CLEVELAND, Ohio – Whether you crave a creamy rissotto, a delicious roast chicken or just a nice plate of spaghetti and meatballs, you are sure to be able to satisfy your craving at one of the southeastern Italian restaurants. Ohio.
It’s hard to catch on these days, but indulging in a large bowl of pasta has long been considered “stupid” in this country, associated with the influx of Italian immigrants to American cities in the late 19th century.
Italian cuisine has had some sort of reconstruction since the 1980s when diners began to find food beyond the red sauce dishes in southern Italy, especially the wonders of Northern Italian cuisine. By 2020, the Italian food industry was worth $ 54 billion and is expected to continue growing.
Whether you’re looking for an ambiance for a small cafe or a regular chain, you’ll find it in Greater Cleveland, and you won’t have to travel as far as Little Side’s Little Italy to do so.
We asked our friends at Yelp Cleveland where their reviewers found the best Italian food in Northeast Ohio.
How: This is a list of the top Italian restaurants in the Greater Cleveland area of 2020 according to Yelp Cleveland. Yelp Cleveland identified businesses in the Italian category, and then put those spots on a wide range of materials, including total and revised rates by 2020. This list is for businesses in the following regions: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit. We have worked directly with Yelp Cleveland on this list to demonstrate accurate data.
Here are the results, designed for you by region.
Cuyahoga District
No. 1
Palazzo Restaurant
From the Antipasta menu: Frutti di Mare with calamari, mussels, mussels, shrimp in a bright cold sea. Everywhere you need an Italian restaurant like Palazzo in Cleveland. The menu is not large but it combines the basics well. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Yelp rating: 5 stars
Sample review: “If you are in Cleveland, GO! The food is outstanding, and the service is great. Giuseppe is waiting for us, and his jokes and customer attention are in the forefront. Also, we were greeted by a chef, Raphael, in the evening. If I had lived in Cleveland, I would have always been here. Thank you for a good evening, Giuseppe, aka “that Giuseppe guy” – Victor L.
No. 2
The Venetian
The Venetian, 100 st. Clair Ave., Cleveland Marriott Downtown Key Center. The best Italian-restaurant-in-town debate has a new entry, beating the dab in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Delicious food, good service and good entertainment. – Marc Bona, cleveland.com
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Announce these workers. They love this place and I love it too. Ginny the bartender is happy. He recommended octopus and veal parm. And the cook supported his claims.
No. 3
Tomori Pizza & Subs
Sample review: “This should be one of the best independent kitchens! Excellent pizza, carefully crafted with official ingredients. You will not find any of their different varieties or toppings elsewhere (eg egg pizza or strec-topped Tuscany). Sub sandwiches, salads, and two special treats (chicken dish and pork saltimbocca) round the menu, as do a few offerings of traditional Italian desserts. Spicy delicacies are a more cutting-edge approach than those produced by a typical blend of neighboring pizza – and similarly showcasing quality ingredients and skillful killings that fit into all of their offerings. ”- Scott H.
No. 4
Mama Catena Vino in Cucina
Mother Catena\’s
Mother Catena\’s Vino e \’Cucina has been an Euclid monument for more than 30 years. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
711 Babbitt Rd., Euclid, 216-261-1168
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “The best Italian food I have ever eaten was with an Italian family in Sicily. This is the place. Real Italian food, open portions, and good staff. We came with Mother herself who came to our table to talk. We don\’t belong to Euclid (visiting from out of town), but if we could, this would be our destination. It\’s great in every way. And try the Spumoni bomb to get dessert. ”- Jeff R.
No. 5
Mia Bella Restaurant
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “My boyfriend and I had never been to Little Italy together, but Mia Bella made the first impression. We started with spicy mussels and then ordered lobster ravioli and clam linguine, ending with cannoli. Pasta was completely al dente and the taste was top notch all around. The house Pinot Grigio went well with everything. The resources were good and … ”- Savanah P.
No. 6
Molto Bene Italian Eatery
From the La Pasta menu: Linguine all the Putanesca olives – Kalamata, anchovies, capers, and garlic tossed on linguine pasta mixed with Pomodoro sauce. The Molto Bene Italian Eatery, in Lakewood, is so lovely! David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com ORG XMIT: CLE1809051224256266 Plaintiff
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “The best Italian in the city. I love Italian food. I like it. And we have many of the best Italian restaurants here in Cleveland. This place, amazing. The red sauce I think I could drink if it was sold in a tin to go. Gladicky\’s sweet beauty … You can\’t wait to come back again and again. If you like homemade homemade food, try this place. But be sure to make a reservation in advance. Congratulations! ”- Patrick K.
No. 7
LockKeepers
The most affordable options and premium fares combine in the Italian-inspired menu at this Valley View restaurant. Traditional dishes, modern descriptions and homemade pastas meet here.Pravel Dealer
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
The calamari is well cooked and mixed with a variety of well-cooked and salty vegetables that don\’t even need a sauce! Crab cake is meat. The crushed peppers are well seasoned and the sauce has a good heart. The caesar salad is well dressed! This service is amazing! ”- Joyce K.
