The Best Italian Restaurants in Dallas
Handmade pasta in Bishop Arts, red-sauce theatre in the Design District, and the Knox-Henderson room doing uni carbonara — the Dallas Italian rooms worth booking.
The best Italian restaurant in Dallas is Lucia, the Bishop Arts handmade-pasta room that holds both a James Beard Semifinalist nod and a Michelin Bib Gourmand — and Carbone in the Design District is the one to book when you want the full Italian-American production. Dallas Italian splits three ways: the small pasta rooms that book out weeks ahead, the red-sauce houses built for a night out, and the Neapolitan pizza counters. The list below covers all three, each room scored and verified by Dim Hour, with the dish that actually justifies the reservation.
A note on booking: the top of this list is genuinely hard to get into — several of these run on Resy and release tables on a rolling window, so plan ahead rather than walking up.
Lucia
The Bishop Arts benchmark and the highest-scored Italian room in the city. The kitchen is built around handmade tagliatelle and a braised short rib, with a seasonal antipasti board to open. A small room on Resy — book early.
Carbone
The Design District outpost of the Italian-American institution, and the full theatrical version: tableside Caesar alla ZZ, the spicy rigatoni, veal parmigiana, and a ribeye Diana finished in front of you. Resy, and it goes fast.
Mister Charles
A French-Italian room in Knox-Henderson working at the fine-dining end — foie gras croquette, uni shells carbonara, whole Dover sole, and a lamb loin Wellington. OpenTable.
Fachini
Highland Park Italian-American, focused rather than sprawling: the chicken parmigiana is the order, and the tiramisu is the way out. Resy.
Barsotti's
Oak Lawn red-sauce done properly — linguini shrimp scampi, lasagna bolognese, spaghetti and meatballs, and pasta made in house. Resy.
Lions Den
An Uptown room for people who read the pasta section first: garganelli with prosciutto and English peas, agnolotti with oxtail and leeks, bucatini with clams, tagliatelle bolognese. Resy.
Partenope Ristorante
Downtown, and the pick when you want Naples rather than New Jersey — pizza napoletana and southern Italian specialties. Resy.
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza
The Oak Lawn pizza counter on the list for one reason: the Star Luca. Also a burrata bar, the Star Gavino, and a straight margherita. Walk-in.
What is the best Italian restaurant in Dallas?
Where can I get handmade pasta in Dallas?
What is the best Italian-American restaurant in Dallas?
Where is the best Neapolitan pizza in Dallas?
Which Dallas Italian restaurants are hardest to book?
Can you walk in to any of these?
What neighborhoods have the best Italian food in Dallas?
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in Dallas?
Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all Dallas restaurants →