50 Best Italian Restaurants near Upper Arlington

“My service at the Wine Bistro was excellent. My dinner was delicious and had a lovely presentation. I was greeted by Dan the Manager who was asking all throughout diner how everything was. I appreciate there excellent service and making my dinner so memorable.“

“We haven't been here in years; it used to be a bit like Villa Nova in Clintonville. There have clearly been renovations, so it seems fresh, but it's still comfy and inviting. The food was very delicious, and to be honest, one of my favorite things was the bread and herbed butter they brought out. Prices are reasonable. Don't forget to order the arancini appetizer--delicious. AND--our server was very friendly and solicitous.“

“Extremely welcoming and friendly environment with great food! Just as good of quality as a bigger name Italian Restaurant in Columbus for a more reasonable price. Fantastic service and you can really tell that it's family owned and the staff cares about the guests experience. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back!“

“Here for dinner ? I'm having a medium old world pepperoni ? and mushroom ?? my wife is having the Lasagna dinner it comes with salad ? bread and butter Ashley is our server and it's pretty busy as it usually is! She did a great job, she was on top of EVERYTHING!! She took complete responsibility for the pizza I ordered, there was a accident and she comped my pizza and discounted my wife's dinner. Wow ? amazing service!!!! Ashley is an exceptional person ? and a asset to say the very least ?Parking: Can be difficult depending on how busy they are!Kid-friendliness: High chairs and kids with families.They have a kids menu!Wheelchair accessibility: No steps!“

“Beautiful restaurant, delicious food, and incredible service. Working in hospitality I pay close attention to service and rarely am I blown away, but this was an exception. My S/O and I always decide on a rating at the end of the meal and this was the first 10/10 experience (we are harsh critics lol). I can't wait to come back when the patio opens! Also... do yourself a favor and get the gelato.“

“Beautiful, cozy, romantic location. Service was personal, prompt, and our waitress easily explained dishes to us. Food quality and portions are excellent. Food is so fresh, flavors blend in very thoughtful and unique dishes. It started pouring rain while we were enjoying dessert. What a lovely experience, we will be back and highly recommend.“

“This place is very nice inside. They have a good gluten free selection. The waiter gave me a whole pitcher of tea, that was nice. The atmosphere was kind of like being in Italy and it was very clean and fancy. They definitely gave great service. It seems like a good place for a date or family time. The prices were not that high either. They made me a gluten free pizza and free GF bread.Dietary restrictions: They have a pretty extensive gluten free menu that is clearly marked on the main menu, a plus for me.“

“Greek food is some of my favorite, which makes me critical of how it’s made. My deep belly cravings led me on a search here to Panini Opa, which is a rather simple name for a restaurant, but a name I haven’t forgotten: I’ve already been here twice and I’m thoroughly impressed twice over. Their menu is very large and quite varied. Try their Souvlaki Gyro and thank me later. Try their variations of wings and thank me again. You won’t run out of choices so quickly. The parking lot is a little small and tight to park in, but I never let that stop me from happy plate time.“

“Parking: street parking or paid lots nearby Food: food was okay - my dish (sweet potato gnocchi) was pretty lukewarm when it came out and didn't have much flavor, but someone had the lasagna which came out piping hot & looked delicious, and another person ordered the short rib which was delicious. Service: was good! Seating: mostly indoor seating“

“We love this place. The pizza is so good. It’s very thin crust, so….it doesn’t go as far as you would think. It’s pretty easy for 2-3 people to eat a large.Parking: The actual parking lot is very small. You can park free in the side streets.“

“We love Nicola. I have been there multiple times. The menu options, the service, the friendliness of everyone, the consistent excellent quality are always on-point. We opted to dine out on Easter for the first time ever because of the special Easter menu. It was a great menu with lots of interesting options. I ordered the Tecchino (turkey breast rolled with mortadella and spinach). I would say the spinach-mortadella center was a bit bland and the turkey itself was overwhelmingly salty. But that did not alter how much we love Nicola and loved our Easter meal. It was a lovely day and we will be back again soon.“

