19 Best Italian Restaurant Chains in the US
Italian food is one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in the United States. Who doesn’t love a good plate of spaghetti, a slice of pizza, or a serving of lasagna?
Accordingly, there are a ton of amazing Italian restaurant chains in the US, serving everything from authentic regional Italian dishes to the comforting Italian American classics that we all know and love.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best Italian chain restaurants in the US, each offering a unique version of Italian food.
Whether you’re hungry for fettuccine alfredo, baked ziti, or all of the breadsticks you can eat, the Italian chain restaurants on our list offer delicious takes on your favorite dishes.
19. Fazoli’s
Fazoli’s is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Italian American cuisine with over 200 locations in 26 states.
The first Fazoli’s restaurant was opened in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1988.
Fazoli’s prides itself on offering fresh, quality Italian American food at similar prices as other fast food competitors.
The Fazoli’s menu offers a wide variety of pasta dishes, including baked spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna, baked ziti, and fettuccine alfredo.
If you’re looking for more variety, Fazoli’s also serves a Classic Sampler, which comes with fettuccine alfredo, lasagna with meat sauce, and spaghetti and meatballs.
If you prefer to eat pizza, Fazoli’s serves cheese pizza topped with provolone and mozzarella, and pepperoni pizza.
18. Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom
Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom is a 1920s-themed Italian restaurant chain specializing in pizza and beer.
There are 80 Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom locations in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The first Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom was opened in Boulder, Colorado, in 1976 and was modeled on the aesthetic and cuisine of 1920s Chicago.
Naturally, the menu at Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom serves different regional takes on pizza, including Old Chicago Favorites and Detroit-style pizza.
One of the most popular pizzas at Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom is the Chicago 7, a classic pizza topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, red onions, black olives, green peppers, and sliced mushrooms.
One of the most popular Detroit-style pizzas on their menu is The Pepperoni, made with fresh mozzarella, blistered tomatoes, pesto, brick cheese, baby arugula, and a balsamic drizzle.
Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom also serves several classic pasta dishes, including chicken pesto alfredo, spaghetti & meatballs, chicken carbonara, and lasagna.
17. Zio’s
Zio’s is an Oklahoma-based casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian American food.
There are four Zio’s locations in Oklahoma and Texas.
Each Zio’s location features an open kitchen, which allows diners to see their food being made.
Zio’s menu features a variety of classic Italian American dishes, including pasta, pizza, and calzones.
Some of the most popular pasta dishes at Zio’s include chicken parmigiana, spaghetti with meatballs, five-cheese fettuccine alfredo, and spicy chicken alfredo.
One of the signature pastas at Zio’s is their lasagna classico, made with seven layers of fresh lasagna pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, sliced meatballs, and Italian sausage, and can be made with your choice of tomato sauce or meat sauce.
If you prefer pizza, Zio’s also offers brick oven pizzas, including Margherita pizza, pepperoni pizza, garden vegetable pizza, and artichoke chicken pizza.
Zio’s signature pizza is their Zio’s combo pizza, topped with homestyle tomato sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions, black olives, and a generous amount of mozzarella cheese.
16. Johnny Carino’s
Johnny Carino’s is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in family-friendly Italian favorites.
There are 38 Johnny Carino’s locations in Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.
The first Johnny Carino’s was opened by restaurant mogul Creed Lamar Ford III in Austin, Texas, in 1997.
Johnny Carino’s menu is extensive and serves various pastas, pizzas, chicken, seafood, and more.
The Classic Italian section of Johnny Carino’s menu features fan-favorite pasta dishes like baked cheese tortellini, fettuccine alfredo, and spaghetti.
One of the most popular dishes at Johnny Carino’s is Johnny’s Fresh Baked Lasagna, made with 16 layers of pasta, Italian sausage, beef, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
If you prefer pizza, the Handcrafted Pizza section of Johnny Carino’s menu serves a variety of handmade pizzas in delicious flavors like Margherita, pepperoni & sausage, and Johnny’s Favorite.
Johnny’s Favorite pizza is topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, red onions, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
15. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian American cuisine.
There are 40 Macaroni Grill locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
The first Romano’s Macaroni Grill was opened by restaurant entrepreneur Phil Romano in San Antonio, Texas, in 1988.
The Macaroni Grill menu features a wide variety of Italian American favorites, with a heavy emphasis on pasta.
