Do you like Italian food but don’t always want to pay a high price? These days we want to save money, but our inner foodies needs some satisfaction right? Well here are the top Italian restaurants for every occasion and budget! Starting from the most economic to the most expensive. 

Smashing Tomato 

You will find the most value between half price bottles of wine on Thursday’s to their delicious pizza, salads, and pastas! When you walk in you are greeted by lovely aroma of the wood-fired oven. After placing your order you can grab a plate and drizzle olive oil, balsamic, and herbs and spices for dipping your bread!

Pasta Garage

The owners, Lesme Romero and Reinaldo Gonzalez had a love for Italian street food as well as fresh ingredients so combining both their backgrounds, Lexington Pasta was born! Visiting the Lexington Farmer’s market seeing all the fresh produce, they gained their inspiration to specialize in making handmade pasta using fresh local ingredients Kentucky has to offer. They offer many different varieties of pasta, sauces, and toppings. They also offer gluten free and vegan options plus a kid’s menu! You can take part in their Pasta 101 classes that will teach you how to make pasta and learn it’s origins, not to mention you get to take home some of what you make!

Bella Notte

Featuring pastas to wood-fire-grilled entrees served to you with olive oil and fresh oven baked bread. The olive tree in the center of the restaurant gives you a feel of dining “al fresco”. Between being centrally located to shopping and other activities in Lexington. From date-nights to girls night out or dinner with the whole family, this restaurant has become a landmark for many.

Italx

A twist on traditional Italian fare, you will find handmade pastas and Sicilian appetizers in this Mediterranean bistro. Along with a contemporary interior met with a wine list from all regions of Italy, cocktails made with Italian liqueurs and house-made ingredients. The X in Italx is for the balance between masculine and feminine which is shown in their food and design of the restaurant. 

Frank and Dino’s 

Influences of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin give you the old Hollywood feeling combined with the traditional southern Italian recipes transporting you back in time. Adding to the growing Italian food scene, Carlo Vaccarezza and John William’s bring a new Italian restaurant to the corner of Short and Mill Street. Whether it’s happy hour at the bar or enjoying a sit-down meal at the table I highly recommend ordering their handmade focaccia bread or their antipasto misto. With either a glass of wine or an Aperol Spritz to kick off your evening Italian style. 

Giuseppe’s

Being the oldest Italian restaurant in town has earned its place at the top. Giuseppe’s has been around for more than twenty years for a reason, between the parking lot always being full, live music every night, consistently great service and a menu full of delicious appetizers, entrees, drinks and desserts you can’t go wrong. Especially when it is a place where every member of the family can go and count on a nice evening.