Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Modesto by diners
Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Modesto by diners
Italian food is the most popular cuisine in the world, according to a 2023 study by The Picky Eater that tallied up Instagram tags. It's no wonder why so many people love it. Just thinking about dishes like chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs is enough to get your mouth watering—even though many of these world-famous dishes are actually Italian American creations more so than true Italian fare. Traditional Italian food embraces an assortment of sumptuous recipes that aren't dependent on fried breadcrumbs and red sauce—think frittatas and focaccia, or carpaccio and panna cotta.
Italian immigrants have been weaving their cuisine into the fabric of the American food landscape for generations since they arrived in the United States nearly 150 years ago. And the cuisine, like the culture it hails from, tends to give off warm and fuzzy "family" feels. For many people, the quintessential local Italian American restaurant—complete with its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, pour bottles of olive oil, parmesan cheese shakers, cute little jars of red pepper flakes, and wicker baskets of oven-fresh bread—brings back memories of special life moments, like first dates and milestone birthdays.
Luckily, today you don't need to be in a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles or an area with a large Italian or Italian American community to score top-notch buon cibo. You can find excellent Italian offerings in almost every city from coast to coast. To celebrate all things mozzarella and marinara, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Modesto based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of January 2024.
Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#19. Johnny Carino's
- Rating: 2.5/5 (522 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3401 Dale Road Bldg C Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, New American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#18. LA Italian Kitchen
- Rating: 3.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3401 Dale Road Ste 459 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Strings Italian Cafe
- Rating: 3.0/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2601 Oakdale Road Ste P Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 Plaza Pkwy Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Verona Cucina Italiana
- Rating: 3.5/5 (242 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1700 McHenry Ave. Ste I46 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Galletto Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (456 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1101 J St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Ciao Bella Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2401 East Orangeburg Ave. Ste 320 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Pastas Pronto
- Rating: 4.0/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2509 Coffee Road Ste C Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Post Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5801 Stoddard Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Italian, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Bella Italia
- Rating: 4.0/5 (638 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2625 Coffee Road Ste K Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Surla's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 431 12th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro
- Rating: 4.0/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2501 Mchenry Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Nizario's Pizza And Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1320 Standiford Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: American, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Stone Fire Pizza by MidiCi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (391 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3401 Dale Road Ste 646 Modesto, California
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Tipping Point
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 3401 Oakdale Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Palermo Restaurant Italian Cucina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (318 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 310 H St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Gusto Italiano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3948 Sylvan Ave. Ste 307 Modesto, California
- Categories: Southern, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. D'Forno Cocina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 918 13th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Braulio's Bistro
- Rating: 5.0/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 621 9th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Food Trucks, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 312 metros.
