Best Italian Restaurants in Fairfax
15 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Angelini Osteria
A long-running chef-driven osteria where Roman-leaning pastas and grilled fish set the standard for upscale Italian on Beverly.
Notable Picks
8.9
Chef Gino Angelini’s longtime Beverly Grove osteria turns out deeply flavored pastas, grilled fish, and Roman classics in a compact, always-booked dining room. Locals use it for serious Italian dinners where the lasagna verde, seasonal specials, and a tight wine list still feel worth planning around after two decades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Verde "Nonna Elvira", Linguine alle Vongole, Whole Mediterranean Branzino
What Makes it Special: A long-running chef-driven osteria where Roman-leaning pastas and grilled fish set the standard for upscale Italian on Beverly.
#2
Ronan
8.7
Ronan is a chef-driven Italian restaurant on Melrose known for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal share plates in a lively, design-forward space. It blends high-level technique with an energetic dining room ideal for date nights. The kitchen delivers consistent execution validated by professional recognition.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Sweet Cheeks pizza, Seasonal arancini
What Makes it Special: Wood-fired pizzas and share plates executed with high culinary technique.
8.4
This family-run room from chef-owner Sandro Oliverio leans into Calabrian-leaning pastas, rich sauces, and a house-baked dessert program in a low-lit Beverly dining room. It’s the kind of place where gnocchi pesto, pear-and-gorgonzola salad, and a serious Amarone by the glass turn a neighborhood dinner into a longer evening.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gnocchi al Pesto, Pear and Gorgonzola Salad, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Cozy, family-owned Calabrian spot where handmade pastas, rich sauces, and a focused wine list anchor long Beverly dinners.
8.4
Della Terra is a neighborhood trattoria pairing wood-fired pizzas, house pastas, and a broad wine list with a sidewalk-facing patio that feels tailor-made for Beverly/Fairfax. It’s a reliable choice for weeknight dates and group dinners where everyone can find a classic—from rigatoni alla vodka to grilled salmon and tiramisu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni alla Vodka, Margherita Pizza, Grilled Salmon with Vegetables
What Makes it Special: Casual-yet-polished trattoria with a busy patio, wood-fired pies, and a menu that balances pizza, pasta, and grilled mains.
8.1
Sogno Toscano’s Grove outpost brings a full-service Tuscan dining room and patio to the heart of the shopping center, pairing antipasti boards, pinsa-style pizzas, and house pastas with a deep lineup of imported products. It feels part Italian market, part wine bar, and part all-day restaurant where visitors linger between shopping runs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fichi Burrata e Crudo, Pinsa Margherita, Beef Meatballs with San Marzano Sauce
What Makes it Special: Tuscan import shop turned full-service restaurant where antipasti, pinsa, and pastas share space with retail shelves and a central Grove patio.
8
Next door to the osteria, Angelini Alimentari functions as an all-day Italian café and market with espresso, panini, salads, and a tight selection of wines and imported goods. It’s an easy stop for a lighter lunch, aperitivo, or takeaway lasagna when you want Angelini flavors without a full dinner reservation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Meatball Sub Sandwich, Chicken Milanese Panini, Pistachio Gelato
What Makes it Special: Italian café-market hybrid from the Angelini team where espresso, panini, salads, and gelato meet a compact retail wall of imported goods.
8
A Fairfax-rooted Italian-American red sauce joint running on family recipes since 1987, built around hearty plates like chicken parm and lobster fra diablo in a Rat Pack-era dining room where Sinatra stays on the speakers. It draws couples and families who want the old New York neighborhood Italian experience without the flight — quiet enough to talk, familiar enough to become a regular.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Lasagna Al Forno
What Makes it Special: Family-run since 1987 by a New York transplant who built a Rat Pack-era dining room with Sinatra on the speakers and his grandmother's recipes on the stove.
#8
Pasta Corner
8
Inside the Original Farmers Market, Pasta Corner turns out fresh, made-to-order pastas from a glass case of housemade shapes and sauces. Their lasagna and baked specials give you a forkable alternative to the many quick-bite stalls, with quality closer to a sit-down trattoria than a food court.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna, Pink Vodka Sauce Pasta, Black Truffle Tagliatelle
What Makes it Special: Market-side counter for fresh pasta and lasagna at the Farmers Market.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
Heirloom Pizzeria is a neighborhood slice and whole-pie shop offering New York–style and square pies with crisp crusts and balanced toppings. It excels at quick service and consistent takeout while still rewarding dine-in guests with fresh, hot slices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grandma square pepperoni pizza, White ricotta pizza, Garlic knots
What Makes it Special: A reliable pie shop with both slice and square formats.
7.9
Chicago Stuffed Pizza Co. serves Chicago-style stuffed and deep-dish pies from a compact storefront on Melrose. Its focus on heavy, shareable pizzas makes it popular with families and groups. The atmosphere is simple, but the pizza delivers strong flavor and high value.
Must-Try Dishes:
Stuffed cheese pizza, Deep-dish sausage pizza, Garlic knots
What Makes it Special: Classic Chicago-style stuffed pies in a modest setting.
#11
Ettore
7.8
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Inside the Original Farmers Market, Ettore Vino e Cucina blends a Mendocino organic winery with an Osteria Mamma–backed kitchen for a wine-first Italian experience. Signature pastas, braised lamb shank, and a curated list of Ettore wines make it a good choice when you want more of a tasting-room feel than a quick stall meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ettore Tagliatelle ai Funghi, Stinco di Agnello con Patatine al Parmigiano, Gnocco Fritto with Stracciatella and Prosciutto
What Makes it Special: Wine-centric Italian restaurant and tasting room in the Farmers Market where organic Mendocino wines are built directly into the menu design.
#12
Pizza World
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
On Fairfax’s kosher strip, Kosher Pizza World is a casual counter spot where classic dairy dishes like lasagna sit beside pies, salads, and calzones. It’s more about hearty, affordable portions than polish, making the lasagna a reliable option for quick, meat-free comfort.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Lasagna, Mushroom Pizza, Garlic Knots
What Makes it Special: Kosher dairy shop serving budget lasagna alongside classic slices.
#13
Mauro Cafe
7.7
Mauro Cafe is a casual Italian cafe on Melrose serving pastas, salads, and all-day plates in a high-traffic indoor–outdoor setting. It functions as both a social meeting point and an approachable Italian lunch option. The menu emphasizes familiar comfort over technique.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti pomodoro, Chicken Milanese, Market chopped salad
What Makes it Special: A fashion-adjacent Italian cafe ideal for casual meals and meetings.
#14
Pasta Amore
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Pasta Amore is a budget-friendly Italian counter spot known for customizable pasta plates and all-you-can-eat options. Its simple setup focuses on speed and value rather than ambiance, drawing students and locals seeking hearty portions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti with marinara, Penne Alfredo with chicken, Garlic bread
What Makes it Special: All-you-can-eat pasta and customizable combinations at low prices.
7.6
A no-frills, locals-first pizza stop that thrives on late-day cravings and easy takeout. Expect sturdy New York-leaning slices, friendly counter energy, and a reliable neighborhood rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepperoni slice, Grandma-style square, Garlic knots
What Makes it Special: Dependable slice shop for Melrose Hill walk-ups and takeout.