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The Best Italian Restaurant in Every State

The Best Italian Restaurant in Every State

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The world is filled with an incredible variety of cuisines and most of them can thankfully be found in the United States. From the many delicious flavors of Asia to the vast selections in Europe – there is always something for everyone to choose from. Many of us are fortunate enough to have almost all of these options where we live. It may not be the same taste you remember from your childhood, but until you can fly home, it’s a pretty good substitute.

With all the varieties of food available in the United States, it may be difficult to decide what your favorite cuisine is. You may shop around for a bit of variety but invariably you find yourself coming back to the most popular ethnic cuisine around the globe – Italian. It not only ranks at the top worldwide – surveys by pickyeaterblog.com and Food Network indicated that 84% ranked it as their favorite foreign fare – but in the United States as well, where at 88%, it scores even higher with Americans’ most preferred cuisine.

Every city or town in America most likely has at least one Italian restaurant, with some having many more – NYC alone has over 1,500 – so odds are, you’ll be able to treat yourself to this tasty Mediterranean fare. The average American not only eats about 20 pounds of pasta a year but consumes 23 pounds of pizza – that’s one billion pizzas or the equivalent of about 100 acres daily. (Read about the best restaurant for pasta in every state.) 

To comprise a list of the best Italian restaurant in each state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed and extrapolated from lists and rankings on numerous food and general interest sites, including Eater, Yelp, The Daily Meal, and Fodors, as well as a wide range of regional and city-specific sites. Eateries that only serve pizza and not much more were not considered but we did include establishments that feature pizza along with other Italian dishes.

The culinary landscape proved expansive and diverse across sites celebrating Italian flavors. Certain restaurants like Mother Wolf in Los Angeles aim for authenticity and time-honored tradition. Others such as Via Carota in NYC even offer a cookbook by James Beard Award-winning chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi. Additional venues infuse local ingredients into Italian dishes or focus on specific regional cooking methods. And traditional red-sauce joints continue dishing tried-and-true comfort recipes, unaltered by modern trends.

Cooking approaches differ in every location but these eateries are all alike in the way they express Italian cuisine in ways both founded on heritage and shaped by current tastes. Their menus reveal both innovation and enduring influence while proving the versatility of this globally beloved fare. (If it’s just pizza you’re after, here’s a list of the best pizza place in every state.)

Here is the top Italian restaurant in each state:

Alabama: Bottega

Source: Courtesy of Jesse R. via Yelp
  • Location: Birmingham
  • Culinary selections: Risotto with rock shrimp, crawfish, morels, leeks & vermouth

Alaska: In Bocca al Lupo

Source: Courtesy of Jackson M. via Yelp
  • Location: Juneau
  • Culinary Selections: Pizza with black garlic mushrooms, roasted garlic, roasted onion, basil, parmesan, lemon

Arizona: Virtù Honest Craft

Source: Courtesy of Hooi Chin N. via Yelp
  • Location: Scottsdale
  • Culinary selections: Burrata with ‘nduja and orange salsa verde; branzino with melted leeks and fennel

Arkansas: Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking

Source: Courtesy of Matt K. via Yelp
  • Location: Eureka Springs
  • Culinary selections: Choice of pasta with Mom’s homemade meatballs in red sauce; chicken parmesan

California: Mother Wolf

Source: Courtesy of Hailing W. via Yelp
  • Location: Los Angeles
  • Culinary selections: Pizza bianca con porchetta; spaghetti all’arrabbiata, Fiori di zucca

Colorado: Frasca Food & Wine

Source: Courtesy of Chan Y. via Yelp
  • Location: Boulder
  • Culinary selections: Cotechino with grilled corn polenta; Colorado lamb loin with black figs

Connecticut: Grano Arso

Source: Courtesy of Katherine B. via Yelp
  • Location: Chester
  • Culinary selections: Green beans with soppressata; spaghetti Fra Diavolo

Delaware: Capers & Lemons

Source: Courtesy of Kimberly H. via Yelp
  • Location: Wilmington
  • Culinary selections: Fig flatbread with prosciutto and gorgonzola; C&L braciole with spicy capicola

Florida: Campiello

Source: Courtesy of Gillian M. via Yelp
  • Location: Naples
  • Culinary selections: Garganelli with roasted chicken, prosciutto, and peas; sautéed snapper piccata with parsley risotto

Georgia: Tre Vele

Source: Courtesy of William M. via Yelp
  • Location: Sandy Springs
  • Culinary selections: Charred octopus with Tuscan bread pudding; lemon ricotta pizza with prosciutto and fried artichokes

