Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor 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.
#14. Cottage Inn Pizza
- Rating: 2.7/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2715 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, Gluten-Free, Italian
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#13. Zola Bistro
- Rating: 2.8/5 (467 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3030 Washtenaw Ave. Ste 101 Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: French, Turkish, Italian
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#12. Palio
- Rating: 3.1/5 (442 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 347 South Main St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian
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#11. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.2/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 445 East Eisenhower Pkwy Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
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#10. Pizza House
- Rating: 3.2/5 (568 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 618 Church St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, Italian
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#9. New York Pizza Depot
- Rating: 3.3/5 (377 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 605 East William St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#8. Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina
- Rating: 3.5/5 (460 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3050 Washtenaw Ave. Ste 112 Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Gluten-Free
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#7. Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (318 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3411 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, New American
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#6. Dominick's
- Rating: 3.6/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 812 Monroe St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Lounges
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#5. Detroit Pizza Pub
- Rating: 3.8/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 207 North Main St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Bars, Pizza, Italian
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#4. The Earle Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (404 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 121 West Washington St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Wine Bars, French, Italian
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#3. Buddy's Pizza - Ann Arbor
- Rating: 3.9/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3153 Ann Arbor-Saline Road Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, Italian
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#2. Mani Osteria & Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1063 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 341 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
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#1. Joe's Pizza
- Rating: 4.3/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1107 South University Ave. Ste B Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, fast food, Italian
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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.
