Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Columbus by diners
Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Columbus 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 Columbus 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.
#30. Gallo's on High
- Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 4215 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: American, Italian, French
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Minelli's Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1189 North Wilson Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Pasta Villa
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Address: 2475 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Claudiana Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8475 Sancus Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Dicarlos Pizza - Columbus
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 91 East 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Specialty Food, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Smith's Deli & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3737 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Villa Nova Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5545 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Z Cucina Di Spirito
- Rating: 4.0/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1368 Grandview Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Vino Vino
- Rating: 4.0/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1371 Grandview Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Salad, Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Cottage Inn Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8317 Market Exchange Drive Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Mama Mimi's Pizza - Columbus
- Rating: 4.0/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1565 King Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Marcella's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1002 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 615 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Emelio's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 574 Georgesville Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Party & Event Planning
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Figlio
- Rating: 4.0/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1369 Grandview Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Martini Modern Italian
- Rating: 4.0/5 (582 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 445 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Speck Italian Eatery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (79 reviews)
- Address: 89 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Florentine Legacy
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 1282 Essex Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Pizza House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 747 East Lincoln Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Rubino's Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2643 East Main St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Aracri Pizzaria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 51 East Gay St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Gallo's Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2820 Nottingham Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Cajun/Creole, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Dante's Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3586 Indianola Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Basi Italia
- Rating: 4.5/5 (383 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 811 Highland St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Bistrolino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 495 South 4th St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Mediterranean, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Pasqualone's Ristorante
- Rating: 4.5/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5766 Emporium Sq Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Mama Mimi's Take N Bake Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2923 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Darbo's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3764 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: African, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (533 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Granville St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Cento
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 595 South 3rd St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Piazza Pelino
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 772 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian, Gelato
- 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.
