Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Rockford by diners
It's no surprise that, in most countries, traditional national cuisine is the most popular, according to a . But Italian food isn't just top-rated in Italy鈥攊t 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鈥攁nd 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 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鈥攖hink 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鈥攃omplete 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鈥攂rings 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, compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Rockford based on diners' reviews on 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.
#18. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
- Rating: 2.9/5 (50 reviews)
- Address: 6240 Mulford Village Drive Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#17. Mamma Mia's
- Rating: 2.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1139 North Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#16. Sam's Ristorante & Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.0/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6075 East Riverside Blvd. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#15. Panino's Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5403 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
-
#14. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.1/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6367 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
-
#13. Marie's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1513 Charles St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#12. Gerry's Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7403 Argus Drive Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
-
#11. Deli Italia
- Rating: 3.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 507 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Delis, Italian
-
#10. Franchesco's Ristorante
- Rating: 3.7/5 (227 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7128 Spring Creek Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Steakhouses
-
#9. Salamone's North
- Rating: 3.8/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2583 North Mulford Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Pasta Shops
-
#8. Giuseppi's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 950 Halsted Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
-
#7. Maciano's Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5801 Columbia Pkwy Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
-
#6. Giordano's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 Executive Pkwy Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
-
#5. Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza
- Rating: 4.1/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 408 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
-
#4. Primo's Pizza
- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1710 Rural St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
-
#3. Lino's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (389 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5611 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#2. John's Restaurant & Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2914 11th St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
-
#1. Jo-Jo's Pizza & Pub
- Rating: 4.6/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3110 South Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
-
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.
