We Ranked 10 Of The Best Italian Restaurants In Ohio And Here’s Who Made The Cut
Ranking Italian restaurants is a dangerous assignment because everyone has a favorite they are prepared to defend. I still went for it, and Ohio made the decision much harder than I expected.
A few places won me over almost immediately. Others grew on me slowly, somewhere between the first bite and the moment I realized I was scraping the last bit of sauce from the plate.
These 10 restaurants are the ones that stayed with me. Putting them in order was the difficult part.
But here we are!
1. Sotto, Cincinnati
Down a discreet staircase in an 1800s building, you find a candlelit basement that feels like a delicious secret. Sotto rewards anyone brave enough to descend into its cozy depths.
Exposed brick and warm wooden accents set a romantic mood here. Chandeliers glow softly while pasta gets rolled fresh in plain view, adding a little theater to your night.
The kitchen encourages sharing, which works out great because you will want to taste everything. Their Short Rib Cappellacci is legendary, tender and rich in every folded bite.
For a sweet ending, the Ricotta Doughnuts arrive with three sauces to swirl through. If you crave something lighter to start, the Goat Cheese and Hazelnut Honey Bruschetta blends sweet and savory beautifully.
Even the simple Penne with rapini and sausage carries an addictive quality that keeps folks coming back. Nothing here feels fussy or overdone.
Service earns steady praise for being friendly, warm, and quick to match your preferred pace. Reservations are smart since this spot fills up fast.
One heads up: the lighting stays delightfully dim, so your phone camera may protest. Just soak in the glow instead.
Sotto proves that some of the best experiences hide just below the surface.
Address: 118 E 6th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2. Cento, Columbus
Named for the Italian word meaning one hundred, Cento was created as Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ 100th restaurant. That milestone shows in the polished details throughout the experience.
Set in Columbus’s German Village, the dining room mixes plush seating with elegant lighting and a warm, intimate feel. The atmosphere works just as well for a celebration as it does for a quiet dinner.
Burrata and Caesar remain standout starters, giving the meal a classic Italian beginning before the pasta and larger plates arrive.
The current pasta lineup includes Bolognese, Carbonara, Truffle Girelle, King Crab Tagliatelle, and Lasagna Rotolo. Each one gives the kitchen a different way to show off its Italian focus.
Branzino and Veal Parmesan add heartier options, while the current chicken preparation brings Calabrian chili, zucchini, potato culurgiones, and tomato butter into the mix.
Little touches set the restaurant apart, including monogrammed clear ice cubes and thoughtful table details that reinforce the attention given to presentation.
Save room for dessert. Panna cotta and tiramisu remain on the current menu and give the evening a fitting finish.
The garden-inspired spaces and intimate atmosphere encourage you to linger rather than rush through the meal.
This is polished Italian dining built for slowing down and enjoying the details.
Address: 595 S 3rd Street, Columbus, Ohio.
3. Mia Bella Restaurant, Cleveland
Set on a lively corner in Cleveland’s Little Italy, Mia Bella feels like a beloved neighborhood find. It sits in the former Corbo’s Bakery, and history hums through the walls.
Pale stucco walls, a classic pressed-tin ceiling, and big windows frame the street scene outside. Crisp white tablecloths lift the room into upscale territory without losing its cozy charm.
Owner Gerti Mehmeti brings Albanian heritage to the kitchen, so the menu wanders between Italian and Mediterranean flavors. That blend keeps things interesting from the first plate.
The spicy cheese tortellini is a showstopper, piled high in a luxurious sauce dotted with green peas and fresh herbs. Their eggplant Parmesan wins over regulars with thin, perfectly breaded slices and comforting marinara.
Do not miss the European Delight appetizer, a plate of grilled vegetables with garlic cucumber yogurt sauce. It comes straight from a childhood family recipe.
The staff treat you with real care, attentive and consistently friendly throughout the meal. You leave feeling genuinely looked after.
One quirky note: the owner sometimes prefers guests skip photos of the dining room. Consider it a nudge to put down your phone and simply enjoy.
