SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — 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.

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 Springfield 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.

#22. Archie’s Italian Eatery

– Rating: 2.5/5 (60 reviews)
– Address: 1410 East Republic Road Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#21. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 3.0/5 (35 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 2055 East Independence Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

#20. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

– Rating: 3.0/5 (137 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3105 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
– Read more on Yelp

#19. Nearly Famous Deli & Pasta House

– Rating: 3.0/5 (55 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2708 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Delis
– Read more on Yelp

#18. Pasta Express

– Rating: 3.0/5 (31 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 3025 West Republic Road Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#17. Pasta Express and Catering

– Rating: 3.5/5 (14 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 321 East Battlefield Road Ste 100 Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#16. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 3.5/5 (29 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 2137 North Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, Chicken Wings
– Read more on Yelp

#15. The Hill Italian Restaurant

– Rating: 3.5/5 (131 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 600 East Battlefield Road Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#14. Bambinos Cafe on Battlefield

– Rating: 3.5/5 (115 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2810 East Battlefield Road Ste D Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Cafes, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

#13. Rocco’s Pizza South Springfield

– Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
– Address: 4315 South National Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
– Read more on Yelp

#12. Pasta Express

– Rating: 4.0/5 (30 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 3250 East Battlefield St. Ste A Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#11. Nonna’s Italian Cafe

– Rating: 4.0/5 (170 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 306 South Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Seafood, American
– Read more on Yelp

#10. The Big Slice

– Rating: 4.0/5 (215 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 1450 East Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Pizza, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#9. Bruno’s Italian Restaurant

– Rating: 4.0/5 (141 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 416 South Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#8. Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders

– Rating: 4.0/5 (45 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 2856 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Pizza, Salad, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#7. Rocco’s Pizza

– Rating: 4.0/5 (73 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 834 East Division St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

#6. Gilardi’s Ristorante

– Rating: 4.0/5 (118 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 820 East Walnut St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#5. Bambinos Cafe on Delmar

– Rating: 4.0/5 (264 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1141 East Delmar St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Soup, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

#4. Nicola’s Ristorante

– Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3631 East Sunshine St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#3. Basilico Italian Cafe

– Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
– Address: 306 East Commercial St. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Cafes
– Read more on Yelp

#2. Avanzare Italian Dining

– Rating: 4.5/5 (136 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 1908 South Glenstone Ave. Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

#1. Retro Metro

– Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
– Address: 2150 West Republic Road Springfield, Missouri
– Categories: Italian, Burgers
– 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.