Ah, Mesa. Where to begin? This sun-drenched East Valley city is much more than spring training crowds and sprawling subdivisions. It’s a land of citrus-scented breezes, cowboy boots at brunch, and strip malls hiding culinary treasures. And, as you may have guessed, phenomenal Italian restaurants—with Arizona portions to match (though we promise not every spot will require a post-pasta nap). Here’s where you should be eating in this desert gem.
Mama Linda’s Italian Kitchen
$ | (480) 636-1817 | WEBSITE
Mama Linda’s Italian Kitchen is serving the best lasagna in Mesa. This small and intimate Italian spot in the East Valley area is where to get a delicious and generously portioned meal (a welcome find around here). Order the $18 lasagna with multiple layers and quality ingredients—plan to savor every bite of the rich tomato sauce and creamy ricotta. The cozy space fills up with couples and small groups during the dinner hours, and the friendly staff makes each visitor feel like family.
Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant
$$ | (480) 507-9463 | WEBSITE
The star attraction at Buca di Beppo is the Chicken Parmigiana—the mountain of breaded chicken smothered in a week’s worth of marinara and mozzarella deserves its own framed portrait on their eclectic walls. You should also share the Calamari for the table, and the Antipasto Salad you could eat with your eyes closed.
This family-style spot has a great indoor seating situation for a celebratory dinner gathering, or you can hang out next to some regulars under the Italian-themed pictures and statues throughout the dining room.
Amici Pizza
$ | (480) 361-0006 | WEBSITE
For authentic New York-style pizza and an atmosphere that feels like a cleaner, family-friendly slice of the city, Amici Pizza is it. This beloved Italian spot in Mesa transports diners back to NYC circa 1985 with its classic offerings. The signature cheese and pepperoni pizzas are amazing—the best many have had in a long time—with dough and cheese that evoke pure nostalgia, while the vodka sauce pizza is absolutely delicious.
The Red & White pie and buffalo chicken pizza also receive high marks, and the wings are excellent. Though the cannoli and rainbow cookies may not impress, the black and white cookies, cheesecake, and cannoli cake have earned compliments. Portions are generous—a full pie easily feeds a family—and the prices are a good deal for the quality, with most pizzas ranging from $18–28 and appetizers like fried ravioli around $10–14.
The staff is outstanding, attentive to both adults and kids, providing coloring books, crayons, and even pizza dough for little ones to play with. It’s a welcoming, kid-friendly environment where you can wait for quality seating without being rushed, making it a go-to spot for a taste of classic New York in Arizona.
Sourdough Pizza Italian Restaurant
$ | (480) 985-6658 | WEBSITE
Sourdough Pizza Italian Restaurant is part of a group of similarly named pizzerias across the Southwest that are all known for their signature crust. This Mesa location is Arizona’s version, and it’s the best pizza within city limits. The menu is extensive and all of the toppings are fresh, but the differentiating factor is their crust—specifically, the sourdough from San Francisco with a crispy bottom and pillowy end that has the perfect chew. Savor every bite of it.
They’re open from lunch through dinner, seven days a week, so you can get your pizza fix all day long.
Pizza Mart
$ | (480) 962-4233 | WEBSITE
Tucked into a Mesa strip mall, Pizza Mart feels like a direct transplant from those classic ’80s pizza parlors we all remember. This family-friendly spot serves crispy pizzas with that perfect foldable crust, simple but satisfying salad bar options, and ice cream cones that kids (and adults) go crazy for. The interior has that nostalgic arcade vibe with old-school video games that bring back memories, though the recent decor updates give it a cleaner, more modern feel.
We’d recommend grabbing your pizza for takeout—with plenty of parking and great value, it’s perfect for a quick family meal—but if you do stay, the welcoming owners make everyone feel right at home.
Dolce Vita Italian Grocer
$ | (480) 218-0225 | WEBSITE
Tucked away in a Mesa strip mall, this Italian grocer and eatery feels like stumbling upon a genuine slice of Italy in the Arizona desert. The indoor scenery is charmingly authentic—shelves stocked with imported cheeses and cold cuts, a gleaming gelato case, and the warm aroma of fresh pizza and pasta filling the air.
The menu leans into comforting classics with impeccable execution: the eggplant meatballs are a must, the lobster ravioli is rich and satisfying, and the Sicilia panini makes for a crowd-pleasing lunch. The food definitely gets the job done, but the real thrill here is savoring what might be the best gelato in the United States—each scoop a perfect balance of texture and sweetness—all while enjoying the welcoming, spotless atmosphere that owner Fabricio cultivates.
It’s an affordable hidden gem where every visit feels like a little celebration.
Sauce Pizza & Wine
$ | (480) 497-3500 | WEBSITE
Sauce Pizza & Wine is a friendly neighborhood pizza joint that works great when you’re craving a thin-crust pie, you’re dining with someone who needs a gluten-free option, or you’re just looking for a spot to enjoy a simple meal with good service. Is the pizza loaded with unlimited toppings? No, but the crust is perfectly crisp and the hot honey pizza is a standout.
Order a classic margherita for the table, try the gluten-free crust if needed, and do your best to pretend you’re in a cozy Italian trattoria and not tucked away in a Mesa strip mall that takes some effort to find.
By The Bucket Mesa
$ | (480) 868-3724 | WEBSITE
By The Bucket Mesa is a cozy neighborhood spot with excellent homemade-style Italian classics and plenty of space for families. It’s also one of those places where you can show up with your entire soccer team or extended family and have hearty spaghetti, savory meatballs, crispy chicken parm, and tempting desserts on the table within 20 minutes. Whether you go for pasta, sausage, or all of the above (a choice we always support), it’s easy to leave happy and just the right amount of full.
