The Worcester region dishes up an abundance of Italian eateries.
By Kate Robertson on August 21, 2025
Erb/Dufault Photography 2020
A seafood and rice dish at Nuovo Restaurant in Worcester, MA.
Benvenuti a Worcester! Whether you’re craving comforting classics or modern takes on delicious dishes, Worcester delivers on Italian cuisines. Come for the always satisfying varieties of pastas, and stay for the warm, welcoming atmospheres and friendly service in these restaurants that locals have loved for years. Get ready to savor your way through these seven delectable Italian restaurants in Worcester MA, and the nearby region.
VIA Italian Table
A go-to for Italian comfort food, VIA features a menu with dishes from all over Italy, celebrating the diversity within the cuisine. Grab a seat at the wrap-around bar or enjoy a romantic meal alfresco on its spacious covered patio. Start your meal with the Burrata Caprese salad, VIA’s take on a classic appetizer. Then, save room for dessert – the towering crepe cake is not to be missed!
Nuovo Restaurant
Whisk your tastebuds to the Mediterranean at Nuovo Restaurant. Led by an Albanian husband and wife team, this family-owned business has been serving Italian food with Mediterranean flair since 2011.
Chef Alex Gjonca has more than four decades of culinary experience, studying in Albania and Italy before coming to the U.S. Nuovo’s menu ranges from small plates for snacking to full-scale dinners. Golden-fried arancini is a favorite appetizer. For a sweeter option, try the flaky phyllo bites stuffed with figs and creamy mascarpone. Guests seeking heartier fare can choose from dishes such as shrimp scampi, linguine alla carbonara, or the vegetarian penne alla Giardiniera.
Calabria Ristorante
Southern Italian cuisine is the specialty at Calabria Ristorante in nearby Millbury. Both families who own the restaurant hail from Calabria, a region of southern Italy. Their food celebrates their heritage and reflects the food they’d typically enjoy in their homes. The vast menu gives diners plenty of options, ranging from refreshing salads to veal, seafood and fresh pasta. Gluten-free pasta is available for those who need it, so they won’t miss out on the Calabrian delights. Other popular dishes include the haddock Italiano, carbonara, veal piccata and lobster ravioli.
J. Anthony’s Italian Grill
Old World Italian is on the menu at J. Anthony’s in nearby Oxford. Many of the recipes are family favorites passed down from generation to generation. Enjoy a meal in their two lounges, bar areas and dining rooms. J. Anthony’s menu has something for everyone. In addition to Italian classics and modern specialties, diners can indulge in fresh seafood, juicy grilled burgers, wood-fired steaks and stuffed sandwiches. Portions are generous, especially the “Wicked Big” chicken Parmesan and “Wicked Huge” lasagna.
Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern
For two generations, Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern has been a go-to spot for a delicious Italian meal. The extensive menu caters to a wide range of tastes, offering Italian favorites and thin-crust pizza alongside towering burgers, seafood entrees and tavern classics like loaded nachos and beer cheese dip. The risotto balls are a guest favorite, as is the tortellini Matthew with chicken cutlets and a creamy tomato sauce. Attached to Peppercorn’s is an incubator where local breweries can perfect their brews. This incubator has helped launch several favorite local breweries and supplies many of the brews on Peppercorn’s 20 taps.
Piccolo’s Restaurant
Head downtown for a fine Italian meal at Piccolo’s Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street. For 20 years, Piccolo’s has brought the finest Italian dinners to Worcester and Central Massachusetts. It’s a local favorite place for fresh pasta and cooked-to-order comfort food. Customer-favorite entrees include the chicken Parmesan, eggplant Parmesan and ravioli Giovanni. Be sure to ask about the rotating weekly specials, too. And whatever you do, do not go home without a slice (or two!) of the house-made carrot cake!
2 Chefs Italian Restaurant & Bar
This Worcester favorite blends classic Italian fare with unexpected twists. Known for dishes like eggplant rolatini and chicken piccata, the diverse menu also ventures beyond tradition with smash burgers, chicken wings, deep-fried pork ribs and quesadillas. Inventive cocktails and a popular weekend brunch draw a loyal crowd, while weekday $10 lunch specials make it a solid option for a midday meal. 2 Chefs has built a reputation for generous portions and a menu that caters to both traditionalists and adventurous eaters alike.
Next Stop: Union Station
For the past decade, the Worcester Regional Food Hub has been a driving force behind the local food system.
As a partner of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Food Hub acts as an aggregator and distributor of local food from farms and local producers to schools, hospitals and markets. It also serves as an incubator for food and beverage businesses, offering kitchen rentals and classes to help startups navigate the process and set them up for success.
Originally operating in the Worcester Area Food Bank, the Food Hub outgrew its space. In spring 2025, it opened its new headquarters at historic Union Station, ushering in a new era of serving the Worcester community.
The expanded space will allow for five kitchens instead of one, more specialized equipment, larger refrigerators and more delivery space. It’ll be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This location at Union Station will allow us to increase our distribution capabilities,” says Shon Rainford, director of the Food Hub. “It’s going to increase the impact we’re able to have on the community and allow us to create more opportunities for everyone we serve.”
The relocation has been a collaborative effort among state and local partners. Rainford says the organization received help from city and state officials, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey.
“It takes a village, and I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received,” Rainford says.
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