Italian in Phoenix

4743 N. 20th St. East Phoenix

602-368-3273

Italian, Pizza, Pasta, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Sponsor, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Chris Bianco, one of Phoenix's best-known chefs and restaurateurs, has expanded his local empire with this cozy bistro in the Town and Country Shopping Center. A small, rotating menu of Italian standards and signature Italian-American creations uses the fresh, locally grown ingredients and hits its mark every time with flavor-packed salads, pasta dishes, and entrées priced usually between $15 and $25. As at other Bianco properties, you can expect to wait on the somewhat secluded patio for one of the handful of tables inside. But most likely, you'll discover that your meal at Pizzeria Bianco was well worth the wait.

52 articles

UNION at Biltmore Fashion Park

2502 E. Camelback Rd. East Phoenix

602-955-8400

Italian, Restaurants, Retail, Sponsor

61 articles

Zappone's Italian Bistro

1652 N. Higley Rd. Gilbert

480-218-2338

Italian, Restaurants, Sponsor

5 articles

#1 Brothers Pizza

11435 W. Buckeye Road Suite A110 Avondale

623-936-9797

Italian, Pizza

1 article

#1 Brothers Pizza

16995 W. Greenway Road #104 Surprise

623-544-3332

Pizza, Italian

Alexi's Grill

3550 N. Central Ave. #120 Central Phoenix

602-279-0982

American, Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Alexi's is a bright, airy eatery where the waiters attend to your every whim. No wonder so many of the city's power elite choose to lunch at central Phoenix's Alexi's Grill. The menu is a combination of Italian and upscale American fare. Choices include various pastas, grilled fish, gussied-up chicken, and slabs of beef. Not the most adventurous menu, but great service saves the day.

7 articles

Alto Ristorante e bar

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. North Scottsdale

480-444-1234

Italian, Recommended

Basic Italian fare, including pizza and pasta, with some high-end Scottsdale resort touches in a lovely patio setting. Diners get a complimentary gondola ride in the Hyatt lagoon, as well as singing servers.

2 articles

Amano Bistro

1541 E. Baseline Rd. South Phoenix

602-305-9466

Italian, Pizza, Recommended, Menu

Owners Eric and Kathy Bower serve up homey Italian food at Amano Bistro, a charming neighborhood joint in an unlikely South Phoenix location -- next to a Shell station and across from an empty lot on Baseline Road. Fans come here for the cozy vibe, reasonable prices, and well-prepared classics, from a garlicky hand-tossed white pizza to lipsmacking prosciutto linguini packed with garlic and Parmesan. What's not to love? Read our review.

9 articles

Amante Pizza and Pasta

3345 W. Greenway Rd. North Phoenix

602-358-8444

Italian, Pasta, Pizza, Best Of

The Amante Calzone - a combination of onion, black olives, shredded pepperoni, and spinach folded between flaky crusts - has to be tasted to be believed. Follow it with a slice of Bailey's Irish Cream Cheese Cake at this cozy dining spot, and you and your stomach are happy-happy.

1 article

The Americano

17797 N. Scottsdale Rd. North Scottsdale

480-573-0001

Italian, Contemporary

Known for Neapolitan-style pizzas at Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana, Stefano Fabbri’s early 2020 opening marks a stark departure. The Americano is a high-end steakhouse that exists somewhere between America and Italy and isn’t quite a steakhouse. There’s a whole lot of beef on the menu, much from Niman Ranch, but the feeling and food travel in newer directions. Wagyu meatballs rest in silky, buttery tomato sauce. Fried chicken sandwiches gain lightness from pickled fennel. An improvisational summer pesto clings to garganelli. Pastas are solid, non-traditional, and made in house. Even sides like mac-and-cheese have twists and elevations (the mac gets a cacio e pepe treatment). If you’re into scene, thoughtful food, and a different kind of steakhouse, this opulent north Scottsdale restaurant is for you.

8 articles

Andreoli Italian Grocer

8880 E. Via Linda North Scottsdale

480-614-1980

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

At his shop-meets-restaurant in north Scottsdale, Giovanni Scorzo has assembled a wide-ranging selection of Italian food, including groceries, pastries and sweets, as well as sit-down-style dishes. Though not cheap, Italian flours, olive oils, canned vegetables and other larder gems beckon from their shelves as you wait in line. Under the glass case up front, you'll find sweets such as chocolate-shaped tools, cannoli, and more regional Italian favorites, including sfogliatelle and torrone, both strong versions and about as good as you can eat in metro Phoenix. Most people come to Andreoli, though, to eat on-site. The dining room that spills away from the ordering counter is casual but retains a formality (and an element of timelessness) you'd experience during meals in Scorzo's native country. Though he hails from Calabria, Scorzo's cooking often reaches from far southern Italy into the north: Orecchiette with broccoli and sausage, Branzino Alle Erbe Fini and Pizza San Francesco di Paola. Salads, sandwiches and a fleet of pastas anchor a menu that prizes tradition. A white board revealing rotating specials tends to delve deep into the annals of Italian gastronomy. As with any Italian restaurant that looks back in time, the kitchen is at its best with regional specialties and plates closest to the earth or sea, such as the simple grilled squid with parsley and lemon.

32 articles

Angel Sweet Gelato

937 N. Dobson Rd., #103 Mesa

480-969-5227

Dessert, Italian

Arrivederci Ristorante

7101 E. Thunderbird Rd. North Scottsdale

480-922-8225

Italian, Contemporary, Recommended

Don't let the storefront location fool you: This is one of the better Italian restaurants in the city, featuring gorgeous pasta, like ravioli stuffed with lobster in a saffron-cream sauce, as well as deftly fashioned veal, chicken, and seafood dishes. For dessert, you can't go wrong with the ricotta cheesecake.

1 article

Avanti Restaurant of Distinction

2728 E. Thomas Rd. East Phoenix

602-956-0900

Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

Local cuisine and our knowledge of Italian desserts have grown over the past 40 years thanks in part to Avanti, which opened in 1974. The owner is likely to stop by your table to chat about what you ordered or to boast about the interior, all black-and-white offset by blood red walls and zebra-striped fabrics. Longtime Avanti staples include shrimp stuffed with crabmeat, scallops, spinach, and mozzarella, and a traditional Caesar salad with creamy anchovy-based dressing. The Pasta e fagioli is thick with vegetables, white beans and pasta. Linguine carbonara is prepared perfectly, and mushroom risotto is also a winner, cooked in a wine and chicken stock, creamy and delicious.

10 articles

AZ Pizza Express

3526 W. Northern Ave. West Phoenix

602-607-5073

Pizza, Italian, Menu

The locally owned AZ Pizza Express offers pizza, pasta, salad, wings, and more.

Babbo Italian Eatery

15609 W Bell Rd. Surprise

623-825-1919

Italian, Restaurants, Menu

1 article

Bada Boom Pasta Room

4151 N. Marshall Way Central Scottsdale

480-214-2666

Italian, Pasta, Pizza, Specialties, Bars and Clubs, Menu

1 article

Base Pizzeria

3115 E. Lincoln Dr. Central Phoenix

602-535-8914

Pizza, Italian, Recommended, Best Of

Phoenix is known for its upscale pizza spots, and Base Pizzeria – with a tagline like “Organic. Modern. Pizza.” – is certainly one of them. Run by an American and three Australian proprietors, Base Pizzeria offers a menu of Italian appetizers; hearty salads; desserts; adult beverages including beer, cider, and wine; and of course, gourmet pizzas. The Magpie comes with chèvre from the local Crow’s Dairy, the Pesto Chicken is topped with organic free-range chicken and housemade cilantro pesto, and the El Diablo comes with organic wood-fired peppers, crushed tomato, and basil. Base Pizzeria is also as scenic as it is organic as it is set at the southern base of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and features a patio with excellent views of Piestewa Peak.

2 articles

Bella Luna Ristorante

14175 W. Indian School Rd. Ste. A4 Goodyear

623-535-4642

Italian, Menu

A family-owned operation, Bella Luna Ristorante is a cozy, dimly lit restaurant with classic and modern takes on familiar Italian dishes. Bella Luna offers whole lamb, steak, and fish, as well as eggplant parmigiana, chicken marsala, and veal saltimbocca. With dinner, guests can also order a chilled martini or choose from an all-Italian wine list.

1 article

Best of Italy

7111 E. Fifth Ave. Central Scottsdale

480-421-9540

Italian, Pizza, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Some of the best NY-style, thin-crust pizza in the Valley. The motto is "Shut up and eat," and we'd advise you to do so. Form follows function when it comes to atmosphere -- just tables and stools and windows looking out onto the street. See, in this pizzeria, it's all about melt-in-your-pie-hole-good triangles of mozzarella and dough. We recommend the four-cheese white pizza with tomato slices. Almost as good as what you'll get in NYC.

2 articles

Bice Ristorante

8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. North Scottsdale

Italian, Restaurants

1 article

Boss Pizza Bar

7125 E. 2nd St. Central Scottsdale

480-777-2677

Pizza, Italian, Recommended

There may be more than enough good pizzerias around town, but Boss Pizza Bar in Old Town Scottsdale shines for its nicely balanced pies featuring non-traditional toppings. Specialty pizzas include The Baker, a baked potato-inspired pie featuring a buttery, mashed potato base, copious amounts of mozzarella cheese, crispy nubs of bacon and gooey lashings of sour cream. There’s also a pretty good Memphis- style pizza made with pulled pork, and a Mexican pizza made with carne asada and chorizo. You’ll also find pressed sandwiches, burgers, and specialty salads on the menu, and decent craft beer list. But as delicious as you may find the pizza at Boss Pizza Bar, perhaps the restaurant’s most enduring attraction is its inviting, wrap-around patio.

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza

1026 S. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert

480-813-9223

American, Barbecue, Burgers, Dessert, Italian, Pizza, Soul Food, Southern, Wine Bar, Music Venues, Menu

Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante

19420 N. 59th Ave. Glendale

623-777-1868

Italian, Essentials

It’s not every day that a wedding expert who has done everything from owning bridal boutiques to planning receptions winds up opening a pizzeria. But that’s where owner Nick DiLello’s Italian heritage takes over. Born in Milan, DiLello shares his love for all things Italy with his customers in Glendale. The experience starts with a bread basket bursting with a selection of freshly baked slices. The large menu includes soups, salads, appetizers, pastas, fish and veggie dishes. But the star is the pizza. The supple dough gets a kiss of char as it cooks in the restaurant’s wood-fired oven. And the toppings explode with flavor — from the cheese on the Speck & Brie, to the Kalamata olives on the Capricciosa, to the capers on the Napoli. This spot also offers a selection of white pizzas, and we’re partial to the La Pergola topped with crumbled Italian sausage, red onion and Yukon Gold potatoes.

Bravo Bistro

4327 N. Scottsdale Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-481-7614

Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, Recommended, Menu

Snap your fingers to nonstop Tony Bennett and enjoy some well-crafted, Mediterranean-themed bistro fare. Start off with an order of baba ghanouj and antipasto, then move on to one of the best osso buco plates in town. Loosen your belt and linger over creamy tiramisu or chocolate bread pudding. Read our review.

4 articles

Brunello Restaurant

1954 S. Dobson Rd. Mesa

480-897-0140

Italian, Music Venues, Menu

Buca Di Beppo

3828 N. Scottsdale Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-949-6622

Italian, Restaurants, Best Of

This nationwide chain of Italian restaurants first opened in 1993 in the basement of a Minneapolis apartment, and there are now over 86 locations throughout the country, including four in the Phoenix metro area: Peoria, Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Antipasti selections like bruschetta, fried mozzarella, and garlic bread stay true to the Italian theme. Most dishes on Buca di Beppo’s menu are served family-style in small and large sizes and are meant to be shared between 2 to 4 people. Favorite entrées to pass around the table include prosciutto-stuffed chicken, veal parmigiana, Chianti braised short ribs, linguine frutti di mare, shrimp fra diavolo, and penne arrabbiata. Buca di Beppo also has Italian-American classics like spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, baked lasagna, Italian sausage with marinara, and pizza. To account for common food sensitivities, the chain restaurant has a gluten-free menu featuring mozzarella caprese, chicken marsala, salmon limone, Italian broccoli Romano, and more.

4 articles

Caffe Boa

398 S. Mill Ave. Tempe

480-968-9112

Italian, European, Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

For first dates and graduation dinners, Tempe’s Caffe Boa is a staple. This long-standing Mill Avenue restaurant is the perfect contrast to the bustling bars and clubs just steps away. Both an Italian restaurant and wine bar, it is open for brunch, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Make sure to try the outstanding pastas, such as a block of lasagna resting in a pool of cream-tinted bolognese or the Ravioli Zucca, filled with butternut squash and topped with toasted hazelnuts and sage swimming in a garlic butter sauce. Complete your meal with a creative cocktail, pour of wine or a flight of Rakija, a double-distilled fruit brandy popular in Serbia and throughout the Balkans, for something a little different.

20 articles

Caffe Italia

4201 N. 7th Ave. Central Phoenix

602-749-9228

Italian, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Pizza, pasta and salads are served.

1 article

Cala Scottsdale

7501 E. Camelback Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-590-5676

Italian, Mediterranean, Best Of

This signature restaurant nestled in the Hilton’s Senna House in Old Town is helmed by celebrity chef and Sanctuary alum Beau MacMillan. While he willingly handed over executive chef duties to Peter McQuaid, who followed him from Sanctuary, MacMillan’s stamp is all over the Mediterranean-inspired menu that flaunts farm-fresh cuisine with coastal panache. Start with a showstopping Flaming Saganaki or singular giant meatball before diving into fresh pastas or pizza. The Wagyu Bolognese is hearty and elegant; it can be made vegan with red lentils as the base, if you wish. And the za'atar roasted patty pan squash with cracked hazelnut dukkah is a side that amplifies any dish. The patio is packed on the weekends, but the bar at the center of the restaurant offers a great spot for people watching away from the crowd.

4 articles

Campo Italian Bistro & Bar

8260 N. Hayden Rd. #A102 North Scottsdale

480-597-9195

Italian, International

8 articles

Carmen's Bistro

219 E. Baseline Rd. Tempe

480-345-1264

French, Italian, Music Venues

Casa Mia Cucina Italiana

11675 N. 136th St. Suite 107 North Scottsdale

480-314-0365

Italian

Sometimes fresh burrata or gnocchi is all you need. Casa Mia Cucina Italiana offers this and more, like lamb chops, wine, desserts, and Italian cocktails.

Italian in Phoenix

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