10 Italian Restaurants in Harrisonburg, Virginia That Will Have You Saying “Mama Mia!”

Main image courtesy of TripAdvisor.

Getting your hands on good Italian food can be tricky in the southern states – after all, when we think of America’s biggest Little Italy, the mind goes right to New York. But believe it or not, Harrisonburg, VA is one place where you can find some amazing Italian restaurants south of the Mason Dixon line. 

Whether you live in Harrisonburg or are just here visiting – located near the Swift Run Gap Entrance to Shenandoah National Park, the area gets its fair share of visitors – we’re sure that something on this list will satisfy your craving for tasty Italian cuisine. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up on the list:

• An Italian kitchen owned and operated since 2007 by a fellow from Sicily
• New York-style pizza slices so big you’ll need two plates to contain them
• Even a national Italian restaurant in Harrisonburg location, in case nothing else here hits your eye like a big pizza pie

Plus, we’ve done the legwork – every restaurant on this list has a link to the menu, information about the kitchen in question, and we even let you know which of these fine establishments are currently accepting GiftYa.

Get a GiftYa Gift Card to Someone Who Loves Italian Food in Harrisonburg, Virginia

GiftYa is a digital gift card that can be sent within seconds right from your phone. These gift cards can be used at a variety of locations but are particularly popular for restaurants. This is especially true if you are out traveling and don’t love to carry cash around with you. Instead you can just carry your gift cards right on your phone that you take with you everywhere already. 

You don’t even have to worry about keeping track of the gift cards and the balances because your phone does all of that for you. There really isn’t a more convenient option when it comes to buying gift cards and gifts for others.

With your new GiftYa electronic gift card, check out these top ten best Italian restaurants in Harrisonburg, Virginia today!

1. Vito’s Italian Kitchen

Let Italian-born Harrisonburg local, Vito, transport your taste buds to Italy!

Text a Vito’s Italian Kitchen gift card

📍 1047 Port Republic Rd | Harrisonburg | vitositaliankitchen.com 

Have you ever dreamed of taking a long (and delicious) European vacation to sample the best food Italy has to offer? Sigh. While international travel might be a little out of reach for dinner tonight, we’ve got the next best thing – Vito’s Italian Kitchen! The family-owned restaurant is serving up some of the best and most authentic Italian food you can find in Harrisonburg.

Vito was born in Carini, a small town on the Island of Sicily. Since 2007, he and his wife Katherine have been making locals and out-of-towners alike feel like family with fresh, tasty Italian meals and genuine hospitality. Popular menu items include the stuffed shells and shrimp scampi. If you’ve never tried the mushroom-topped classic chicken Marsala before, let Vito and his family introduce you to your new favorite dish.

“Food is reliably good and the staff who look after you are efficient and pleasant. If you want a "feel at home" kind of place where you'll be treated well and have great Italian-American comfort food, make your way to Vito's.” - Yelp Review 

Text a Vito’s Italian Kitchen gift card

2. Benny Sorrentino’s

You’ll find big slices and even bigger flavors at Harrisonburg’s favorite New York-style pizza shop!

Text a Benny Sorrentino’s gift card

📍 64 S Mason Ave | Harrisonburg | bennysva.com

Feeding a hungry family doesn’t have to break the bank – whether it’s your band of broke college friends or your spouse with the little ones in tow. Benny’s was born in 2011 “out of necessity” to serve up quick, quality, and most importantly affordable meals. 

Pizza can be purchased by the slice for just $5 – and we’re using the word slice loosely here. A single cut of Benny’s pizza takes up two full-sized paper plates (a white tablecloth joint this ain’t) and can serve as a respectable meal for even the hangriest people out there. A buck or two extra will get you some toppings, or if you wanna drop a little more dough (pun intended) you can get a whole 28” pie, which should feed approximately two families and you may want to measure before attempting to squeeze it through the door to your dorm. Yes, that advice is based on experience.

If you’re feeling brave (and are 18 or older), you can even participate in Benny’s Challenge – which means if you can get through a whole pizza all on your own, you can even pocket some winnings to take home.

