Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Lexington by diners

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 Lexington 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.

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#29. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 1.0/5 (12 reviews)
– Address: 2470 Palumbo Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#28. Sbarro

– Rating: 2.0/5 (7 reviews)
– Address: 3379 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Fast food, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#27. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 2.5/5 (19 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 3775 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#26. Sir Pizza of KY

– Rating: 2.5/5 (26 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 129 East Reynolds Road crossroads plaza Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#25. Johnny Carino’s

– Rating: 3.0/5 (145 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2333 Sir Barton Way Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
– Read more on Yelp

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#24. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

– Rating: 3.0/5 (129 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3385 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Salad, Soup
– Read more on Yelp

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#23. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 3.0/5 (31 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 2200 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#22. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 3.0/5 (24 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2195A Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, fast food
– Read more on Yelp

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#21. Giovanni’s Pizza

– Rating: 3.5/5 (50 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 128 East New Circle Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
– Read more on Yelp

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#20. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 3.5/5 (27 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 4204 Saron Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#19. Paisano’s Italian

– Rating: 3.5/5 (54 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2417 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Bars, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

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#18. Puccini’s Pizza Pasta – Boston Rd

– Rating: 3.5/5 (70 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 3801 Dylan Place Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian, Gluten-Free
– Read more on Yelp

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#17. Giovanni’s Pizza-Tates Creek

– Rating: 3.5/5 (39 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 4214 Saron Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#16. West Coast Gourmet Pizza

– Rating: 3.5/5 (38 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 2473 Fortune Drive Ste 100 Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#15. Sutton’s

– Rating: 3.5/5 (215 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 110 North Locust Hill Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, American
– Read more on Yelp

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#14. Pie Five Pizza

– Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 3401 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pizza, Vegan
– Read more on Yelp

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#13. Frank & Dino’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
– Address: 271 West Short St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
– Read more on Yelp

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#12. Joe Bologna’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (313 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 120 West Maxwell St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
– Read more on Yelp

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#11. Fazoli’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 1840 Alysheba Way Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, fast food, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#10. Carrabba’s Italian Grill

– Rating: 4.0/5 (115 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1881 Plaudit Place Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

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#9. Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders

– Rating: 4.0/5 (101 reviews)
– Price level: $
– Address: 1590 Leestown Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian, Delis
– Read more on Yelp

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#8. Jets Pizza

– Rating: 4.0/5 (26 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3268 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Pizza, Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#7. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

– Rating: 4.0/5 (19 reviews)
– Address: 3094 Helmsdale Place Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Soup, Salad
– Read more on Yelp

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#6. Pasta Garage Italian Cafe

– Rating: 4.0/5 (399 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 962 Delaware Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Gluten-Free, Vegan
– Read more on Yelp

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#5. ItalX

– Rating: 4.0/5 (126 reviews)
– Address: 160 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#4. Bella Notte

– Rating: 4.0/5 (524 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3715 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian
– Read more on Yelp

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#3. Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano

– Rating: 4.5/5 (228 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 4456 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian, Pasta Shops, Beer Bar
– Read more on Yelp

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#2. Damiano

– Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
– Address: 503 South Upper St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Beer Bar, Italian, Pizza
– Read more on Yelp

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#1. Puccini’s Pizza Pasta – Lexington

– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 833 Chevy Chase Place Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Italian
– 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.