With gluten-free and vegan options too, everyone finds a happy plate here.
Address: 12200 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio.
4. Mamma DiSalvo’s, Kettering
Since 1979, Mamma DiSalvo’s has been serving Kettering the kind of Italian comfort food that hugs you back. Walking in feels like arriving at a relative’s house for Sunday dinner.
The aroma of slow-simmering sauces and fresh garlic bread greets you at the door. Rinaldo and Elena DiSalvo built this place with family help, and those traditions stayed gloriously intact.
Recipes trace back to Italy’s Abruzzi Molise region, a flavorful corner many folks overlook. Every dish gets made from scratch using imported cheeses, pastas, and olive oils.
Their lasagna is legendary, stacked with house-made sauce and generous layers of cheese. The spaghetti and tender veal parmigiana hold their own too.
Portions run big here, so you truly get your money’s worth. Ask about daily features like Bucatini Alla Carbonara for something fresh each visit.
What really sets this spot apart is the warmth of the service. The staff go out of their way to make you feel like part of the family, even stepping in during emergencies to help guests.
As Mamma likes to say, good food takes time to prepare, so relax into the unhurried pace. Every dish tastes like a labor of love.
It also makes a perfect pre-theater stop given its handy location.
Address: 1375 E Stroop Road, Kettering, Ohio.
5. Guarino’s Restaurant, Cleveland
If walls could tell stories, the ones at Guarino’s would have more than a century of them to share. Established in 1918, it is widely recognized as Cleveland’s oldest restaurant.
You feel that history in every corner. Victorian decor, traditional details, and a homey atmosphere give the dining rooms a character that has been built over generations.
A garden patio offers outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, while the restaurant’s own parking gives diners a useful advantage in busy Little Italy.
The food honors longstanding Italian-American tradition. The lasagna comes from a recipe that has been served for decades, joined by classics such as Chicken Parmesan and piccata.
Antipasto, garlic cheese bread, and Italian Wedding Soup give the table plenty of familiar ways to begin the meal.
The staff add to the welcoming feel with attentive service and a deep familiarity with a menu that has been feeding Cleveland diners for generations.
Historic details extend beyond the dining room. Decorative beads date to the Prohibition era, and longtime stories connect the restaurant with famous visitors including Dean Martin.
Outside, a trumpet vine brought from Sicily by founder Vincenzo Guarino remains another living connection to the family’s roots.
Address: 12309 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio.
6. Luigi’s Restaurant, Akron
Generations of Akron families have grown up on Luigi’s, a downtown institution serving Italian favorites since 1949. The restaurant has become part of the city’s dining identity.
The interior keeps a familiar neighborhood feel, with photos and decades of local history adding character to the busy dining rooms.
Pizza and baked pasta form the heart of the menu. Pepperoni pizza remains a signature choice, while homemade lasagna, baked ravioli, spaghetti, and Italian sausage give regulars plenty of familiar options.
The pizza stands out for its generous cheese and distinctive sauce, two details longtime customers immediately recognize.
Italian bread accompanies many of the meals, adding one more traditional touch before the main plates arrive.
Service moves quickly through a restaurant that can stay busy well into the evening.
The antipasto remains another longtime favorite, especially for diners who appreciate Luigi’s famously generous helping of shredded cheese.
One important 2026 change makes visiting easier. Luigi’s now accepts credit cards, ending its longtime cash-only policy.
Its current website also directs guests to call with reservation questions rather than assuming the old no-reservations rule still applies.
Address: 105 N Main Street, Akron, Ohio.
7. Cassese’s MVR, Youngstown
More than a restaurant, Cassese’s MVR has been part of Youngstown’s Smoky Hollow neighborhood since 1927. Decades of local history still shape the atmosphere today.
Sports memorabilia fills the restaurant with Youngstown character, while the menu keeps Italian-American favorites at the center of the experience.
Wedding soup, Chicken Parmigiana, homemade meatballs, and red sauce give traditional diners plenty to work with.
