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Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Modesto by diners

·Stacker

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Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
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It's no surprise that, in most countries, traditional national cuisine is the most popular, according to a 2024 report by Statista. But Italian food isn't just top-rated in Italy—it ranks as the second-most popular cuisine in Germany and France and takes the bronze spot in the U.K., Mexico, and India as well.

Of course, it's also among Americans' favorites—and there's lots to love about 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" feelings. 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 2025.

Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.

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1 / 20

#20. Johnny Carino's

- Rating: 2.6/5 (565 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3401 Dale Road Bldg C Bldg C Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, New American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 20

#19. LA Italian Kitchen

- Rating: 2.9/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3401 Dale Road Ste 459 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 20

#18. Strings Italian Cafe

- Rating: 3.2/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2601 Oakdale Road Ste P Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Caterers, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 20

#17. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.2/5 (391 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 Plaza Pkwy Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 20

#15. Verona Cucina Italiana

- Rating: 3.6/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1700 McHenry Ave. Ste I46 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 20

#14. Pizza Guys

- Rating: 3.7/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1421 Crows Landing Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Pizza, Chicken Wings, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 20

#13. Galletto Ristorante

- Rating: 3.8/5 (533 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1101 J St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 20

#12. Ciao Bella Ristorante

- Rating: 3.9/5 (401 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2401 East Orangeburg Ave. Ste 320 Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 20

#11. The Post Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5801 Stoddard Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Italian, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 20

#10. Pastas Pronto

- Rating: 4.0/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2509 Coffee Road Ste C Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 20

#9. Surla's

- Rating: 4.0/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 431 12th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 20

#8. Bella Italia

- Rating: 4.0/5 (694 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2625 Coffee Road Ste K Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 20

#7. D'Forno Cocina

- Rating: 4.2/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 918 13th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Mediterranean, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 20

#5. Nizario's Pizza And Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (462 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1320 Standiford Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: American, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 20

#4. The Tipping Point

- Rating: 4.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 3401 Oakdale Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 20

#3. Palermo Restaurant Italian Cucina

- Rating: 4.5/5 (353 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 310 H St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 20

#2. Gusto Italiano

- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3948 Sylvan Ave. Ste 307 Modesto, California
- Categories: Southern, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 20

#1. Braulio's Bistro

- Rating: 4.7/5 (56 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 Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.

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