Hawaii: La Cucina Ristorante Italiano

Source: Courtesy of Rebecca C. via Yelp
  • Location: Honolulu
  • Culinary selections: Tagliatelle Neri e frutti de Mare; risotto norcina with homemade sausage and wild mushrooms

Idaho: Àlavita

Source: Courtesy of Rachel M. via Yelp
  • Location: Boise
  • Culinary selections: Calamari fritti; trottole with duck confit and peas

Illinois: RPM Italian

Source: Courtesy of Priyanka R. via Yelp
  • Location: Chicago
  • Culinary selections: Squash blossoms stuffed with mozzarella di bufala; gorgonzola-cured wagyu

Indiana: Ristorante Roma

Source: Courtesy of Ristorante Roma via Yelp
  • Location: Carmel
  • Culinary selections: Brussels sprouts al pecorino; maiale al pistacchio (pork tenderloin in a pistachio crust)

Iowa: Maggie’s Farm Wood-Fired Pizza

Source: Courtesy of Karan V. via Yelp
  • Location: Iowa City
  • Culinary selections: Scampi pizza; seven-layer lasagna bolognese

Kansas: Genovese

Source: Courtesy of Scott T. via Yelp
  • Location: Lawrence
  • Culinary selections: Risotto fritters with peas and mozzarella; house-made spinach fettuccine Alfredo

Kentucky: Pompilio’s

Source: Courtesy of Michael B. via Yelp
  • Location: Newport
  • Culinary selections: Risotto balls; veal marsala with linguine

Louisiana: Ristorante Gianna

Source: Courtesy of Gianna Restaurant via Yelp
  • Location: New Orleans
  • Culinary selections: Ribollita soup; lamb lasagna

Maine: Ports of Italy

Source: Courtesy of Ports of Italy via Yelp
  • Location: Boothbay Harbor (Closed for the season – reopens mid-April) & Rockport
  • Culinary selections: Mussels with sambuca; pork osso buco with risotto Milanese

Maryland: Cinghiale

Source: Courtesy of Candy M. via Yelp
  • Location: Baltimore
  • Culinary selections: Potato gnocchetti with forest mushrooms and favas; grilled Mediterranean branzino with eggplant caponata

Massachusetts: Scampo

Source: Courtesy of Michelle W. M. via Yelp
  • Location: Boston
  • Culinary selections: Prime sirloin carpaccio with bottarga and cured egg yolk; grilled pink swordfish with zucchini fritters and ricotta gnocchi

Michigan: SheWolf Pastificio & Bar

Source: Courtesy of Alyssa R. via Yelp
  • Location: Detroit
  • Culinary selections: Farinata (chickpea pancake) with charred corn purée; rigatoni alla gricia (with guanciale and pecorino)

Minnesota: Broders’ Pasta Bar

Source: Photo by Monica K. via Yelp
  • Location: Minneapolis
  • Culinary selections: Linguine al pesto genovese; lemon chicken risotto

Mississippi: The Sicilian II

Source: Photo by Robin C. via Yelp
  • Location: Biloxi
  • Culinary selections: House-made mozzarella sticks; stuffed manicotti

Missouri: Lidia’s Kansas City

Source: Courtesy of Natalie T. via Yelp
  • Location: Kansas City
  • Culinary selections: Daily pasta tasting menu; anatra (seared duck breast with stuffed zucchini and soft polenta)

Montana: Michelangelo’s Big Sky

Source: Courtesy of Michelangelo's Ristorante Italiano via Yelp
  • Location: Gallatin Gateway
  • Culinary selections: Hazelnut-crusted fried jumbo shrimp with basil aïoli; quattro formaggi (four-cheese) ravioli with tomato sauce;

Nebraska: MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante

Source: Courtesy of James Y. via Yelp
  • Location: Lincoln
  • Culinary selections: Prosciutto and egg pizza; baked lobster and shrimp macaroni

Nevada: Ferraro’s Ristorante

Source: Courtesy of Ferraro's Ristorante via Yelp
  • Location: Las Vegas
  • Culinary selections: Nonna’s peperone ripieno (peppers stuffed with veal and eggplant); coniglio brasato (braised rabbit with soft polenta)

New Hampshire: Campo Enoteca

Source: Photo by P M. via Yelp
  • Location: Manchester
  • Culinary selections: House-made ricotta with grilled sourdough; chicken piccata tagliatelle

