Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Dayton 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 Dayton 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. Cassano's Pizza King
- Rating: 2.6/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6821 Miller Lane Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#17. Fazoli's
- Rating: 2.8/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6110 Wilmington Pike Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#16. Spaghetti Warehouse
- Rating: 2.9/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 36 West 5th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
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#15. Fazoli's
- Rating: 2.9/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6675 Miller Lane Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
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#14. Brio Italian Grille
- Rating: 2.9/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4459 Cedar Park Drive Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
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#13. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.2/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2789 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
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#12. Geez Grill & Pub
- Rating: 3.5/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6061 Far Hills Ave. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pubs, Sports Bars
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#11. Gionino's Pizzeria
- Rating: 3.7/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 1528 East 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Chicken Wings, Italian
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#10. Godfather's Pizza
- Rating: 3.8/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4628 Brandt Pike Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#9. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6722 Miller Lane Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
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#8. Piada Italian Street Food
- Rating: 3.8/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1047 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Salad, Wraps
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#7. Figlio Wood Fired Pizza
- Rating: 3.9/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 424 East Stroop Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#6. Jimmie's Ladder 11
- Rating: 4.0/5 (421 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 936 Brown St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Italian, Cajun/Creole
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#5. Jimmy's Italian Cuisine & Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 824 East 5th St. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Italian
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#4. Wheat Penny Oven and Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (437 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 515 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Cocktail Bars, Italian
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#3. Classic Pizza
- Rating: 4.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7129 Taylorsville Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#2. Old Scratch Pizza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (711 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 812 South Patterson Blvd. Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Beer Bar, Italian
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#1. Disalvo Deli & Italian Store
- Rating: 4.8/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1383 East Stroop Road Dayton, Ohio
- Categories: Delis, Italian, Imported Food
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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.
