The 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Phoenix

Nothing makes us swoon like hand-rolled pasta or wood-fired pizza, and Phoenix has no shortage of chefs who have perfected these crafts. From heavy stacks of lasagna to delicate ravioli, our guide to Italian restaurants in Phoenix will have you in carb heaven.

Get ready for white tablecloths, waiters in ties, and chefs who get the most out of a few ingredients. Whether you’re craving pizza, pasta, or gelato, we’ve got you covered in our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Phoenix.

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10. Parlor Pizzeria

Parlor dazzles with its pizza but somehow flies under the radar as one of the best Italian restaurants in Phoenix. In addition to their signature pies, they offer a variety of pasta with handmade noodles and sauces made from produce grown right in front of the restaurant in garden boxes! Try the classic bolognese, or go with a seasonal dish featuring freshly picked vegetables and herbs like their light, summery pesto with juicy, roasted tomatoes. In the mood for pizza? We love the spicy florentine and the savory salsiccia with sausage and sage.

9. Pizzeria Virtu

As the name suggests, Pizzeria Virtu is known for its pizzas, but its expertise expands beyond just its slices. In addition to Neapolitan-inspired pizzas, they offer an incredible selection of pasta. We love their rigatoni with a tender, slow-cooked pork ragu topped with a massive heap of burrata. Pull the burrata open and mix together to enjoy a gooey, delicious mess. In the mood for pizza? Their wood-fired creations won’t disappoint! Try the calabrese with spicy soppressata, ricotta, red onion, and a bit of honey to balance out the heat. It’s a mouthwatering combination.

8. Fabio on Fire

Tucked way up in Peoria, Fabio on Fire offers authentic Italian food to West Valley foodies. The Italian-born chef and owner, Fabio, brought his family’s recipes with him to the desert and established Fabio on Fire in 2017. Indulge yourself in a heaping portion of lasagna or try the decadent short rib ravioli, which is swimming in a buttery cream sauce balanced with savory, tender beef inside the ravioli. This dish is literally dripping with flavor. Or check out a wood-fired pizza like the classic Margherita, simple but perfectly executed with fresh mozzarella cheese and just the right amount of char on the crust.

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7. Casa Mia

Tiny, quiet, and located in Fountain Hills, Casa Mia is easy to miss, but Casa Mia is one of the best Italian restaurants in Phoenix. This higher-end eatery starts every meal with traditional European flare in the form of soft, warm bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. For true carb heaven, consume copious amounts of bread and follow it with handmade pasta. Our favorite is the creamy strascinati with housemade spicy sausage, tender broccoli, and Montasio cheese, creating a perfect medley of flavors. 

6. Pomo Pizzeria

Looking for great pizza, pasta, or gelato? Pomo offers all three at a budget-friendly price. Pomo offers accessible but authentic Italian food in a casual, family-friendly setting at three locations throughout the Valley. Our favorite dish here is the rich, warm gramigna boscaiola pasta with cremini mushrooms, creamy white sauce, housemade sausage, and Parmigiano cheese over al dente noodles. Go with a friend, and get both a pizza and pasta to share for the perfect meal. And since any pizza can be made vegan or gluten-free, Pomo is also perfect for a large group. Be sure to stop by the gelato case before leaving and grab a scoop of stracciatella or the passion fruit pistachio gelato.

5. Campo Italian Bistro

While Phoenix might not have any Michelin-starred restaurants, we do have a few chefs who have been the recipients of Michelin stars, including one at our very own Campo Italian Bistro. Go straight for the pasta here—all made fresh in-house. The only hard choice you’ll have to make is between a red and a white sauce. Can’t decide between the two? You’re in luck with the chicken parmesan, a new take on a classic dish consisting of a juicy fried chicken breast topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce set atop a bed of peppery and creamy cacio e pepe-coated pasta. Want something a little more adventurous? Try the Mafaldini Pescatore squid ink pasta with mussels, clams, and shrimp all covered in a light, broth-like tomato sauce with just a bit of heat. Pro-trip: add a side of grilled Noble bakery bread (a Phoenix staple) to mop up the extra sauce on this dish.

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4. Mora Italian

Celebrity chef Scott Conant from Chopped lives up to the hype by spinning out perfect pasta dishes at one of the best Italian restaurants in Phoenix. His place in Uptown Phoenix is trendy and cool, but the food is timeless and delicious. We love the tagliatelle served with wagyu bolognese sauce, bits of pancetta, and topped with a gooey, cheesy, fontina fondue that elevates this dish past your typical bolognese. If that doesn’t sound appetizing, put Conant’s signature dish, pasta al Pomodoro, to the test. A simple spaghetti with tomato sauce, this dish may sound basic, but the flavor is anything but. The rich tomato sauce is warm, comforting, and surprisingly memorable—you’ll want to lap up every last drop of it. Be sure to save room for dessert. The lemon ricotta shortcake with limoncello curd and a housemade vanilla bean whipped cream is absolutely divine.

3. Fat Ox

For a fine dining experience, we love Fat Ox in Scottsdale. Self-described as modern Italian, Fat Ox tends to showcase bolder flavors than the many Italian restaurants in Phoenix and on this guide. To start, you’ll be greeted with complimentary focaccia bread served with Calabrian chili butter and whipped ricotta drizzled with olive oil—a combination that leaves the typical bread and olive oil starter in the dust. Their menu is set up in true Italian style, structured around eating at least three courses. So, the pasta is on a small plate, intended to be followed by meat or fish. However, the pasta is the real star of the show here. Go for the rich and buttery saffron spaghetti with steamed clams, guanciale, and topped with crispy bread crumbs. Fat Ox is a fancy restaurant, but no one will blame you if you lick your plate clean.

2. Franco’s Italian Caffe

For a traditional Italian meal in a classic setting complete with pictures of Italy and white tablecloths, head to Franco’s. Franco’s family (who make up a large portion of the restaurant staff) are from Florence and pride themselves on making unique, authentic Italian food from scratch. The dishes here are quintessentially Italian: subtle and careful, with the perfection being in the simplicity of the dish. You’ll be greeted with warm bread and a complimentary antipasti small plate. Follow that with their famous Pasta Erbe Aromatiche, a discreet pasta with strozzapreti noodles in a parmesan cream sauce with bits of prosciutto, leeks, and fresh aromatic herbs. For a lighter option, go for the handmade ravioli with a light and summery tomato basil sauce. If you can’t decide, here’s another pro tip: you can order half-portions. As difficult as it may be, take it easy on the bread and pasta because you simply must try the heavenly merenghata dessert. Another rare dish, merenghata is a frozen meringue-based cake served cold with fresh berries, making it the perfect dish year-round in Phoenix. You can thank Franco’s grandmother for the recipe.

1. Tratto

The Godfather of Phoenix pizza, Chris Bianco, has done it again with Tratto. At this homey Italian restaurant, he’s perfected the art of pasta making and churns out to-die-for al dente noodles. Take a look at the credenza near the front of the restaurant to see your bread being freshly sliced before being delivered to your table. The bread is followed with a small amuse bouche from the kitchen such as an understated, juicy, marinated plum with a small dusting of sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil—a clever palate teaser. The menu is limited and changes regularly. You’ll typically choose between just three to four pasta dishes, but they are all sure to be incredible. The cacio e pepe with thick, chewy spaghetti alla chitarra noodles is coated in a rich, cheesy sauce combined with the exact right amount of pepper, and good news, since this dish has developed a bit of a cult following here in Phoenix, its usually available. Even if it’s not on the menu, just ask! Without a doubt, Tratto is the best Italian restaurant in Phoenix.