Our daughter loves Italian food.
We’ve traveled all over the world only to end up in Italian restaurants. We’ve done this in London, Kauai, LA, you name it.
When we finally end up visiting Napa in Thailand someday, I have no doubt that Z will drag us to an Italian restaurant there, too!
Wherever we go, Italian is Z’s tried-and-true favorite. If she gets to decide on dinner, it’s going to be Italian. And the good thing is there’s something just about everyone can enjoy at an Italian restaurant.
At home in central Ohio, we have several Italian restaurants on repeat (alternating among other types of cuisine too, of course, since Italian isn’t everyone’s number-one pick).
Are you ready to check out Z’s all-time favorite local Italian joints? Some are old, some are new, some are fancy and one is a pretty basic national chain – but all serve great Italian food.
- The Spaghetti Warehouse (downtown). Our whole family loved the old Spaghetti Warehouse location in Franklinton. The nostalgic vintage decor, stained glass light fixtures and trolley car in the middle just felt like home. We were so sad when the roof caved in in 2022, closing that location for good. Thankfully, Spaghetti Warehouse will soon reopen in a new location near Columbus Commons. I heard the trolley car will be a little different but is still a thing. We will definitely check it out before summer’s over!
- Olive Garden (Polaris area). I know that national chains are not for everyone, but what can we say about the O.G. It’s a classic, the food is consistently consistent and our little Z has grown up adoring everything about this place. Their unlimited salad and breadsticks could win over the most hardened food critic. Sometimes being a mom means I have to take my Yelp Elite hat off, order a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and keep my foodie opinions to myself.
- Carfagna’s (Polaris area). We love the food here, but can I be honest for a moment? I still sort of miss the old, smaller Carfagna’s restaurant before it became part of a ginormous Disney-style Italian market. Still, we do frequent Carfagna’s and the market can be fun – especially a visit to the bakery counter for some Italian pastries and cookies. My favorite dish here is the house-made rigatelli with creamy pomodoro or vodka sauce. Yum!
- Giammarco’s (Westerville). Our entire family loves this one; it’s somehow both glamorous and down to earth. In the summer, they have a gorgeous patio out back where you can play bocce ball or listen to live music. In the winter, nowhere is cozier than a booth here and a plate of their delicious, homemade Italian food. Z and I used to be obsessed with the little chocolate candy mints they keep in a big bowl up front, but one time we ate too many of them, and now we leave them alone. They do have a great dessert here: fried dough with raspberry sauce.
- Carsonie’s (Upper Arlington). We just visited this place for the first time and really liked it. They have an adorable patio out front plus a cute dining room with bar area. We love their Italian fries appetizer (not fries at all but rather fried pizza dough with marinara for dipping). Z said their fettuccine alfredo was second to none. She does say that about a lot of places, it should be noted. Still, we’ll visit here again if we’re ever in the UA area and hungry!
- Villa Nova (Worthington). I first experienced vintage Villa Nova goodness back in my Worthington agency days when I first moved to Columbus. Founded in 1978, ‘Nova is still the same as ever. Z loves the decor here with dozens if not hundreds of brass teapots and gauges all over the walls! Their lunch special cannot be topped, both for price and quality of food. Highly recommend lunch at Villa Nova if you love Italian and quirky local spots.
There you have it – a family-friendly list of traditional Italian joints to keep your belly full for weeks, months or even longer.
Are you stuck in an Italian food rut with a noodle-obsessed kiddo, too? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram.
