Are you looking for the best Italian food in the Woodlands? We’ve assembled a guide to the restaurants that serve the best we’ve found in the Woodlands area. If you’re looking for the best Italian restaurant in the Woodlands, you can start your search right here.
Our criteria is simple: Who makes the most delicious food? Our guide is based around the Woodlands, but we’ll venture outside the immediate area if the food is worth the drive… and we found some that is.
In each section, restaurants are listed in alphabetical order; they are not ranked within the section.
(Updated September 2024. Originally published in 2017.)
The Best Italian Restaurants in the Woodlands
The coastal cuisine of Italy in a romantic, lakeside setting
Azzurro Italian Costal Cuisine
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best Italian🥇 Best Seafood
Azzurro brings the cuisine of coastal Italy to Texas, and does so with verve and style. From the beautifully appointed lakeside dining room (outside seating is available as well) to the polished, professional service to the skillfully executed cuisine, Azzurro exceeds expectations. The kitchen sings with fresh seafood preparations. We’d happily make a meal from the stellar Octopus Carpaccio, the soulful House Smoked Salmon, and the lush Pesce Crudo. But don’t miss the handmade pastas; the Mafaldine Braised Beef Cheeks was one of the best pastas we’ve sampled this year. It’s another hit for the Orioli family, who are spreading their Italian vision across the Woodlands. Upscale casual atmosphere, valet parking.
$$$ | Italian and Seafood
Family-Run Small Business, Full Bar, Good Desserts, Outdoor Dining, Romantic, Scenic View, and Upscale
1950 Hughes Landing Blvd #1900 | The Woodlands 77381
281-310-6662 |
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Classic Italian, prepared skillfully from scratch
Nona’s Italian Grill
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best ItalianFoodies in search of outstanding Italian food have a tucked away spot to try. Chef owned and relocated to the Woodlands, Nona’s Italian Grill shows the kind of carefully crafted cuisine that is the hallmark of a memorable restaurant. From classics like the excellent Chicken Parmigiana to creative combinations featuring pastas, seafood, and outstanding steaks, we were impressed by quality of the ingredients, the solid execution, and the classic flavors of the signature sauces.
Located in a strip center on Highway 242 just west of I-45, Nona’s modest yet upscale setting is cozy, quiet, and perfect for date night. Nona’s moving to the Woodlands triggered the Italian food renaissance that totally remade the cuisine’s footprint in our area. Full bar, professional service.
$$ and $$$ | Italian
Family-Run Small Business, Full Bar, Happy Hour, HRW2022, HRW2023, Live Music, Romantic, and Upscale
3091 College Park Dr #185 | The Woodlands 77384
936-224-3132 |
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Handmade contemporary Italian cuisine
Papa Amadeos
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best ItalianDon’t be fooled by the modest strip center location. Papa Amadeos crafts some of the finest Italian food in the Woodlands area. Chef Arturo Huerta’s meticulous personal approach delivers delicious results. Everything is handmade in house; from the pastas to the balanced, classic sauces, to the more innovative dishes featured in the evenings. The classics are beautifully executed; we keep getting drawn in by the flawless chicken parmigiana and the light, pillowy gnocchi. Well priced, curated wine list.
$$ | Italian
Catering, Family-Run Small Business, Live Music, Private Room, Romantic, and Upscale
432 Sawdust Rd. | Spring 77380
Behind Herb & Beet
713-389-5975 |
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Upscale Italian in a cozy, romantic setting
Via Emilia
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best ItalianGreat upscale Italian food can be tough to come by in the Woodlands, but Via Emilia is an exception to this rule. Tucked away in a strip center on Kuykendahl and Woodlands Parkway, Via Emilia prepares northern Italian specialities with verve and aplomb, and the gracious staff provides flawless service in the lovely dining room. Skillfully prepared seafood, meats, and pastas are great choices, and be sure to save room for the stellar limoncello cake.
$$$ | Italian
Full Bar, Happy Hour, Live Music, Private Room, Romantic, and Upscale
10700 Kuykendahl Rd | The Woodlands 77381
281-465-9555 |
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Modern Italian in a chic, upscale setting
Zanti Cucina Italiana
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best Italian🥇 Best Pizza
Upscale Italian cuisine comes to the Northwest Woodlands with the opening of Zanti Cucina Italiana, the brainchild of three brothers who bring extensive food & beverage background to this new endeavor. Outstanding housemade pastas, Neapolitan pizzas, and strict attention to detail are the draws here. You don’t have to drive downtown for a great Italian meal anymore… or even to the front of the Woodlands.
