At Embarc, we love our Italian cuisine, and thanks to the wonderfully vast cultural diversity of Fresno, there are many great options when it comes to finding amazing Italian restaurants in Fresno. In fact, there are so many great places to choose from that narrowing them down and making a decision can be difficult. Have no fear we’ve got your back with the low-down on some of our favorite Italian restaurants in Fresno and the surrounding area categorized for your ultimate convenience.
As close to a sure thing as it gets, these classics are sure to impress and cure anybody’s appetite for Italian food. The restaurants in this list are long-standing establishments that demonstrate consistent, quality, and enjoyable Italian dishes for you to enjoy in person or for takeout. If you want to try something that won’t let you down, these old-school Italian restaurants in Fresno are clear winners in our hearts and stomachs.
First on our list is an Italian restaurant in Fresno that has been around for decades. With multiple locations across town, DiCiccio’s is a local staple serving up fire food from pizza to pasta and everything in between. Available for dine-in seating or takeout, you can enjoy their amazing food at your convenience and in a way that fits your busy schedule. DiCiccio’s is a place that does everything well. We definitely recommend trying one of their pasta specials, their to-die-for lasagna, or one of their top-shelf pizzas. They also have coupons, and we love a good opportunity to save some money!
Mama Mia’s is a long-standing Italian restaurant in Fresno that has been owned and operated by the same family since its opening. They do a little bit of everything, including homemade pastas, both stuffed and not, homemade sauces, pizza, salads, and in our humble opinion, the star of their wonderful show are their calzones and stromboli. When it comes to Mama Mia’s, you really can’t miss when placing your order. If you’re wanting to try out something new, you should feel confident doing it at a reputable restaurant like this, we’re sure that you will enjoy whatever you decide to get here!
Last, but most definitely not least, is kind of a curve ball because it’s not technically a restaurant. However, the outdoor seating and ability to order for takeout make Sam’s Italian Deli and Market the perfect final selection for this category. A Fresno staple, Sam’s has also been around for decades serving up amazing sandwiches, salads, pastas, and groceries to the community. Their Sam’s Special and New Yorker are just two of their authentic Italian delicatessen subs that are sure to knock your socks off. Don’t sleep on their ravioli or homemade pasta either, they can be ordered hot or cold for cooking them later at home. You can’t forget the salads either, their tortellini and pesto salad is the bomb. Want something a little less formal but still sure to impress your taste buds and make your stomach happy, Sam’s definitely won’t let you down!
We covered the classics first, but we wanted to make sure to show a few of the new Italian restaurants in Fresno some love too. This list covers restaurants that aren’t as well established in the area when it comes to years in business, but their food speaks for itself and should definitely be considered when you’re craving Italian food next.
Annex Kitchen is a high-end Italian restaurant that offers a rustic take on the dishes that everyone loves. They offer seasonal menu items sourced locally at farmer’s markets with produce grown in the surrounding area. The ambiance here is incredible, and with a full bar, it makes for the perfect night out. Annex has a menu with something for everyone. Beautiful steaks, pastas, salads, and appetizers all sourced locally populate the menu make for a difficult decision. However, no matter what you choose for your next meal here, you won’t be disappointed, we sure weren’t!
Next up on the list is Annesso Pizzeria. This restaurant actually has the same owners as Annex Kitchen and is their less formal establishment that offers some truly great pizza, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. A much more casual environment, Annesso is a great place to relax and enjoy amazing food. Just because the dress isn’t formal, don’t expect less from this restaurant. The entire menu is a hit, we couldn’t get enough of the pepperoni and jalapeno pizza with the honey drizzle. It was an unexpectedly delicious sweet and spicy combination that made us crave more. We highly recommend you try out Annesso Pizzeria the next time your munchies have you feeling some Italian food.
Valentino’s is another Italian restaurant in Fresno new to the area and also impressed us with their menu and food quality. Located in the downtown area, this place is definitely worth the trip for its authentic cuisine. Their pastas are nothing short of deliciousness, and the lasagna especially is baked to perfection and should be enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of the dish. Next time you’re feeling adventurous and want to give something new a try, you should totally consider Valentino’s for your next dining experience.
This category is for the restaurants off the beaten path or that aren’t as well known as some of the more popular Italian places to eat around Fresno. We love a good hidden gem here at Embarc, but we’re not the types to gatekeep – especially delicious food – so we wanted to make sure we filled you in on these hidden gems we love to curb our craving for Italian food.
Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen is a long-time Fresno deli tucked away in the Fresno Tower District. Similar to Sam’s mention earlier in the article, Piemonte’s is pumping out top-notch sandwiches, pastas, salads, and grocery items for the community to enjoy. Their Piemonte’s special pairs perfectly with a pasta or potato salad, and we love their ravioli too. Don’t let the small size of this location fool you, their food packs tons of flavor, and we highly recommend you give it a try.
Mike’s Pizzeria is tucked away in an unassuming location serving up its own great menu of Italian dishes for its customers to enjoy. Mike’s may have pizzeria in its name, but the restaurant does so much more than that. In fact, their lasagna and spaghetti are some of the best we’ve ever had. Don’t get us wrong, their pizza is wonderful too, and we highly recommend you try it, but make sure you give the whole menu consideration when you place your next order at this Fresno establishment, you won’t regret it!
Luna Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant is in this category because it’s not actually in Fresno. Located in nearby Old Town Clovis, this long-standing Italian restaurant has a dish for everyone’s taste. Their linguini and clams are an unexpected menu item that they do incredibly well. However, it doesn’t stop there, dishes like eggplant parmesan, lasagna, gnocchi, and pizza are all at the top of our recommendations of things to try at this establishment. If you’re in the area or don’t mind driving a little further, Luna’s will definitely be your next go-to Italian restaurant.
What makes top-shelf Italian food even better? Top-shelf cannabis products that will activate your munchies, making the pasta even saucier the next time you order some up from one of these fantastic Italian restaurants in Fresno. Find the closest Embarc location and stock up before you dine out.