Macaroni Grill’s most popular pastas include Mom’s ricotta meatballs + spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna Bolognese, and mushroom ravioli.
If you’re super hungry, you can order Mama’s Trio, which comes with chicken parmesan, lasagna Bolognese, and fettuccine alfredo.
Macaroni Grill also offers a Create Your Own pasta option, which allows you to choose one of your favorite pasta shapes, sauce, up to three veggie toppings, and protein.
14. Olive Garden
Olive Garden is one of the largest and most popular Italian American restaurant chains.
There are almost 900 Olive Garden locations in the United States.
The first Olive Garden was opened by the General Mills commercial food brand in 1982 and quickly grew to become the largest Italian restaurant chain in the US.
As most will know, Olive Garden is famous for serving unlimited breadsticks and salad.
The Olive Garden menu features classic Italian American dishes like chicken alfredo, lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and cheese ravioli.
One of the most substantial entrees at Olive Garden is the Tour of Italy, which combines a serving of chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and fettuccine alfredo.
Olive Garden also offers a Create Your Own pasta option, which allows you to choose your favorite pasta shape, sauce, and protein, as well as a side of soup or salad.
13. Buca di Beppo
Buca di Beppo is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in serving Italian American food family-style.
There are 68 Buca di Beppo locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Washington DC.
The first Buca di Beppo was opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1993.
Each restaurant is famously decorated with Italian American memorabilia on the walls and music playing over the speakers.
All of the dishes on the Buca di Beppo menu are served family-style in two sizes: Buca Small (feeds three people) and Buca Large (feeds five people.)
Buca di Beppo offers a variety of traditional Italian American pasta dishes, like baked ziti, fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna, and baked rigatoni.
If you’re a big fan of stuffed pasta, you’ll want to order Buca di Beppo’s Quattro al Forno, a dish that combines cheese manicotti, chicken cannelloni, cheese ravioli, and stuffed shells.
Buca di Beppo also serves pizza in classic flavors like Margherita, pepperoni, and spicy arrabbiata.
12. LaRosa’s Pizzeria
LaRosa’s Pizzeria is an Ohio-based casual dining restaurant specializing in pizza.
There are over 60 LaRosa’s Pizzeria locations in Ohio and Kentucky.
The first LaRosa’s Pizzeria was opened by Buddy LaRosa, the son of a Sicilian immigrant, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1954.
The original pizza recipe at LaRosa’s came from Buddy LaRosa’s Aunt Dena.
LaRosa’s Pizzeria menu features a variety of delicious pizza flavors, including double pepperoni, barbecue chicken and bacon, chicken bacon ranch, and veggie ranch deluxe.
One of the signature pizzas at LaRosa’s is the Buddy Deluxe, made with pepperoni, spicy sausage, banana peppers, capocolla ham, and LaRosa’s family recipe pizza sauce.
LaRosa’s also serves calzones, hoagy sandwiches, and classic Italian American pasta dishes.
11. Bravo! Italian Kitchen
Bravo! Italian Kitchen is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in homemade Italian-inspired recipes.
There are 31 Bravo! Italian Kitchen locations in Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The first Bravo! Italian Kitchen was opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1992, with a focus on serving made-from-scratch dishes inspired by regional Italian cuisine.
The Bravo! Italian Kitchen menu features a variety of classic pasta dishes, like spaghetti pomodoro, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, sausage tortellini, and fettuccine alfredo.
One of the most popular pasta dishes at Bravo! is Pasta Woozie, made with fresh fettuccine, grilled chicken, fresh spinach, and Bravo’s house alfredo sauce.
Another signature pasta dish at Bravo! is Pasta Bravo, made with rigatoni, grilled chicken, mushrooms, and roasted red pepper cream sauce.
Bravo! Italian Kitchen also serves classic pizza flavors, including cheese, pepperoni, Margherita, and Sicilian.
10. The Old Spaghetti Factory
The Old Spaghetti Factory is another casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian American food.
There are 42 Old Spaghetti Factory locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
The first Old Spaghetti Factory was opened by Guss and Sally Dussin in Portland, Oregon, in 1969.
That first Portland Old Spaghetti Factory location was actually built inside a refurbished trolley car!
Each entree on the Old Spaghetti Factory menu also comes with freshly-baked bread, your choice of soup or salad, and a scoop of vanilla or spumoni ice cream for dessert.
