Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Springfield, Illinois by diners

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 Springfield 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.

1 / 20

#20. Fulgenzi's Pizza & Pasta

- Rating: 2.8/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1168 East Sangamon Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Burgers, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 20

#19. Papa Frank's

- Rating: 2.9/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4111 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 20

#18. Coz's Pizza & Pub

- Rating: 3.1/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4441 Ash Grove Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Pubs, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 20

#17. Mario's Pizza

- Rating: 3.3/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3073 East Clear Lake Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 20

#16. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2991 South Veterans Pkwy Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 20

#15. Nancy's Pizza

- Rating: 3.4/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 West Monroe St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 20

#14. Saputo's

- Rating: 3.5/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 801 East Monroe Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 20

#13. Joe Gallina's

- Rating: 3.5/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 432 East Monroe St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 20

#12. Mario's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2841 Mansion Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 20

#11. Monical's Pizza

- Rating: 3.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2640 Prairie Crossing Drive Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 20

#10. Bocardi's

- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 3132 Cockrell Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 20

#9. Gabatoni's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 East Laurel St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, American
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 20

#8. Joe's Italian Pizza

- Rating: 3.6/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1552 West Jefferson St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 20

#7. Mariah's Steakhouse & Pasta

- Rating: 3.7/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3317 Robbins Road Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 20

#6. Bernie & Betty's Pizza

- Rating: 3.7/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1101 South Spring St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 20

#5. Bella Milano

- Rating: 3.7/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4525 Wabash Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Comfort Food, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 20

#4. Di Piero's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 518 East Adams St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 20

#3. Sapori Pizzeria & Italian Market

- Rating: 4.3/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 1941 West Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pasta Shops, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 20

#2. VELE

- Rating: 4.4/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3241 West Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 20

#1. La Piazza

- Rating: 4.6/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 218 South 6th St. Springfield, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- 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.