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15 Best Italian Restaurants in Sacramento

Looking for a taste of Italy in Sacramento? Look no further! We’ve curated a list of the best Italian restaurants in town that will transport you to the streets of Rome or the shores of Sicily.

italian restaurants in sacramento serves spaghetti with meatballs

With their authentic flavors and warm hospitality, these restaurants are sure to satisfy your cravings for delicious Italian cuisine.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you on a culinary journey through Sacramento’s Italian food scene.

From traditional trattorias to modern Italian fusion, we’ve handpicked the top spots where you can indulge in mouthwatering pasta dishes, hearty risottos, and tantalizing tiramisu.

We understand that finding the perfect Italian restaurant can be a challenge, so we’ll provide you with detailed descriptions of each restaurant’s specialties, ambiance, and customer favorites.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night spot or a family-friendly trattoria, we’ve got you covered.

So, get ready to explore the flavors of Italy as we guide you to the best places to go for delicious Italian food in Sacramento. Buon appetito!


Cacio

7600 Greenhaven Dr #23, Sacramento, CA 95831
Phone: 916-399-9309
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Cacio
Source: Cacio

Cacio is an unassuming yet classy Italian establishment south of downtown Sacramento, near Garcia Bend Park and River Lake.

I think it’s the perfect place for an intimate, casual, yet romantic date night, where you can share a bottle of wine, a couple of tasty entrees, and a delectable dessert.

My partner and I will order a bottle of red if we’re going for meatball pasta or white if we’re opting for seafood that night, like their incredible salmon.

Either way, they have ane tensile wine list, so you’re sure to find something you love.

Make sure to finish your meal with their house-made chocolate ganache. It’s like nothing I’ve ever tried, so I get it every time I go!


Il Fornaio Sacramento

Wells Fargo Center, 400 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-446-4100
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Il Fornaio Sacramento
Source: Il Fornaio Sacramento

Il Fornaio is a popular upscale restaurant chain with a multitude of locations across California, but the one in Sacramento stands out to me as one of the best.

This Italian restaurant, located in the Wells Fargo Center near Crocker Park and the Crocker Art Museum, serves freshly made pasta, pizza, and other Italian eats.

I love the building, decorated with soft white curtains and lush, lit-up greenery in the patio area.

It makes eating there even more of a treat.

But in terms of food, they have great appetizers, such as the Insalata Regina with salmon.

Their butternut squash ravioli is also to die for!


Piatti

571 Pavilions Ln, Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone: 916-649-8885
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Piatti
Source: Piatti

Piatti has two locations — one in San Francisco and one in Sacramento.

The one in Sacramento is between the Sierra Oaks and Sierra Meadows area.

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I love this spot when I want authentic, traditional Italian eats.

The food is authentic, and the decor and vibe match quite well, with welcoming floral arrangements on the table, an aromatic open kitchen that exposes the stone-hearth oven, and a fountain in the patio area.

There are many excellent menu items, but I recommend the spinach and cheese ravioli, the cast iron king salmon, and the grilled pork chop with grilled peaches.


OBO’ Italian Table & Bar

3145 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-822-8720
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OBO' Italian Table & Bar
Source: OBO’ Italian Table & Bar

Next is OBO’ Italian Table & Bar, a spacious, welcoming counter-order spot near McKinley Park in the Med Center area.

OBO’ is an excellent choice for a group of friends when you want to make sure everyone will like something on the menu.

They have a wide array of dishes, from pasta to pizza to seafood to salads — all of which are made fresh.

I’m a huge fan of their shrimp spaghetti pasta, but many of my friends can’t get enough of their wood-fired pizzas.

Take your pick, or simply order various dishes and eat family-style!


Sampino’s Towne Foods

1607 F St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-441-2372
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Sampino's Towne Foods
Source: Sampino’s Towne Foods

Sampino’s Towne Foods is a deli, but it has an impressive prepared food section with some of the best Italian food in Sacramento.

It’s located right next to Washington Park in the Mansion Flats area, and you can order everything from lasagna to chicken parmesan to sandwiches.

Still, my personal favorite is their spaghetti with meatballs.

The sauce is so flavorful, and the meatballs are huge! I also love that their sandwiches come on garlic bread — it’s such a nice touch.

If you want to enjoy excellent Italian food but don’t want to spend a lot of money at a traditional sit-down restaurant, try Sampino’s out, and you won’t be disappointed.


Anthony’s Italian Cuisine

1518 W El Camino Ave, Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: 916-564-6718
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Anthony's Italian Cuisine
Source: Anthony’s Italian Cuisine

Anthony’s Italian Cuisine is a cozy, family-run Italian restaurant that will make you feel right at home.

I love it when food tastes homemade, and that’s what you get at Anthony’s — because it is!

Anthony’s is centered between Northgate Park and Discovery Park, north of downtown Sacramento.

And not only is their food delicious, but they also give you huge portion sizes, which is perfect for a family-style Italian meal.

I like going with a sizable group of people so we can try out a range of dishes, including but not limited to the eggplant parmesan, scratch-made lasagna, and fettuccine alfredo.

Their garlic bread is also out of this world, so make sure you don’t go when you’re on any low-carb diet!


La Trattoria Bohemia

3649 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-455-7803
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La Trattoria Bohemia
Source: La Trattoria Bohemia

Next is La Trattoria Bohemia, one of the most intriguing Italian restaurants in all of Sacramento.

You can find La Trattoria in the eastern downtown area near McKinley park, and once you get in, you’ll find yourself immersed in gorgeous smells of both Italian and Czech dishes.

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I never knew how delicious it would be to order chicken schnitzel or beef goulash with a “side” of spinach ravioli.