The delicious pasta dishes available at Old Spaghetti Factory include lasagna, jumbo crab ravioli, spaghetti with marinara sauce, spaghetti with white clam sauce, and spaghetti with meat sauce.
Old Spaghetti Factory’s signature pasta dish is spaghetti with mizithra cheese and browned butter, made with 100% durum semolina spaghetti, butter, and mizithra cheese, a delicious goat cheese found in Greek cuisine.
9. The Spaghetti Warehouse
The Spaghetti Warehouse is a family-friendly casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian American food.
There are 6 Spaghetti Warehouse locations in New York, Ohio, and Texas.
The first Spaghetti Warehouse location was opened in 1972.
Many Spaghetti Warehouse locations also incorporate repurposed, refurbished trolleys into their decor.
The Spaghetti Warehouse menu features a variety of made-from-scratch pasta dishes, including fettuccine alfredo, baked ziti, cheese ravioli, and a whopping seven different kinds of spaghetti.
One of the signature dishes at Spaghetti Warehouse is their 15-layer lasagne, made with lasagne noodles, meat sauce, Italian pork sausage, ground beef, and Romano, ricotta, and mozzarella cheeses.
If you’re out to dinner with a friend and feeling super hungry, you might be tempted by the Ultimate Feast for Two.
This is a gigantic platter laden with chicken parmigiana, 15-layer lasagne, spaghetti with tomato sauce, ravioli with alfredo sauce, Italian pork sausages, meatballs, and garlic bread.
8. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is an East Coast-based casual dining restaurant chain famous for its coal-fired pizza.
There are over 60 Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza locations in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
In 2002, the first Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza was opened in Florida by Long Island native Anthony Bruno.
Bruno opened the restaurant after trying and failing to find a quality, authentic coal-fired pizza in Florida.
Of course, coal-fired pizza forms the basis of their menu.
There are nine pre-made pizza flavors at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, including the ever-popular Carnivori pizza, a square pizza topped with thick-cut pepperoni, Italian sausage, homemade baby meatballs, and smoky bacon.
You can also create your own pizza at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.
Each pizza starts with a base of fresh mozzarella, house-made Italian plum tomato sauce, hand-grated Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil and can be finished off with a customized combination of toppings.
7. Amato’s
Amato’s is a New England-based Italian restaurant chain specializing in sandwiches, pizza, and pasta.
There are nearly 50 Amato’s locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
The first Amato’s was opened over 100 years ago, in 1902, by an Italian immigrant named Giovanni Amato in Portland, Maine.
Giovanni Amato began selling authentic Italian sandwiches made with fresh-baked rolls, meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
Amato’s menu features a variety of cold and hot Italian sandwiches.
One of the most popular sandwiches at Amato’s is the Classic Italian Cold Cut, filled with Genoa salami, capicola, prosciutto, provolone cheese, onions, pickles, tomatoes, green peppers, olives, salt, pepper, and oil.
If you prefer pasta, Amato’s also serves a variety of classic pasta dishes, like chicken parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana, grilled chicken alfredo, and fettuccine alfredo.
In addition, Amato’s offers several kinds of pizza, including BBQ chicken, buffalo chicken, grilled chicken and spinach, veggie, Greek, and white pizza.
6. Bertucci’s
Bertucci’s is an East Coast-based casual dining restaurant chain specializing in pizza and other Italian American food.
There are nearly 50 Bertucci’s locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
The first Bertucci’s was opened by Joey Crugnale in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1981.
Each Bertucci’s location houses a brick oven used for making their pizzas, which can reach up to 1,150°F in temperature.
The Bertucci’s menu features a variety of delicious brick oven-fired pizzas in delectable flavors like classic Margherita, meatball ricotta, roasted vegetable, cheeseburger, and Hawaiian.
One of the most popular pizzas at Bertucci’s is the Sporkie, topped with sweet Italian sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and Bertucci’s signature house-made tomato sauce.
If you prefer pasta, Bertucci’s also serves many different oven-baked pastas, including spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, four-cheese ravioli, lasagna rustica, and eggplant parmesan.
5. Uno Pizzeria & Grill
Uno Pizzeria & Grill is a casual dining restaurant chain famous for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza.
There are nearly 75 Uno Pizzeria & Grill locations in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington DC.
The first Uno Pizzeria & Grill was opened in 1943 by Ike Sewell in Chicago, Illinois.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill claims to be the first restaurant ever to serve Chicago-style deep dish pizza, characterized by a buttery crust with tall edges as well as a generous amount of tomato sauce and cheese nestled inside.
The Uno Pizzeria & Grill menu features various kinds of deep dish pizza, including cheese & tomato, meatball & ricotta, prima pepperoni, four cheese & pesto, and farmer’s market.
Uno’s signature deep dish pizza is the Numero Uno, made with sausage, pepperoni, onions, peppers, mushrooms, Uno’s chunky vine-ripened tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Romano cheese.
If you’re not a fan of deep-dish pizza, do not worry! Uno’s also offers thin-crust pizzas like Margherita, veggie extravaganza, BBQ chicken, spicy Hawaiian, and taco.
4. Carrabba’s
Carrabba’s is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in grilled Italian American food.
There are over 200 Carrabba’s locations in 29 states.
The first Carrabba’s was opened by Damian Mandola and John Charles Carrabba III, the descendants of Sicilian immigrants, in Texas.
The food at Carrabba’s was designed to blend authentic Sicilian recipes with the cuisine of the Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana and Texas.
The Carrabba’s menu features a variety of delicious pasta dishes, including linguine pescatore, lasagna, spaghetti, fettuccine Carrabba, and lobster ravioli.
One of the most popular pastas at Carrabba’s is their rigatoni martino, made with rigatoni pasta, sauteed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato cream sauce, scallions, and Parmesan, Romano, and ricotta salata cheeses.
Carrabba’s also serves some great Italian chicken dishes, including classics like chicken marsala, chicken piccata, and chicken parmesan.
3. Brio Italian Grille
Brio Italian Grille is another casual dining restaurant chain serving fresh northern Italian cuisine.
There are 34 Brio Italian Grille locations in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Brio Italian Grille specializes in serving authentic Tuscan and other northern Italian cuisines.
The Brio Italian Grille menu features a variety of classic, traditional Italian pasta dishes like spaghetti pomodoro, pesto primavera, spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, and pasta alla vodka.
The signature pasta dish at Brio Italian Grille is the pasta brio, made with rigatoni, grilled chicken, mushrooms, spinach, and red peppers, served in a roasted red pepper cream sauce.
Brio Italian Grille also serves an array of flatbreads made in their wood-fired brick oven, like their Margherita flatbread, sausage, pepperoni, ricotta flatbread, and pollo al forno flatbread.
2. Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano is a Midwest-based casual dining restaurant chain serving delicious Italian food.
There are over 15 Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano locations in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The first Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano was opened by graduate student Todd Hovenden in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1999.
The Biaggi’s menu features many delicious pasta dishes, including classics like lasagna Bolognese, spaghetti & meatballs, butternut squash ravioli, spaghetti marinara, and fettuccine alfredo.
One of Biaggi’s most popular pasta dishes is their ravioli quattro formaggi, made with four-cheese ravioli, marinara sauce, and basil and pine nut pesto cream sauce.
Biaggi’s also serves other classic non-pasta Italian dishes, like chicken parmesan, chicken marsala, chicken piccata, and eggplant parmesan.
In addition, Biaggi’s offers a variety of handmade pizzas in flavors like pepperoni, sausage & mushroom, Margherita, and Italian sausage.
1. Maggiano’s Little Italy
Maggiano’s Little Italy is a casual dining restaurant chain specializing in hearty Italian American food.
There are over 50 Maggiano’s Little Italy locations in 22 states, plus Washington DC.
The first Maggiano’s Little Italy location was opened in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in 1991.
The Maggiano’s menu features many delicious pasta dishes, including rigatoni arrabbiata, eggplant parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, four-cheese ravioli, shrimp scampi, and linguine & clams.
One of the signature pastas at Maggiano’s Little Italy is the Rigatoni “D,” made with rigatoni pasta, herb-roasted chicken, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and marsala cream sauce.
Maggiano’s also offers some delicious seafood, meat, and chicken dishes.
If you prefer seafood, the Chef’s Seafood Specialties section of Maggiano’s menu allows you to choose from fresh mahi-mahi, salmon, red snapper, and cod.
These are prepared with various sauces, including Calabrian honey sauce, lobster cream sauce, and lemon & herb sauce.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a delicious, hearty, flavorful meal, you really can’t go wrong with Italian food.
The Italian chain restaurants on our list run the gamut, serving everything from pizza to sandwiches to pasta.
No matter what kind of Italian food you’re craving, you’re sure to find a new favorite dish at one of these places!
