Time for Pasta: The Top 6 Italian Restaurants in Brooklyn

We know we just sparked your craving for Italian food. Italian food has always brought its own comfort with its unique flavors and textures. And if you're living in Brooklyn, you have such a huge variety of authentic Italian restaurants. In fact, it can be overwhelming to pick just one Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. We did the work for you and we picked the top six Italian restaurants in Brooklyn.

Shopping for a gift? Take a look at GiftYa where you can find virtual gift cards to a huge selection of merchants across the US. With a virtual gift card, you can give a gift of a new experience to a restaurant or store that your friend has never been to before. Or you can treat them to their favorite place. The possibilities are endless with a virtual gift card. By the way, all the restaurants we talk about here have GiftYa virtual gift cards as well.

Forno Rosso

A modern eatery offering pizzas, antipasti, and pasta in a casual environment.

327 Gold St | Brooklyn | fornorosso.nyc

Forno Rosso is a quaint Italian eatery and pizzeria with an open space, industrial-chic interior, and attentive staff. Established in 2013, Forno Rosso brings authentic Neapolitan recipes to Brooklyn. Chef Gualtiero uses only the highest quality ingredients and brings a little bit of the Campania region to all of his food. Locals enjoy eating at Forno Rosso thanks to the delicious authentic meals delivered fresh and full of flavor every time.

With its casual environment, it's the perfect place to stop by with friends or family. Their menu is large and they offer salads, antipasti, pasta entrees, pizza, and desserts. If you're with a group of friends, share a plate of Meatball Di Pollo which are chicken meatballs with fresh ricotta. For the entree, we highly recommend the Shrimp Tagiolini which is squid ink tagiolini made with sauteed shrimp and a brandy sauce. And you have to end with a dessert! They have quite a dessert selection. Whether you're stopping in for lunch or dinner, you’ll be delighted by the flavorful meals served up at Forno Rosso.

"SQUID INK TAGLIOLINI WITH SHRIMP IN BRANDY SAUCE. YES. The pasta is cooked al dente, sauce is just right, not too creamy and not too watery. Shrimp is fresh, plump and firm. We ordered take-out since they don't have outdoor seating and the pasta was still good when we brought it back home, albeit we only live 5 min walk away. The calamari was fresh and it's served with some zucchini as well. Big portions! We also got the nutella fried pizza dough dessert, which was delish. I'm sure it would've been even better if we ate it dining in. Will definitely try their pizza soon!" - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Forno Rosso.

Mama Rao Cucina Italiana

A trattoria serving delicious Italian classics in a unique upscale environment.

6408 11th Ave | Brooklyn | mamaraosrestaurant.com

Mama Rao is an upscale Italian restaurant that we recommend everyone check out. Not just because they serve delicious food, but also because of their amazing environment. The inside of the restaurant has incredible murals on the wall that look like windows displaying a gorgeous Italian landscape. Even the ceiling has a mural of the sky with blue lights around it. Just walking into the restaurant is its own experience.

Mama Rao opened in 2001 and has since created a ton of buzz from reviewers and serious foodies thanks to their interpretation of Italian cuisine. While they put a ton of effort into the decor of the restaurant, the heart of the restaurant is the food and the dining experience. The menu is inventive and produces innovative twists on classic Italian cuisine. They use fresh seasonal ingredients to create each and every one of their delicious dishes.

Taking a look at their menu, you have quite a few options to choose from including antipasti, soups and salads, entrees, pasta, desserts, and signature cocktails! Mama Rao is the perfect place for an unforgettable date or for a fun night out with the family. Their meals are out of this world and the dining experience is unforgettable. So make sure to give this Italian restaurant a try.

"Wow, Mama Rao Cucina Italiana was simply brilliant. Lots of people come here. Absolutely delicious and wholesome. Crew so very kind, fun, and courteous. Probability of going back to Mama Rao Cucina Italiana: 100%." - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Mama Rao Cucina Italiana.

Piccoli Trattoria

A casual eatery serving up homemade pasta and Italian fare.

522 6th Ave | Brooklyn | piccoliny.com

If you're looking for a perfect date spot, Piccoli Trattoria is it. Just from the exterior with the dark rich wood surrounding the large windows and open doors, you can tell it’s going to be a cute place. The warm lights inside create an inviting and romantic atmosphere. Art hangs on the walls and the ceiling has lovely designed tiles. It's a comfortable setting and the perfect place to try unique dishes.

Owners Andres Whang and Andres Rodas opened Piccoli in 2011. Both owners felt drawn to authentic Italian cuisine and wanted to bring comforting Italian dishes to the locals of Brooklyn. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Chef Rodas provides incredible and flavorful dishes using the freshest ingredients.