New Jersey: Cafe 2825

Source: Courtesy of Jennifer S. via Yelp
  • Location: Atlantic City
  • Culinary selections: Spicy scungilli; Sunday Gravy (homemade meatballs, pork braciole, and Italian sausage in Old World thick red gravy)

New Mexico: Osteria d’Assisi

Source: Photo by Kinnie I. via Yelp
  • Location: Santa Fe
  • Culinary selections: Margherita pizza; veal osso buco with farro risotto

New York: Via Carota

Source: Courtesy of Jingshu G. via Yelp
  • Location: New York City
  • Culinary selections: Peas with lettuce and prosciutto; grilled sea bream with charred escarole

North Carolina: Ristorante Paoletti

Source: Courtesy of Eva D. via Yelp
  • Location: Highlands
  • Culinary selections: Cannelloni all’Emiliana; cioppino Paoletti

North Dakota: Anima Cucina

Source: Courtesy of Maura C. via Yelp
  • Location: Bismarck
  • Culinary selections: Adult mac’n’cheese; porchetta with fried polenta cake

Ohio: Martini Modern Italian

Source: Photo by Alexa N. via Yelp
  • Location: Columbus
  • Culinary selections: Tomato soup with pesto and goat cheese; fettuccine with clams

Oklahoma: Stella Modern Italian Cuisine

Source: Courtesy of Victoria N. via Yelp
  • Location: Oklahoma City
  • Culinary selections: Oak-fired apple and prosciutto pizza; limoncello ricotta cheesecake

Oregon: Nostrana

Source: Courtesy of Sara C. via Yelp
  • Location: Portland
  • Culinary selections: Oregon albacore tuna crudo; overnight-roasted pork shoulder with salsa verde and creamy scallion polenta

Pennsylvania: Vetri Cucina

Source: Courtesy of J.L. via Yelp
  • Location: Philadelphia
  • Culinary selections: Sweet onion crêpe with truffle and parmesan fondue; smoked baby goat with house-milled polenta

Rhode Island: Al Forno

Source: Courtesy of Paul S. via Yelp
  • Location: Providence
  • Culinary selections: Clams al forno; pappardelle with Venetian chicken meatballs

South Carolina: Le Farfalle

Source: Courtesy of Elise D. via Yelp
  • Location: Charleston
  • Culinary selections: Umbrian-style stewed chickpeas; lamb chops scottadito

South Dakota: Sabatino’s Italian

Source: Courtesy of Desiree B. via Yelp
  • Location: Rapid City
  • Culinary selections: burrata and prosciutto; spaghetti primavera

Tennessee: Yolan

Source: Courtesy of Yolan via Yelp
  • Location: Nashville
  • Culinary selections: Gnocchi with black winter truffle and ricotta; breaded veal chop

Texas: Lucia

Source: Courtesy of Jolene J. via Yelp
  • Location: Dallas
  • Culinary selections: Mortadella ravioli with pistachio pesto; wild striped bass with tomatoes, cream peas, and clams

Utah: Valter’s Osteria

Source: Photo by Andrew S. via Yelp
  • Location: Salt Lake City
  • Culinary selections: Zuppa cotta (cannellini beans, mushrooms, and truffles); chicken piccata with artichokes and lemon sauce

Vermont: Sarducci’s

Source: Photo by Tim M. via Yelp
  • Location: Montpelier
  • Culinary selections: Mussels al diablo with linguine; eggplant alla parmigiana

Virginia: Edo’s Squid

Source: Courtesy of Carmen H. via Yelp
  • Location: Richmond
  • Culinary selections: Squid with white beans and arugula; penne with sausage, ricotta, and broccoli rabe

Washington: Spinasse

Source: Courtesy of Amy C. via Yelp
  • Location: Seattle
  • Culinary selections: Risotto with Alaskan spot prawns; pan-seared quail with cherries, radicchio, and thyme

West Virginia: Muriale’s

Source: Courtesy of Mike P. via Yelp
  • Location: Fairmont
  • Culinary selections: Spicy Italian sausage and peppers; linguine with white clam sauce

Wisconsin: Ristorante Bartolotta

Source: Courtesy of Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 via Yelp
  • Location: Wauwatosa
  • Culinary selections: Frittatina di maccheroni (fried croquette of pasta, ham, peas, and pecorino); fried meatballs with tomato-basil sauce

Wyoming: Glorietta Trattoria

Source: Photo by Trattoria via Yelp
  • Location: Jackson
  • Culinary selections: Glorietta’s classic Caesar salad; wood-fired Idaho red trout with house-made sausage
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