25 of the Best Italian Restaurants in Cleveland

Luca West Italian Cuisine

24600 Detroit Road, Westlake, 216-201-9600 Why we love it: Enter the bright, romantic dining room, channeling country Tuscany with rustic elements like exposed ceiling beams and a distinctive statue collection. In the summer, dine in the grand statue-filled courtyard featuring an outdoor bar and with sizable menu of upscale Italian dishes spanning fish, meats, pasta and a 200-bottle wine list. Try this: The fresh branzino ($43), fileted tableside, served with brown butter citrus sauce at Luca Italian Cuisine’s sister restaurant.

Molto Bene Italian Eatery

18401 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Why we love it: “One of the first things you notice is that it’s inside a house,” says manager Kevin Patino, son of the owners. With an intimate space for a few dozen inside, this cute Italian restaurant offers fresh modern mains and fun cocktails in a modern bright simple space. The team makes its own gelato, displayed in the traditional case for your pick of flavors, crafted with the same recipe they formerly sold under their original award-winning GelatoStar brand.
Try this: Patino’s favorite sachetti panna e prosciutto ($25) stars four-cheese purse pasta topped with alfredo style creamy pink sauce and prosciutto. “It’s everything that you really like: creamy pasta, and good texture with the crispy prosciutto,” Patino says.

Mama Catena Vino e’ Cucina

711 Babbitt Road, Euclid, 216-261-1168
Why we love it: The Catena family set out with a goal to celebrate life when it opened its eatery in 1989 with basic modern Italian food and a wine-centric menu. Stop by for Old-World Italian favorites in a warmly lit trattoria with showstopping calzones, pizza, focaccia stuffed sandwiches, seafood and other dishes made with pasta cooked to a perfect al dente.
Try this: Start off and order bruschetta ($15) for the table made with fresh chopped tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and grated pecorino, sitting atop signature house-prepared bread.

Mario Fazio’s

34400 Chardon Rd., Willoughby

Why we love it: Enter the dining area, which features an eclectic mix of decor, including a beautiful tile seaside mural scene and black and white checkered floors, of this gem focused on bringing family-style Italian dishes and thin crust pizza to customers for almost 50 years.
:Try this: Start out with a comforting warm bowl of house-made Italian wedding soup ($10), crafted in large pots of chicken stock each morning, with celery, carrots, onions and parsley root, starring shredded chicken, mini beef meatballs and pastina noodles.

Maxi’s

12113 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland

Why we love it: Look for the vibrant neon sign on the window and step inside the friendly atmosphere of Maxi’s for an extensive Italian American menu and cocktails in walkable Little Italy. Stop by the lively back patio during summers.
Try this: There’s a pizza in Little Italy that’s so good it’s named after it. Share a Little Italy Pizza ($20), basic but full of flavor, with fresh tomato basil sauce, parmesan cheese, black pepper and hot crushed red pepper, at this charming European-style bistro.

M Italian

22 W. Orange St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-747
Why we love it: In the upscale downtown of small shops walking distance from the iconic waterfall, Chagrin Falls is also the epicenter of charming small eateries like M Italian, featuring rustic chic details like exposed wooden beams and crystal chandeliers. An open kitchen coupled with a warm, spacious dining area makes for the perfect urban Italian farmhouse setting to enjoy wood-fired pizzas, salads, pasta (including gluten free and zucchini noodle options) and other land and seafare. Where else can you get a homemade limoncello drop ($8) for happy hour?
Try this: The savory beef carpaccio ($14) with arugula, caper berries, shallots and lemon aioli is a favorite starter for regulars.

Mia Bella

12200 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland

Why we love it: This joint doesn’t sport any major frills — the quality and taste of the top-notch recipes are the star of the show at this corner restaurant in Little Italy. Enjoy Italian fare and Mediterranean dishes alongside a curated wine list in a quaint muraled setting. Chef and owner Gerti Memeti grew up on the shores of the Adriatic Sea in Albania and trained in Italy. Pro tip: Grab a reservation in advance during festivals and summertime.
Try this: The award-winning spicy cheese tortellini ($22.95) is all it’s cracked up to be and more. The rich blush tomato cream sauce is the perfect contrast to the green peas, prosciutto and fresh herbs in the cheesy dish.

Michaelangelo’s

2198 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland

Why we love it: On the outskirts of Little Italy, discover this cozy treasure inside a brick carriage house offering 2023 James Beard Award-semifinalist chef Michael Annandono’s upscale Piedmontese cuisine. If you’re lucky, grab a spot by the fireplace and order your favorite glass from the wine racks.
Try this: The piled-high ossobuco con risotto e spinaci fritti ($54) spotlights slow roasted veal shank in a natural veal reduction, nestled lovingly into a parmesan risotto and frizzled spinach.

Corleone’s

5669 Broadview Rd.

Why we love it: This unassuming locale is a must for fresh pasta, veal, chicken, steaks and chops, and of course, wine (enjoy happy hour in the lounge area or at the traditional wooden bar). Owner Pete Bosinger opened it as a small Italian American cafe specializing in pizza in 1995 that has slowly transitioned toward fine dining through the years.
Try this: The seafood selection shines at this one. Try the Calabrese ($39) crab meat stuffed scampi with artichokes, grape tomatoes and spinach, tossed in spicy fresh pappardelle with olive oil and garlic.

Osteria

1801 East 9th Street ., Cleveland

Why we love it: When you walk through, “it has a Mad Men feel to the bar.” An open kitchen “brings back the nostalgic feeling” of hearing the familiar sounds of the pots and pans and pounding of the meat in the kitchen from family cooking, at this sophisticated intimate restaurant with a nod to the 1950s in the heart of downtown, says restaurateur Raquel Eatmon.
Try this: Order the orecchiette pasta ($32) in the tomato basil cream sauce, with bold Italian sausage, Eatmon suggests. “You can smell it before you bite it,” she says.