“Great experience. The food was delicious service was great and price was reasonable. Had the meatball sub just like mom use to make! Their homemade pasta sauce is outstanding. Highly recommend if your looking for a good Italian meal at a good price.“

“3/21/24... Came for lunch because they open early and have delicious food ? I'm having lasagna it comes with a salad ? roll with butter all for just $10.49! We also had Super Smith Sub just $8.99 and a beverages only $1.99 each one heck of a deal ? Service was top notch, Christie is friendly and fast!! I went to Whetstone High School back in the 70's best lunches we ever had!! Still delicious and definitely still reasonable prices!!!I've been coming to Smith's Restaurant and Deli for more than 40 plus years. They have always had some of the best subs, salads, pasta dishes, soups and desserts. I am trying their Ravioli it comes with salad, roll and butter only $ 7.89 what a great deal ? family owned and operated I enjoy going to those types of restaurants any day of the week. Service is supreme very friendly, polite and accommodating! If you haven't been you're missing out truly a wonderful atmosphere, food and service ?? I'll be back as long as I'm alive and they are open!!Vegetarian options: See for yourself!Parking: Plenty of space in front and on the side of the building“

“Ordered Pizza and Special Salad for my Birthday Lunch here at work, it was a short wait and pizza was still warm when it got here, the pepperoni is crisp and flavorful, the toppings were abundant and it tasted so good, I will jump on the band wagon and say that you have to try the Special Salad, OMG! It seems simple but so different and tasty! Definetly recommend this place!“

“Rolando went above and beyond for my wild and crazy birthday party of 16 people! He was on his game the entire night! Everyone loved their food! It was so quick to come out, we were all impressed! I hope Villa Nova stays around forever in all its kitschy glory!“

“Finally tried Valentina's for the first time for our anniversary today and we were blown away. The service and food were top notch. We had the bread (of course), arancini appetizer, swordfish entree, butternut squash ravioli and the classic affogato. We also took the EVOO cake to go and it was divine. Best meal we've had in a long time. Everything was so fresh, flavorful and cooked to perfection. Special shout out to our server, Ryan- she was just amazing!“

“First time visiting and we had a great time. We sat at the bar with a few friends and Abbie did amazing job with us. She was very attentive to our group as well as working the full bar and restaurant drink orders. We had beverages, appetizers and dinner. The food was great and all our orders were correct. Look forward to next visit.“

“The connection between genuine attentive service and culinary masterpieces are unmatched at Pelino’s ! We recently had did the 7 course chefs tasting with wine pairings. The chef was able and willing to accommodate for a gluten allergy and our server Maria made us feel like family! Maria truly elevated this entire experience from sharing her passion and love for food and wine to being available for us during our visit! The tasting option for wine really enhanced an already amazing meal. The polenta dish literally made me tear up, and I’ve never had something so spectacular! The rich flavors and thought that goes into the pastas and sauces are as close to a Michelin star restaurant I may ever get to imagine or experience.Thank you Vinny and Christina for allowing us to experience a part of your home!Maria is absolutely amazing and if we could make reservations to sit at her tables we 150% would !“

“I went in with high expectations and left underwhelmed. Everything was good, but not great. I would eat here again... but I was not blown away and although Columbus is lacking when it comes to great Italian restaurants, I do think there are better options.“

“The chicken piccata was very good. Service was sort of slow but not terrible. It was sort of strange that we had a 4 o’clock reservation for 10 and immediately upon seating, the waitress said we had a two hour time limit as they had a lot of reservations for 6 o’clock. When we left at five till six, there were two tables with people. Not sure what was going on there.“

“Sierra was an awesome server. The brushetta had two cheeses that were perfect choices to complement the generous amount of diced tomatoes. The meat lasagna melting in my mouth and was delicately delicious! Triple layer chocolate cake for dessert served with a candle for my birthday presentation was decadent and easily satisfied the three forks in our party, who all had little room left in their stomachs. Well done team Giuseppe!“

“Is it fair to be more critical of an expensive restaurant than a mid-priced or inexpensive one? I think so. For a dinner for two that cost $190 (including the tip), I expect near perfection. First, I think they kind of forgot about us as we were a table of two in the corner. After we noticed that some folks who had come in after us were already getting their bread, my husband signaled someone and then we finally got ours, too, and his wine - which I think they also forgot about. He should've gotten that right away. It didn't have to bake. Then he got his Escargot which was bubbling hot and smelled delicious. Our salads came - nice and fresh but too salty for my taste. We both enjoyed our entrees (veal parm and a side of spag for him; a special of little pasta purses with a meaty sauce for me) but mine arrived lukewarm. His was nice and hot so maybe mine sat around for a while while they finished his. At some point he ordered more wine and then coffee and dessert and he was very happy but I felt like the experience left a little bit to be desired - especially considering the price. One thing I don't like at all is that the waiter rattles off the specials (and there are a LOT of them) and later on the desserts at light speed. It would be way better to be able to read them and think for a minute or two. It's a very comfortable small restaurant and my husband loves it but I don't.“

“If you live close to this place and haven't tried it, shame on you!! We were looking for pizza and pasta for lunch from somewhere we had never been before. That is always a little scary!! We fortunately picked Pasquales. We ordered the garlic knots. They are Huge, Crispy where they need to be and chewy not doughy. And so cheap!! We decided to try the Meat Lovers Pizza and the Penne and Meatball too. Neither dish disappointed. The crust is so thin and crispy but not burnt at all and the amount of toppings was very generous. We have a lot of leftovers to take home. We both decided we would make the 45 min drive to eat here again and again. The server Makayla (sp?) was very friendly and the speed of service was Great!! Then there is the dessert case. We brought home a cannoli, a cream puff , a cinnamon roll and the peanut butter cookie sandwich with chocolate. So excited to try them too!“

“I buy pasta, sauce, coffee & desserts here and I’m never disappointed. My SIL is NJ Italian & a tough critic so I’m only going to serve him the best I can find. I recently tried PD’s gelato and I’m going to be eating this all summer. You can really taste the difference between grocery gelatos and the real thing.“

“High quality Italian food. Best focaccia I've had since I moved to Ohio from the East Coast. Burrata was nice and creamy on top of perfectly seasoned olive oil. The cacio e pepe was light and fluffy in a delicious cheesy sauce. We tried all the desserts and they exceeded our expectations. Can't wait to “

“Yelp never disappoints. This is a family-run Italian restaurant that hits all marks for service, food, and a great bar. I rolled in 30 minutes before they were closing on a Tuesday night and they made sure to not rush me to finish my amazing veal meal and push me out the door. The bartender was amazing, friendly, and the reason I will come back the next time I'm in Columbus.“

“Got family dinner deal with Fettuccine Alfredo, and upgraded the other entree to the Baked Spaghetti with Meatballs. And it came with bread sticks. Ordered it for take out. Food was ready when we arrived, hot, and tasted very good! Fast, friendly service.Parking: Large parking lot with plenty of spaces. Also has Drive-thru/drive up window.Kid-friendliness: (From previous observations) They bring food to the table, which is especially good for families or parents who have children with them. They have typical crayons and worksheets/coloring pages for kids to keep them occupied.“

“Great little Italian restaurant. Family run for at least the past 35-40 years?❤️❤️Parking: Parking out front and on the side will fill up during peak hours. Behind the store is parking for a nearby shopping center. It’s a very small walk from restaurant to plenty of parking if you can’t find a spot up front.“

“Tony’s is like walking into a family party at your Nonna’s. The lounge has a couch and coffee table up against the bar and you feel like you’re home. The food is old school, solid, comfort Italian. The staff is fantastic. Each one is nicer and more attentive than the next. I’ve eaten here numerous times and the host is a quintessential gentleman. He pulls my chair out and waves my husband to his seat. The home made pastas are great. I have so many favorites that I just keep on coming back. It reminds me of the little restaurants in New York where you can just stay and eat and feel satiated. Delicious!“

“It was my daughter’s birthday, so my son decided to take us here. At first we thought they were closed, but it was close to 5pm & there just weren’t any cars in the parking lot. We walked in & there was absolutely nobody inside seated either. We were the only ones there to actually eat. It was definitely quiet. It felt a little strange I will say.Needless to say, the food didn’t take any time to get it to us & they were very on top of our drinks. I didn’t drink mine though bc the glass just didn’t look clean to me.We ordered an appetizer of some sort of bread tower that unfortunately didn’t look cooked & some mozzarella sticks that were limp & nothing special. They brought us out salads and that were alright but really looked like they had been just thrown together. Our dinner arrived & I was really bummed out bc my steak was supposed to be medium well & instead it was very well done & pretty hard to cut & chew. Plus, the veggies were covered with all this strange stuff & were spicy. Their sauce is just too spicy for me too. But I’m pretty sure that’s how real Italian sauce tastes so I can’t really complain.All 3 of us had sodas & nothing special to drink. No dessert or anything else. The bill came & I just couldn’t believe that this dinner was going to cost over $130 + tip. I guess I was expecting much better food & a much better atmosphere really. But really, for that price I would’ve been happy with just having better food. Oh & a clean glass.“

“100% the best pizza I have ever had! One bite in and I knew it was time to leave a review. I got the homemade sausage and jalapeños and there's no way I'm gonna be able to eat more than half a medium by myself. The sausage is best Ive ever had and I can tell this is a family recipe from wayyyy back when. The staff was very nice and understanding as my Venmo was acting up as i paid. They helped me resolve it and I'll surely be back as soon as I'm in town! Thank you Dante's for such a delicious pizza and customer service the big name brands could never provide!“

“We love this place. Food is always great, the crew takes great care of us, and the vibes are excellent. I usually get the gyro which is excellent, but this time I got the grouper gyro which was surprisingly also excellent! Keep in mind this is not a restaurant with servers, you walk up and order and they bring the food out to you. Not quite full service, but sometimes that's a little better than waiting for your server ? they do have a nice bar as well. And in the summer they crank open all the windows and it's like you're right out on State Street.“

“Minelli's is a Westside icon. The one on Sullivant Ave closed a few years back, but the owner still makes the wonderful homemade noodles for the Wilson Road Minelli's. Yes, the decor could be updated, and the plastic tableclothes replaced before the red checkers totally disappear, but you can't beat the food. From subs to hamburgers, lasagna to pizza...and even fish, it's all tasty. It's best to go for lunch, though, where the waitress is superb. She can waitress solo for a full house and still have the drinks and food out quickly. Actually, I'm amazed at her talent. Evenings are hit and miss for dine in, and it's likely that service will be slow.“

“Super friendly associate. Made a beautiful salad and breadsticks. Spinach salad tasted incredible and was so colorful. Bread sticks were so artistic and fresh . Tiramisu was also very delicious and fresh. Plants are gorgeous, so healthy and welcoming.“

“LOVED the focaccia bread they brought out before dinner, the oil they brought to dip it in had rosemary and other fresh herbs in it. Dinner was yummy! Good Italian, nothing out of this world but a safe bet if you’re wanting something tasty.“

“Lauren took phone order for 4 different items, had them ready exactly as she stated and brought them out to us with a big smile and great attitude. All our specific components were fresh, hot, and tasted so very good. The small calzones hardly fit on a dinner plate. They could feed up to 4 people!We continue enjoying meals from this particular Cottage Inn location. Kudos!“

“We went here for my mom's birthday and it was very good. All the pasta is homemade and the herb butter that comes with the pre meal bread is the best you'll ever have. The only criticism would be that the chicken was a little thick. If the chicken was more tender, this would have been a 5 star. Portions are also massive. Worth going to if you're in the area.“

“We reserved a table for Friday evening at 6pm. The food was wonderful. The service was wonderful. We were able to converse and hear each other. We sat at a table near from the bar and were able to watch the OSU Men's Basketball game. Definitely will be visiting again. We were at the Dublin location.Parking: Free parking garage across the street“

“I've reviewed several Dicarlos outside the Valley. Most people from there say Elm Grove and Wellsburg are the gold standard for Dicarlos locations, and I agree.This pizza from the Columbus location is just as good, especially for one outside the Valley. All of them have been good, but Columbus is perfection.It's tough to get parking nearby, so plan for that. But if you love Dicarlos, the Columbus location will satisfy. I live 2 hours away and will go back.“

