This Small-Town Ohio Italian Restaurant Just Won A Major Food Award, And Its Pasta Is Worth The Trip

Columbus Monthly has named this little Italian spot the Best Italian Restaurant for four straight years, from 2023 through 2026. Its chef also picked up Best Chef honors in both 2025 and 2026.

That streak started fast. The restaurant opened in 2020, during the pandemic, and was crowned Best New Restaurant just a year later.

The pasta is made in-house, and the lineup reads like a love letter to Italy. Think rigatoni with short rib ragu, spaghetti carbonara, and hand-cut pappardelle with lamb Bolognese.

The chef grew up right here in Ohio and trained at The Culinary Institute of America. Then he came home and built a cozy, rustic dining room in a quiet suburb.

So how does a small-town dining room keep beating big-city competition year after year?

Four Straight Years Of Bragging Rights Starts To Look Like A Habit

Winning once is nice. Novella Osteria has turned winning into a regular calendar event.

Columbus Monthly named this Powell restaurant its Best New Restaurant in 2021. Then the magazine called it the Best Italian Restaurant every year from 2023 through 2026.

That’s a long run in a region packed with Italian options. Plenty of places get a little buzz after opening, then quietly fade from the lists.

The awards don’t stop with the food category either. Chef Matthew Phelan earned Best Chef honors from Columbus Monthly in both 2025 and 2026.

There’s also recognition from The Adventurist, an independent publication that included Novella Osteria in its wishlist of Columbus-area restaurants deserving Michelin recognition. It’s not an official Michelin award, but it’s another compliment for the kitchen.

So what’s behind all the hardware? The restaurant follows a less-is-more philosophy, with classic Italian dishes made carefully and without extra fuss.

I like that approach a lot. A shorter, focused menu usually means the kitchen can give each plate real attention.

The best part is the setting. You get award-level cooking without fighting downtown traffic or hunting for a parking garage.

That’s a pretty sweet deal for anyone in central Ohio. It also makes a great excuse for a weeknight dinner that feels special.

A Hometown Chef Came Back And Started Making Pasta By Hand

Dublin, Ohio, sits just a short drive from Powell. That’s where Chef Matthew Phelan grew up before heading off to sharpen his skills.

He trained at The Culinary Institute of America, one of the best-known cooking schools in the country. Then he brought those skills back home to central Ohio.

In 2020, he opened Novella Osteria as a chef-driven, locally owned restaurant. The timing was bold, since it landed right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening any restaurant takes nerve. Opening one during a pandemic takes a whole extra helping of courage.

The restaurant answered that challenge with plexiglass dividers and hand-sanitizing stations. It also added an air purification system to help keep guests and staff safe.

Those early choices showed real care for the people inside the building. That same care now shows up in the cooking.

The kitchen focuses on house-made pasta and classic Italian dishes made with precision. Locally sourced ingredients play a big role on the menu too.

For me, a chef who returns home to cook for neighbors makes a restaurant feel more personal. It’s a neat story that tastes even better on a plate.

Your Pasta Decision Is About To Get Very Difficult

Rigatoni with short rib ragu leads the pasta lineup, and good luck ignoring it. Those sturdy tubes are built for catching rich, meaty sauce.

Of course, choosing just one pasta here is the real challenge. Every noodle on the menu is made in house.

Love the classics? Spaghetti Carbonara and Linguine Cacio e Pepe both make an appearance at Novella Osteria.

Cacio e pepe is famously simple, built mostly on cheese and black pepper. Simple dishes leave nowhere to hide, so they’re a smart test of any kitchen.

Then there’s the Hand-Cut Pappardelle with Lamb Bolognese. Those wide ribbons are cut by hand, which feels wonderfully old school.

Cavatelli Pomodoro offers a brighter, tomato-forward choice. It’s a nice pick if you want something classic without a heavy meat sauce.

Here’s a friendly tip for groups. Order a few different pastas and share them around the table.

That way nobody spends dinner staring jealously at a neighbor’s bowl. Everyone gets a taste, and the debate over a favorite can start right there.

The menu may shift with the seasons, so check before you go. Either way, the pasta is the main reason this trip makes sense.

Save Room For Veal And Ricotta Meatballs Before The Pasta Arrives

Veal and ricotta team up in the Novella Meatballs. That combo sounds tender before the plate even hits the table.

Starters at this Powell restaurant deserve real attention. They’re not just something to nibble while waiting for the main event.

Crispy Pork Belly is another starter that grabs attention fast. The word crispy alone does a lot of heavy lifting on any menu.

Meat and cheese fans should also look for the Chef’s Salumi Board. It’s a classic Italian way to kick off a meal and share with the table.

Here’s a smart plan for date night. Split one starter, then each grab your own pasta.

You get variety without ordering half the menu. Your wallet and your stomach will both appreciate that strategy.

Bigger groups can try two starters and pass them around. Sharing small plates is a big part of the fun at an osteria.

The word osteria traditionally means a casual, welcoming Italian eatery. It’s a place built for good food and easy conversation.

Starters like these fit that idea perfectly. They get people talking, passing plates, and settling into the evening at a relaxed pace.

Weekly Specials Give You A Reason To Come Back Again

Chicken Parm shows up as one of the weekly specials. Honestly, few dishes make a better case for a midweek dinner out.

