Alright listen, I’m sitting here in sweatpants that have definitely seen better days, crumbs on my keyboard, and I’m about to tell you about the best Italian restaurants in the US that have actually made me happy-cry into my plate.
Not the Instagram-famous ones where you wait two hours for a photo opp. I mean the spots where the food hits so hard you forget to take pictures until it’s half gone and cold. I’ve been wrong a lot chasing authentic Italian food in America—paid too much for mediocre Bolognese, believed “Nonna’s recipe” signs that were lying, even once drove 45 minutes for “authentic” carbonara that came with peas. Peas. I still have trust issues.
My Current Go-Tos for the Best Italian Restaurants in the US
These aren’t ranked because I change my mind depending on my mood and whether I remembered to eat lunch.
Rezdôra – New York City
Still number one in my heart (and probably my arteries). Their sfoglia lorda is stupid rich and I once ordered an extra portion “for the table” when I was alone. No regrets. The pastas here taste like someone actually cares about texture—not just dumping sauce on noodles. I usually leave smelling like garlic and happiness. Downside: I always forget how small the tables are and knock over a wine glass. Every. Time.
Flour + Water – San Francisco
I messed up my first visit by trying to be healthy and ordering salad first. Rookie move. The pici with guanciale ragù showed up and I basically inhaled it while my date stared in horror. The noodles have that perfect chew and the sauce sticks in all the right ways. If you’re anywhere near the Bay Area and want real Italian food in the US that doesn’t feel touristy, this is it. Just don’t wear anything you like. I learned that the hard way.
Osteria Mozza – Los Angeles
The burrata here should be illegal. I once got the mozzarella tasting and then immediately ordered the orecchiette because why stop at perfection? Nancy Silverton knows what she’s doing and I’m just over here trying not to moan too loudly in public. Parking is a nightmare, the wait can be brutal, but when that plate lands… yeah it’s worth it. One of the best Italian restaurants in the US if you’re serious about cheese and pasta.
Quick others worth the hassle:
- Via Carota (NYC) – their cacio e pepe is aggressively peppery in the best way
- Lilia (Brooklyn) – Missy Robbins pastas make me question every other pasta I’ve ever eaten
- Monteverde (Chicago) – the squid ink chitarra is weirdly beautiful and delicious
Dumb Things I’ve Done Looking for Authentic Italian Food in the US
- Believed a Times Square spot that said “authentic Italian” and served spaghetti with meatballs bigger than my fist. Tasted like disappointment and childhood trauma.
- Ordered “carbonara” in a random airport-adjacent place. It came with Alfredo sauce and bacon bits. I ate it anyway because flight delay + hunger = bad decisions.
- Tried to “taste the difference” between two ragùs at a fancy place and ended up so full I had to unbutton my jeans under the table like some kind of animal.
Quick Tips From Someone Who’s Messed Up A Lot
- Short menu = usually good sign. If they’re only doing like six pastas, they probably care.
- If the server starts talking with their hands about the dish, order it. Passion is free seasoning.
- Skip anything with “famous” or “world’s best” in the name. Run.
- Bring cash sometimes—some of the real-deal spots are still old-school like that.
I’m stopping now because if I keep thinking about amatriciana I’m gonna get in my car and drive stupid far for dinner. If you’ve got a hidden gem for authentic Italian food in the US that I need to know about, seriously tell me. I’m always one good plate away from happiness.
Outbound Links
Here are the outbound links I reference / pull from when I’m researching or planning my next Italian binge: