The 7 Best Italian Restaurants in Mesa, AZ Right Now

Italian is the most popular cuisine in the world, so naturally every city in the U.S. has more Italian restaurants than one could imagine, and Mesa, AZ is no exception. To help you narrow your choice down, we’ve made a list of the 7 best Italian restaurants in Mesa, AZ right now. We’ve considered ambiance, service, price, and of course, the food! Everyone’s taste is a little different, but we hope there’s a little something for every kind of Italian food lover on this list!

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1. Venezia’s New York Style Pizzeria

New York style pizza

5057 E McKellips Rd | Mesa | venezias.com

This family-owned and operated pizzeria has been serving authentic Italian and New York style pizza to the people of Arizona since 1978.

Venezia's uses the same mozzarella cheese, crushed tomatoes, and flour since it opened almost 30 years ago and continues to make their own homemade sauce and fresh pizza dough daily. They don’t use any frozen or prepackaged products here, only authentic family recipes!

The Buffalo Spicy Chicken is one of their most popular pies. Reminiscent of their infamous hot wings, the Buffalo Spicy Chicken pie comes topped with Venezia’s signature pizza sauce as well as their spicy wing sauce, slices of grilled chicken, and lots of mozzarella cheese. 

Vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free? No problem. Venezia’s has plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, plant-based pepperoni, vegan cheese, and gluten-free crust.

We love their Slice of the Day Special, where from open to close you can get two of the slices of the day and a drink for around $8. Just a heads up, the Thursday slice of the day is currently Buffalo Spicy Chicken!

In addition to pizza, they have calzones, wings, sandwiches and salads, and pasta.

We promised we’d mention wine! Every hour is happy hour at Venezia’s with their 3-4-5 deal. Domestic beers are $3, craft beers are $4, and glasses of wine are $5 all day, every day!

You can purchase a GiftYa for Venezia’s New York Style Pizza here!

“My family orders pizza once a week and honestly sometimes even twice a week the pizza is so delicious. Then we order sandwiches during the week as well. I just love this place it's so delicious. This is the only place we go for pizza!!” - Yelp Review 

2. Vito's Pizza & Italian Ristorante

Authentic Italian food and Chicago style thin crust pizza 

1947 N Lindsay Rd | Mesa | vitospizza.com 

Vito’s has been serving authentic Italian cuisine and Chicago style thin crust pizza in Mesa and the surrounding Phoenix area since 1986. How have they kept people coming to Vito’s? The quality of their food is of the utmost importance. They import all of their flour directly from Italy, use only 100% real Wisconsin and Italian cheeses, and source only the freshest ingredients for their dishes.

They have a variety of delicious starters, including Calamari, Traditional Bruschetta, and Garlic Knots and Bread. But let’s get to the mains. Their Seafood Lasagna is a chef’s kiss. It comes with scallops, shrimp, fresh crab, mozzarella, ricotta, and sunrise sauce. Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic dish that Vito’s does just right, and so is the Baked Ziti and the Chicken Caprese. 

Love lobster? Vito’s has Lobster Ravioli, lobster filled ravioli with sunrise sauce and sautéed mushrooms, and Lobster Mac N’ Cheese, lobster meat and pasta shells tossed in a cream sauce and a four cheese blend, topped with bread crumbs, and baked.

You can purchase a GiftYa for Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante here!

“Delicious. I don't even look at the menu. Chicken piccata and a Caesar salad. The people we go with often order other things - and they rave about them, too. The restaurant often gets crowded during tourist season. However, it's worth the wait. Highly recommended.” - Yelp Review 

3. Sam and Luca Rustic Kitchen

Old world charm with a new world vibe

1959 S Power Rd | Mesa | samandlucaaz.com 

This Italian restaurant stands apart from the rest. Sam and Luca Rustic Kitchen offers old world dishes with a new world vibe. You can enjoy a classic Grilled Shrimp Risotto with corn, roma tomato, artichoke, snipped herbs, and lemon zest, as you sip on a Mediterranean Mule (Figenza Fig Vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice) or an Italian Mojito (basil, Bacardi rum, simple syrup, and fresh squeezed lime).

The Spinach Ravioli is a delicious choice off the pasta menu, while the Prosciutto and Black Fig is a must-have off of the pizza menu. If you want a meat-heavy entree, on its own or in addition to pizza and pasta, we suggest the Lamp Chops with herbed roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables, and a balsamic glaze. 

Don’t skip dessert! From Limoncello Chiffon Cake to cannolis, they have just about any Italian dessert you could be craving after an authentic old world meal. 

This is a great spot for a romantic date night or a night out catching up with friends over drinks and a Rustic Board piled high with artisan meats and cheeses or homemade cheesy mozzarella sticks served with marinara. 

You can purchase a GiftYa for Sam and Luca Rustic Kitchen here!

“I randomly decided to have dinner here and I am glad I did. I was not disappointed with my food choices - both were amazing, flavorful!!! I left satisfied and my tummy was happy.” - Yelp Review 

4. Baci Italian Bistro

Family-owned and operated Italian bistro 

8830 E Germann Rd | Mesa | baciitalianbistro.com 

This is a great spot to bring the whole family for some delicious Italian cuisine. 

Start off with some apps for the table like Fried Ravioli, Fried Calamari, Fried Cheese Sticks, are you seeing a pattern? Or get some garlic bread or bruschetta if you don’t want to fill yourself up too much before your entree arrives!

Then choose from your favorite pasta dishes, stuffed pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and seafood and meat plates, or get a few to share with the family. Their New Pizza Napoletana, an extra thin crust pizza with basil and oil, mozzarella cheese, crushed roma tomatoes, romano cheese, and oregano, has quickly become a favorite. If you want to spice up your slice, you can add their Firesauce on any pizza on the menu. Other popular menu items include the Baked Manicotti and the Eggplant Parmigiana. 

Kids can choose from a menu of smaller portions of pasta including Spaghetti and 1 Meatball, Cheese or Meat Ravioli, and Fettuccine Alfredo. In addition, they offer Chicken Strips and Fries and a 6” 1 Topping Kid’s Pizza. 

You can purchase a GiftYa for Baci Italian Bistro here!

“Man, where do you even begin on a review for a place you've fallen IN LOVE with? The eggplant Parmesan will knock your socks off. The bread? SO light and fluffy and amazing. I've never been obsessed like this over Italian food.” - Yelp Review 

5. Alessia's Ristorante Italiano

Authentic Italian dishes made to order

5251 E Brown Rd | Mesa | alessiasristoranteitaliano.com 

At Alessia’s, every dish is made to order. This isn’t the standard for Italian restaurants, so for us, this sets Alessia’s apart. 

Their menu features recipes from central to northern Italy such as Primavera, sauteed onions, garlic, red bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, and carrots in a red or pink sauce, and Carbonara, bacon, homemade sausage, sauteed egg, and parmesan cheese in a white sauce. 

In addition to their classic pasta dishes, they have salads, seafood pasta, ravioli, risotto, and meat and seafood entrees. The Veal Piccata, lightly breaded veal sauteed with capers, mushrooms, white wine, lemon, and a touch of bechamel, is another great choice for an entree.

As for drinks, Alessia’s offers an all Italian wine list as well as Italian and domestic beers.

If you are interested in weekly specials, check out their Facebook page and weekly newsletter. Weekly dinner and wine specials start on Fridays and are available while supplies last!

“Phenomenal wine list...albeit all Italian wines.  We've ordered the fettuccine carbonara, lasagna, risotto and chicken marsala.  All were very good.  I initially thought the menu prices were a bit high, but the value is certainly there in the quality of the food.” - Yelp Review

 6. Babbo Italian Eatery

Local chain serving Italian fare

10726 E Southern Ave | Mesa | babboitalian.com 

If we are going to support a chain, we are at least going to try to support a local chain! In comes Babbo Italian Eatery, a popular spot for those popular Italian dishes.

The Classic Chicken Caesar salad is a great option if you want something on the lighter side. The Caesar Salad comes topped with grilled chicken or buffalo style chicken and parmesan cheese.

Prefer pasta? Rest assured they’ve got that too. Their Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta Pasta, crisp pancetta, roasted brussels sprouts, red pepper flakes in a garlic butter sauce, served on fettuccine and topped with shaved parmesan and parsley is a great choice if you still want to get some some veggies in, while the Chicken Limone, roasted chicken breast, artichokes, capers, fresh lemon butter sauce, and garlic, served on fusilli, is a delicious lemony experience.

New on their menu is Pete’s Pink Fettuccine. Yup, pink! It’s made with garlic, red onions, red pepper flakes, oregano, fresh tomatoes, white wine, and pink sauce, topped with shaved parmesan and parsley.

You can purchase a GiftYa for Babbo Italian Eatery here!

“Delicious food!!! It's not authentic traditional Italian, but when you're craving pasta & that type of thing, this place was a pleasant discovery! Everything was so good & more than enough. We have dinner for another night. We loved it.” - Yelp Review

7. Pacino's Restaurant

Relaxed Italian eatery and bar

2831 N Power Rd | Mesa | pacinositalian.com 

Pacino’s Restaurant first opened its doors in Mesa in 2013, but their story actually begins in the Bronx where restaurant owner Frank Spaccarelli first learned the secrets of Italian cooking in his family’s kitchens. He has since brought his belief of “passionately preparing” food to Mesa, and the people of Mesa have appreciated it ever since!

At Pacino’s Restaurant, they serve both classic and contemporary Italian cuisine and pizza in a relaxed atmosphere. From Penne Ala Vodka and Chicken Parmigiana to their macaroni dish, OMG, braised short rib ravioli tossed in a creamy pesto sauce and their Stinking Rose pizza, pesto, artichokes, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomato, red onion, feta, and mozzarella.

Specials include Date night Tuesdays featuring a 3 course dinner for two for $45, Wine me Wednesdays featuring a free appetizer with any of their 10 hand selected bottles of wine, karaoke every Thursday night from 8 until midnight, and live music every Friday and most Saturday nights. Every night is a fun night at Pacino’s!

You’ll want to relive this Italian experience again and again, so if you come to Pacino’s Restaurant, be prepared to keep coming back again and again!

“The food was delicious and service was amazing. Food and price is great. Food was nice and hot when it came out and prompt service. Skip Olive Garden this is our new pasta place.” - Yelp Review

You can’t go wrong with any of these Mesa Italian restaurants, but hopefully you found one that feels like a perfect fit for your next night out. Whether it’s New York style pizza at Venezia’s or Pete’s Pink Fettuccine at Alessia’s Ristorante Italiano, you are sure to enjoy your Italian fare at any one of these fine establishments. Let us know in the comments which of these Italian restaurants in Mesa, AZ you try first!