Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in New Orleans / Louisiana

OpenTable

Updated 05 June 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in New Orleans / Louisiana? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cristiano Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (695)

$31 to $50

Italian

Houma

About the restaurant

We allow online reservations only for parties up to 4 people. If you have a party of 5 or more, please call the restaurant to make your reservation, otherwise we may not be able to seat your party. We are allowing 2 hours dining time per table, so we cannot hold tables for parties that are late. There will be a 15 minute grace period allowed and then the table will be released. Please keep in mind that lounge and patio seating is also by reservation only.

Top review

Edward

Dined on 5 June 2025

The owner greeted us shortly after we were seated. He observed we were in for a special occasion and offered to reseat us at a more intimate quiet er table. We accepted his offer and had a lovely experience. Flawless waitstaff. Food was wow with every bite!!!

Irene's

4.9

4.9 (4506)

$31 to $50

Italian

French Quarter

About the restaurant

*Please note that if your desired reservation time is not available online, or your party is larger than those accepted through this service, please call the restaurant. We are happy and excited to make great effort in accommodating you. *

RESERVATION POLICY: Reservations requiring a credit card are subject to a $10/person fee as a result of no call-no show, or if not cancelled before 4:00pm central time on the reservation date.

Our cuisine is country French and Italian with a New Orleans influence. Although a majority of our seating is available for walk-in guests we do take reservations. While you wait we have a piano player and serve cocktails. We look forward to serving you.
"Love and Cuisine, Sempre con Passione"

Top review

TammyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food, service. Beautiful decor and great ambiance

Marcello's - Covington

4.9

4.9 (277)

$30 and under

Italian

Covington

About the restaurant

Please call for reservations. Due to Covid - 19 restrictions online reservation will be suspended until further notice. 985-400-5668
Our hours of operation will be:
Sunday & Monday - closed
Tuesday - Thursday - 4 pm - 9 pm
Friday - 11 am - 9 pm
Saturday - 4 pm - 9 pm
Happy Hour - Tuesday - Friday 4 pm - 6 pm
1/2 price appetizers
1/2 price glasses of wine and specialty cocktails

Top review

Stephen

Dined on 25 May 2025

I really enjoy Marcello’s. Everything is excellent.

A Tavola

4.8

4.8 (491)

$30 and under

Italian

Metairie

About the restaurant

A Tavola Restaurant & Wine Bar is located on Veterans Blvd. at Lakeside Shopping Center.

Showcasing modern Italian cuisine in a lively setting, a Tavola, which means “at the table” in Italian, is a family-friendly restaurant featuring an open kitchen serving wood-fired pizzas, antipasti, soup and salads, paninis and sandwiches, alongside other Italian favorites. We invite you to join us "at the table!"

Our open kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven make every meal a feast for the eyes, as well as the palette. And whether you’re enjoying a business lunch or Aperitivos with your amici, our large bar and al fresco patio make socializing a breeze. From house-baked bread to a Bambini menu for the kids, our dishes welcome everyone to the table.

Top review

Ronald KathyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

As always we enjoyed our lunch - good food with good service. We will return soon. Kathy

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Experience

Sip & Savor Happy Hour with an Italian Twist!

Nuvolari's

4.8

4.8 (1315)

$31 to $50

Italian

Mandeville

About the restaurant

Nuvolari’s is a warm and inviting Italian restaurant, nestled on the Northshore of New Orleans in Old Mandeville. For over 40 years, loyal customers have enjoyed Italian food, friendship and celebrations around our tables. Nuvolari’s menu features traditional Italian fare alongside creative fresh dishes. Dining options include intimate indoor seating with a relaxed exterior patio. We offer Happy Hour in the bar and patio Thursday from 4:00-6:00. We also serve Lunch on Friday from 11:00-2:00. Our wine list is appreciated by both connoisseurs and newcomers, with a diverse selection by the glass and bottle.

Open Table consistently recognizes Nuvolari’s with Most Romantic and Neighborhood Gem awards. Nuvolari’s– an unhurried culinary experience, just two blocks from Lake Ponchartrain. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Top review

Jason

Dined on 6 June 2025

Always a great time here. Really good elite level chef cooked plates that are moderately priced for fulfilling portions. Drinks take a while so be patient but they’re worth it. Desserts are always on point.

