Anita GarciaPicture this. You’re on a date, and it’s going great. You’ve got an itinerary full of plans on what to do around El Paso, you’re making your way through it just in time, but then the question comes up. “I’m getting hungry. Where do you want to eat?”
Even as our resident foodie, this question makes me lock up. With so many good eats around here, it’s so hard to pick without playing 20 questions with your date! Luckily, if Lady and the Tramp has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t go wrong with Italian.
The wealth of Italian restaurants in El Paso means you’ll never run out of options, whether you’re craving pasta, pizza or both. In fact, my friends and I’ve visited so many that we’ve assembled a list over the years. Need one? Keep on reading!
How much does it cost to eat at an Italian restaurant in El Paso?
Dining out at an Italian restaurant in El Paso can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per head, depending on any special menus, add-ons like wine and desserts and gratuity fees.
1. Trattoria Bella Sera
Address: 3512 N Yarbrough Dr Suite B, El Paso, TX 79925
Contact Details: +1 915 598 7948, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Closed on Sundays
There’s something extra special about dining at a place with homely vibes, and nothing tops a trattoria in that aspect. El Paso’s had Trattoria Bella Sera since 2007, so we decided we were long overdue for a visit of our own.
Right off the jump, we were stunned by the portion sizes before we even sat down. Their entrees all came with the choice of a side salad, soup or pasta, and there were course menus available for larger groups as well.
This course menu was suggested to us by our server. Our group has various taste preferences and diets, so having a salad for our vegetarians, Tenderloin Medallions for our savory fans and a dessert to top it all off was handy.
Our server’s attentiveness was definitely another highlight of our evening. All throughout the night, our waters always got refills when we needed them, and our orders came out at the same time.
On that note, the trattoria can be a little packed on busy nights. We had some trouble following up and confirming our reservations when we walked in, so we’d recommend giving them a call before you visit, just in case.
Service is amazing and fast
“First time trying this at my last visit in El Paso and it did not disappoint. I have heard many good things of this restaurant and finally was able to try it. I will say food is impeccable. Service is amazing and fast did not have to wait for a table and the waiter helped us with the difficult decisions of trying to choose a plate, he was helpful and knowledgeable in everything and always made sure our drinks were full, and our table was always clean.”
– Ms. Kay Rosales, Google Review
The portion, taste, price, and originality astounded me
“I have traveled around the country for a great Veal Parm and Trattoria Bella Sera wins it thus far. The portion, taste, price, and originality astounded me; the portion will feed you for more than a day. The caprese salad is absolutely delicious and the service is wonderful. Shout-out to Alison for her great, affable service and attention. Please make sure you have dinner at the best Italian restaurant in El Paso!!”
– Mr. Jorge Ambacher, