Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Portland, Maine 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 Portland 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.
#20. Amato's Italian Sandwich Shops
- Rating: 2.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 312 Saint John St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian
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#19. Maria's Restaurant
- Rating: 2.8/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1335 Congress Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
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#18. Bruno's Restaurant & Tavern
- Rating: 3.4/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 Allen Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, New American, Lounges
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#17. Amato's
- Rating: 3.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1379 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, Italian
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#16. Portland House of Pizza
- Rating: 3.5/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1359 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Cheesesteaks, Italian
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#15. The Corner Room
- Rating: 3.6/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bars
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#14. DiMillo's On the Water
- Rating: 3.8/5 (1206 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 25 Long Wharf Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, Italian, New American
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#13. Amato's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 71 India St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Italian
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#12. Hilltop Superette
- Rating: 3.9/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 135 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian, Pizza
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#11. Ribollita
- Rating: 4.0/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 41 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
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#10. Leonardo's Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Salad
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#9. Lazzari
- Rating: 4.0/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 618 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bars, Pizza, Italian
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#8. Roma Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 767 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
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#7. Via Vecchia
- Rating: 4.2/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 Dana St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
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#6. Tipo
- Rating: 4.2/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 182 Ocean Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
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#5. Solo Italiano
- Rating: 4.2/5 (407 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Bars
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#4. Quality Shop
- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 473 Stevens Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, fast food
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#3. Quanto Basta
- Rating: 4.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 249 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Food Trucks
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#2. Leeward
- Rating: 4.5/5 (123 reviews)
- Address: 85 Free St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
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#1. The Knotted Apron
- Rating: 4.6/5 (86 reviews)
- Address: 496 Woodford St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: French, Italian, Cocktail Bars
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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.
