10 Italian Restaurants in Raleigh That Serve Pasta Just Like Nona Used to Make

So you are looking for Italian restaurants in Raleigh huh? Of course you are – who could resist plates piled high with pasta, garden fresh salad, savory sauces, delectable desserts, and all of the other culinary delights we associate with Italian cuisine?

Lucky for all of us, Raleigh’s bustling food scene is packed with Italian restaurants that are sure to dazzle your taste buds, fill your tummy, and make you feel right at home as soon as you walk through their doors. In fact, there might be too many. When you have so many excellent options, how do you narrow it down and decide where to eat?

In this article, we’re going to discuss:

• The best Italian restaurants in Raleigh
• Where you can find these amazing restaurants
• An insider look on what Yelp reviewers are saying

Considering you’ve landed on this blog post, we’re guessing you probably took your quest to find the best Italian restaurants in Raleigh to the internet. That’s an excellent choice. This is a list of the best Italian restaurants in Raleigh and where you can find them. We also include links anytime one of these restaurants accept our super convenient virtual gift cards!

Before we get to the list, let us take a minute to refresh your memory of what exactly a GiftYa is

You don’t need to worry when you’re in Raleigh looking for restaurants, stores, and attractions. You can check out GiftYa and search for gift cards by Raleigh and find everything they offer in Raleigh. The cool thing about this is that you can get a GiftYa digital gift card for you or a loved one and send it wirelessly in seconds. 

Anytime you or they are in Raleigh looking for Italian restaurants. Not only can you send and receive a GiftYa wireless, you can also keep track of the balance all right from your phone, Unlike a standard gift card where you have to write the balance on the back everytime you use it, a GiftYa keeps track for you on your phone all the time, And let’s be honest, isn’t it way more likely that you will be out at a restaurant with your phone than with your gift card? 

Your loved one is also much more likely to have their phone on them than a gift card if you are sending one for a birthday or celebration to a younger relative. You can count on kids and college students to always have their phones on them, but can you really count on them to have a gift card you send them?

Not to mention their digital format makes GiftYa perfect anytime you want to send a gift card to a loved one in Raleigh. With a GiftYa there’s no writing multiple balances all over a card and hoping you can keep it organized. You also don’t have to worry about the card being lost or stolen with a GiftYa. You can keep track of them all digitally. 

So you don’t even have to deliver them in person to know they got there in time. There’s no relying on the Postal Service and hoping they don’t lose it or delay it before your loved ones' big day or celebration. And I’m sure you’ve noticed more and more restaurants going with digital menus and options. Don’t be embarrassed at a modern 21st Century establishment by handing over a clunky plastic gift card when you can upgrade to a sleek digital format today.

Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria

From artisan pizza to authentic Italian dishes, there’s no wonder it’s a fan favorite in Raleigh!

Try out Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant in Raleigh where you can indulge in some of the best food around! Image courtesy of Instagram.

7400 Six Forks Road | Six Forks North | vivoraleigh.com

There’s no way to make a list of the best Italian restaurants in any city and not have a pizzeria somewhere on the list. I mean I assume when you think of Italian food you think about pizza, pasta, and seafood. And I’ll do my best to give you an option for all different kinds of Italian food on the list today.

But for now, at the top of our list is Viva Ristorante Pizzeria. They boast a four and a half star rating on Yelp with over 300 different reviews. And in my experience people are much more likely to leave a review if they had a bad time than if they had a good time. So that four and a half star rating from the customers is probably on the lower end because there are going to be dissatisfied customers leaving low reviews which will diminish the overall average, whereas plenty of perfectly happy customers won’t leave a five star rating and skew the ratio the other way. As such, you can trust that time after time, Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria is meeting, and exceeding, their customer’s expectations.

“One of our regular spots. Neat atmosphere, exceptional service and fantastic food!

If you're looking for exceptional Italian cuisine, large portions and at a fair price. Look no further.” - Yelp Review 

Buy a gift card for Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria

Bella Monica

Family-owned restaurant and wine bar that has been a staple in Raleigh since 2000!

Bella Monica is an amazing place to go to for Italian food, along with pizza, and much more! Image courtesy of Instagram.

3121-103 Edward Mills Road | Raleigh | bellamonica.com

Bella Monica comes in at number two on our list, but that’s really only because I’m not allowed to list a tie in first place. The great thing about Bella Monica is that it does exactly what I said I want to do, which is to give you a balance of Italian options when you are in Raleigh. 

Not only is Bella Monica going to serve exceptional pizza and pasta, they also have a great wine selection at the bar or right at your table. And while a great meal is good on its own, a great meal paired with a great drink really takes the whole experience up to another level. 

And you can trust that Bella Monica consistently takes things up to another level considering they have over 500 positive reviews. I feel very confident that you won’t leave disappointed if you are craving Italian in Raleigh and you stop off at Bella Monica. Apparently nobody else has.

“What a great surprise. Everything was incredibly good. We got the Genoa flatbread for a starter and I think that's the best pizza, loaded with pepperoni, I've had in a long time.” - Yelp Review

Buy a gift card for Bella Monica

Vivace

With handmade pasta and an expansive wine list, you won’t want to skip an authentic Italian meal at Vivace!

Vivace is an amazing Italian restaurant to go to for Italian dishes, amazing wine, and so much more! Image courtesy of Instagram.

4209 Lassiter Mill Road | North Hills | vivaceraleigh.com

Vivace can brag that they deliver a thoroughly authentic Italian experience considering they make all of their pasta homemade. So although I like to give some variety in a list of the best Italian restaurants, at the end of the day, there’s only so many things that are considered Italian cuisine so there is a lot of overlap if I just list what every restaurant serves. 

So instead I want to draw attention to the things that they have, or the things they do, better than anybody else does it. And in this case, Vivace has the best homemade pasta in all of Raleigh. So if pizza and seafood isn’t the kind of Italian food you are craving, then Vivace is the obvious choice.  

“Vegan options available! Everything tasted amazing. I got vegan pasta, red sauce with veggies. Great wine!” - Yelp Review 

Buy a gift card for Vivace

Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar

Bringing Italian wine, food, and ambiance to Raleigh since 2017!

Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar is an amazing place to go to for some incredible Italian wine, food, and lots more! Image courtesy of Instagram. 

309 N Dawson Street | North Boylan | mulinoraleigh.com

This restaurant's name fits it perfectly. Afterall, Mulino means "the mill". And this has important historical significance to the restaurant's location in Melrose Knitting Mill. This is a historic space in Raleigh that first opened in 1901 as a textile factory which made garments and then later manufactured bathing suits for the city's first public pool.

But the special thing that brings Mulino Kitchen & Bar to my list of best Italian restaurants in Raleigh is the fact that not only do they serve all the classic Italian dishes and have a very high user rating, they also happen to have the best ambiance of any of the restaurants on the list today. And let’s be honest, the mood and ambiance a restaurant creates can really do a lot to elevate a good meal to a fantastic meal.  

“A hidden Gem! I have been scouring Raleigh for an excellent Italian restaurant and wish I would have found this wonderful Italian restaurant earlier.” - Yelp Review 

Buy a gift card Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar

Assaggio’s

All of your homemade, homegrown favorites! Authentic Italian food done right.

Enjoy lots of Italian cuisine at Assaggio’s convenient location on Millbrook Road in Raleigh! Image courtesy of Instagram.

3501 W Millbrook Road | Crabtree Pines | assaggios-nc.com

Assaggio’s makes it onto this list of the top five best Italian places in Raleigh because they also boast a very high rating from their customers and patrons. However, their fried ravioli appears time and time again in the positive reviews of their food. So I am going out on a limb here and saying that those fried raviolis are the things that Assiago makles that no other Italian restaurant in Raleigh can really compete with.

“Oh my goodness!!! For real! This is my new Italian spot! First time here for hubby and I and we thoroughly enjoyed everything!” - Yelp Review 

Buy a gift card for Assaggio’s

Tuscan Blu Italian Restaurant 

Italian cuisine, wine, beer, and so much more are served here and you need to try it now!

If you are interested, then you need to try out Tuscan Blu Italian Restaurant as soon as you can! Image courtesy of Instagram. 

327 W Davie Street | Raleigh | tuscanblu.com

There is nothing better than some delicious Italian cuisine whenever you’re in Raleigh, so we think that you need to stop by Tuscan Blu Italian Restaurant right away! This is an amazing place to go to because they serve some of the best authentic Italian food, wine, beer, and plenty more that you will love.

Come to Tuscan Blu Italian Restaurant right away where you can try out everything from classic caesar salad, fiocchi, ravioli toscani, mousse cake, fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, and so much more. With lots of incredible dishes to try out, make sure to check out Tuscan Blu Italian Restaurant right away!

“Tuscan blu is an amazing Italian restaurant in the old depot area in Raleigh. The service was great on a Friday night for a last minute reservation.” - Yelp Review 

Brio Italian Grille

Tuscan-inspired Italian food is perfect for any occasion, so make sure to stop by!

Have you ever heard of the Brio Italian Grille? Why not check them out right in Raleigh today! Image courtesy of Instagram. 

4325 Glenwood Avenue | Raleigh | brioitalian.com

Are you a fan of Tuscan-inspired Italian dishes? If so, then you need to come and check out Brio Italian Grille right now! This is an amazing premier Tuscan-Italian restaurant that serves authentic Northern Italian food where everything is cooked to perfection and the wine is even better too.

Why not check out Brio Italian Grille as soon as you can where you can try out pasta alla vodka, spicy shrimp, lobster bisque, margherita flatbreads, caesar salads, chicken marsala, grilled salmon, and lots more right here at Brio Italian Grille? Stop by today in Raleigh!

“Love this place! Great service at the bar by Jacob. Wonderful inexpensive happy hour drinks & appetizers in the bar area. Nice friendly but classy atmosphere.” - Yelp Review 

Farina Neighborhood Italian

Enjoy this local joint where the food is truly amazing and among some of the best Italian food that you’ll love! 

Enjoy some delicious pasta, pizza, and more at Farina Neighborhood Italian in Raleigh! Image courtesy of Instagram. 

8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh | farinaraleigh.com

If you are looking for a local favorite in Raleigh, then you need to check out Farina Neighborhood Italian right away! They are known for their incredible wood-fired pizza, traditional Italian favorites, delicious appetizers, and lots of truly amazing authentic Italian dishes that you need to try out right away!

Stop by Farina Neighborhood Italian where you need to explore their amazing Italian menu that includes short rib gnocchi, chicken parm, seafood pasta, arugula salad, flattop Italian sausage, butternut squash ravioli, and even their wild mushroom pizza. Check out Farina Neighborhood Italian is an amazing restaurant in Raleigh that you need to experience right now!

“Had a good lunch at Farina. They've been serving excellent Italian food for years. This time, I had the Lobster Bisque and Tagliatelle Bolognese. Both were tasty.” - Yelp Review 

Gravy 

Try out this American-Italian restaurant in Raleigh where everything is made with local ingredients!

Sometimes some American-Italian food is all that you need, so why not check out Gravy today! Image courtesy of Instagram. 

135 S Wilmington Street | Raleigh | gravyraleigh.com

Are you interested in going to an American-Italian restaurant in Raleigh for something different? If so, then you need to stop by and check out Gravy right now! Gravy is an incredible place to go to because of their delicious Italian classics that you need to try out for yourself right now in Raleigh.

Stop by Gravy so you can indulge in their delicious menu which includes gnocchi, lasagna, eggplant pie, bruschetta, kale caesar, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parm, meatball subs, and so much more. Come and experience Gravy in Raleigh for yourself as soon as you can!

“Gravy has a good atmosphere, excellent service, decent prices, but what stands out most of all is the food. Definitely recommended!!” - Yelp Review 

Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano

Sometimes a family-owned Italian restaurant is really all that you need!

If you want to support local restaurants in Raleigh, then you need to try out Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano! Image courtesy of Instagram.

6019 Glenwood Avenue | Raleigh | casacarbone.com

Nowadays, supporting local businesses is crucial, and if you’re looking for Italian food in Raleigh, then you need to see what’s on the menu at Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano! This place is known for being a family-owned restaurant where they have the best pizza and red-sauce pastas in the entire city.

At Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano, you need to explore their menu and eat their baked ziti, manicotti, lentil soup, vegetarian lasagna, lobster ravioli, fettuccine carbonara, tortellini alfredo, cannelloni florentine, and so much more. Why not stop by Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano in Raleigh right away for a bite to eat!

“We had eggplant and meatball side orders as appetizers. The meatballs were moist and tender and the gravy was delicious.” - Yelp Review 

There you have it! All the best rated Italian restaurants you can find in Raleigh. Raleigh is a major hub of business and commerce so it isn’t easy to narrow down the list of great Italian restaurants to only what can fit in this post. But just from what we gathered for you here today you’ll be sure to find a location that's convenient for you with plenty of excellent options. 

And remember, if you or someone you love is out in Raleigh, we marked off which Italian restaurants accept convenient GiftYa digital gift cards. And you can use them at any of the locations we indicated on this list today. But even if you choose an Italian restaurant that doesn’t accept GiftYa, you’ll be sure to find authentic Italian cuisine. Raleigh and GiftYa definitely have something to offer when you mix the two together.