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15 Best Italian Restaurants in San Antonio

As the second-largest city in Texas, San Antonio draws millions of visitors annually. This city has plenty of historical sites to see, beautiful parks, and museums to visit with a rich colonial heritage. There is so much to do and see here that you’ll never run out of activities or attractions, although I have to say that what makes San Antonio special to me is the restaurant scene.

pasta in italian restaurant at san antonio texas

Whatever the reason you’re heading to this southern Texas city, planning ahead can save you a significant headache when trying to decide what to eat. If you think you’ll be craving Italian food while in San Antonio, you’re in luck.

Instead of browsing through pages and pages on Google, check out some of the best Italian restaurants in San Antonio.


Dough Pizzeria Napoletana

Multiple locations
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There are two locations of Dough Pizzeria Napoletana. One is on Blanco Road in northern San Antonio, and the other is on South Alamo Street downtown. Both are casual and modern Italian restaurants that were incredibly welcoming. I popped into the downtown location, and the exterior looks old-school, but the inside is more modern.

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana serves authentic, wood-fired pizzas. I love that they use locally sourced ingredients for their homemade dough, sauce, and toppings. They’re known for their pizza, but they offer appetizers, salads, and wine too. I ordered the prosciutto Crudo pizza, ricotta dip appetizer, and a glass of white wine. Everything was perfect.


Aldino at The Vineyard

1203 North Loop 1604 W at Blanco, San Antonio, TX 78258
Phone: 210-340-0000
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In the Vineyard Shopping Center in northern San Antonio is Aldino at the Vineyard. This warm and upscale Italian joint features dim lighting, white tablecloths, and stone accents throughout the interior and exterior.

Despite its upscale appearance, the atmosphere is rather casual and family-friendly. Aldino serves homemade pasta dishes, lamb chops, salads, pizzas, and other Italian dishes. I went there with some friends and noticed they had a signature jumbo meatball as an appetizer, so we had to try it.

It was huge and perfect for sharing. I went vegetarian for my entree and ordered eggplant parmesan which was to die for.


Piatti

Multiple locations
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You’ll find Piatti in Alamo Heights and near The University of Texas at San Antonio. The fact the owners were able to open up a second restaurant in the city goes to show you how much people love their food.

Piatti is a traditional Italian joint that has a warm atmosphere with staff who are experts about the food they serve. The menu at Piatti features antipasti, salads, pizza, traditional pasta dishes, and desserts. I started my meal with a glass of wine and the grilled portobello mushroom appetizer.

I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms, but I’d order these again and again. The seafood linguine stole the show, though. It had shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, and spicy lobster.


Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano

22211 I-10 West #1101, San Antonio, TX 78257
Phone: 210-696-2536
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Seven minutes north of Crownridge Canyon Park on I-10 West is Aldo’s, Ristorante Italiano. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a beautifully restored farmhouse. Inside this stunning converted farmhouse is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. It’s modern, with black tables, chairs, and concrete flooring throughout.

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Aldo’s is the perfect place to celebrate a milestone, have a date night, or simply treat yourself to a fine dining experience. The menu has all your favorite classic Italian dishes like bruschetta, spaghetti, and more. I decided to let my server pick my meal, and I ended up with the bucatini carbonara, and it was rich and prepared perfectly.


Luce Ristorante E Enoteca

11255 Huebner Rd #200, San Antonio, TX 78230
Phone: 210-561-9700
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In a shopping plaza in Huebner Oaks is Luce Ristorante E Enoteca. This beautiful Italian joint features classic Italian decor and light blue accents throughout. My favorite part about this restaurant, besides the food, is their outdoor patio. It’s filled with small tables with blue tablecloths and beautiful plants surrounding the area.

Luce Ristorante E Enoteca serves everything you could want in an Italian restaurant. All their pasta is handmade, and they have a little bit of everything. If you can make it in for a happy hour, you can enjoy cheaper wine, appetizers, and pizza. I managed to make it in and decided to go with their calabrese pizza. It was spicy but delicious. 


Paesanos 1604

3622 Paesanos Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78231
Phone: 210-493-1604
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A little less than five miles from The University of Texas San Antonio is Paesanos 1604. Locals rave about this refined and chic Italian restaurant. It has a classic Italian joint making with dim lighting, dark wood tables, and mellow yellow and cream walls. As refined as it is, the staff make you feel welcomed and are friendly.

Paesanos 1604 serves a combination of traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine. They have pizzas, pasta dishes, and signature Italian plates. I started my meal with a cup of crab soup and then ordered my entree. I normally choose a pasta dish, but I opted for their signature dish, veal parmigiana. Be sure to ask your server for wine recommendations based on what you order.


Capparelli’s On Main

2524 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 210-735-5757
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Minutes from downtown San Antonio in Midtown is Capparelli’s On Main. This beautiful Italian restaurant features bright lighting, brick walls, and the walls are filled with photographs and murals of famous Italian people throughout the years.

The restaurant is almost always filled, but the service is impeccable, so you shouldn’t have an issue getting a table. The first thing I noticed about the menu at Capparelli’s On Main is that they have a lot of options. They break the menu down by protein and type.

There are a number of fresh salads, seafood entrees, veal entrees, and more. My eyes went straight to their traditional favorite section. I went with the combo plate that comes with eggplant parmigiana, ravioli, and rigatoni.


