Whether you’re looking to satisfy a craving, find the best meatball or are on the hunt for the perfect carbonara, Naperville has a slew of Italian options to dig into. Here are the ones that made the top of our list.
Angeli’s
- Address: 1478 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
A Naperville staple with roots dating back to vending at events like the Taste of Chicago and Naperville Rib Fest, Angeli’s serves fine Italian comfort food in a homey environment. Patrons will enjoy a full Italian menu featuring a wide variety of pasta, seafood, veal, filet, chicken entrees as well as pizza. Angeli’s is also known for its rotating specials that include everything from sea scallops and gnocchi primavera to sausage pomodoro and stuffed mushrooms.
Che Figata
- Address: 2155 City Gate Lane, Naperville
Located adjacent to Hotel Arista, Che Figata is known for its fresh, hand-crafted Italian cuisine that is deeply rooted in sourcing the freshest ingredients and building flavors from scratch. This Italy-to-table eatery is equal parts modern and rustic, and guests will love house made pastas, wood-fired pizza and chef-inspired dishes like double boned porkchop, duck breast and veal osso bucco. If there’s any room left for dessert, opt for the deconstructed tiramisu with lady fingers, espresso and cocoa nib.
Val’s
- Address: 916 S. IL-Rt 59, Naperville
From the team that brought the popular wood-fired restaurant Fire + Wine to Glen Ellyn, Val’s was designed to couple old world Italian concepts and new world charisma. They are known for their Italian-inspired small plates (spicy peppered shrimp, Italian bean dip, wood roasted muscles), delicious salads (braised pear, salmon, wood grilled shrimp) and Neapolitan pizza. A year-round heated patio takes elevates the ambiance.
Clara’s
- Address: 6550 Route 53, Woodridge
A casual family-run restaurant serving up Italian fare in a cafe setting, Clara’s features sandwiches, pizza, fresh homemade pasta and more than a dozen mouth-watering sauces (primavera, pesto, vodka cream). House specialties include chicken limone, chicken parmesan, cream of chicken pesto and the Rudy Jr. shrimp special. Clara’s dishes have become so popular that the restaurant even released a Cooking with Clara: Recipes of a Lifetime cookbook.
Gia Mia’s
- Address: 110 S. Washington St., Naperville
Gia Mia’s is nestled in the heart of downtown Naperville in the historic Nichols Library. Their menu includes chef-driven, farm-to-fork food concepts such as antipasto, creative small plates, fresh pasta, and hand-made mozzarella. Fan favorite menu items include charred cauliflower, short rib gnocchi and Nonna’s lasagna. The artisanal wood-fired brick oven pizzas are the talk of the town, as they are crafted from highly refined Italian flour, formed by hand and made to perfection with charred edges. Families especially love to dine at Gia Mia’s on Mondays for half price pizza night!
Traverso’s
Opened in 1993 by brothers Mike and Paul, Traverso’s is a family-owned neighborhood restaurant with some of the best authentic Italian food in Naperville. From famous pizza and ravioli, to spaghetti and meatballs for the kids, Traverso’s is steeped in old world tradition. Popular items include spaghetti carbonara, grilled porkchops and charbroiled lemon wings. The ravioli is top notch, made by hand daily by 80-year-old Mama Tish.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
