Ask Dallas diners where to find the best Italian food in town, and prepare for a passionate debate. Everyone has a favorite, and loyalties run deep. Some swear by the red-sauce joints they’ve been visiting for decades, while others are loyal to neighborhood trattorias, chef-driven kitchens, and restaurants worth crossing town for.
We put the question to readers on DiningOut Dallas’ Facebook page: Where’s your go-to Italian spot in Dallas?
The responses came pouring in. More than 250 comments later, 27 restaurants had earned at least two mentions, proving that Dallas’ love affair with Italian food extends well beyond any one neighborhood or dining style. And while the answers covered everything from casual pizza joints to special-occasion destinations, one Dallas institution emerged as the clear favorite.
Campisi’s—a longtime Dallas staple that also earned top honors on DiningOut’s pizza poll—topped the reader poll with 23 mentions, more than double the number earned by the next closest contender. Its original Mockingbird Lane location, known as the Egyptian Restaurant, remains particularly beloved among locals who grew up with its thin-crust pizza, pasta, and old-school atmosphere.
“Still love the original Egyptian Campisi’s on Mockingbird when in Dallas,” one reader commented.
It’s the kind of place where generations of Dallas families have gathered for birthdays, Friday-night dinners, and the occasional pizza craving. In a city where flashy new restaurants open seemingly every week, Campisi’s staying power speaks for itself.
But the competition wasn’t entirely one-sided. Coming in second was Kenny’s Italian Kitchen, which earned 11 mentions and 42 likes on those comments, the highest combined like count among the restaurants in the poll. The Addison restaurant has built a following around its familiar Italian-American dishes and lively atmosphere, making it a popular choice for everything from date nights to group dinners.
Jimmy’s Food Store followed closely with 10 mentions. While technically an Italian market and deli rather than a full-service restaurant, the East Dallas institution clearly holds a special place in diners’ hearts. Between its Italian sandwiches, imported groceries, and prepared foods, Jimmy’s has become as much a neighborhood ritual as a place to grab lunch.
For some readers, the best Italian food in Dallas means a white-tablecloth dinner with wine and handmade pasta. For others, it’s a sandwich from the deli counter or a familiar plate of spaghetti at a restaurant they’ve been visiting for years.
Terilli’s and Prego Pasta House tied with nine mentions each, reinforcing the popularity of Dallas’ longstanding Italian favorites. Terilli’s, on Greenville Avenue, has earned a loyal following for its Italian-American comfort food, rooftop patio, and lively atmosphere. Prego Pasta House, meanwhile, represents the kind of neighborhood restaurant where familiarity is part of the appeal.
Scalini’s rounded out this group with eight mentions, further proving that Dallas diners aren’t ready to abandon their favorite red-sauce classics.
One reader summed up that loyalty nicely: “Scalini’s & Terrili’s for laid back comfort Italian. Luca if I want to splurge a bit.”
Of course, not everyone is looking for a casual plate of pasta. La Stella Cucina Verace, the upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Dallas, received seven mentions, showing that special-occasion dining has its own devoted following.
“As a self-proclaimed food critic, I’d unequivocally pick La Stella Cucina Verace in Downtown Dallas,” one reader declared.
Nonna, the intimate Italian restaurant in the Oak Lawn area, also earned seven mentions, while Lucia, known for its intimate dining experience and carefully crafted Italian cuisine, and Enoteca Italia each received six. Other contemporary favorites made appearances as well. Il Bracco and Via Triozzi each earned five mentions, while Carbone received two.
These restaurants represent a different side of Dallas’ Italian dining scene, one where thoughtful preparations, distinctive menus, and a more polished experience can be just as compelling as a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Still, the results suggest that when Dallas diners are asked to name their go-to Italian restaurant, familiarity often wins out over formality.
Dallas proper may dominate the conversation, but readers were quick to remind us that great Italian food doesn’t stop at the city limits. Partenope, which has a location in Richardson, earned six mentions. The restaurant’s Neapolitan-style pizza and Italian specialties inspired one particularly enthusiastic response.
“Partenope in Richardson blows all of the others away!!! Authentic NEOPOLITAN Italian Italian! Red Sauce to die for. Beef pork meatballs from heaven,” one reader wrote.
Roman Cucina in Allen earned four mentions, while Valentino’s in Rowlett picked up three. It’s a reminder that the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s Italian dining scene stretches far beyond Uptown, Downtown, and East Dallas. Sometimes the best recommendation is a neighborhood favorite that’s been quietly feeding its regulars for years.
While Campisi’s took the top spot, the range of responses tells a bigger story. Longtime institutions still command fierce loyalty, neighborhood restaurants continue to draw regulars, and newer, chef-driven concepts have found their place alongside the classics. Perhaps the most telling detail is just how varied the responses were. Dallas diners aren’t all chasing the same bowl of pasta, and that’s a good thing.
Whether your idea of a perfect Italian meal involves a thin-crust pizza at Campisi’s, a sandwich from Jimmy’s, or a special dinner at La Stella, there’s no shortage of places to satisfy the craving. And if your favorite didn’t make the list? Dallas diners are always ready for another spirited debate over pasta, pizza, and who really makes the best red sauce in town.
