Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Madison by diners
Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Madison 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 Madison 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.
#28. Rocky Rococo Pan Style Pizza
- Rating: 2.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7952 Tree Lane Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Rocky Rococo Pan Style Pizza
- Rating: 2.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4556 Monona Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Porta Bella
- Rating: 2.5/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 425 North Frances St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4320 East Towne Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tutto Pasta State St
- Rating: 3.0/5 (299 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 305 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Rocky Rococo Pan Style Pizza
- Rating: 3.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1301 Regent St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7017 Mineral Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rosati's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6644 Mineral Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Luigi's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 515 South Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#19. OLIVA Italian Mediterranean Cuisine
- Rating: 3.5/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 751 North High Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Amara - Madison
- Rating: 4.0/5 (96 reviews)
- Address: 670 North Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Greenbush Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 914 Regent St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Naples 15
- Rating: 4.0/5 (430 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 15 North Butler St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#15. 107 State
- Rating: 4.0/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. D'Vino
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 116 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2500 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cafe La Bellitalia
- Rating: 4.0/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1026 North Sherman Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Cento
- Rating: 4.0/5 (479 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 122 West Mifflin St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Breakfast & Brunch, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Nonno's Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 704 South Whitney Way Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Osteria Papavero
- Rating: 4.0/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 128 East Wilson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Comfort Food, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Gino's Italian Deli
- Rating: 4.0/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4606 Verona Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Delis, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Bar Corallini
- Rating: 4.5/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2004 Atwood Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Draper Brothers Chophouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 101 North Hamilton St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Salvatore's Tomato Pies
- Rating: 4.5/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 912 East Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, New American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Novanta
- Rating: 4.5/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8452 Old Sauk Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Novanta
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 2903 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Casetta Kitchen and Counter
- Rating: 4.5/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 West Washington Ave. Ste 30 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Common Pasta
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 East Main St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Food Trucks
- 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.