$$ and $$$ | Italian and Pizza
Full Bar, Happy Hour, Live Music, Private Room, and Upscale
10000 Research Forest Drive | The Woodlands 77354
281-259-1300 |
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Recommended Italian Restaurants in the Woodlands
Reliable Italian food in a family-friendly setting
Adriatic Cafe
🥈 Recommended ItalianAdriatic Cafe has brought their good quality, affordable Italian cuisine to the Woodlands area with their new location in Shenandoah. Guests will discover a spotless, expansive dining area, a secluded bar, and a slate of well-prepared southern Italian specialties that offer a good meal at a reasonable price. We’re fan of this family’s approach; it’s the kind of Italian food that many Texans grew up eating. If you’re dining with kids, this is a great option.
$$ | Italian
Family-Run Small Business, Full Bar, Happy Hour, On the Radar, and Outdoor Dining
17825 I-45, Shenandoah | Shnendoah 77385
936-319-3300 |
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Family-run Italian in a tidy strip center location
Italian Cafe
🥈 Recommended ItalianFettucine alfredo is a dish found on almost every Italian restaurant’s menu. Few make it as well as Italian Cafe; this one standout dish demonstrates the care that goes into preparing every dish at this cozy Spring cafe. All the dishes show a distinct New York inspiration, from the excellent pastas to the veal, chicken, and seafood entrees.
Service is warm and friendly at this family-run operation. They’ve been hard at work since 1989. You’re likely to see owner Leo Coronel and his wife Zoly checking on tables and greeting guests. Check ’em out.
$$ | Italian
Family-Run Small Business
19620 Kuykendahl Rd | Spring 77379
281-528-2919 |
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Steaks and Italian in a surprisingly fashionable hideaway
Johnny’s Italian Steak House
🌟 — Notable in the Woodlands area.
🥈 Recommended Italian🥈 Recommended Steak
We never expected to find good food in a hotel off Research east of I-45. So we were pleasantly surprised by Johnny’s Italian Steak House, a mid-priced steakhouse that also features some very good Italian dishes. We’re particularly fond of their happy hour offerings – well priced appetizers perfect for sharing.
Johnny’s kitchen does an outstanding job turning out steaks that won’t break the budget; the result is a wonderfully upscale meal without the upscale prices.
Service is attentive without being intrusive and the room is beautiful and cozy, making it perfect for a getaway with that special someone. Johnny’s demonstrates that you don’t have to pay a lot to enjoy a quality steak in a beautiful setting.
$$ and $$$ | Italian and Steaks
Catering, Full Bar, Happy Hour, HRW2021, HRW2022, HRW2023, Live Music, Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Romantic, and Upscale
19333 David Memorial Dr. | Shenandoah 77385
(Inside the Crown Plaza Shenandoah)
346-331-2060 |
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Lasagna House III
🥈 Recommended ItalianFamilies seeking out Italian comfort food in a calm, pleasant setting love Lasagna House III. This family-run business has been quietly turning out Italian favorites for years. Pasta is a strength here, and value is impressive: A lasagna dinner with garlic bread and a salad is $11. It’s rare to find good Italian food priced so well; Lasagna House delivers.
$$ | Italian
Catering, Family-Run Small Business, and Private Room
217D Cypress Creek Pkwy | Houston 77090
281-580-7797 |
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Skillfully executed Italian classics in a comfortably boisterous setting.
North Italia
🌟 — Notable in the Woodlands area.
🥈 Recommended Italian🥈 Recommended Pizza
Hungry Inner Loopers have raved about North Italia, the upscale Italian concept from serial restaurateur Sam Fox. Now the concept has taken root in the Woodlands, and local residents are learning what the fuss is about. From housemade pastas to wood fired pizzas to expertly crafted entrees, North Italia brings mom-and-pop craftsmanship together with polished service and a capacious, beautiful room. Extensive bar, lots of seating overlooking the Waterway. Don’t write this one off just because it’s part of a national chain.
$$ and $$$ | Italian
Brunch, Catering, Full Bar, Good Desserts, Happy Hour, On the Radar, Private Room, and Scenic View
1201 Lake Woodlands Dr | The Woodlands 77380
281-292-6935 |
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Modern Italian in a sleek urban setting
Porta’vino
🥈 Recommended Italian🥈 Recommended Pizza
🥈 Recommended Wine Bar
The Grogan’s Mill / Town Center area gets an outpost of the hugely popular Washington Avenue Italian hotspot… Porta’vino.