“The crust is perfect. The sauce is very flavorful. The cheese is just the right amount of balance between flavor, oils and salt. What a pizza! And open till 3 am!!!” - Yelp Review 

Text a Benny Sorrentino’s gift card

3. Brothers Italian Restaurant

Pizza, pasta, and subs – the name says it all!

📍 1059 S High St | Harrisonburg | brotherspizzapastasubs.com

Not sure what form you want your comfort food to come in? It’s okay, we’ve all been there – craving something warm, cheesy, and delicious, but we’re not sure exactly what. If you find yourself in this boat in Harrisonburg, Brothers Italian Restaurant has plenty of options to help you satisfy your Italian food craving.

Known around town for serving up great food and huge portions, you won’t want to miss classics like the gnocchi sorrento, eggplant parmigiana, or chicken cacciatore. Or, bring some friends to split a tasty pizza pie…but definitely don’t forget about cannoli for dessert.

“This food was incredible. The worker helped us navigate the menu and offered a pizza special they were having that day which we ended up getting. We got the meat lover's pizza and it was so so delicious!” - Yelp Review 

4. Ciro’s Lasagna House

A staple in the Harrisonburg Italian restaurant scene for decades!

📍 778 E Market St | Harrisonburg | ciroslasagnahousemenu.com

Ciro’s does indeed serve delicious layers of meat, cheese, and noodles, but don’t let the name fool you – there’s plenty more on the menu, too. Whether you’re looking for New York-style pizza, subs piled high with toppings, or classic meals like eggplant parmigiana. 

As one of Harrisonburg’s most popular Italian restaurants, just be aware that they do get busy sometimes, which can lead to longer waits. But despite their popularity, locals have been raving about Ciro’s in-restaurant and delivery food for over 20 years.

“I love Ciros! I recently moved from NJ to Harrisonburg and their pizza is the closest, if not just like New York style pizza, and their subs are also great.” - Yelp Review 

5. Italian Touch Woodstock

A casual Italian meal the whole family can enjoy!

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📍 345 W Reservoir Rd | Woodstock | italiantouchpizzava.com

Kids don’t always have the most elevated palette – they may not appreciate the subtleties of pesto or polenta, let alone baccalà alla Vicentina. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about finding the right option for your picky eaters here. The kids menu features spaghetti, pizza, and even burgers and nuggets for anyone who wasn’t on board with Italian for dinner.

Adults can enjoy bigger potions of pizza, stromboli, pasta, subs, cheesesteaks, and even wings. To get a sense of the full scope of the menu, we recommend checking out their website for yourself! No matter what you choose, locals agree that you’ll get a high quality dish for a good value.

“Nick and his team are phenomenal! Small town charm, Nick knows his customers and cares about them you can see. The food was great! .” - Yelp Review 

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6. Olive Garden

When you’re here, you’re family– whether you’re at home or away!

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📍 45 Burgess Rd | Harrisonburg | olivegarden.com

Sick of sampling the local cuisine? We get that. Traveling can be a lot of trying new things, and sometimes you just want the same bottomless breadstick bowl you’ve loved since, well, forever. If none of the other Italian restaurants in Harrisburg feel like the right fit, you can also opt for an old favorite like Olive Garden.

Located near the Market Square East Shopping Center, this location is easy to get to for dine-in, takeout, or careside pickup. Get all of your favorites – from the shrimp scampi to the salad to the Tour of Italy pasta extravaganza – any way you want it.

“I've been to Olive Garden many times, & honestly I never felt it was worth the price as the food was just ok. However, I recently took a trip to this location & left feeling completely satisfied, the salad & bread were great as always. I will be coming here again for sure.” - Yelp Review 

Text an Olive Garden gift card

7. Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza

Wood-fired pizza is a staple in Italian cuisine, so get the best in Harrisonburg!

📍 80 W Water St | Harrisonburg | bellalunawoodfired.com

Oftentimes when people think of Italian food, pizza immediately pops into their mind. Pizza is a staple among Italian cuisine, and there are many hotspots in Harrisonburg, Virginia to give a try. A notable mention is Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza where they can satisfy your pizza craving, and  they also offer sandwiches, salads, and Italian desserts.

