Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. Cincinnati’s not well-known for Italian food — we boast more about our German heritage than anything else — but we sure do have loads of great restaurants where you can get anything from classic red sauce pasta like Nonna used to make to chicken, veal or eggplant parmigiana and everything in between. From old-school joints to trendier spots, these are the best restaurants to enjoy a taste of Italy, according to CityBeat readers.
No. 10 Best Italian Restaurant: Via Vite
520 Vine St., Downtown
Via Vite showcases chef Cristian Pietoso’s casual take on Northern Italian cuisine in the Queen City. The view overlooks Fountain Square and their rooftop patio is the perfect escape to people-watch.
Menu recommendation: Handmade Crispy Gnocchi: Featuring fonduta, chive and truffle. Photo: Provided by Via Vite
Primavista
810 Matson Place, East Price Hill
Along with a beautiful view of the city, this restaurant offers an upscale dining experience with menu options like sausage and mushroom ravioli, roasted lamb loin and tiramisu. Without leaving your seat, you can look out on views of Carew Tower, Great American Tower and the Cincinnati sign with a glass of wine in hand.
Photo via Facebook.com/Primivista Photo: facebook.com/Primavista
No. 8 Best Italian Restaurant: Ferrari’s Little Italy
7677 Goff Terrace, Madeira
Boasting authentic Italian cuisine, Ferrari’s Little Italy and Bakery serves heaping servings of antipasti, pasta, pizza and more atop red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Pair your plate with an affordable bottle of vino (both Italian and domestic) and never leave empty-handed: Ferrari’s is home to its own deli and bakery, so you can take meats, cheeses and boxes and boxes of cannoli home with you.
Menu recommendation: Mama Bassano’s Lasagna: Featuring beef lasagna, ricotta, romano and mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. Photo: facebook.com/Ferraris.Little.Italy
No. 7 Best Italian Restaurant: Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
919 Vine St., Downtown
Family-owned since 1912, Scotti’s has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room. Their generous menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Scotti’s is named after early 20th-century opera star Antonio Scotti, so the sounds pumping through the speakers aren’t Muzak or cliché Sinatra tunes; it’s Rossini, Puccini and Pavarotti — just another aspect that sets this landmark apart from the pack.
Menu recommendation: Scallopini Ala Marsala: Sautéed veal in a Marsala wine with mushrooms. Photo: facebook.com/Scottis-Italian-Restaurant
Photo: Catie Viox for Zest Cincy
Nicola’s Photo: Aidan Mahoney
No. 4 Best Italian Restaurant: Giovanni’s Family Italian Restaurant
4050 N. Bend Road, Cheviot
Giovanni’s quickly became a favorite among West Side diners with its flavorful Italian dishes featuring homemade pasta, as well as strombolis, calzones and brick-oven pizzas.
Menu recommendation: Shrimp Fra Diavlo: Featuring spicy garlic basil and tomatoes and peppers tossed in a red onion sauce. Photo: Google Maps
Best Neighborhood Restaurant (Northern Kentucky)
Winner: Pompilios
Runners-up: KungFood AmerAsia, Greyhound Tavern Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pepp & Dolores
1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores sports two personalities and one delicious menu. The upper level was designed to have the timeless look and feel of a mid-century bistro or cafe, while the basement level is darker and cozier and has a romantic charm and ambiance reminiscent of a New York City supper club. The menu was inspired by Sunday dinners at co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ home and features housemade pastas, shareable dishes, salads and bread. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
6. Sotto
118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
“The thing that is special about Sotto is that it hits all the marks. Beautiful atmosphere, exceptional service, and wonderful food make an evening there unforgettable.” -Oneya O. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Dining and Cooking