Best Italian Restaurants in Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway
9 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
VIA VAI
Chef-owner Antonio Morichini brings Michelin-trained Roman cooking to a cozy Astoria dining room with house-made pasta and thin-crust pizza.
Notable Picks
#1
VIA VAI
8.6
VIA VAI is a chef-driven Roman Italian restaurant where house-made pasta, thin-crust brick-oven pizza, and a focused Italian wine list anchor a small, reservation-heavy dining room. It balances rustic warmth with polished execution, making it one of the most consistently praised Italian options in Ditmars-Steinway.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe pasta, Squid ink pasta, Margherita pizza
What Makes it Special: Chef-owner Antonio Morichini brings Michelin-trained Roman cooking to a cozy Astoria dining room with house-made pasta and thin-crust pizza.
8.3
A long-running Astoria slice institution known for its signature thin-crust Sicilian-style square—crisp, dense, and unlike most neighborhood pizza. It’s best treated as a focused pizza mission: grab the squares, keep the order tight, and let the crust be the point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thin-crust Sicilian square slice, Tomato pie, Classic cheese slice
What Makes it Special: A distinct Astoria square slice style with a crisp, dense bite.
#3
Rosario's
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Rosario's is a family-run Italian deli and pizzeria near Astoria Park known for fresh house-made mozzarella, loaded sandwiches, and classic New York slices. The space is more counter than dining room, but locals treat it as a go-to for takeout pies and substantial heroes at very friendly prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken cutlet hero with roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella, Prosciutto and fresh mozzarella sandwich, Cheese slice
What Makes it Special: Classic Italian deli and slice counter with house-made mozzarella, stacked heroes, and affordable pies locals have relied on for decades.
#4
Figlia
8
Figlia is a neighborhood Italian spot and wine bar focused on neo-Neapolitan pies and creative pastas in a compact, modern room just off Ditmars. The mood leans buzzy and social, with a short menu where a few pizzas and pastas get most of the attention from repeat diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe pizza, Spicy vodka pizza, Radiatore pasta
What Makes it Special: A compact pizza-and-pasta wine bar with neo-Neapolitan pies and modern pastas that feel designed for sharing.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Alba's Pizza & Restaurant is a long-running Ditmars institution pairing big New York–style pies with a full Italian-American menu and a comfortable, neighborhood-dining feel. Portions are generous, prices sit in the middle range, and locals treat it as an all-purpose spot for family dinners, slice runs, and casual celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Penne alla Vodka, Chicken Parm Hot Hero, Buffalo Chicken Pizza
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Ditmars pizzeria with a full red-sauce menu, big portions, and prices that still feel fair for the neighborhood.
7.9
Forno Siciliano is a Sicilian-focused restaurant on Ditmars where pizzas and housemade pastas sit beside a standout Lasagna alla Bolognese. Guests use it for relaxed, sit-down meals that feel more like a trattoria than a slice shop, especially when a baked pasta and a bottle of wine are the goal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna alla Bolognese, Stuffed Ravioli, Grilled Chicken with Hot Cherry Peppers
What Makes it Special: Sicilian-style kitchen where Lasagna alla Bolognese and other pastas headline a cozy dining room.
Bartolino's is a long-running Sicilian restaurant where old-school hospitality meets a big menu of pastas, chops, and seafood. It’s especially appealing for low-key dates that lean traditional, with many guests describing the experience as like eating in a friend’s dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mussels Posillipo, Black linguine with shrimp, Chicken Scarpariello
What Makes it Special: Sicilian comfort cooking in a warm, family-style dining room.
#8
Jack's Pizza
7.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Jack's Pizza is a corner slice shop near the train where families swing in for Sicilian squares, grandma slices, and hot heroes before or after local errands. It’s strictly casual, but fair pricing, quick service, and familiar flavors make it a dependable family fallback.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grandma Pizza, Sicilian Slice, Chicken Parm Hero
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood corner pizzeria with fast slices and kid-friendly heroes.
#9
Nonnas 1977
7.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Nonnas 1977 brings a decades-old square-slice tradition to 23rd Avenue, serving saucy pies, penne vodka, and classic parm platters in a casual, family-leaning setting. The Astoria outpost builds on the original 1977 recipe, giving local families another option for Italian comfort food that feels both nostalgic and new.
Must-Try Dishes:
Proud Mary Square Pizza, Penne Vodka, Chicken Parm
What Makes it Special: Square-slice specialists bringing a 1970s New York recipe to Astoria.