Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Austin 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 Austin 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.
#30. The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (440 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 800 West 6th St. Ste 100 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian, Pizza
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#29. Tucci's Southside Subs
- Rating: 4.3/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7101 West Texas 71 A5 Ste 12 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Italian
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#28. More Home Slice Pizza
- Rating: 4.4/5 (569 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1421 South Congress Ave. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#27. Pizza Leon
- Rating: 4.4/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 509 East Ben White Blvd. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, fast food
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#26. Tucci's Southside Subs
- Rating: 4.5/5 (434 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 801 East William Cannon Drive Ste 240 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Sandwiches, Delis, Italian
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#25. Sammie's Italian
- Rating: 4.0/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 807 West 6th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
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#24. Vespaio Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (776 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1610 South Congress Ave. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian
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#23. The Backspace
- Rating: 4.1/5 (764 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 507 San Jacinto St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
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#22. Reale's Italian Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (799 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13450 Research Blvd. Ste 230 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#21. Numero 28
- Rating: 4.1/5 (690 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 452 West 2nd St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Gelato, Pizza
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#20. Pieous
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1290 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 166 Hargraves Drive Bldg H Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Bakeries
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#19. Tony C's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (528 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10526 West Parmer Lane Ste 509 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
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#18. Uncle Nicky's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4222 Duval St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Cafes
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#17. Il Brutto
- Rating: 4.2/5 (599 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1601 East 6th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Pizza
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#16. Juniper
- Rating: 4.2/5 (712 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2400 East Cesar Chavez St. Ste 304 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, New American, Cocktail Bars
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#15. It's Italian Cucina
- Rating: 4.2/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1500 South Lamar Blvd. Ste 110 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian, Cocktail Bars
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#14. Bufalina
- Rating: 4.3/5 (118 reviews)
- Address: 2215 East Cesar Chavez St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Desserts
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#13. Gino's Vino Osteria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1239 East 51st St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
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#12. Poeta
- Rating: 4.3/5 (145 reviews)
- Address: 1123 East 11th St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Breakfast & Brunch
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#11. Dovetail Pizza
- Rating: 4.3/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1816 South 1st St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Bars, Italian
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#10. Patrizi's
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1081 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2307 Manor Road Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian
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#9. Dean's Italian Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (269 reviews)
- Address: 110 East 2nd St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Steakhouses, Italian, Seafood
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#8. Red Ash
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1409 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 303 Colorado St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Tapas/Small Plates
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#7. ARTIPASTA
- Rating: 4.4/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6406 North Interstate 35 Frontage Road Ste 2510 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian
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#6. DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1090 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8000 Burnet Road Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
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#5. ARTIPASTA
- Rating: 4.5/5 (350 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7800 South 1st St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Food Trucks
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#4. Patrizi's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1705 Cuernavaca Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
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#3. Sapori Italian Roots
- Rating: 4.6/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 800 Brazos St. Ste 215 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Salad
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#2. Intero Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (565 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2612 East Cesar Chavez St. Austin, Texas
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
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#1. DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
- Rating: 4.7/5 (403 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 301 Lavaca St. Ste 200 Austin, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, 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.