Their menu is varied with salads, antipasti, and entrees including pasta, risotto, and meat dishes. They also offer various wines and beers including Italian and domestic. Their pasta is handmade and organic and has been since 2011 so we highly recommend you try it. No matter what you choose here, you can't go wrong at Piccoli.

"Piccoli Trattoria is fantastic. Little touches are nice. Every single thing was flavorful and absolutely flavorful. And also, the service was wonderful and the staff was very friendly. Piccoli Trattoria was awesome." - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Piccoli Trattoria.

Mariella

A cozy restaurant serving up delicious seasonal Italian fare in comfortable surroundings.

492 6th Ave | Brooklyn | mariellaslope.com

Mariella is a casual and cozy little restaurant with a very airy feel to it. The whitewashed brick interior and the dark furniture give it a rustic homey look. It also has a cute outdoor patio so that you can enjoy your meal outside. Mariella is an excellent place to hang out with friends when you want to kick back and relax.

This local restaurant delivers authentic Italian cuisine with great service, reasonable prices, and a dining experience that has locals coming back for more. Each plate is arranged like a work of art so guests are more than happy to take pictures of their food and share it online. They offer brunch, dinner, desserts, and drinks so you can come at various times of the day.

Mariella purchases all of their produce from sustainably sourced local farmers and all of their animal products are organic from the meat to the fish to the dairy and even the eggs. They have a daily specials menu with a selection of appetizers and main courses. You’ll be delighted by the flavors of any dish you try here.

"Delicious Italian food, always consistent with great flavors and friendly service. This place is always my go to for Italian brunch and dinner in park slope. One of my favorite local restaurants!" - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Mariella.

Scalino GP

A comfortable restaurant serving traditional Italian pasta and dishes with rustic surroundings.

659 Manhattan Ave | Brooklyn | scalinogpny.com

Scalino is a fun spot to go with a couple of friends or even a date. It's a cozy restaurant with warm lighting everywhere, a brick interior, and a casual seating area. They also have an outdoor eating area if you prefer to eat your meals outside. And who doesn't on a beautiful day?

Every dish they serve is bursting with flavor and brings to mind that of a true Italian meal. Many reviewers say that Scalino is the best Italian food they've ever eaten. The food is comforting and delicious while the aesthetic is unpretentious and modern. The staff is friendly, attentive, and helpful. If you have any questions or need any accommodations, they're more than willing to help.

Scalino offers a huge variety of food from lunch specials to appetizers to pasta. You can find nearly anything you’re looking for. For an appetizer, try their Fried Calamari and share it with a friend. For your meal, give their Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli try. You'll have an unforgettable meal at Scalino.

"Great service. A staff that makes you feel like you just walked into the dining room table at classic Italian America family for dinner. Had the ravioli, rapini, white beans and tiramisu (homemade)! All delish. Small servicing sizes but not so small you can't share. Packed w flavor. This place has simple no frills Italian at affordable prices done well. You gotta give it a try when in the pointe!" - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Scalino.

Bella Gioia

A casual restaurant and bar serving traditional Sicilian dishes and Italian wines.

209 4th Ave | Brooklyn | bellagioianyc.com

Bella Gioia calls to mind a rustic Italian bar when you walk in. It has a red brick interior, bistro lights hanging on the walls, wooden furniture, and live plants lining the walls. It's a great place to unwind on a weekend with friends.

Bella Gioia opened its doors in 2014 and offered locals Sicilian comfort food in a rustic and charming atmosphere. They serve tasty meals with the freshest ingredients and use flavors and traditions from Sicily. The recipes have been passed down through generations combining modern techniques with traditional cooking. You'll find nothing but the best in hospitality and Sicilian cuisine at Bella Gioia.

They offer appetizers, salads, cutting boards, pizzas, pasta, entrees, and desserts. Not to mention that they have a white selection of wines, beers, and cocktails. Share an appetizer with friends then dive into some pizza or pasta at Bella Gioia.

"Bella Gioia is definitely rather special. The set-up is quite cute. I was lucky enough to choose Rigatoni Alla Norma, it was so yummy, my favorite dish. The team was extremely friendly and service is excellent. So just try Bella Gioia yourself." - Yelp Review

Purchase a GiftYa card to Bella Gioia.

You can't beat true authentic Italian food. From the appetizer to dessert, Italian food provides so much comfort in a single dining experience. All of these restaurants we talk about in this list are highly rated, offer a unique experience, and will delight you with their incredibly flavorful meals. Brooklyn truly has some exemplary Italian restaurants and the six we listed stand at the top. Which Italian restaurant would you want to try from this list? Leave us a comment below!