Special Report

The Best Italian Restaurant in Every State

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According to a 2019 YouGov survey, Italian cuisine comes in at No. 1 among “America’s favorite foods from around the world.” Other surveys, admittedly, put Italian in second or third place, after Mexican and/or Chinese, but nobody can disagree that pasta and pizza and such form a major part of our diet. The average American eats approximately 20 pounds of pasta a year, in fact, and 23 pounds of pizza. 

It would be hard to find any city or town in the country that doesn’t have at least one Italian restaurant and/or pizzeria. National Geographic reported earlier this year that about 100,000 of America’s 800,000 or so restaurants served Italian food of one kind or another. According to other sources, an estimated three-quarters of this number specialize in pizza.

To determine the best Italian restaurant in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed and extrapolated from lists and rankings on numerous food and general interest sites, including Eater, Yelp, The Daily Meal, Fodors, Business Insider, Forbes, and Gayot, as well as a wide range of regional and city-specific sites.

The results reveal a vast and varied landscape of Italian and Italian-American cooking. There are places that strive for authenticity and preserve tradition, like Felix Trattoria in Venice, California, but also high-end restaurants creating imaginative variations on the theme, like Scampo in Boston. Some establishments work regional ingredients into the mix, like Domenica in New Orleans, while others are unapologetically old-fashioned red-sauce eateries serving comfort food Italian style — sometimes including one or more of these 10 “Italian” dishes that aren’t really Italian.

Click here to see the best Italian restaurant in every state

Photo by Angela B. via Yelp

Alabama: Bottega
> Location: Birmingham
> Sample menu items: Tortellini with Gulf crab, squash, and lemon; chicken scaloppine with capers and polenta

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Photo by Brett R. via Yelp

Alaska: In Bocca al Lupo
> Location: Juneau
> Sample menu items: Garlic-blasted Caesar salad; Yukon gold potato gnocchi with sockeye salmon puttanesca

Photo by Drew D. via Yelp

Arizona: Virtu Honest Craft
> Location: Scottsdale
> Sample menu items: Burrata with fresh figs; smoked duck breast with black garlic soubise

Courtesy of Matt K. via Yelp

Arkansas: Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking
> Location: Eureka Springs
> Sample menu items: Choice of pastas with Mom’s Homemade Meatballs in red sauce; chicken parmesan

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Photo by Linda T. via Yelp

California: Felix Trattoria
> Location: Venice
> Sample menu items: Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad); house-made orecchiette with sausage and broccoletti

Photo by Julie J. via Yelp

Colorado: Frasca Food & Wine
> Location: Boulder
> Sample menu items: Ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms; calamarata pasta with squid and Calabrian chiles

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Photo by Missy K. via Yelp

Connecticut: La Marea Ristorante
> Location: Old Saybrook
> Sample menu items: Insalata riccia con fave e pancetta (frisée salad with favas and pancetta); zuppa de pesce (mixed seafood stew)

Photo by Dao L. via Yelp

Delaware: Taverna
> Location: Newark and Wilmington
> Sample menu items: Crispy meatball pizza; grilled spicy shrimp with zucchini and lemon vinaigrette

Photo by Lauren L. via Yelp

Florida: Cecconi’s
> Location: Miami Beach
> Sample menu items: Vitello tonnato with caperberries; veal milanese

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Courtesy of La Tavola Trattoria

Georgia: La Tavola Trattoria
> Location: Atlanta
> Sample menu items: Agnolotti with corn, mascarpone, and oyster mushrooms; pork belly with cannellini beans and braised kale

Photo by Jeng L, via Yelp

Hawaii: Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
> Location: Honolulu
> Sample menu items: Shrimp and scallop bruschetta; porcini risotto with sautéed foie gras

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Courtesy of Alavita

Idaho: Alavita
> Location: Boise
> Sample menu items: Squid ink bucatini; red-wine-braised short ribs with creamy polenta

