The Most Scrumptious Italian in Phoenix

La Torretta Ristorante

★★★★☆ 4.3 (339) • $$$

"It's nice to have a family run restaurant with all of the restaurant group places around. It's clear that they care and want to do a good job. The bread service was very good with fluffy ciabatta and plenty of butter. They made chicken francese for me even though it was not on the menu. Our tablemates had chicken Parmesan, salmon penne and smoked chicken rigatoni - they all liked their dishes as did I.The cheesecake for dessert was very smooth and light even though it was a very large piece.There are a few things that would help this become a much more desirable choice:1. Add some warmth to the venue. It is very sterile with fluorescent looking lights, big open spaces between tables and a bar that reminds one of a sushi restaurant. It just doesn't feel homey at all. Some warm lighting and not white paint would do wonders. Although the owner doesn't like a crowded room or adding more tables, patrons prefer the cozy feeling of a place that looks more intimate. It looks like they can't afford more tables the way it is set up now. 2. They need to season the calamari with some salt and they were a tad too chewy as well.3. The marinara sauce was watery and lacked richness.4. Add cocktails being available (and the price) on the menu.5. Clear the empty tables of their dirty dishes much more quickly - it feels gross sitting next to an uncleared table."

Marcellino Ristorante

★★★★☆ 3.8 (592) • $$$

"I've lived in Scottsdale for 6 years and finally was able to try this restaurant! I would recommend making a reservation, even their bar seating is reserved. We went on a Saturday night and it was extremely busy. There was a live band with a saxophone playing in the background.The service was incredible- our waiter made recommendations based on what we liked and walked us through the menu section by section. Their wine line had an in depth selection of different wines from all over Italy. The food was phenomenal- fresh ingredients and had great flavors. We started with the mussels - we were going to have them in the red sauce but our waiter recommended the garlic wine sauce and it did not disappoint. We ordered two of their special pastas for our entrees. We had one with crumbles of sausage and truffle, the other was a seafood pasta. Both pastas were handmade and light. For dessert, we had the pistachio gelato and it was one of the best gelatos I've had. Highly recommend for a date night, dinner with friends or family meal."

Forno 301 Scottsdale

★★★★★ 4.5 (222) • $$

"I love this local authentic Italian restaurant. I stopped by for a late takeout dinner after work one day. I had the daily special, a fresh made italian classic that is not normally served everyday. I have for folly pasta with Bolognese sauce topped with a dollop of ricotta cheese . It was fantastic! The richness and depth of flavor of the sauce combined with the creaminess of the ricotta cheese served over the freshly made fa pasta was the perfect combination.If you love, Italian food, authentic, Italian food, you really need to try this place."

Bella Pizza & Pasta

★★★★☆ 4.1 (254) • $

"I ordered the Bella special Stromboli and the garden salad and was in heaven. Both had so many wonderful ingredients and both were so tasty. Natalie waited on me and was super friendly and efficient. I'll definitely be back!"

Manhattan Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.5 (122) • $$

"We have been coming here for a while and primarily order the eggplant parmesan. It is always delicious and satisfying. We have enjoyed pizza in the past, which was also great."

By the Bucket Anthem

★★★★☆ 4.2 (19)

"The food here is perfect for a family meal or lunch option. I didn't get a picture of the menu but these two options are there most popular options. Salads are fresh. Everything we have gotten is good. Our sons like it here if they need carbs after practice. Never have actually tried the cookie buckets or brownies though. The service is friendly and place is clean. It's a takeout spot so don't expect fancy frills. Food in the bucket but good basic pasta, garlic bread, various proteins, sauces, salads, subs and desserts. I do wish they had more lighting at night. It's hard to tell if it's open and that little plaza is just too dark. Great concept when you want pasta quick or want something other than fast food burgers. Give it a try you just might make it part of your rotation if you're busy like me."

CHAR Pizzeria Napoletana

★★★★☆ 4 (445) • $$

"We met a big group of friends for happy hour here recently. The patio was a great place for all of us. The bartenders were very friendly and did a great job with a large group. Although I didn't not get anything to eat, the pizza and salads looked very good. I will have to come back for a meal."

Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1003) • $$

"Vito's never/ever disappoints! Vegetarian pizza is our favorite along with a small dinner salad! Wait staff are always engaging and attentive to our needs! Family oriented ambiance suits most diners! Prosecco or house sangria go with all menu choices!"

Spiga Cucina Italiana

★★★★☆ 4 (891) • $$

"I came to Spiga based on a plug by the old gangster Sammy the Bull Gravano. He wasn't wrong. The food was pretty good. Start with the Gamberi appetizer and ask for extra bread for dipping the sauce. The Linguine Nero is a must. The dish is a bit different from most. It had a nice smokey flavor to it that gave it a nice extra kick to the dish. It also was loaded with seafood. The chicken parmigia was good too, although it didn't come with the vodka sauce. The side is pasta was with a vodka sauce, and I think I enjoyed the pasta more. This was nice and made for an overall great dish. Most places give you a side of watery tomato sauce spaghetti. Overall, great food and service."

Pizza A Metro

★★★★★ 4.6 (614) • $$

"OMG! My nephew and his girlfriend took me to this restaurant for my birthday. My first choice restaurant was completely booked and i honestly was bummed and wasn't looking forward to having to go to another spot.This place is located in a little plaza. It is super quaint and small. Our server was friendly and attentive. We received complimentary bread with this amazing tomato dip. We ordered calamari as our appetizer. Tasty!For my main course, I had Shrimp Scampi with Angel hair pasta paired with a glass of Moscato (my favorite sweet wine). Meal was delicious and a generous portion size. My nephew ordered the chicken parm and his girlfriend had the bolognese. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Everything I ate here was bursting with flavor!"

Local Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.8 (742) • $$

"Stopped in to check this place out and ended up staying for dinner. The menu is amazing and hard to resist! We got great service in the bar...the wine list is quite large. The menu has something for everyone! We sampled the Italian Guacamole which is different with the basil and sun dried tomatoes, but very tasty and enough for 4 people for sure. If anything I think they could use to dice the tomatoes to make it easier to eat. The gazpacho with nectarines was an absolutely hit! To finish we had the arugula salad with salmon. Which was perfectly prepared. It's atop of a generous portion of whipped goat cheese with honey. Compliments to the chef and staff. Everything was well done! Another suggestion, display this amazing menu outside. It will definitely draw them in."

J P Mc Gurkee's Sandwich Shop

★★★★☆ 4.3 (308) • $$

"During a random search for a meatball sandwich, I found this little hole in the wall. I did not know so much history from a small sub sandwich pizza shop name, McGurkee's.Once you step in, you can smell the sesame being toasted on bread. I personally tried the meatball Italian sandwich. The texture of the bread was crunchy and just right with the taste of sesame seeds. The meatballs were soft inside and nice cooked outside layer with warm battered pizza sauce. The price for the sandwich ran about $10 for a 6 inch. Without planning lunch I got to experience a little bit of Phoenix history and a good tasty meatball Italian sandwich."

Fabio On Fire | Pizzeria Italiana

★★★★☆ 4.3 (943) • $$

"Saturday night and the place was full. Family style not super loud, but very busy. Service was friendly. The food WOW delicious! I got the lasagna and wow what a flavor. Pricy but worth it"

Little Joe’s Italian Market

★★★★★ 4.8 (91)

"Met some friends for luch here. This place has everything you want in a small local italian market ! The atmosphere is clean and welcoming, with the charm of an authentic Italian market. The staff all were incredibly friendly, making me feel like a regular on my very first visit.Pizza was fantastic! Perfectly crisp crust, flavorful sauce, and fresh, high-quality toppings that hit all the right notes. You can taste the care that goes into every pie.Great food, warm service, and a spotless environment--Can't wait to come back!"