Battalion

604 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-816-0088
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Right across from Hemisfair Park on South Alamo Street is Battalion. As one of San Antonio’s most popular Italian restaurants, you can expect to feel welcomed and have some of the best Italian cuisines in the city. The restaurant sits in a historic, restored firehouse, and the interior is elegant.

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Battalion serves authentic Italian cuisine from pasta dishes, antipasti, salad, and more. I started my meal out with their three-cheese meatballs, and I’m glad I did. My favorite dish for the night was the grilled corn cavatelli. It was a pasta dish with chili, lime, and other spices. You won’t want to miss their cocktail or wine list either.


Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Multiple locations
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Grimaldi’s is a chain pizzeria and Italian restaurant that’s worth checking out while you’re in San Antonio. There are four Grimaldi’s Pizzeria locations throughout the city. Each one features dark walls, red and white checkered tablecloths, and Italian memorabilia on the walls. The atmosphere is casual, and you’ll feel welcomed right away.

The menu at Grimaldi’s features pizza, calzones, and salads. I love this restaurant because you can choose a pizza or calzone recipe from the menu or create your own recipe. I decided to go with one of their chef’s pizza recipes. The white with garlic pizza was tasty, as was their prosciutto and arugula pie that I stole a bite from my friend’s pie.


La Focaccia Italian Grill

800 S Alamo St #154, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-223-5353
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In the heart of downtown San Antonio is La Focaccia Italian Grill. The restaurant has a lot of windows, allowing for natural light to get in. At night the place is lit with dim lighting and candles that add to the intimate ambiance. While the atmosphere is intimate, it’s still a somewhat casual restaurant.

La Focaccia Italian Grill menu has classic dishes like minestrone, mozzarella sticks, and plenty of pasta dishes. My friends and I had to order their fried calamari and shrimp cocktail to start. They were both delicious, and you could tell they were fresh. I wasn’t sure what to get for my entree, but my server sold me on their homemade beef lasagna. You can’t go wrong with this dish.


Nonna Osteria

401 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-224-8800
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Nonna Osteria is across the street from the San Antonio Convention Center on South Alamo Street. The owner wanted to open an Italian restaurant that was in remembrance of their Nonna (Italian for grandmother) and felt like having Sunday dinners with their family. The restaurant is modern on the inside and out.

While Nonna Osteria has a modern aesthetic, the dishes are traditional recipes from Northern Italy. They have a small selection of pizza, plenty of pasta dishes, and several appetizers to choose from. I started with the Caprese salad and a delicious glass of red wine before moving on to their lobster and pancetta ravioli. Everything was fabulous.


Guillermo’s

618 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: 210-223-5587
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Guillermo’s is less than half a mile from the Tobin Center for Performing Arts. This casual Italian eatery has a beautiful beer garden outside that’s perfect for sitting when the weather is nice. The inside is simple and features old-school San Antonio memorabilia. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you reach what looks like an older house with a beautiful bright yellow door.

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Guillermo’s has a little bit of everything. In addition to their pizza and other Italian dishes, they have burgers, sandwiches, and even tacos. One of the most exciting pizza recipes is their wing pie. It’s a pepperoni and sausage pie topped with your choice of lemon pepper or hot wings. It was delicious. Plus, their beer selection pairs well with everything on their menu.


Fratello’s Deli

2503 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: 210-444-0277
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In Westfort on Broadway is Fratello’s Deli. This spot is a market and deli that salutes past Italian immigrants who found a home in San Antonio. It’s a casual eatery that has concrete floors, wood tables, and a counter where you can order food and deli meats to take home with you. It’s a local favorite, and they love sharing their food with tourists.

Fratello’s Deli has an extensive menu. They have pasta dishes, hot and cold sandwiches, pizza, soup, and salad. They even have a children’s menu with simple plates. I was told I couldn’t go to Fratello’s without trying their garlic bread, and they were right. Other popular dishes include their fettuccine alfredo and hot Italian sausage with peppers and provolone cheese.


Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria

824 Afterglow St, San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone: 210-349-2060
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Eleven miles north of downtown San Antonio is Little Italy Restaurant and Pizzeria. This Italian restaurant has been a favorite in the community since 1983. The restaurant is resemblant of a classic or old-school Italian joint. The walls feature murals, and the tables have red and white checkered tablecloths. It’s been run by the Visocaros for three generations.

Little Italy Restaurant and Pizzeria has plenty of pasta dishes, pizza, and seafood plates. Their cheesy garlic bread and caesar salad were the best way to start off my dining experience. I chose their pasta shells stuffed with cheese, and my friend ordered the chicken parmigiana. Everything was perfect.


Tiu Steppi’s Osteria

9910 W Loop 1604 N #123, San Antonio, TX 78254
Phone: 210-688-9885
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Near the Braun’s Farm neighborhood of San Antonio is Tiu Steppi’s Osteria. It’s situated on West Loop 1604 and features twinkly lights on the outside. The interior features stonework and deep red walls. It’s a bustling restaurant that people of all ages will love. It’s perfect for either lunch or dinner.

Tiu Steppi’s Osteria breaks down its menu by pizza, protein source, and appetizers. While I couldn’t pop in when I was in town, I’ve only heard good things. People love their prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella for a starter, and their two most popular dishes are the chicken florentine and pasta primavera.


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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.

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