Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Portland, Maine 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 Portland 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. Amato's Italian Sandwich Shops

- Rating: 2.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 312 Saint John St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 20

#19. Maria's Restaurant

- Rating: 2.8/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1335 Congress Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 20

#18. Bruno's Restaurant & Tavern

- Rating: 3.4/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 Allen Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 20

#17. Amato's

- Rating: 3.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1379 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 20

#16. Portland House of Pizza

- Rating: 3.5/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1359 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Cheesesteaks, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 20

#15. The Corner Room

- Rating: 3.6/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 20

#14. DiMillo's On the Water

- Rating: 3.8/5 (1206 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 25 Long Wharf Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, Italian, New American
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 20

#13. Amato's

- Rating: 3.8/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 71 India St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 20

#12. Hilltop Superette

- Rating: 3.9/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 135 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 20

#11. Ribollita

- Rating: 4.0/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 41 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 20

#10. Leonardo's Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 20

#9. Lazzari

- Rating: 4.0/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 618 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bars, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 20

#8. Roma Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 767 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 20

#7. Via Vecchia

- Rating: 4.2/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 Dana St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 20

#6. Tipo

- Rating: 4.2/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 182 Ocean Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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16 / 20

#5. Solo Italiano

- Rating: 4.2/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 20

#4. Quality Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 473 Stevens Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 20

#3. Quanto Basta

- Rating: 4.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 249 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 20

#2. Leeward

- Rating: 4.5/5 (123 reviews)
- Address: 85 Free St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 20

#1. The Knotted Apron

- Rating: 4.6/5 (86 reviews)
- Address: 496 Woodford St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: French, Italian, Cocktail Bars
- 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.