Photo by Loretta C. via Yelp

Illinois: RPM Italian
> Location: Chicago
> Sample menu items: Roman-style artichokes with lemon aioli; Mama DePandi’s bucatini with tomatoes and basil

Photo by Jamie M. via Yelp

Indiana: Galo’s Italian Grill
> Location: Richmond
> Sample menu items: Penne carbonara with grilled chicken; gorgonzola New York strip steak with grilled shrimp

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Photo by Ivonne N. via Yelp

Iowa: Centro
> Location: Des Moines
> Sample menu items: Pancetta-wrapped shrimp; spicy sausage rigatoni

Photo by Eleanor B. via Yelp

Kansas: The Basil Leaf Cafe
> Location: Lawrence
> Sample menu items: Sausage and arborio rice arancini; deconstructed lasagna

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Photo by Brian H. via Yelp

Kentucky: Pompilio’s
> Location: Newport
> Sample menu items: Toasted beef or cheese ravioli; veal marsala with linguine

Photo by Keith M. via Yelp

Louisiana: Domenica
> Location: New Orleans
> Sample menu items: Smoked swordfish carpaccio; Gulf shrimp risotto

Photo by Jane B. via Yelp

Maine: Ports of Italy
> Location: Boothbay Harbor and Rockport
> Sample menu items: Bang Island mussels with sambuca; osso buco with risotto milanese

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Courtesy of Isaiah W. via Yelp

Maryland: Cinghiale
> Location: Baltimore
> Sample menu items: Maryland blue crab risotto, crispy soft shell crabs with local asparagus

Courtesy of Scampo

Massachusetts: Scampo
> Location: Boston
> Sample menu items: Burnt orange and tomato risotto with crisped soft shell crab; charcoaled “sugar cane” veal ribeye with stracciatella ravioli

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Photo by Hannah E. via Yelp

Michigan: SheWolf Pastificio & Bar
> Location: Detroit
> Sample menu items: Sformato di zucchine (savory zucchini custard); paccheri pasta with spicy lamb neck ragù

Photo by Monica K. via Yelp

Minnesota: Broders’ Pasta Bar
> Location: Minneapolis
> Sample menu items: Roasted whole garlic with spicy tomato jam; carrot gnocchi with chicken and olives

Photo by Carole S. via Yelp

Mississippi: The Sicilian II
> Location: Biloxi
> Sample menu items: Shrimp Alfredo pizza; chocolate chip cannoli

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Photo by Manda Bear B. via Yelp

Missouri: Casa Don Alfonso
> Location: St. Louis
> Sample menu items: Grandma’s ziti with anchovies and cherry tomatoes; veal pizzaiola

Photo by Amber J. via Yelp

Montana: Michelangelo’s Big Sky
> Location: Gallatin Gateway
> Sample menu items: Grilled portabella mushrooms with herb polenta and goat cheese sauce; saltimbocca alla romana with risotto cake

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Photo by Jeff K. vie Yelp

Nebraska: MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante
> Location: Lincoln
> Sample menu items: Prosciutto and egg pizza; garlic-butter walleye with spinach and tomato risotto

Courtesy of Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Nevada: Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
> Location: Las Vegas
> Sample menu items: Pasta e fagioli; coniglio brasato (braised rabbit) with polenta and roasted mushrooms

Photo by P M. via Yelp

New Hampshire: Campo Enoteca
> Location: Manchester
> Sample menu items: House-made ricotta with grilled sourdough; chicken piccata tagliatelle

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Photo by Chrissy Q. via Yelp

New Jersey: Cafe 2825
> Location: Atlantic City
> Sample menu items: Spicy scungilli; Sunday Gravy (homemade meatballs, pork braciole, and Italian sausage in Old World thick red gravy)

Photo by Kinnie I. via Yelp

New Mexico: Osteria d’Assisi
> Location: Santa Fe
> Sample menu items: Penne alla carbonara; braised buffalo short ribs with polenta

