Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Rockford by diners

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February 1, 2024
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Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Rockford 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 Rockford 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.

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#25. Villa Di Roma

- Rating: 1.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 915 South Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Schiro's Restaurant & Lounge

- Rating: 2.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1201 North Springfield Ave. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Panino's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5403 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Rosati's Pizza

- Rating: 3.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2221 South Perryville Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 6240 Mulford Village Drive Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Sam's Ristorante & Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.0/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6075 East Riverside Blvd. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Mamma Mia's

- Rating: 3.0/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1139 North Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.0/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6367 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Panino's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2725 North Main St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Deli Italia

- Rating: 3.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3004 North Main St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Delis, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Marie's Pizza

- Rating: 3.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1513 Charles St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Gerry's Pizza

- Rating: 3.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7403 Argus Drive Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Deli Italia

- Rating: 3.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 507 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Delis, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Salamone's North

- Rating: 3.5/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2583 North Mulford Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Franchesco's Ristorante

- Rating: 4.0/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7128 Spring Creek Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Giuseppi's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 950 Halsted Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Giordano's

- Rating: 4.0/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 Executive Pkwy Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Maciano's Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5801 Columbia Pkwy Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. La Piazza Carry Out & Delivery

- Rating: 4.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 109 North Show Place Drive Ste 133 Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 408 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Dough Bros Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 4415 Harrison Ave. Ste D2 Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. Primo's Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1710 Rural St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Lino's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5611 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. John's Restaurant & Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2914 11th St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Jo-Jo's Pizza & Pub

- Rating: 5.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3110 South Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
- 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.

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