Highest-rated Italian Restaurants in Raleigh by Diners

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Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Raleigh 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—it 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—and 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—think 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—complete 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—brings 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 Raleigh 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.

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#30. La Terrazza

- Rating: 3.7/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 223 South West St. Floor 9 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean
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#29. Farina Neighborhood Italian

- Rating: 3.7/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8450 Honeycutt Road Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Cocktail Bars
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#28. Amedeo's Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3905 Western Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#27. Vic's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.8/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4035 Lake Boone Trl Ste 109 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#26. Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 3.8/5 (446 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 309 North Dawson St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
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#25. Vic's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.8/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 331 Blake St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#24. Bella Italia

- Rating: 3.8/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10630 Durant Road Ste 101 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#23. Milton's Pizza and Pasta - Wakefield

- Rating: 4.2/5 (204 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14520 Falls Of The Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#22. Mike's Pizza Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3919 New Bern Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#21. Gravy

- Rating: 3.8/5 (807 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 135 South Wilmington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, New American
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#20. Caffe Luna

- Rating: 3.9/5 (380 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 136 East Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Wine Bars
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#19. Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano

- Rating: 3.9/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6019 Glenwood Ave. Oak Park Shopping Center Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
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#18. Bella Monica

- Rating: 3.9/5 (659 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3121-103 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
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#17. Dantes Italiano

- Rating: 3.9/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13200 New Falls Of Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#16. Assaggio's

- Rating: 3.9/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3501 West Millbrook Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#15. Figulina

- Rating: 4.1/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 317 South Harrington St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
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#14. Vivace

- Rating: 4.1/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4209 Lassiter Mill Road Ste 115 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
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#13. Cucciolo Terrazza

- Rating: 4.1/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4200 Six Forks Road Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
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#12. Milton's Pizza and Pasta - Raleigh

- Rating: 4.1/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8853 Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Cocktail Bars
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#11. Il Falò

- Rating: 4.2/5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 3931 Macaw St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#10. Piada Italian Street Food

- Rating: 4.2/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 3088 Wake Forest Road Ste 280 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops
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#9. Cafe Tiramisu

- Rating: 4.2/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6008 Falls Of Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
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#8. Cristo's NY Style Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1302 East Millbrook Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Pasta Shops
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