Little Sicily Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.1 (325) • $$

Moontower Social Club

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5)

"I enjoyed this new addition to the area. It's a cute place to grab drinks and dinner, although their food menu isn't huge. The vibe is general Italian American inspired. They serve a predictable lineup of bruschetta, sandwiches, and a couple salads. I enjoyed the melon and prosciutto salad, and my friend had a sandwich. I was surprised it wasn't served hot or toasted, but the side of soup is a nice touch. They also have a deal on bruschetta and a bottle of wine on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Their drinks are named after a dominant ingredient/flavor, which is a fun motif. If the bartender warns you the Juniper is spirit forward, she's not kidding. The Coconut is fruity and sweet, and my friend and I both loved the Lavender. Presentation is simple but cute, and the decor is adorable. There are choices for vegetarians, although I wouldn't recommend this spot to someone gluten-free. Service was really attentive. The prices (and the parking situation) are on par for downtown. I intend to return for cocktails again!"

Vinny's Italian Sports Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (228) • $$

"Glad I came Across this PlaceWe were in the area visiting friends and shopping and ran across Vinny's, and I'm so glad we did.This was our first visit but wont be our last. On thevvisit we shared the Spinach tortellini Fettuccine Alfredo, pepperoni pizza, sauage sandwich,with a side of homemade garlic bread in an olive oil dip bowl cannot be beat. Everything was delicious. The pasta and sauces were flavorful and prepared perfectly.The Bread was hot, fresh and plentifu. My dinner companion said the pizza and sausage sandwich were the best he's had in a long time. The Sausage is made on site and was perfectly flavored.Wait staff and food was amazing! Perfect place to relax and enjoy some great food and atmosphere! If in the area, you need to stop on by. You'll be glad you did."

North Italia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (591) • $$

"Having traveled to Italy and very in step with good Italian food, I was very happy with this visit here with a friend colleague.The place is gorgeous and when we arrived for dinner at 6:45pm, the place was swarming with lot of people! That's a good sign.We made reservations and were seated in a booth in the middle of the restaurant. This place is huge and also with a nice bar area and big TVs.We had a lovely waiter and my dining mate was interested in a glass of wine and since it's the summer, we went with a sparkling rose and my friend wanted a new bottle opened. Sparkling rose was great!We both also opted for the branzino and that was just delicious, reminded me of the summer I was in Sardinia and plenty of meals I had in NYC.There was a squid ink pasta on the menu and I would've loved to try that and I'll be back to have that next time.What was the cherry on top of this dining experience was the tiramisu. I'm not a fan of the typical tiramisu but this was made more like a pudding and that worked really for me! I loved this dessert and would come back just for this!Overall, an amazing dining experience, excellent service, solid meal and lovely company! I will be back!"

Mancuso's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (364) • $$$

"Met up with friends to go to a show downtown Phoenix and we wanted to get dinner before the show and picked Mancuso's. Its been in the valley for 40 years and this was my 1st time there. We had reservations so we were shown to our table right away.The meal starts out with bread, which was delish, For the meal I went with chicken marsala. The was perfectly cooked chicken breast in a wine sauce with button mushrooms paired angle hair pasta and seasoned green beans. The table also shared a bottle of wine.This was a great meal, service was a great. Can't believe it was my 1st time there, but it won't be my last!"

Cibo

★★★★☆ 4.4 (2857) • $$

"Bella Nolte! We dined outside under the spring alfresco sky with live music.Our server was kind and knowledgeable. We ordered the Meatball Saltimbucca and the Amitrice with the guancele. The breads and toppings were delicious, so was the salad dressed with pine nuts that came with our sandwich.Bravissimo!"

The Blind Pig

★★★★☆ 4.1 (595) • $$

"Cute little place. I do find it weird that 2 Italian restaurants would be next to each other, but ok!! The staff is super friendly and really knows the dishes. It was fun to get their recommendations and try some new things. I had the braised rib and OMG, so yummy. I guess now you have to ask for what used to just be served at most restaurants while you wait. We asked for bread and finally got it after dinner was served, and they gave a lot but no butter or dipping oil. Desert was an amaretto cheesecake for me, and it was perfectly balanced, and I definitely will order this again. You do get a large order so we definitely took food home. We enjoyed sitting out in the patio the weather was just perfect tonight."