Novella Osteria rotates specials through the week, which keeps things interesting. Even regular visitors can find something new to try.

Lasagna with Lamb Bolognese has appeared on that specials list. It’s a fun twist on a dish most people grew up eating at home.

Seafood lovers have something to watch for too. Lobster fra Diavolo has been part of the special rotation.

Fra diavolo means brother devil in Italian. The name usually points to a spicy tomato sauce, so it’s a good pick for heat seekers.

Specials can change, so don’t count on a certain dish every night. Ask your server what’s available when you sit down.

That little question can steer your whole meal in a tasty direction. Sometimes the special turns out to be the highlight of the night.

I love restaurants that keep a few surprises up their sleeve. It makes each visit feel a little different from the last.

It also gives you a perfectly good excuse to plan another trip. Not that anyone really needs one with pasta this tempting.

Rustic Tuscan Charm Makes The Dining Room Feel Like A Getaway

Tuscan villa vibes in central Ohio? That’s the feeling the dining room aims for at Novella Osteria.

Rustic Italian decor sets the tone throughout the space. The goal is a warm, intimate room that feels inviting the moment you arrive.

This isn’t a giant banquet hall with a hundred tables. The setting leans cozy, which makes it a natural fit for a relaxed evening out.

The restaurant describes itself as a neighborhood destination. It’s meant to be a place where food and conversation share the spotlight.

Friendly, attentive staff help create that mood. Good service makes a cozy room feel even more welcoming.

Date nights fit right in here. So do small celebrations with family or a catch-up dinner with friends.

The intimate feel also means seats are worth planning ahead for. A reservation is a smart move, especially on busier nights.

For me, the room matters almost as much as the menu. Great pasta tastes even better when the setting feels warm and personal.

Here, the decor and the food tell the same story. Both point back to simple, classic Italian comfort done with care.

Plant-Based And Gluten-Conscious Diners Get A Real Seat At The Table

Vegetarian pasta at an Italian spot famous for meaty ragu? That’s a pleasant surprise worth celebrating.

Novella Osteria offers several vegetarian dishes, gluten-friendly pasta substitutions, and a smaller selection of vegan options. That makes it easier to plan a group dinner when everyone eats a little differently.

Mixed groups often struggle to pick a restaurant. One friend wants carbonara, while another skips dairy or meat completely.

Here, checking the menu carefully makes that conversation easier. Linguine Cacio e Pepe and Cavatelli al Pomodoro are vegetarian choices, while the fried Brussels sprouts are labeled vegan.

Gluten-friendly choices are especially handy at a pasta-focused place. The restaurant offers gluten-friendly pasta substitutions for an additional $3, although guests with allergies should discuss their needs with the staff.

Kitchens that make pasta from scratch handle plenty of flour. Being clear about your needs helps the team guide you to the best choices.

Vegetarians can also explore dishes like Ricotta Ravioli with Mushroom Ragu. A seasonal oat-milk panna cotta provides a vegan dessert option, although the selection can change.

I appreciate restaurants that make dietary information easy to find. It helps guests make informed decisions without guessing what’s in their food.

That kind of attention to detail adds another reason to consider this Powell restaurant. Just confirm specific dietary requirements before ordering.

Dessert Here Deserves Its Own Spot On Your Plan

Tiramisu is on the dessert list, and it’s tough to say no to a classic. Layers of coffee flavor and creamy filling make a strong closing argument.

Of course, Novella Osteria doesn’t stop with just one sweet option. The dessert menu has a few tempting choices worth knowing about.

Apple Torta brings a cozy, fruit-forward option to the table. It sounds like the kind of dessert that pairs nicely with a chilly Ohio evening.

Seasonal panna cotta rounds out the lineup. Since it changes with the seasons, the flavor may shift from one visit to the next.

That rotating dessert is a fun reason to check back. You might find a whole new flavor on your next trip.

Panna cotta means cooked cream in Italian. It’s a silky, chilled dessert that feels light after a rich pasta dinner.

Here’s a sneaky strategy for full stomachs. Order one dessert and a few spoons for the table.

Everyone gets a sweet bite without feeling too stuffed. It’s the polite way to say yes to dessert.

Skipping it entirely seems like a missed opportunity. After all that pasta, a little something sweet feels earned.

Plan Your Evening Around These Hours Before You Head To Powell

Dinner is the only meal on the schedule here. Novella Osteria serves evenings only, so lunch plans will need a different stop.

You’ll find the restaurant at 170 W Olentangy St, Powell, OH 43065. Powell sits just north of Columbus, making it an easy drive for much of central Ohio.

Doors open at 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan around that.

Closing times can vary by day. Check current hours before you go, especially for a late reservation.

Booking ahead is a smart idea for weekend dinners. A cozy room fills faster than a big one.

Bigger groups should reach out early too. Planning ahead gives the team time to find the right table.

The location makes this a fun little outing. A quiet suburb with award-winning pasta is a pretty great combination.

Columbus folks get a short trip with a big reward. Visitors from farther away get a dinner worth adding to any Ohio road trip.

So grab a friend and pick a night. That bowl of fresh pasta won’t eat itself, and you shouldn’t let anyone else claim it.