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Popular dish

Redfish Picatta

Ristorante Filippo

4.6

4.6 (1127)

$30 and under

Italian

Metairie

About the restaurant

Chef Philip Gagliano is a native New Orleanian of Italian descent who LOVES food! Learning his culinary skills from his mother and grandmothers, Chef Philip serves delightfully classic dishes in an elegant and inviting atmosphere. Menu specialties include Oysters al Oreganate, Chicken & Veal served in 5 classic Italian preparations and USDA Steaks alongside traditional Italian Pasta dishes.
Chef Philip says "I am very attached to my Italian roots and have been in the industry a long time. My wife Mary and I work diligently at the restaurant to make it a wonderful place to dine for all of our guests. We look forward to welcoming you into our restaurant".

Top review

Malik

Dined 3 days ago

This is a great restaurant. From the staff to the food and the atmosphere. We loved it and we will be back!

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4.6

4.6 (2040)

$31 to $50

Italian

Warehouse District

About the restaurant

Sofia is an Italian-inspired kitchen that has an elevated take on traditional cuisine in a fun and funky setting in the warehouse district. Acclaimed chef Talia Diele's menu of inventive small plates, traditionally prepared meats and fish, handmade pasta, and wood fired pizza has drawn rave reviews locally and nationally. Our Italian inspired cocktails, craft beers and Italian wine list have been carefully curated and will appeal to the most discerning palates.

Top review

MariaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing food and our server Kristie was great! Highly recommend it

Louisiana Pizza Kitchen- French Quarter

4.7

4.7 (592)

$30 and under

Italian

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Enjoy an authentic Louisiana Pizza Kitchen experience in the French Quarter. Each gourmet pizza is fired in a wood-burning oven on either an unbleached white or untreated whole- wheat flour crust. All our meat and poultry are organic and free-range. We source quality, local Louisiana products whenever possible. And our wine cellar has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for four years running. Don’t forget to check out our excellent selection of local, micro-brewed, and specialty beers from around the world.

Top review

Neyda

Dined on 6 May 2025

We really enjoyed everything. Finally good quality good, good prices, great service, great ambiance.

The Italian Barrel

4.6

4.6 (3608)

$31 to $50

Italian

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Tucked at the quiet edge of the French Quarter — just steps from Frenchmen Street and directly across from the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s outdoor stages — The Italian Barrel is often called one of the most romantic and best Italian restaurants in New Orleans. Owned by longtime guests and restaurateurs Lori and Kevin Cates, the restaurant offers refined Northern Italian cuisine in a charming, intimate setting. Founding Chef Samantha Castagnetti continues to guide new menu creations, helping preserve the soul of this beloved local gem. Chandeliers, exposed brick, and white tablecloths set the stage for a leisurely lunch, afternoon aperitifs, or a candlelit dinner. Seasonal dishes are crafted with the finest imported ingredients, paired with a curated Italian wine list and heartfelt hospitality. Our innovative craft cocktails elevate the experience further. Indoor and heated outdoor seating available.

Top review

Tim

Dined 4 days ago

Great food,great service, and stellar atmosphere. Will definitely be back

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Popular dish

Lasagna

Popular dish

Spaghetti and Veal Meatball

Popular dish

Pumpkin Ravioli

Domenica

4.6

4.6 (7610)

$30 and under

Italian

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Domenica translates to “Sunday,” in Italian, it is the day of the week to explore and cook leisurely, abundant meals. At Domenica restaurant, our chefs seek to transport guests to those coveted moments, offering passionately prepared dishes that marry pure, local ingredients with revered techniques.

While the menu is rooted in tradition, our chefs focus on elevating Italian ingredients and classic flavors to create modern classics, adapted for the contemporary palate of New Orleans. The fresh pastas made by hand daily, roasted vegetables, meats and Napolitano style pizzas, all prepared in the restaurant’s iconic wood oven, are perfectly complemented by custom-brewed beers, seasonal craft cocktails and an Italian-focused wine list.

Top review

DeborahVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Food was delicious as always and our server was wonderful. Always a fun dining experience! Great for birthday celebrations

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