40 Best Italian Restaurants near Portsmouth

“I posted this before but forgot to put the ratings in. Their deluxe stromboli and sweet iced tea can't be beat. It's all I get.“

“Friendly service and clean, comfortable dining experience“

“Best Service in Chesapeake 🤌🤌“

“Had a wonderful dinner here last week. Miranda waited on us and was extremely personable and helped some of us with menu options. I had the veal parmigiana and was cooked to perfection. Miranda was very attentive to our party and made the whole dinner experience perfect. Will definitely be back and recommend anyone looking for a great Italian meal and service.“

“I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant and its owners! This is a family owned local small business that puts so much into every meal they serve. I literally drive over from Portsmouth for lunch because it’s just that good! There is plenty to choose from on their menu and everything I’ve had is phenomenal including their desserts. Also they make all their own cheese, sauce and of course focaccia. Go check them out … I promise you it will be your new favorite restaurant!“

“Amazing Food. A bit warm inside but atmosphere excellent“

“This place sux for delivery. Waited over 2.5 hours for my order and there was no offer for a refund or discount. Full of excuses as to why the tardiness but no solution!!! Happens almost each and every time.“

“The food, the atmosphere, and our server, Sean. When our party told Sean some of our favorites, he knew exactly what to recommend on the menu. Totally enjoyable evening.“

“Fried Clams always a hit, Shrimp Scampi was absolutely out of this world 6 GIANT butterfly shrimp and the pasta was perfect, I had chicken Alfredo the chicken was perfecty grilled and plenty of it and again the pasta was perfect. Sara our server was on point. I can overlook certain things cleanliness is not one but here even the men's room smelled fresh and it appeared spotless. I highly recommend this place it's a bit pricey or I would be here weekly but the portion size makes up as I have leftovers everytime. Over the past few years I've been here 30 plus times. I've never had a bad experience. my advice to the nay sayers is don't slap a place for one bad experience talk to the manager so they know what needs correcting working in this industry most of my life, mistakes can happen but they can be made right as well. I'll be back soon guys.“

“The food was great but I really like the drinks we had a great time“

“Love this place ❤️ the ingredients used are the finest i love their meat and chiken, i look at the menu choose anything and never get disappointed, VERY generous amount every time and people working their are serious about the service. i absolutely recommend 👌“

“This place was an all star place to be during a family outing! The service was quick, the place was clean and the food was awesome! The best thing about this place is…
It’s affordable! Boom! Thanks for having us guys we will be back!“

“Great place with amazing service“

“Food was wonderful. our server was very informative and attentive. Great personality.“

“Stopped in tonight around 7:30. There were about 12 tables occupied. We waited about 5 minutes for someone to come over to seat us. And that basically set the pace for the rest of the experience… server was very nice but the service was extremely slow. Drinks took about 10 minutes, bread and salad took about 20. Dinner was served quickly after we got our salad. To-go boxes took awhile too. We were never asked if we wanted more wine. Like I said server was very nice but I feel like she had a lot more going on than taking care of her tables. The food on the other hand was absolutely amazing. We will be back again just because of the food!“

“My sister and I came for lunch today. Our waitress was Alexis. She was very kind and welcoming. I am a sucker for good customer service and I honestly loved everything about her. 10/10 she is very nice thank you for your great service 💜🫶🏾“

“I frequent the Chesapeake Square Olive Garden specifically because of the incredible service provided by Latifa. Her personality is so warm and inviting, and her service is truly second to none.
She is so attentive that we didn't have to ask for a single thing the entire night—she was always one step ahead! While the food was great, Latifa is the real reason we keep coming back. She is, hands down, the best server I have ever had. If you visit this location, definitely ask for her!“

“Had the chance to swing by and try this place. My mind was blown by the quality of food, the atmosphere and the friendly staff! The food was very well crafted and was perfect! The tarte to say the least was mouth watering, the trout was delectable, and the shrimp was mind blowing. Will definitely frequent here!“

“I'm recommending because the food is yummy! However the service is disappointing especially my last few visits. I normally do take out and the last time something was forgotten in my order which I did not notice til I got home (I live a bit aways from the restaurant) I called and the bartender who is always nice took my information and apologized even offered a credit towards my next order. However the last few times (one being last night) we dined in and the service was very disappointing. Our server was very slow she kept tending to the other guests around us and left us hanging. Took awhile to get our appetizer and awhile before she took our entree order. Did not offer dessert and took her almost 15 minutes before she brought my credit card back so we could leave. I love the food and atmosphere but the service needs improving.“

“construction dancing cotton abajo“

“I wanted to experience an Italian, locally owned place and found this gem. Enjoyed the lasagna and spaghetti. Came back Friday for their rib eye special to see how special it was. Sure enough it was definitely worth it! The size and price is something you can’t beat! Yesterday was our second time eating the rib eye special and this time the steak was thick and huge! I found our Friday dinner spot!“

“Absolutely amazing experience, I will never forget them. Their food is very authentic, perfectly portioned, fresh, and delicious. Everything was clean, the music was amazing and fit the atmosphere, the owner came out to check on us and got to know us as his customers and now friends. I love this place, the employees were great. I will be back soon!!!! - The Alaska girl and her husband John“

“Amazing Value & Fantastic Calzones! ​Antonio's Italian Ristorante is a gem in Norfolk! I am so happy we found a reliable local spot that offers such affordable and delicious food, especially with how high prices are everywhere else right now. ​I absolutely love the Chicken Bacon Ranch Calzone—it is huge, packed with flavor, and totally satisfying. My daughter always goes for the Large Fries, and they are always perfectly crisp. Even the little things, like the fresh Sweet Tea, are top-notch and fairly priced. ​What I really appreciate is the old-school simplicity of ordering. They feel like a classic '90s pizza place: you call, you order, and they deliver—no messy apps or complicated online menus needed. It’s simple, reliable, and exactly what local takeout should be. ​The portions are generous, the quality is high, and the staff is always friendly. If you're looking for great Italian food and pizza without breaking the bank and appreciate straightforward service, this is the place! Highly recommend!“

“We wanted something different & found it! Best pizza we've had in a very long time.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Just a quick stop end friendly staff“

“Best chicken marsala ever, can’t enjoy it anywhere else“

“The She crab soup incredible and meatballs are divine polenta, mussels delicious. Great eating experience . Great waitress Shelby was a perfect server…never rushed us and was pleasant to talk to. I had questions being in a new city in Norfolk. Great experience.“

“Great service food and wine! Highly recommend a visit with friends and colleagues!“

“2nd time ordering and again I am soooo loving this place! Philly Cheesesteak is AMAZING! Bread is so soft, meat is flavorful and tender AND they don't nickel and dime you for extra toppings. We got the 2 sub deal for less than $17! The fried mushrooms are excellent also 👌“

“The food is delicious...the servers are the best. As an older single man of several years now, I feel loved and cared about every time I'm there. They keep me coming back!“

“Nice little selection of bourbon, great service and food. Will definitely be back soon“

“Been there twice! Highly recommended. Great both times.“

“I enjoy going to fazolis. Wendy Belcher is ALWAYS.. friendly to myself and my luv. She makes sure our order comes out in a timely manner and EVERYTHING is delectable and pipping hot.😌“

“If you haven't been to the Amber Lantern, YOU NEED TO 😍 This hidden gem is like the best kept secret. It's off the beaten path, so you wouldn't know you're even passing it, but frankly, I think that's what I like the most about it. I took hubby out for his birthday, and we had such a quiet and peaceful dinner overlooking the water. Our bill at the end of the night was surprisingly lower than we expected, and we ate many high end meal options. I'd actually go as far to say that I prefer this place over Butcher's Son. Our server, Kristi, went above and beyond and was incredibly genuine and down to earth. The menu provided a great selection that gave many options but wasn't overwhelming. The wine was out of this world! For appetizers we had scallops and fried oysters. I've eaten many oysters in my day, but I've never had ones like this. Lightly fried on the outside with that perfect crunch while the oyster itself was still very juicy! The scallops were perfectly seasoned. My husband had the special of beef tips while I had lobster tortellini. The beef tips didn't even require a knife, just melted right in the mouth. My lobster tortellini was out of this world. We ended with a dessert of tiramisu, homemade raspberry whipped cream, and Carmel sauce. WOW! It was light and moist but not drenched in liquid. We went around 6 and there were only a few couples, but by 8, it was booming! Many regulars from what I could tell. My husband commented that we are definitely coming back, and bringing others with us 😍. It'll now be our go-to for birthdays, anniversaries, and visits from family 😍“

“If you haven't been to the Amber Lantern, YOU NEED TO 😍 This hidden gem is like the best kept secret. It's off the beaten path, so you wouldn't know you're even passing it, but frankly, I think that's what I like the most about it. I took hubby out for his birthday, and we had such a quiet and peaceful dinner overlooking the water. Our bill at the end of the night was surprisingly lower than we expected, and we ate many high end meal options. I'd actually go as far to say that I prefer this place over Butcher's Son. Our server, Kristi, went above and beyond and was incredibly genuine and down to earth. The menu provided a great selection that gave many options but wasn't overwhelming. The wine was out of this world! For appetizers we had scallops and fried oysters. I've eaten many oysters in my day, but I've never had ones like this. Lightly fried on the outside with that perfect crunch while the oyster itself was still very juicy! The scallops were perfectly seasoned. My husband had the special of beef tips while I had lobster tortellini. The beef tips didn't even require a knife, just melted right in the mouth. My lobster tortellini was out of this world. We ended with a dessert of tiramisu, homemade raspberry whipped cream, and Carmel sauce. WOW! It was light and moist but not drenched in liquid. We went around 6 and there were only a few couples, but by 8, it was booming! Many regulars from what I could tell. My husband commented that we are definitely coming back, and bringing others with us 😍. It'll now be our go-to for birthdays, anniversaries, and visits from family 😍“

“Some of the best pizza in Norfolk and the owner is so cool.“

“Great pizza but the last 3 times we have gone there was nobody old enough to serve beer... Hopefully they sort that out soon. We will still continue going there because the pizza is really just that good!“

“I got the chicken parm sub...amazing.“

“we tried the pepperoni pizza pie and it was the best we've had in Hampton roads. Crust is garlicky and just delicious. we'll be back. 5 stars“