Pizzicata - Mesa

★★★★☆ 3.9 (172) • $$

"To toast my 900th review on Yelp, I knew I needed to do something a little special and go with someone to celebrate. Who better than my Yelp Bestie/Cousin Chelsey H.?! This location has been bookmarked to try as I saw a Yelp friend review and saw they had Caprese. If you know me, you know I'm a Caprese aficionado and always looking to see who locally has the best Caprese!When you pull into the very large parking lot, you will want to enter from the right side labeled patio. It can be a little confusing as we walked to the left as it was labeled restaurant, but it was the golf resort side. Once we entered, the hostess was very friendly and asked if we wanted a window view which was a nice touch. Genuinely amazing how beautiful the view was as we both witnessed a sunset and the rolling in of a monsoon storm. The beauty of Arizona in the summer!To start the meal, we began with Caprese which despite the menu I didn't realize didn't come with balsamic. Shame on me for not reading it fully lol. I personally love balsamic glaze and/or balsamic vinegar, so we asked the waitress (receipt says Serena - we didn't catch her name sorry!) who grabbed a bottle which added the little something I felt it missing (personal preference). Before we could even finish the caprese salad, the beautiful vegetariana pizza came out. Pictures do not do it justice as this pizza was perfectly crunchy and the vegetables cooked perfectly! Since we were on a roll, we ended the night with the brownie that's topped with vanilla gelato and whipped cream. Though the texture didn't seem quite brownie-like, it was incredibly rich and delicious! Ended the meal on a sweet note.Definitely recommend this location if you are in the area, and when I have a craving for good pizza then I'll drive the 10 miles from my house to try this place again!"

La Locanda

★★★★☆ 4.3 (483) • $$$

"A large group of us met up for dinner here....included 3 kiddos and 7 adults. We got the back room which was excellent, the kiddos were able to just be free and loud.The team was great there, very attentive to us, patiently taking our orders through giggles and laughter from the kids and honoring our special requests.We definitely will be back and recommend to families! we had a great time"

La Locanda Italian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (69) • $$

"No frills good Italian food and quick service. Pricing is fair but bread is extra which is a bit rare for an Italian restaraunt. The pasta was Al dente and the shrimp was cooked really well. The arrabiata was light and not too spicy. If you want good Italian without a over-the-top Scottsdale boujeeness, this is perfect! Reminded me of home (east coast Italian restaraunts)."

By The Bucket - Laveen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (8)

"We ordered off of door dash and I have to say I was not disappointed. We got the lunch special half a Caesar salad w/ chicken and a side (meatballs) and a regular spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken parm. This reminded me of dennys, sizzler or Golden Corral spaghetti which i LOVE. Don't expect high quality but it's tasty the salad was amazing."

Society

★★★★☆ 4.3 (361) • $$$

"On our way to see Hamilton at ASU Gammage, we decided to stop in to Society. It was early, so no reservation was necessary. Not wanting to sit through a long show on an over-full stomach, we decided to share an appetizer and entree. We started with the meatball appetizer. The meatballs were moist and delicious. The house-made sauce with basil oil and balsamic reduction pushed the taste buds to the edge! So good! We shared the burger and delicious fries. Two thumbs up, with a definite "would order again" review. The place is eclectically decorated- comes together nicely. The bar has full service food and was charming. I will certainly be back. Great place with excellent service. What else do you want?"

Pacino's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (439) • $$

"If you know me, then you know I'm a caprese aficionado. Always looking for a great Caprese, which led my Yelp Bestie Chelsey H. and I to check this establishment out as we found via the Yelp App. Yelpies usually have the best recommendations!We came on a fairly busy Friday night, but they have ample seating inside so we had no wait. Our server was very attentive even with multiple tables, and the band being quite loud right next to our booth. They even had great recommendations and helped us decide on what to order. I'm happy to say the caprese was amazing, and I really enjoyed the pasta dish we ordered as well. The pizza flavor wasn't my favorite, but it was still really good! I know Chelsey said it was great as leftovers. Next time, we will try a different flavor as the crust/sauce was amazing! All in all, we definitely see us coming back!"

Franco's Italian Caffe

★★★★★ 4.6 (333) • $$$

"Nice small restaurant with delicious food. I got duck ravioli (special of that day). Ravioli is perfectly cooked and the duck is juicy delicious. My husband got seafood squid ink pasta (another special of that day). The seafood is fresh and the pasta is tasty.Food portion is good. We did not have leftovers and we don't have room for desserts. We called to make a reservation. We went in on Black Friday as soon as they were opened so they were not packed."