No. 8
Bistro In 130
Bistro at 130 offers a complete menu of traditional Italian dishes, as well as select steaks and seafood. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comcleveland.com
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
The whole food is amazing !!! Excellent servers! It is clean, comfortable, and airy. Wedding soup is everyone\’s favorite. Be kind to yourself and take the cup with you. The cannon is delicious. Their chicken piccata is my favorite and has a lot of lemon flavor, but not the lemon flavor made. Marsala is amazing, too, and I don’t like mushrooms in general! Skip the unpalatable chains and make your taste give grace. Find real food, in the family business. ”- Suzi G.
No. 9
Luca Italian Cuisine
Luca Italian Cuisine, 2100 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland – Beth Segal, Special to cleveland.comPravel Dealer
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Everything was so amazing, and no matter how expensive it was, it was definitely worth a special night out. There are plenty of seats inside and out, with beautiful views of the city and the water. They have a great selection of drinks – our choice, house cabernet and Tuscan sangria were both great. The cab was extremely smooth, and the Tuscan sangria were refreshing and very tasty … The entrees were incredible – we both got pasta, one is cavatelli and the other is Bolognese. They were very rich, spoiled, and stuffed, and I would definitely order one or both of those dishes again. Unfortunately, we did not have a place to cook, but that will be tried next time … \”- Maeve P.
No. 10
Aldo Restaurant
Aldo\’s, 8459 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn. Opened more than two decades ago by Aldo Zappa and the family, the cozy Brooklyn is one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Chuck Crow, Plaintiff
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “This place is a hidden gem. Small and comfortable. Service, food, and wine are well chosen. My favorite things are their special languages and capellini alla primavera con gamberi. I love all of their dessert items but the chocolate mousse is the best. (Their dessert menu changes so you want to check out what’s available that day). My husband and I love trying out different Italian restaurants but we always come back to this place because it sounds welcome and delicious. ”- Thu N.
No. 11
Vincenza Pizza and Pasta
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Lunch yesterday before Frame. Two pies you can share with friends and friends for a good lunch. May it strike again today. Very clean center and delicious pizza. ”- Kile S.
No. 12
Stella Mia Ristorante
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Since I don\’t like tomatoes, I was nervous about visiting the center but in the evening, after a preview of the menu, I suggested it be eaten here. My husband wholeheartedly agreed, and we would not be happier! The restaurant, in itself, was comfortable with the beautiful music played. Our service was wonderful. With a bunch of dishes made for tomatoes depending on the good tomato selection for me, we chose veal parm and veal piccata, respectively. Both were really fun! Chocolate cake and berry mascarpone cake finished the meal. We can\’t wait to get back! ”- Sharon G.
No. 13
Explosion – Trremont
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “The service here was complete, no problems. Their pizza is good. We chose a mix of mushroom and truffle. Very clean establishment. We will visit again. ”- Jay J.
No. 14
Crostatas Rustic Pizza
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “This place was a hidden gem! The interior was beautiful, and the service was beautiful. The pizza, salad and bread crumbs were also great. Pizza was made of wood and made new. We called ahead and booked a place, because the venue was packed on Friday evening …
No. 15
Bar Italia – Lakewood
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Now this is a great restaurant. I’d like to tell you that I tried all of their dishes, but I didn’t. Why do you ask ?! Because now I have a Snapper Picatta with Mint and Watermelon Salad three times in a row … I\’ve already been hit with Mia Bella\’s Veal Picatta and I\’ve tried this Snapper I swear I think about for a week and I couldn\’t wait to get back and get it again. Oh man! And then their Key Lime Pie! I was traveling around the world sampling and looking for the best Key Lime in the world. Take it from me, this bomb! … ”- Mark S.
No. 16
The Scotsti Italian dish
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Meals here are always cooked to perfection and are always modest. It seems that every time I try something new, it is much better than the last thing I tried. It is truly Cleveland\’s treasure! The best Italian food in the area! ”- Brooke D.
No. 17
Cibo made with Pasta and Grille
Yelp rating: 4.5 stars
Sample review: “Excellent pasta and arugula salad are delicious. Pizza and eggplant are also favorites. Cibo’s is not compatible with in-person dining and extraction. Always delicious food. ”- Austin T.
No. 18
Italian restaurant Jo Jo Carloni & Pizzaria
Yelp rating: 4 stars
Sample review: “LOVED THIS PLACE! Everyone is so nice, the service so good and the food so amazing! They have a great selection of wines, too! Lol! Happy Hour All Day Tuesday! We are definitely back for this Italian lump! It\’s amazing! ”- Vickie G.
No. 19
Nora
Yelp rating: 4 stars
Sample review: “I am so glad that I was able to come to this restaurant … the food was excellent with everything made from scratch from bread to risotto. The chef has indicated that he changes the menu every three months so be aware that I would suggest that it may not be available by the time you get there. But I would say that food will definitely require more. The chef seems to be scrambling to find real Italian food. ”- Christianna W.
No. 20
Dante
Yelp rating: 4 stars
Sample review: “Dante is the best chef in Cleveland! Will you challenge any chef in Manhattan, Chicago or DC as well. We had the opportunity to eat there last year and really enjoyed it and arranged a trip from Charleston S.C to Ohio to hear his menu again. I\’m talking about next year. The five-lesson taste menu is our choice that goes hand in hand with a delicious wine selection. The service is good … no rush for the next seats. It really is a fun thing that took 2.5 hours. I can\’t wait to get back! ”- Jim F.