But I appreciate the European blend they offer on the menu here.

Plus, the space is quaint and eclectic, inspiring more out-of-the-box choices for me.


OneSpeed

4818 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819
Phone: 916-706-1748
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OneSpeed
Source: OneSpeed

OneSpeed, located in East Sacramento near East Lawn Memorial Park, serves a range of Italian plates.

However, for me, it’s the spot you go when you’re looking for creatively inspired pizza. This easy-going restaurant has numerous menu items I adore.

But their House-made Italian Sausage Pizza is probably my favorite.

It comes with red onions, pepperoni, mozzarella, oregano, heirloom tomatoes, and parmesan.

And if you’re a big fan of meat and cheese, you must try their calzone carnivore, which includes pepperoni, bacon, Canadian bacon, and sausage, as well as three different kinds of cheese!

Alternatively, if you’re the opposite of a big fan of meat and cheese, they have a spicy eggplant vegan pizza just waiting for you.


Taste of Tuscany

7753 Roseville Rd a, Sacramento, CA 95842
Phone: 916-727-7055
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Taste of Tuscany
Source: Taste of Tuscany

Taste of Tuscany is a traditionally-inspired Italian restaurant in a Roseville strip mall.

The vibe is casual, so you can take friends or family to eat there without worrying about dressing super fancy.

However, even at this quite casual spot, you can still order a glass of wine or beer to go with your meal.

They have all the basics you can think of — carbonara, pesto, spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, etc. — plus bread steaks and flatbread to help you soak up the extra sauce.


The Old Spaghetti Factory

Multiple locations
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The Old Spaghetti Factory
Source: The Old Spaghetti Factory

The Old Spaghetti Factory is a chain restaurant, but it’s one of the best around when it comes to classic Italian cuisine.

There are a few locations in the Sacramento area, but I usually go to the one in Midtown near Raley Field.

This spot is especially great for large parties because it offers a family-style dining option with soup or salad and bread for the table.

The family-style dining option also gets you unlimited refills on select dishes, which is awesome if you have major carb cravings, as I do.

Some of my favorites from The Old Spaghetti Factory include the spaghetti with meat sauce, the chicken Parmesan, and their white clam sauce on honestly anything.


Zinfandel Grille

2384 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone: 916-485-7100
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Zinfandel Grille
Source: Zinfandel Grille

If you’re looking for a slightly more upscale option that still feels relaxed and easy-going, Zinfandel Grille — in Sierra Oaks — is for you.

They have both Italian and American eats, which makes it great for a group with different tastes and preferences.

Their Italian dishes were yummy, but their American eats were also incredible, including the perfectly cooked Kobe steak, clam chowder, and swordfish dinner.


Adamo’s Restaurant

2107 P St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-440-9611
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Adamo's Restaurant
Source: Adamo’s Restaurant

Adamo’s Restaurant, in Midtown, close to Truitt Bark Park, is a quick and casual spot.

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But don’t let the small space and informal brick walls fool you — their pasta is incredible.

You really can’t go wrong here, but I love their bolognese and get it almost every time I go.

However, the eggplant parmesan is also a top favorite of mine, especially when I order it with the handmade pappardelle pasta.

If you’re not in the mood for pasta, try their salmon piccata instead.

And since the space is small, don’t hesitate to order takeout if necessary.


Allora – Italian Restaurant

5215 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819
Phone: 916-538-6434
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Allora - Italian Restaurant
Source: Allora – Italian Restaurant

Allora is one of the best Italian restaurants in Sacramento because it is fancy without being overly pricey, well-designed without being too loud, intimate without being stuffy, and, of course, absolutely delicious.

This is the perfect place to take your date if you want to impress them but also want to afford to get several things off the menu to share.

When they offer the tasting menu, it’s five courses and ends up being a bit more on the pricey side, but it’s worth it (and reasonable, in my opinion, for what you get).

The menu is seasonal and rotating, so you’ll be in for a new treat each time, but I’ve tended to enjoy the oysters and sea scallops the most.


Vinoteca | Restaurant & Bar

3535 Fair Oaks Blvd C, Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: 916-487-1331
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Vinoteca
Source: Vinoteca

Vinoteca is a friendly, cheerful Italian joint on Fair Oaks Blvd near the American River.

You can get a lot of modern Italian eats here like meatball pasta and gorgonzola gnocchi.

But if you can only order one thing, I would suggest choosing the lasagna.

It’s one of the best lasagnas I’ve had.

I also appreciate that Vinoteca provides dipping sauces along with their bread.

You’ll get balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, and basil sauces to pick and choose from.


Chicago Fire

2416 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-443-0440
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Chicago Fire
Source: Chicago Fire

If you’re craving Chicago-style pizza while in Sacramento, you’re in luck.

Chicago Fire offers just that — Chicago-style pizza right in downtown Sacramento, specifically in the Midtown area.

I’m a huge fan of Chicago Fire’s pies because they are almost as thick as traditional deep dish pizzas and so close to the real thing in terms of taste.

It’s definitely the best deep-dish pizza you can get in the area and will satisfy your cravings.

Chicago Fire also offers other menu items, such as wings, sandwiches, and tasty baked artichokes.


Sacramento has a lot to give in terms of cultural, urban, and historical exploration, and food is a significant aspect of both the tourism industry and everyday residential life.

If you’re in love with Italian restaurants and were worried about whether Sacramento has enough Italian dishes to enjoy, I hope this long list of the best Italian restaurants in Sacramento has eased any concerns!

Looking for some Sacramento sushi spots? Check out our favorites right here!

And if you’re familiar with Sacramento, did we leave a restaurant out of this list?

Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.