- Q: What types of Italian restaurants can be found in Dallas?
- A: Although Dallas is thousands of miles away from Italy, there are scores of authentic restaurants scattered throughout the city that serve all of the best Italian classics. The city boasts upscale Italian restaurants that are perfect for corporate events, wedding rehearsal dinners, and other special outings as well as fast food-style joints that serve up pizza by the slice with a short wait time and a laidback atmosphere. New York-style Italian restaurants, which serve the types of dishes found in New York's Little Italy, also abound.
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1. Adelmo's Ristorante
Located in the heart of Dallas, Adelmo's Ristorante is a fine Italian restaurant that got its start nearly 30 years ago. Its founders, Eliza and Adelmo Banchetti, used elements of their Mediterranean and Italian heritage to create this popular restaurant in 1989. Adelmo's dazzles visitors by using Mediterranean spices and herbs in its signature dishes. All menu items are made fresh to order and can be paired with exquisite wines. Adelmo's Old World feel also accounts for its popularity: Couples and families love the exciting and romantic atmosphere fostered at this high-end restaurant.
5450 West Lovers lane, suite 225, Dallas, Texas 75209, Phone: 214-559-0325
2. Saint Rocco's at Trinity Groves
Saint Rocco's at Trinity Groves is an authentic Little Italy-style restaurant in Dallas. With its unique blend of American and Italian flavors, Saint Rocco's is a popular option for catering and evenings out with friends or family. Menu items include meats, pastas, fresh Italian appetizers, all kinds of classic pasta dishes, and delicious soups. The restaurant also serves scrumptious desserts like ricotta cheesecake, banana pudding, and cannoli. Saint Rocco's has an extensive wine list and a robust catering menu. Visitors can make a reservation online or over the phone for large groups.
3011 Gulden Lane, Dallas, Texas, 75212, Phone: 469-320-9707
3. Bugatti Ristorante
This high-end restaurant serves authentic Italian dinners, lunches, and fine wines. Lasagna, fettuccine, linguine, seafood, soups, and salads are among Bugatti Ristorante's main menu items. A variety of white wines, red wines, and beers are available alongside this fine cuisine. At the bar guests can order specialty drinks that are mixed by Tony, Bugatti's expert bar tender. The restaurant, which boasts enough seating for 224 people, is also suitable for hosting parties, corporate events, family reunions, and other gatherings. Lastly, the company offers catering options that are a blend of Bugatti's fine cuisine and its exceptional customer service.
3802 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75220, Phone: 214-350-2470
4. Campisi's
Known for treating every guest like family, Campisi's runs several restaurants throughout North Texas. Founded in 1946 by the Campisi family, the restaurant began as a “pizza pie” joint and eventually evolved into a full-fledged Italian eatery. Campisi's offers traditional dining options as well as banquets for large parties. The banquet rooms at Campisi's Dallas locations have seating for 75 to 200 people. The banquet options include access to the buffet, which is filled with classic Italian appetizers, indulgent entrees, sweet desserts, and a variety of wines and beers. Campisi's also sets up beautiful spreads of appetizers, entrees, and drinks for weddings, parties, and business gatherings.
1520 Elm Street, Suite 111, Dallas, Texas 75201, Phone: 214-752-0141
5. Jimmy's Food Store
This local Italian grocer has been operated by the DiCarlo family for more than 50 years. Since its founding, the store has gone through several challenging periods—in 2004, a fire burned the entire building to the ground. Rebuilt in November 2005, Jimmy's Food Store is now a one-stop shop for all things Italian. The store prides itself on having a wide selection of authentic meats, cheeses, baked goods, grains, and herbs. It also has its own restaurant, where guests can order sub sandwiches prepared with fresh Italian ingredients along with tasty salads. For people who can't easily visit Dallas, Jimmy's sells some of its popular products in an online store. Jimmy's also offers free wine tastings every Saturday.
4901 Brian Street, Dallas, Texas 75206, Phone: 214-823-6180
6. Kenny's Italian Kitchen
At Kenny's Italian Kitchen, guests can dine on authentic Southern Italian-American food. Modeled after the food found in the Little Italy communities of Boston and New York, Kenny's Italian Kitchen serves up seafood, veal, spaghetti and meatballs, linguine and other common Italian meals. The restaurant has a classic Italian feel with red-checkered tablecloths, dark wood furniture, and black and white photos of family, friends, and restaurant guests. On Sunday nights, Kenny's Italian Kitchen has its Dollar Meatball Madness event, where guests vie to see who can eat the most Italian meatballs. If you want to enjoy some free meatballs, try to beat the record of eating 21 meatballs in one sitting.
5100 Beltline Road, Dallas, Texas 75254, Phone: 972-661-9380
7. Lucia
Located in the trendy Bishop Arts District, Lucia is a small chef-owned Italian restaurant. Its specialties are pasta and handcrafted salumis, which are Italian cold cut sandwiches that are often made with pork. Other items on the menu include foie gras-stuffed prunes, petite oysters with dill, veal tenderloin tartare, and ricotta. For dessert, guests can enjoy freshly made pot rosemary de crème, toasted pain au lait, and lemon tarts with whipped crème. The cozy restaurant contains 14 tables, so it is wise to make a reservation online (or by phone for larger groups) so that your spot is guaranteed.
287 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, TX 75208, Phone: 214-948-4998
8. Nonna
Nonna is a high-end restaurant known for its authentic Italian food. Nestled in the Highland Park neighborhood, Nonna has a seasonal menu that varies depending on the ingredients that are available locally throughout the year. The menu is filled with artisanal salumis, pizzas, and pastas. Many of the dishes are cooked on a large wood-burning stove. Nonna offers a wide selection of wine and desserts, so guests are sure to leave full and satisfied. Visitors can make a reservation online or over the phone. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday to Saturday each week, while lunch is served at Nonna on Fridays.
4115 Lomo Alto, Dallas, Texas 75219, Phone: 214-521-1800
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