Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Buffalo by diners
Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Buffalo by diners
Italian food is the most popular cuisine in the world, according to a 2023 study by The Picky Eater that tallied up Instagram tags. It's no wonder why so many people love it. Just thinking about dishes like chicken parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs is enough to get your mouth watering—even though many of these world-famous dishes are actually Italian American creations more so than true Italian fare. Traditional Italian food embraces an assortment of sumptuous recipes that aren't dependent on fried breadcrumbs and red sauce—think frittatas and focaccia, or carpaccio and panna cotta.
Italian immigrants have been weaving their cuisine into the fabric of the American food landscape for generations since they arrived in the United States nearly 150 years ago. And the cuisine, like the culture it hails from, tends to give off warm and fuzzy "family" feels. For many people, the quintessential local Italian American restaurant—complete with its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, pour bottles of olive oil, parmesan cheese shakers, cute little jars of red pepper flakes, and wicker baskets of oven-fresh bread—brings back memories of special life moments, like first dates and milestone birthdays.
Luckily, today you don't need to be in a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles or an area with a large Italian or Italian American community to score top-notch buon cibo. You can find excellent Italian offerings in almost every city from coast to coast. To celebrate all things mozzarella and marinara, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Buffalo based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of January 2024.
Read on to see if your favorite is among the top-rated or to find a new spot in your neighborhood.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#30. DiTondo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 370 Seneca St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Trattoria Aroma
- Rating: 4.0/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 307 Bryant St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Tappo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (675 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 338 Ellicott St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Wine Bars, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Mustachio's Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2701 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Gino's NY Pizza Elmwood
- Rating: 4.0/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1009 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Romeo & Juliet Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5199 Sheridan Drive Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Marinaro's Larkin Tavern
- Rating: 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 131 Van Rensselaer St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: New American, Sports Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Amici Ristorante
- Rating: 4.0/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2516 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Frankie Primo's +39
- Rating: 4.0/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 51 West Chippewa St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Romeo & Juliet's Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1292 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Bakeries, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Marcos Italian Deli
- Rating: 4.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 960 Maple Road Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Delis, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Chucks Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 35 North St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Mineo's South Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2154 South Park Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Louie's Deli & Imports
- Rating: 4.0/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8202 Main St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Delis, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Giacobbi's Cucina Citta
- Rating: 4.5/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 59 Allen St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Bellini's Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 350 Pennsylvania St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Osteria 166
- Rating: 4.5/5 (622 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 166 Franklin St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Cucina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 444 Forest Ave. The Richardson Hotel Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#12. WiseGuys Pizza South Buffalo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1965 Seneca St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bobby J's Italian American Grille
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 204 Como Park Blvd. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Zios Deli and Heroes
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1055 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Sandwiches, Delis, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. San Marco Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2082 Kensington Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Blue Cave Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 128 Genesee St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Sicilian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Ristorante Lombardo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1198 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Grotto
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 60 Niagara St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Lloyal's Famous Lasagna
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 1122 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Soul Food, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Angeline
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 581 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Bella Ciao
- Rating: 4.5/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 200 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Inizio
- Rating: 4.5/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 534 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Daniela
- Rating: 4.5/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 387 Forest Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jennifer Huizen, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 312 metros.