The pasta lineup has plenty of personality too. Spicy Bowties, Tressel Tortellini, GiGi’s Aglio Olio, and Carmine’s Pasta are all current choices with distinctive house preparations.
The Penguin Burger Basket proves the menu reaches beyond pasta. It is a regular current offering with a half-pound patty served on an Italian roll.
Friendly service and a casual dining room make the restaurant comfortable for both longtime regulars and first-time visitors.
Four bocce courts add another layer to the warm-weather experience, continuing a tradition that has become closely associated with MVR.
The restaurant also hosts the CarmStrong tournament, an event that supports scholarship funding and medical research while bringing the community together.
Address: 410 N Walnut Street, Youngstown, Ohio.
8. Mancy’s Italian Grill, Toledo
Slowing down comes naturally at Mancy’s Italian Grill, where polished dining meets a family restaurant tradition stretching back more than a century.
The Italian Grill itself was established in 1997, while the Mancy name has been part of Toledo dining since 1921. Gus Mancy’s grandchildren now carry that legacy forward through the Mancy’s Restaurant Group.
Warm lighting and a comfortable dining room create an easy backdrop for both casual meals and special occasions. Outdoor seating adds another option during pleasant weather.
The kitchen puts plenty of emphasis on fresh ingredients and made-in-house touches. Caesar salad, Pollo Parmesan, homemade pasta, and wood-fired pizza all have a place on the current menu.
The Diavolo brings together linguine, lobster, shrimp, mushrooms, green onion, and a spicy lobster sauce for diners looking for something with extra heat.
Hand-cut steaks, seafood, ravioli, and Lasagna Pinwheels broaden the menu beyond the most familiar Italian standards.
Dessert choices include tiramisu and a rich Triple Chocolate Torte, giving the meal a sweet finish without overcomplicating things.
Attentive service and decades of family restaurant experience help explain why the Mancy name continues to carry so much weight around Toledo.
Address: 5453 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio.
9. Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria, Columbus
Some places feel like a closely guarded secret, and Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria fits that description nicely. The Granville Street dining room keeps the experience intimate from the moment you arrive.
Inside, the relaxed pace encourages real conversation, while a seasonal patio adds another option during warmer weather.
The cooking follows a rustic Italian approach built around handcrafted pastas, sauces, and familiar recipes with plenty of personality.
Shrimp scampi, Eggplant Parmesan, Alfredo dishes, and other Italian favorites give regulars plenty of reasons to return.
The Giuseppe Salad remains a signature choice, finished with a house dressing built around basil, garlic, and olive oil.
Desserts such as tiramisu and cannoli give the meal a traditional sweet finish.
The current staff keep the atmosphere friendly and attentive, helping the small dining room maintain the personal character that has long defined the restaurant.
Reservations matter here. The restaurant does not hold tables for walk-ins, and fully booked dates can disappear from availability well ahead of dinner.
Address: 100 Granville Street, Columbus, Ohio.
10. Pasqualone’s, Columbus
Hidden in an unassuming North Side strip mall, Pasqualone’s keeps its focus on intimate, traditional Italian dining rather than flashy surroundings.
Inside, soft lighting and carefully chosen decor create a quiet setting that feels far removed from the shopping center outside.
David and Lori Pasqualone run the restaurant around family recipes tied to Italy’s Abruzzi region, with every entree prepared to order.
The homemade Italian meatballs are made from fresh-ground veal and topped with house red sauce. The preparation is simple, letting the meat and sauce carry the dish.
The stuffed Veal Loaf is the more elaborate veal option, filled with spinach, provolone, prosciutto, hard-boiled egg, pine nuts, and imported cheese before being finished with mushroom sauce.
Pasta choices include tortellini, ravioli, spaghetti, penne, linguine, fettuccine, and gnocchi. Amatriciana remains one of the house sauces available for diners who want a little extra spice.
Service stays personal in the small dining room, with David and Lori closely involved in the experience.
Reservations are required, so planning ahead is part of eating here. The limited dining schedule and intimate room make advance booking especially important.
Address: 5766 Emporium Square, Columbus, Ohio.