Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Lexington 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 Lexington 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.
#25. Fazoli's
- Rating: 2.6/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3775 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#24. Johnny Carino's
- Rating: 2.8/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2333 Sir Barton Way Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
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#23. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3385 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
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#22. Fazoli's
- Rating: 3.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2195A Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, fast food
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#21. Fazoli's DL Partner - Nicholasville Rd
- Rating: 3.1/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2200 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#20. Giovanni's Pizza
- Rating: 3.2/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 128 East New Circle Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
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#19. Paisano's Italian
- Rating: 3.3/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2417 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Seafood
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#18. Puccini's Pizza Pasta - Boston Rd
- Rating: 3.4/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3801 Dylan Place Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Gluten-Free
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#17. West Coast Gourmet Pizza
- Rating: 3.6/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2473 Fortune Drive Ste 100 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#16. Fazoli's
- Rating: 3.6/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4204 Saron Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#15. Giovanni's Pizza
- Rating: 3.6/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4214 Saron Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#14. Sutton's
- Rating: 3.7/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 North Locust Hill Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, American
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#13. Pie Five Pizza
- Rating: 3.7/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3401 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Vegan
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#12. Joe Bologna's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 West Maxwell St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#11. Fazoli's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1840 Alysheba Way Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#10. Frank & Dino's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (151 reviews)
- Address: 271 West Short St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
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#9. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 3094 Helmsdale Place Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Soup, Salad
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#8. Carrabba's Italian Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1881 Plaudit Place Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
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#7. Mancino's Pizza & Grinders
- Rating: 3.9/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1590 Leestown Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Delis
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#6. Jets Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3268 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#5. ItalX
- Rating: 4.0/5 (156 reviews)
- Address: 160 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian
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#4. Pasta Garage Italian Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (437 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 962 Delaware Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Vegan
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#3. Rosati's Pizza
- Rating: 4.1/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 148 Malabu Drive Ste 160 Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Chicken Wings, Pizza
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#2. Bella Notte
- Rating: 4.2/5 (583 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3715 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian
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#1. Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.3/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4456 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Beer Bar
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 290 metros.
