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.
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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 The Villages 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.
#9. Takis Greek and Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (97 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 13761 North US Hwy 441 The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Greek - Read more on Yelp
#8. Carrabba's Italian Grill
- Rating: 3.0/5 (112 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 650 US Hwy 441 North The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Seafood - Read more on Yelp
#7. RedSauce
- Rating: 3.5/5 (281 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 1000 Canal St. The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian - Read more on Yelp
#6. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (74 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 3680 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup - Read more on Yelp
#5. Prima Italian Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.5/5 (268 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 3660 Kiessel Road The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Steakhouses - Read more on Yelp
#4. Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (189 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 729 Kristine Way The Villages, Florida - Categories: Pizza, Italian - Read more on Yelp
#3. Mezza Luna
- Rating: 4.0/5 (149 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 243 Colony Blvd. The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Bars - Read more on Yelp
#2. Sammy Joe's Pizzeria Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (77 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 8760 Southeast 165th Mulberry Lane The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, Breakfast & Brunch, Chicken Wings - Read more on Yelp
#1. Havana Country Club Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (141 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 2484 Odell Cir The Villages, Florida - Categories: Italian, American, Seafood - 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.