Our 10 Best Italian Restaurants in San Antonio

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best italian restaurants in San Anotino

Ready for some good news?

Us San Antonians DON’T have limit our diets to Mexican food.

I know, I know. I love all of San Antonio’s best tamales and best tacos as much as the next person, but sometimes you’re just craving some delicious Italian.

So when craving a bowl instead of a burrito, (ahem… that’d be a pasta bowl) here are the best Italian restaurants in San Antonio, according to yours truly, a long-time local.

Map of the Best Italian Restaurants in San Antonio

Most Authentic Italian Food: NONNA Osteria

Located in the historic Fairmount Hotel, NONNA is the brainchild of Food Network Star chef Luca Della Casa. Since the chef was born and raised in Italy, NONNA offers some of the most authentic Northern Italian flavors in San Antonio. They’re easily the best Italian restaurant on the River Walk.

NONNA has a smaller menu than most Italian restaurants in San Antonio, but that’s because they execute everything to perfection. I’m personally obsessed with their arancini, which is filled with shrimp risotto. The branzino is both light and filling at the same time thanks to its mixture of capers and fried cauliflower.

Oh, and NONNA has a huge list of high-end wines, so if you want to celebrate a special occasion, this restaurant certainly fits the bill.

  • Address: 401 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Website: NONNA SA

Best Wine Pairings: Albi’s Vite

Albi’s is a family-owned Italian joint that makes every meal from scratch, to order. And boy, can you taste the difference. I’m a sucker for their fried ravioli, but if you love veal dishes, their veal parmigiana is out of this world, too.

But the cool thing about Albi’s is that they have a wine pairing for every entree on the menu. Whether it’s sparkling, white, or red, you can enjoy a hand-picked wine pairing for whatever meal graces your plate.

  • Address: 4979 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78229
  • Website: Albi’s Vite

Best Lunch Specials: Umberto’s Italian Grill

The Segura family has owned Umberto’s since 2012. They may be originally from Coahuila, Mexico, but this family of passionate chefs knows how to throw down on some serious Italian chow. My husband always orders Umberto’s stuffed mushrooms, which come with Italian sausage, spinach, mozzarella, and a demi-glaze. I’m a huge fan of their chicken griglia, which is a grilled chicken breast with aioli, risotto, broccoli, and carrots.

If you happen to be in the area for lunch, Umberto’s offers a great deal on their lunch specials (11 am – 3 pm, Tuesday – Friday). You can get soup or salad, entree, and beverage for around $15 here. That’s a steal when you realize that you can get an 8-ounce steak, mussels, clams, or shrimp!

Best Spaghetti Recipe: La Sorrentina

Owned and run by the Rangel family since 2011, La Sorrentina is a small and unassuming Italian joint. The restaurant may be small, but the chef cooks with a big heart thanks to his 35+ years of experience cooking Italian delicacies. La Sorrentina is one of the few restaurants in San Antonio that makes the best spaghetti just the way I like it: spicy, fresh, and piping hot. They also serve hot Italian sandwiches like meatball and chicken parmesan.

If you’re in the mood for wine and dessert, La Sorrentina delivers. Their limoncello cake is a surprisingly refreshing (but decadent) way to end a meal. You can also order wine by the glass or by the bottle.

P.S. I’m serious when I say this place is small. Take your food to go if you can’t snag a table!

Best Overall Wine Selection: Luce Ristorante E Enoteca

Located in The Strand shopping center, Luce is a go-to stop for folks who are serious about their wine. With over 125 wines on their menu, Luce clearly takes its wine selection seriously. Luce also has a generous Happy Hour that runs Tuesday – Saturday from 4 pm – 7 pm, so it’s a great place to hang out, chow down on an early dinner, and sip on a glass of wine.

On the food side, you’ve got to try their Salmone Affumicato, which is a smoked salmon, ricotta, mozzarella, and dill pizza. It sounds weird, but it works, trust me. My husband is a fan of their Ossobuco, which is a braised veal shank with veggies and heavenly saffron risotto.

  • Address: 11255 Huebner Rd #200, San Antonio, TX 78230
  • Website: Luce San Antonio

Best Casual Italian: Guillermo’s

Honestly, Guillermo’s might not have the most authentic Italian food in the Alamo City, but for the last 20+ years, they’ve delivered a killer atmosphere that keeps locals coming back for more. I consider Guillermo’s to be more of a fusion restaurant, but it’s still delicious. I love their chicken and pepperoni lasagna, which might be an abomination to traditional Italian chefs, but I don’t care at all. Guillermo’s has a fantastic patio and Happy Hour specials daily from 3 – 6 pm. If you’re looking for a casual, no-frills restaurant that’s kinda-sorta Italian, Guillermo’s certainly fits the bill.

Best Italian Seafood: Milano On Wurzbach

Milano’s is definitely one of the more romantic Italian restaurants in San Antonio. Its light, modern, and fresh decor certainly makes for a great date night. It might not be Italian, but I do love Milano’s brunch menu, which includes tasty mimosas, eggs benedict, and other brunch faves. For you Italian purists, Milano’s is still a great stop for seafood dishes. With more adventurous ingredients like escargot, red snapper, mahi-mahi, and trout, Milano’s is a great stop for anyone who wants a taste of the Italian coast.

Best Wood-Fired Pizza: Tiu Steppi’s Osteria

Tiu Steppi’s is fairly new to San Antonio, but it’s already made quite an impression. They serve a variety of Italian dishes, but they’re best known for their amazing (and creative) wood-fired pizzas. Keep things classic with Tiu Steppi’s Margherita Pizza or go outside your comfort zone with their wacky Roasted Potato Pizza that comes with herbs, mozzarella, gouda, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted potatoes.

  • Address: 9910 W Loop 1604 N #123, San Antonio, TX 78254
  • Website: Tiu Steppi’s

Most Affordable Italian: Sapore’s Pizza

Sapore’s Pizza is mostly a pizza joint (hence the name) but they serve so many other Italian delicacies that it isn’t fair to shoehorn them as a simple pizza restaurant. From beef lasagna to stromboli to lobster ravioli, this restaurant has something for everybody. The prices are affordable and the portions are generous, so Sapore’s is great for feeding a crowd. Check out their premium pizzas like the Koulibaly (chicken, artichoke, and red pepper) or the Shrimp Casino (shrimp, bacon, garlic, and parmesan). You can always build your own pizza, too.

Best Local Chain: Paesanos

Paesanos has several locations throughout San Antonio. Its high-end decor makes Paesanos a shoo-in for company events—I’ve eaten here for too many Christmas parties to count. I love Paesanos because they have a variety of dishes that you won’t find at other restaurants, like lobster and endive dip, but they also still serve down-home Italian favorites that please a crowd. If you’re looking for a date night spot, Paesanos also offers a $30/person prix fixe menu that includes salad, an entree, and dessert.

  • Address 1: 555 East Basse, San Antonio, Texas 78209
  • Address 2: 111 W. Crockett Street, Suite 101, San Antonio, Texas 78205
  • Address 3: 3622 Paesanos Parkway, San Antonio, Texas 78231
  • Address 4: 421 E Commerce St, San Antonio, Texas 78205
  • Website: Paesanos