For some, the perfect Italian restaurant evokes Lady and the Tramp and their pile of spaghetti with meatballs. Others prefer to get back to the roots of Italian cuisine and explore the offerings of different regions. For either of these or anything in between, Atlanta has the spot for you. With local chains like Provino’s and Ippolito’s providing consistently respectable Italian across the Metro Area, these other gems show off the variety and creativity of favorite local chefs.
SOTTO SOTTO 313 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 523-6678
The sleek and chic space at Sotto Sotto portends both the superior food and the coolness of the service. If you are willing to overlook a staff that may or may not care about your experience, the fare is worth the trip. Sotto Sotto offers the city’s only perfect risotto; Risotto Mantecato--with caramelized onions and aged balsamic--is divine. Other menu favorites include the seared scallop starter and the whole roasted fish. Be sure to save room for dessert; the chocolate soup is the love child of creamy hot cocoa and a melted candy bar.
Estimated Price PP $30-50 pp
LA TAVOLA TRATTORIA 992 Virginia Ave, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30306 (404) 873-5430
La Tavola is a refreshing look at Italian cuisine, reminding the diner that there’s more to this complex cuisine than spaghetti and meatballs. Featuring dishes typical of Southern Italy, the menu offers both light dishes like swordfish picatta and rich favorites like manicotti with beef, veal and pancetta. In addition to their dinner menu, La Tavola also has an Italian-inspired Sunday brunch, which is a coveted commodity in Intown neighborhoods. Egg “cannelloni” and frittata exemplify this Fifth Group restaurant’s creative mix of quotidian brunch and Italian elements. At any meal, be sure to save room for any of their dolci offerings, as they are all house made and the perfect ending to your experience.
Estimated Price PP $35-50
ALFREDO’S 1989 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE,Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 876-1380
Hours: M-Th 5-11 p.m., Fri-Sat 5-11:30 p.m. Sun 5-10 p.m.
If your idea of an Italian restaurant involves dimly candlelit rooms, Dean and Frank playing in the background, and effusive service, Alfredo’s is the old school place for you. From the first flourish with which you are seated through the last cappuccino, you will be doted on and stuffed by the staff. Alfredo’s is seriously old school, so stick with the basics like spaghetti, veal saltimbocca or eggplant parmesan, for the best quality. Don’t skip the giardiniera that appears on the table; it’s house made and perfectly pickled. With a full bar and excellent wine list, you will find the perfect compliment to your meal.
Estimated Price PP $20-35
NINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1931 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 874-6505
Only buildings away from Alfredo’s sits Nino’s. These two are archrivals in the hearts of many Atlantans and in the ongoing fight of which is the city’s quintessential Italian restaurant. Perhaps this is a contest never to be settled with the patrons as the beneficiaries. Nino’s staff is warm and welcoming, their menu vast, and their wine list superb. With traditional dishes at the core of its menu, Nino’s also dabbles in the more upscale. The kitchen boasts a wide variety of seafood and veal dishes which are often difficult to find, especially done so well, in the South.
Estimated Price PP $20-35
FIGO PASTA / OSTERIA DEL FIGO
OSTERIA DEL FIGO 1210 Howell Mill Rd.,Atlanta, GA 30318 Tel 404.351.3700
FIGO PASTA 1170 B Collier Rd.,Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 351-9667
Hours: M-F 11:30-9:30, Sat 4:30-9:30,Sun 4:00-9:30
Figo locations are popping up all over the city. Owners Mirko di Giacomantonio and Sandro Romagnoli have hit upon the perfect recipe for pasta success in Atlanta. Their mix and match pasta and sauce menu is both delicious and affordable. For those who are pairing phobic, combinations are suggested on the menu. All of their pastas, from gemelli to pappardelle, are house made and the perfect vehicle for the array of sauces. Look for usual sauce offerings of Pomodoro and Bolognese sauces but experiment with the mushroom, shrimp or lamb and olive. Weekly specials, excellent salad and antipasti, and desserts perk up the basic pairings.
Estimated Price PP $10-15
OSTERIA 832 832 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306, 404.897.1414
Hours: Monday 5 PM - 10 PM, Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 AM - 10 PM, Friday - Saturday 11:30 AM - 11 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM - 10 PM
On North Highland Avenue, it’s easy to breeze right past Osteria 832 without a second thought. However, with its own parking plus terrific lunch and weekly specials, it’s an ideal place for a quick bite or “real” meal with a group. Lunch is counter service with sandwiches, salads, and a limited offering of pizzas and pastas on the menu. Dinner is expanded, with a selection of grilled meats and more of their signature Italian fare available. The pizzas are all excellent and true to Neapolitan style. The salads are lightly dressed and simple accompaniments to the many entrees.
Estimated Price PP $10-15
FRATELLI DI NAPOLI
Buckhead 2101 Tula Street NW Suite B, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 351-1533
Roswell 928 Canton Street,Roswell, Georgia 30075 (770) 642-9917
Hours: Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Fratelli di Napoli boasts the original family-style Italian menu in Atlanta, despite the mass popularity of their chain restaurant competition. Both Fratelli locations are intimate and charming, with friendly but professional staff. Being family style, you have the chance to sample many dishes at once but can also face the danger of ordering too much. Wait staff is quick to suggest menu pairings, appropriate amounts for your party, and wines. Many items come in half sizes for smaller parties or ambitious individuals. There is also a five course, prix fixe, chef’s menu available to parties of 10 or more.
Hours: M-Th 11:00-10:30, F 11:00-12:00, Sat 5:00-12:00 Sun 12:00-10:00
Only a block up from the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Baraonda is ideal for a pre or post-show meal. With a litany of traditional Neapolitan pizzas, from Margherita to Quattro Stagione, there is one for every taste. They also offer terrific antipasti, salads, and pastas. For the heartier appetite, a selection of meaty entrees from the grill are available at dinner. If you’d rather just drop in and ogle the dreamy wait staff, Baraonda is a fun spot for a glass of wine, a snack of calamari or a pizza to split, and watching the Midtown nightlife pass.
With a menu that changes seasonally and a wine list that updates monthly, Ciao Bella is not your typical Buckhead restaurant. With more substance and less glitz that other neighborhood joints, you can cozy up with a date or group of friends and forget the frantic pace of Pharr Road outside. Pastas stick with the traditional offerings, with ravioli that changes daily. For the South Beach Diet crowd, Ciao Bella has a “Secondi” menu of meats and fish cooked to perfection, including beef tenderloin, chicken marsala, and a “zuppa” of seafood.
The Top List of Best Italian - Atlanta, GA