The Best Italian Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati, According to Our Readers

No. 10 Best Italian Restaurant: Via Vite

520 Vine St., Downtown
Via Vite showcases chef Cristian Pietoso’s casual take on Northern Italian cuisine in the Queen City. The view overlooks Fountain Square and their rooftop patio is the perfect escape to people-watch.

Menu recommendation: Handmade Crispy Gnocchi: Featuring fonduta, chive and truffle.

No. 9 Best Italian Restaurant: Primavista

810 Matson Place, East Price Hill
Primavista offers its menu of high-end Italian meals with a side of panoramic views of downtown Cincinnati. The menu specializes in veal and fresh fish, but they offer dishes from all regions of Italy and feature nightly specials.

Menu recommendation: Ravioli: Featuring sausage, mushrooms and a tomato basil sauce. And treat yourself to dessert so you can try the amazing tiramisu.

No. 8 Best Italian Restaurant: Ferrari’s Little Italy

7677 Goff Terrace, Madeira
Boasting authentic Italian cuisine, Ferrari’s Little Italy and Bakery serves heaping servings of antipasti, pasta, pizza and more atop red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Pair your plate with an affordable bottle of vino (both Italian and domestic) and never leave empty-handed: Ferrari’s is home to its own deli and bakery, so you can take meats, cheeses and boxes and boxes of cannoli home with you.

Menu recommendation: Mama Bassano’s Lasagna: Featuring beef lasagna, ricotta, romano and mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.

No. 7 Best Italian Restaurant: Scotti’s Italian Restaurant

919 Vine St., Downtown
Family-owned since 1912, Scotti’s has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room. Their generous menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Scotti’s is named after early 20th-century opera star Antonio Scotti, so the sounds pumping through the speakers aren’t Muzak or cliché Sinatra tunes; it’s Rossini, Puccini and Pavarotti — just another aspect that sets this landmark apart from the pack.

Menu recommendation: Scallopini Ala Marsala: Sautéed veal in a Marsala wine with mushrooms.

No. 6 Best Italian Restaurant: Mama’s on Main

621 Main St., Covington
Mama’s on Main, from restaurateurs Emily Wolff and Paul Weckman, serves up traditional, pasta-oriented Italian fare in its bold and bright space in Covington. The menu features traditional red-sauce Italian fare.

Menu recommendation: Eggplant Parmesan: Featuring mozzarella, basil, spaghetti and red sauce.

No. 5 Best Italian Restaurant: Nicola’s

1420 Sycamore St., Pendleton
Nicola's, one of Cincinnati’s top Zagat-rated restaurants, has been a mainstay for high-end, authentic Italian cuisine for the past two decades, and its renown is undeniable. The linen-covered tables, chandeliers and exposed brick create an unmatched romantic atmosphere, and its menu of housemade pastas, gnocchi and creamy risotto are among some of the thoughtfully conceived dishes that will transport you right to the heart of Italy.

Menu recommendation: Tagliatelle alla Bolognese: Served with a classic veal and beef meat sauce.

No. 4 Best Italian Restaurant: Giovanni’s Family Italian Restaurant

4050 N. Bend Road, Cheviot
Giovanni’s quickly became a favorite among West Side diners with its flavorful Italian dishes featuring homemade pasta, as well as strombolis, calzones and brick-oven pizzas.

Menu recommendation: Shrimp Fra Diavlo: Featuring spicy garlic basil and tomatoes and peppers tossed in a red onion sauce.

No. 3 Best Italian Restaurant: Pompilios

600 Washington Ave., Newport
Pompilios is best known for serving up classic red-sauce Italian dishes since 1933, but it also has another claim to fame: It’s been featured in movies, including that toothpick scene in Rain Man and '90s rollerblading film Airborne. Founder Colonel Pompilio was also the first to secure a liquor license in Kentucky after Prohibition ended, so it has an extensive bourbon list.

Menu recommendation: Chicken Ronaldo: Grilled chicken tossed with angel hair pasta, oil, garlic, sautéed sundried tomatoes, feta, black olives, fresh basil and spicy red pepper flakes.

No. 2 Best Italian Restaurant: Pepp & Dolores

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores sports two personalities and one delicious menu. The upper level was designed to have the timeless look and feel of a mid-century bistro or cafe, while the basement level is darker and cozier and has a romantic charm and ambiance reminiscent of a New York City supper club. The menu was inspired by Sunday dinners at co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ home and features housemade pastas, shareable dishes, salads and bread.

Menu recommendation: Butternut & Mascarpone Pasta: Filled agnolotti pasta, brown butter, sage, pepitas and parmigiano-reggiano.

No. 1 Best Italian Restaurant: Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Located under Boca, the Tuscan-inspired Sotto offers delicious dishes in an approachable atmosphere. The basement trattoria’s interior calls to mind a rustic Italian wine cellar with its rough brick walls and wooden ceiling beams. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made wood-fire grill in front and a fresh pasta room in the back hallway.

Menu recommendation: Cappellacci: Short rib, shallot and thyme.