Best Of · By Cuisine

Best Italian Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids has never been a single-note Italian town. The scene stretches from white-tablecloth, old-world dining rooms where housemade pasta and a deep Barolo list set the tone, to neighborhood trattorias built on red-sauce loyalty and sports-bar Italian that packs tables on game nights.

All 18 restaurants

Italian

Bistro Bella Vita

★ 4.6(2,101)· $$

The Beef Brisket Bourguignon ($36) is the draw here, slow-braised and saucy in a way that earns comparison to the best pot roast you've had. The brick oven turns out Margherita pizzas that reviewers stack up against Naples. Busy on Tuesday nights, but the patio seats walk-ins when the weather cooperates.

Italian

Nonna's: The Trattoria

★ 4.6(802)· $$

The Chicken Scallopini and calamari draw repeat mentions, and the lamb shank with a round of sangria makes a strong case for a longer evening. Nonna's runs a seasonal menu alongside the regular one, so there's usually something new to order. The dining room is small and fills fast. Reservations are the move on weekends.

Italian

Monelli's Italian Grill & Sports Bar

★ 4.5(2,962)· $$

The bang bang shrimp and spinach artichoke dip with pita chips come up repeatedly, and the fettuccine alfredo has at least one committed regular. Dining room and bar are separated by a wall, with the dining room running dim. Service gets uneven reviews, and the takeout option has its own fans.

Italian

Herb & Fire - Grandville

★ 4.5(1,647)· $$

Wood-fired pizza is the whole point at Herb & Fire, and the menu runs deep: numbered pies like the #4 and #8, build-your-own options with unique toppings, and gluten-free crust available. Reviewers warn the cheese is heavy-handed, and topping coverage can be uneven slice to slice. Salads get solid marks if you want something lighter.

Italian

Noto's Old World Italian Dining

★ 4.5(780)· $$$

The veal Milanese and polenta with locally sourced mushrooms are the kind of dishes that explain a 4.5-star average across hundreds of reviews. Marble staircases, statues, and a wine list thick as a book set the room apart from any other Italian spot on 28th Street. The wine cellar and private banquet hall handle parties up to 20 or more, and several reviewers have looked into booking weddings here.

Italian

Myrth

★ 4.5(265)· $$

The pork and bacon meatballs are a strong start, but the honey pie at the end is what reviewers keep coming back to mention. Pasta dishes get consistent praise, and the Leelanau raclette pizza drew its own fans. The outdoor patio is worth noting if the season is right.

Italian

Palio Grand Rapids

★ 4.4(1,090)· $$

The tableside parmesan wheel on the fettuccine is the draw at Palio, a sit-down Italian spot on Michigan St with validated parking and reservation availability. Groups of 8 have been seated without much fuss, and a happy hour selection gets a mention. Service pace is inconsistent, and some dishes run underseasoned, so order strategically.

Italian

Fred's Italian Restaurant

★ 4.4(1,090)· $$

The deep-fried portobello mushrooms and generously topped pizzas are what keep regulars coming back to this Plainfield Ave staple. Cheese is loaded on everything, and the lasagna and calamari round out a menu that runs from Italian classics to burgers. A full bar with 16 TVs and a seasonal patio give it range beyond a typical pizza spot.

Italian

Salvatore's | Italian Restaurant & Pizza

★ 4.4(1,023)· $$

The veal parm arrives smothered in red sauce and melted cheese, with a side of spaghetti, and multiple reviewers single it out by name. Portions run large and prices stay reasonable, which keeps people coming back. Carry-out holds up well, and the chicken marsala gets strong marks too.

Italian

Florentine Ristorante/Sportsbar Grandville

★ 4.4(659)· $$

The Super Sub is big enough to split, and reviewers say it rivals anything in the area. Private dining booths line the upstairs room, and the all-you-can-eat fish comes with automatic seconds without asking. A Grandville staple that's easy to overlook from 28th Street but worth the stop.

Italian

Testa Rossa Italian Ristorante

★ 4.4(303)· $$

The chicken piccata with asparagus and prosciutto and the tiramisu both get repeat mentions across reviews. Spaghetti squash swaps in for pasta at no extra charge, which is a small but real touch. Service has been uneven, and the wine list runs Italian-only.

Italian

Uccello's - Grandville

★ 4.3(2,178)· $$

Uccello's in Grandville runs as a sports bar with an Italian lean: lots of TVs, a lively room, and a menu that covers pizza alongside American standards. The lemon martini and espresso martini both get called out by regulars. Takeout packaging drew specific praise, and the counter staff throws in a free dessert on your birthday.

Italian

Uccello's - Downtown

★ 4.3(1,365)· $$

The pickle pizza gets mentioned by name and keeps people coming back. Portions run generous here, and the outdoor patio has a bar when it's operating. A short walk from DeVos Performance Hall makes this a natural pre-show stop downtown.

Italian

Alfano's Pub and Ristorante

★ 4.3(706)· $

The 18-inch pizza is the move at Alfano's, with a sauce reviewers call less salty and less acidic than the competition and pepperoni that actually has some heat. The manicotti draws repeat visits too. Takeout is set up in a separate section from the dining room, and dinner is busier than lunch.

Italian

Peppino's Downtown

★ 4.2(2,434)· $$

The pizza is the reason to come to Peppino's Downtown. Breadsticks and deep-fried pickles round out the bar-food menu, and plenty of TVs make it a reliable game-day stop on Ionia Ave. Big groups should know that service can buckle hard under pressure.

Italian

Florentine Sports Lounge

★ 4.2(1,133)· $$

The pizza has kept regulars coming back for decades, and the 9-inch two-topping on the Munchy Menu (everyday 3-6pm and 9pm to close) at $8 is the value play. The Coach's Choice Burger, seasoned with Montreal Steak Seasoning, is a legit alternate order. A private dining room handles parties up to 50-60 people without breaking a sweat.

Italian

Fratelli’s Italian Kitchen

★ 4.2(1,016)· $$

Nonna's Gnocchi and the fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken draw repeat visits at this Bridge Street Italian kitchen. Portions run large across the board, and the cheese and meat board is worth starting with. A birthday discount through their rewards program sweetens the deal.

Italian

Allora

★ 4.1(141)

The squid ink pasta and Linguine Al Nero Di Mare show up repeatedly across reviews, and the Delizia Di Limone, a lemon cream sphere on a sugar cookie base, is the dessert people keep mentioning. Formerly Reserve Wine and Food, this coastal Italian room runs on the pricier side (dinner for two with tip near $300 is common) and the $10 bread service has drawn some eye-rolls. The ribeye gets outsized praise for a place that leads with Italian.

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Best Italian Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI is an editorial roundup of 18 Grand Rapids restaurants. The average diner rating across this list is 4.4 out of 5. Restaurants are ranked by editorial review, not by paid placement.

Frequently asked questions

Best Italian Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI?

Top picks on this list are Bistro Bella Vita, Nonna's: The Trattoria, and Monelli's Italian Grill & Sports Bar. The full ranking weighs review quality, popularity, and how actively diners are talking about each restaurant.

How many restaurants are on this list?

18 restaurants meet the criteria for Best Italian Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI.

How is this list ranked?

Ranking combines a Bayesian-smoothed review score with an activity multiplier that gives weight to restaurants currently attracting fresh reviews. Paid listings do not affect the order.