charming space with really next level food and drink. We had sandwiches on their house-made focaccia, Americanos to drink, and gelato for dessert. The staff was lovely and helpful.

The flour in the focaccia is from Italy. The cream for our coffee was from a local producer, and was fabulous. Details like these really make the experience shine. And they also sell Italian wines and packaged foods.

I would impoverish myself eating here all the time if I was a local.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Good food and friendly staff 👍“

“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“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“Delicious pasta! I ordered the carsonies pasta and an extra meatball. This was my first time ordering here and think meatballs and sauce really tell a lot about how good the meal will be. Also got the chicken carsonies. I would suggest more white sauce and better service“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“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“

“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!!“

“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.“

“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.)“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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 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!“

“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.“

“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!“