“My husband and I visited Trattoria Roma this past Sunday and had a wonderful server. We made a reservation for 4:00 (when they opened) but arrived a little earlier, and she was nice enough to let us in to get seated. Seems like a fairly small, family-owned restaurant as her daughter was friendly and also attended to us. Decor is nice, dim lighting, semi-romantic. Food was decent but I'll admit, bland for Italian. My favorite course was probably my Caesar salad with anchovies added for an upcharge. We also got the bruschetta and arancini (no herbs at all in the marinara sauce) as appetizers. For the entrees, he ordered the Taste of Italy trio with lasagna, chicken Parmesan and angel hair Alfredo. I got a full order of lasagna. Both of us said the same, it wasn't bad but lacked a real depth of flavor mainly because they don't seem to use any fresh herbs in their marinara. Overall ok dinner, but too many other Italian places on my list to try for me to return any time soon.“

“The food is amazing! Authentic Italian and my favorite dish is arrabbiata over penne with fresh mozzarella and a Sanpellegrino as my drink! The owner is so kind- I have been eating here since 2010. Love you guys!Kid-friendliness: Absolutely amazing customer service!“

“Took my children for dinner last evening. The staff were EXTREMELY nice, and the gentleman who checked me/us out at register was very helpful with adding a gift card that was too old for their system to utilize, and he still gave me credit... came out to our table to check on us after we sat down... and the food: 3 o/o 3 of us enjoyed our pasta bowls. Nice work, Hilliard Piada!“

“We ordered 4 cornered Veggies pizza in the store. We hardly wait for 15 mins before getting delicious pizza in hand. Service was prompt and we got all the information we asked from friendly person at the counter. Pizza was too good! We tried first time and we will definitely try it again.“

“Bistrolino is a hidden gem IMO. I’m also amazed by the quality of the food and service given that the prices are very reasonable. It was 14-18 for most entrees. They weren’t giant sized but didn’t leave me wanting more and were delicious! The eggplant Parmesan was awesome. I met the owner Sam who seemed like a really nice guy who was very appreciative that we were at his restaurant. The vibe of the restaurant is cool too, and there’s a bar attached to it. It looks like a repurposed old home in German Village in the best way. This one is an easy sell, come here and try it out!“

“Hands down my favorite Pizza shop. Family members from out of town always request a pizza from Mama Mimi's when visiting. Tiffany is always wonderful and very helpful with ordering. I've never had a pizza from here I didn't like, but my favorites are the Rajun Cajun and the Marmelletta Amore. The Lasagna is also amazing.“

“I've actually ordered from this establishment through Uber eats. I've also visited in person. I ordered the all meat pizza and it was delicious. I also appreciate how late they are open, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, yummy yummy yummy.“

“stopped by the north market to look for something to eat. I saw the pizza and I was somewhat skeptical because the pizza looked cold. I ordered anyway. The workers actually reheated each slice in the oven and It ended up being some of the best pizza I have had. it was hot and cheesy and the crust was very crispy. Sat down and ate it and talked to the lady that owns it and she is very passionate about her business. 10/10 definitely would recommend. Looking forward to eating here again.“

“We went to buca di beppo in Worthington for our 36th anniversary and there's rumor that they are closing and Chick-fil-A is coming in. That is a lie. The manager come over to congratulate us and he actually bought cake for our anniversary, such a wonderful man . Even funnier he said he's from Mansfield Ohio and we laughed because so are we and we was trying to see if we have family that knows each other. This place is an awesome place, you got to check it out. Olecia was our server and she was so sweet and wonderful. She was a joy to talk with, great personality.We will definitely be back. Love to you all at Buca di Beppo Worthington.“

“Went to Mezzo on a Friday evening and the food and service was very tasty, I ordered the Arancini & Calamari to start , both were amazing. For dinner i got the mezzo chicken Parm dish. Which was pretty good, the chicken could have had a little bit more seasoning on it . But it was pretty good. Our server was very nice. He went out of his way to be sure our dinner was a great experience .Parking: Parking can be a little rough, depending on the day and time. Just have to drive around to find a close parking lot or street parking!“