Combining moderately-priced pastas, entrees, and appetizers with BYOB wines (and a reasonable corkage fee), Porta’vino brings a new, modern Italian offering to hungry Woodlands foodies who love wine but don’t want to pay restaurant prices for it. Tucked away at the entrance to the tony East Shore neighborhood, Porta’vino offers a full Italian menu, from sharable and pizzas to salads, pastas, entrees, and desserts.
$$ and $$$ | Italian, Pizza, and Wine Bar
Catering, Outdoor Dining, and Private Room
207 E. Shore Dr #130 | The Woodlands 77380
346-237-5380 |
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Brooklyn-style pizza with a Texas accent
RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta
🌟🌟 — Among the best restaurants in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best Pizza🥈 Recommended Italian
The Woodlands has no shortage of great pizza places. But one name comes up over and over when asked for recommendations. RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta serves honest-to-Vito New York street pizza, either traditional (cheese only) or with your choice of toppings. They’re serious about pizza: RC himself travels around the nation competing against the best pizza makers in the country, and has repeatedly brought home the hardware.
RC’s goes beyond pizza, with outstanding wings, delicious calzones, and great plated entrees. This isn’t your average pizza spot, which is why it earned a spot on our list.
$ and $$ | Italian and Pizza
Family-Run Small Business
501 Sawdust Rd | Spring 77380
281-298-4663 |
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Excellent NY-style pizza in a family-friendly, classy setting
Russo’s NY Pizzeria
🌟 — Notable in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best Pizza🥈 Recommended Italian
Russo’s New York Pizzeria walks a very tricky line between a pizza place that kids will like and one that foodie parents will find interesting. The traditional options are all here, including a killer pepperoni option with your choice of flat or cupped pepperoni (we choose both, naturally), so the kids will find lots to love. But parents wanting something that’s more uniquely Italian will discover plenty of options, from the variety of Tuscan-style pizzas (we’re crazy about the Prosciutto & Fig), pastas, and unique offerings not often on the menu at the competition. The interior is both family-friendly and casually upscale; you can actually get out of the house and enjoy pizza and a glass of wine. Friendly, professional staff, lots of easy free parking.
$$ | Italian and Pizza
Good Desserts and Good for Kids
3335 College Park Dr #300 | The Woodlands 77384
936-273-6060 |
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An authentic Italian bakery tucked away off Sawdust
Tosca Italian Bakery
🌟 — Notable in the Woodlands area.
🥇 Best Sandwiches🥇 Best Sweet Shop
🥈 Recommended Italian
Tosca Italian Bakery brings the experience of an Old World Italian bakery to the Woodlands area. Owner Mario and his team have immigrated from Italy, and brought years of baking expertise with them. The result is a wonderful selection of breads, pastries, sandwiches and focaccia pizzas brimming with character and charm. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian experience, Tosca should be your destination.
$$ | Bakery, Italian, and Sandwiches
Catering, Family-Run Small Business, and On the Radar
25227 Borough Park Dr | Spring 77380
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Restaurant Listings
Adriatic Cafe ■
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Italian
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I-45 Corridor
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Amerigo’s Grill ■
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Italian
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Sawdust
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Avanti Italian Kitchen ■
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Italian
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Creekside Forest West and Research East
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Azzurro Italian Costal Cuisine ■
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Italian and Seafood
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Hughes Landing
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Italian Cafe ■
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Italian
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Outside the Bubble: Spring
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Johnny’s Italian Steak House ■
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Italian and Steaks
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I-45 Corridor
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Lasagna House III ■
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Italian
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Outside the Bubble: 1960
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Nona’s Italian Grill ■
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Italian
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College Park
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North Italia ■
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Woodlands Mall
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Pallotta’s Italian Grill ■
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I-45 Corridor
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Papa Amadeos ■
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Italian
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Sawdust
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Pizza Zone ■
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Italian and Pizza
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Louetta and Outside the Bubble: Spring
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Porta’vino ■
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Italian, Pizza, and Wine Bar
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Grogan's Mill
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RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta ■
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Italian and Pizza
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Sawdust
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Russo’s NY Pizzeria ■
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Italian and Pizza
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College Park
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Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen ■
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Brunch, Italian, and Pizza
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Waterway
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Terra Vino Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar ■
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Italian
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Research East
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Tosca Italian Bakery ■
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Bakery, Italian, and Sandwiches
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Sawdust
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Via Emilia ■
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Italian
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Indian Springs
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Zanti Cucina Italiana ■
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Italian and Pizza
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Research West
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