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Photo by Josie T. via Yelp

New York: Via Carota
> Location: New York City
> Sample menu items: Peas with lettuce and prosciutto; grilled sea bream with charred escarole

Photo by Eva D. via Yelp

North Carolina: Ristorante Paoletti
> Location: Highlands
> Sample menu items: Smoked risotto with mushroom ragù; grilled North Carolina rainbow trout Adriatico style

Courtesy of Anima Cucina

North Dakota: Anima Cucina
> Location: Bismarck
> Sample menu items: Lardo crostini; spicy shrimp spaghetti

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Photo by Alexa N. via Yelp

Ohio: Martini Modern Italian
> Location: Columbus
> Sample menu items: Tomato soup with pesto and goat cheese; fettuccine with clams

Photo by Mary Margaret M. via Yelp

Oklahoma: Stella
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Sample menu items: Prosciutto and peach pizza; chicken and corn risotto

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Photo by Dena F. via Yelp

Oregon: Nick’s Italian Cafe
> Location: McMinnville
> Sample menu items: Trippa alla fiorentina (braised tripe with poached egg); Dungeness crab lasagna

Vetri Cucina / Facebook

Pennsylvania: Vetri Cucina
> Location: Philadelphia
> Sample menu items: Sweet onion crêpe with truffle and parmesan fondue; spaghetti alla chitarra with bone marrow and shellfish

Photo by Sally C. via Yelp

Rhode Island: Al Forno
> Location: Providence
> Sample menu items: Clams al forno; spicy fried calamari grilled pizza

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Courtesy of Elise D. via Yelp

South Carolina: Le Farfalle
> Location: Charleston
> Sample menu items: Warm rosemary focaccia with whipped ricotta; angel hair pasta with blue crab

Courtesy of Sabatino's Italian Ristorante

South Dakota: Sabatino’s Italian
> Location: Rapid City
> Sample menu items: Caprese salad; gnocchi al pesto

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Photo by Ahmed A. via Yelp

Tennessee: Yolan
> Location: Nashville
> Sample menu items: White asparagus with Lambrusco, smoked trout roe; bucatini all’amatriciana

Photo by Ted N. via Yelp

Texas: Lucia
> Location: Dallas
> Sample menu items: Baked rigatoni with ‘nduja, bread crumbs, and stracciatella; pork shoulder cooked in hay

Photo by Andrew S. via Yelp

Utah: Valter’s Osteria
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Sample menu items: Zuppa cotta (cannellini beans, mushrooms, and truffles); chicken piccata with artichokes and lemon sauce

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Photo by Tim M. via Yelp

Vermont: Sarducci’s
> Location: Montpelier
> Sample menu items: Linguine al pescatore (with shrimp, cod, and mussels); vitello alla parmigiana

Courtesy of Carmen H. via Yelp

Virginia: Edo’s Squid
> Location: Richmond
> Sample menu items: Squid with arugula, garlic, and lemon; sausage, polenta, and beans

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Photo by Jacqueline T. via Yelp

Washington: Cafe Juanita
> Location: Kirkland
> Sample menu items: Risotto with corn and raw spot prawns; wagyu New York strip with romano beans and chanterelles

Photo by Mark W. via Yelp

West Virginia: Fazio’s
> Location: Charleston
> Sample menu items: Baked manicotti; chicken cacciatore with mostaccioli in meat and mushroom sauce

Photo by Christina P. via Yelp

Wisconsin: Ristorante Bartolotta
> Location: Wauwatosa
> Sample menu items: Gianfuttiri (Calabrian vegetable stew); cappone arrosto (slow-roasted capon)

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Photo by Trattoria via Yelp

Wyoming: Glorietta Trattoria
> Location: Jackson
> Sample menu items: Lobster Fra’ Diavolo with tagliatelle; Snake River Farms porchetta with escarole and white beans

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