Sardella's Pizza & Wings

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (190) • $

"We order the "Pomodoro" which comes with tomatoes, garlic, basil, ricotta, and italian seasoning and I always order it with extra ricotta, and add mozzarella, with a sicilian crust. We've ordered other things from here but this has become our go-to order.Absolutely love how cheesy it is and how pillowy soft the crust is. I've ordered it for family, and friends on multiple occasions and everyone seems to love it.Staff is friendly and prices are decent.Sardella's is local and family owned, they have a couple of locations in the valley."

Sardella's Pizza & Wings

★★★★☆ 3.5 (196) • $$

"Picked up a large order for one of our daughter's birthdays. We chose Sardella's, as they have a safe setup for gluten-free pizza. We were also in the area for some birthday fun, so it was convenient. Ordering was a breeze. I originally wanted to get our gluten-free pizza here and the rest elsewhere. I reminded my husband he was no longer a fan after their recipe changed many uears ago. The order was correct, and they made it fast! 5 stars on the service order and gluten-free. Meh, on the standard pizzas. It was eaten, but no one was impressed. People said it was like getting a Little Cesar's pizza, but not as good. This is my Sardella's they were talking about! Oh, if you could have only experienced their original recipe. Mmmmmmm Still us girls gf happy place. Wonderful family owned business that will always have a place in my heart. 30 years of yum for us! This location looks fantastic, and they really take care of it and have wonderful employees!"

Nook Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (655) • $$$

"The vegan Campanella is my new favorite pasta dish. Probably have thought about it on a daily basis since going so... if y'all wanna drop me the recipe to try to copy it since I live out of state Service was great, decor is cute, not too busy on a Saturday evening around 6pm. Parking is a little wonky but they offer valet, if you're now down to valet there's a parking lot next door it's just a bit of a walk."

Tommy V's Urban Kitchen & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (830) • $$$

"This restaurant is a cut above the rest. First of all I was tickled when I checked in on Yelp and I got a coupon for "one free fist bump from the bar tender" (which by the way I am still owed because I never did get this). The ambiance is great and we choose to sit in the outdoor seating. They had ample heating lamps which was perfect for the chilly desert nights. Our table was rocky but we quickly fixed that with some left over tickets we had from a place we went to prior. The service was great. Our waitstaff was friendly however the bar was a little slow on this night and we did have to wait a while for our second round of drinks. The food was great and the bread is to die for. My husband got the short rib and I got the mushroom risotto. Both were incredible good. We did not get a chance to try dessert but next time we will."

Nick's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (163) • $$

"Nick is the olive tree with big beautiful olives,Christine, Hymie, Ryan and Jack. First time here and it will not be our be last. The food was great. The staff was wonderful and Nick has a great personality. No wonder they have 3 restaurants. We ordered the cioppino, salad, calamari, chocolate gelato and tiramisu. Everything was great, I think the salad was over done with the mozzarella cheese on top but extremely tasty.I would order everything again.TIP: extremely busy on Sunday evenings. Go during the week.I WOULD RECOMMEND"

Pizzicata

★★★★☆ 4 (394) • $$

"We came here for our monthly ladies who lunch group on a Friday. I had read a review that suggested reservations were needed. Not on a weekday apparently. I was excited to try the pinza as I'd never even heard of one. So I got the pepperoni lunch one that came with fries. A friend got got the margarita one, and we had a sandwich and regular menu one. Our server was delightful. He was not only amused by our rowdy group, but also amusing. We got cheesecake for dessert and another slice to go for later. If it were closed I'd be here more often."

Guido's Chicago Meat & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.2 (490) • $$

"Came in a year ago to get anise oil for my Italian pizzelles. Today came In to order dinner for my boyfriend and I for Christmas Eve dinner. The guys were so nice and helpful. They have a full menu from cold sandwiches to full entrees. If you are looking for Italian sauces, oils and vinegars they have you covered.Looking forward to my meal and to take my Italian mother here when she visits in a few weeks. Another plus is the broasted chicken, not a lot of places have broasted chicken on their menu."