Streets of New York
$ | (480) 986-6175 | WEBSITE
Pizza enthusiasts across Mesa celebrated when Streets of New York opened in their local shopping center. Their location here offers ample free parking and a clean, pleasant dining space, but the real draw is the takeout-friendly setup—perfect for grabbing a hot pie to enjoy at home.
Thin-crust pizzas are available, with toppings like sausage and fresh mozzarella, but we prefer to keep things classic at Streets of New York: a plain cheese pizza with that crispy, edge-to-edge crust and flavorful sauce—simple satisfaction.
Fazoli’s
$ | (480) 906-2001 | WEBSITE
This fast-casual Italian spot has been a Mesa staple for years and feels straight out of a family-friendly chain playbook. Fazoli’s is part of a national brand, and, like its siblings, budget-conscious diners dominate the lunchtime rush while families are here in the evenings for hearty pasta dishes from the quick-service line—like baked spaghetti with meatballs and bottomless garlic breadsticks.
The pasta always has a fresh-cooked texture, and the sauces mix with everything on the plate, creating a combination of comfort, value, and convenience that keeps us coming back.
Pizzicata Pizzeria Ristorante Mesa
$$ | (480) 648-1094 | WEBSITE
One look at this Italian restaurant nestled on a golf course will make you forget about the drive to get here. The wood-fired oven looks like it could belong in a Naples pizzeria, and golden light spills across the outdoor patio. Pizzicata serves dishes from across Italy like imported burrata with creamy mozzarella, wonderfully crispy garlic bread, and a pizza with enough bubbling char to qualify as art.
Expect every plate to be as vibrant as the sunset views, filled with authentic flavors like intensely savory meatballs and the best pizza in Mesa.
Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante
$ | (480) 832-3311 | WEBSITE
Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante is a classic Italian spot that masters the art of a family dinner. Pizza is served on thick Chicago-style crusts, there are vintage photos of Italy on every wall, and the soundtrack is Frank Sinatra. While a place like this could easily be nostalgic comfort with no surprises, the food is as satisfying as it is consistent—especially the spaghetti and meatballs that melt in your mouth, and the lasagna with meatballs layered with rich sauce.
But the hidden gem is the chicken fettuccine, which has a creamy alfredo base and perfectly tender chicken.
Bella Pizza & Pasta
$ | (480) 357-2555 | WEBSITE
For a reliable Italian fix with a garlic knot that can salvage any stressful day or enhance a casual family dinner, there’s Bella Pizza & Pasta. The local favorite has been serving Mesa for years, and this spot, just like its reputation promises, delivers solid New York style pizza and flavorful dishes. The dining area is a cozy, welcoming space that’s the perfect setting for a carb-loaded feast.
Try the Bella special Stromboli–generous, hearty packages of wonderful ingredients in a flavorful marinara sauce, or the fried zucchini with a just-crispy-enough batter. The generous, tasty pizza slices are excellent–especially the classic cheese, with flavorful sauce, stretchy mozzarella, and a perfectly charred crust. Walk-ins are simple on weeknights, but consider calling ahead for larger groups on weekends.
Milano’s Pizzeria
$ | (480) 325-1600 | WEBSITE
After exploring the best of Mesa and working up an appetite from all that Arizona sunshine, settle in at Milano’s Pizzeria. The family-friendly restaurant serves a classic, satisfying spaghetti that stands up against any Italian favorite, made with perfectly cooked pasta and topped with a rich marinara sauce.
If you’re after something a little more interactive, they also have make-your-own pizzas, Greek specialties, and a kids menu, plus a full bar with a friendly bartender who makes everyone feel welcome.
La Famiglia Pizza & Pasta
$ | (480) 722-1777 | WEBSITE
Mesa doesn’t have many authentic New York-style Italian spots, and that’s where La Famiglia Pizza & Pasta comes in. But this family-owned restaurant is more than just a place with cozy booths, warm lighting, local families, and the occasional East Coast transplant pretending they’re back in Brooklyn for the night. La Famiglia is a welcoming spot where the food is quite good.
The garlic knots have a soft, flavorful dough with a crispy bottom, the standout lasagna pizza gets the balance of crispy crust and fresh basil just right, and the penne ala vodka is about as rich as the sauce.
RedLine Pizzeria
$ | (480) 649-5500 | WEBSITE
RedLine Pizzeria is a Mesa-based local pizza spot that’s packed every weekend evening, with families lining up for a table—for a good reason: their personal St. Patrick’s pizza. It’s cheesy and flavorful without being too greasy, and the mozzarella sticks are crispy. The menu is a choose-your-own-combo kind of experience, with options ranging from wings to salads to those famous pizzas.
You can also customize your order for quick delivery or dine-in, and whether you’d like extra sauce or a family-friendly atmosphere—in other words, just about everything you’d want from a neighborhood pizzeria.
By the Bucket – East Mesa
$ | (480) 986-3080 | WEBSITE
For hearty Italian food served with genuine warmth and generous portions, head to By the Bucket – East Mesa. The moment dinner hour arrives, this casual, welcoming place fills up with families and friends sharing spaghetti with meatballs and digging into Italian sausage sandwiches at the cozy tables. And you should join them—especially if it means getting to savor the By the Bucket spaghetti, which twirls onto your fork with maximum satisfaction.