For those who are looking for a good pizza, Bella Luna is the best place to go to because they are all made on a wood-fire, giving it that slight charcoal taste that many love. Some of the signature specialty pizzas that they make include the margherita, bianca, Brooklyn, sausage, pepperoni, and even a classic cheese option.

“We love Bella Luna pizza! We travel a couple of hours every few months to make a visit! The food and service have always been great.” - Yelp Review

8. Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria

Try out this local restaurant for all of your pizza favorites, including traditional and unique topping options!

📍 225 Burgess Rd | Harrisonburg | vinnysharrisonburg.com 

Sometimes an Italian restaurant that gives you plenty of food options to choose from besides pizza is the way to go, and Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria offers just that for those who want to try new dishes. This is a local restaurant that is mainly known for their tasty pizza with both traditional and unique recipes, but they also offer other Italian classics and even sandwiches, salads, and crispy chicken wings.

Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria has tons of delicious food options to consider that are full of flavor, and those yummy carbs you just can’t get enough of. Some of the tastiest dishes that they offer on their menu consists of strombolis, New York rubens, bruschetta, chicken piccata, grilled salmon, chicken wings, antipasto salad, and other Italian dishes to try out besides pizza.

“They had a very pleasant staff that was friendly and attentive. This place really rocked and was a great find for Italian flavors. What a gem of a find and in an outdoor mall setting.” - Yelp Review

9. Little Italy Pizza

If you’re craving pizzas, both traditional and specialty kinds, then this is the place for you!

📍 1469 S Main St | Harrisonburg | littleitalyharrisonburg.com 

No matter what time of the week you’re craving pizza, whether it’s to have a get together and watch football with friends, or even just a way to celebrate getting through another work week, Little Italy in Harrisonburg is the place to check out. Located right on Main Street, Little Italy Pizza has plenty of pizza options, both specialty and traditional, that can satisfy your pizza craving with crispy crust and plenty of cheese.

Little Italy Pizza has an extensive list of options for pizza where you can mix and match toppings, or order something different to find a new favorite. They offer tons of options ranging from cheese pizza, vegetarian, meat lovers, seafood, margherita, and even bianca that can come in a thin, crispy crust, or Sicillian.

“The food was some of the best pizza we've had in a long time! Service was fast and they were very very kind. The store was quiet, not too many people in there, but the decor looks pretty nice and it's just a very good pizzeria all around!” - Yelp Review 

10. Marco’s Pizza

A place to go to when you’re looking for good deals on pizza, cheesy bread, desserts, and more!

📍 2952 Spotswood Trl | Harrisonburg | marcos.com

There’s nothing better than finding a good pizza place that also has a ton of deals on different pizzas, appetizers, desserts, and other delicious goodies. For those who are looking for an affordable pizza place that won’t break the bank, Marco’s Pizza is the place with all of the deals on everything you could possibly want that is Italian and tasty.

At Marco’s Pizza you can  place an order for either pickup or delivery, as they are super quick with their service, offering hot pizza ASAP. They feature a ton of tasty pizza options and more that include all meat pizza, Hawaiian chicken pizza, pepperoni, a white pizza, Italian subs, chicken caesar salads, chicken wings, and even their signature cheesy bread.

“Our order has been ready for pick up on time both times. The pizza is wonderful and the ingredients are fresh. The pizza bowl is a favorite of my gluten-intolerant husband!” - Yelp Review

Consider a GiftYa Gift Card For a Loved One For the Best Italian Restaurants in Harrisonburg, Virginia

If you’ve made it this far without dropping your phone and driving directly to one of the Italian restaurants on this list, congratulations – you have more willpower than we do! From authentic Italian cuisine to kid-friendly pizza shops, we’ve covered some of the most popular and highest rated Italian restaurants Harrisonburg has to offer.

And don’t forget, if you or someone you love is out in Harrisonburg searching for the best Italian food they can find, we marked off which of these restaurants currently accept our convenient GiftYa digital gift cards. Even if you (or they) choose an Italian restaurant that doesn’t accept GiftYa for dinner tonight, you’ll be sure to find some mouthwatering menu options that will certainly satisfy that Italian comfort food craving. Harrisonburg and GiftYa definitely have something to offer.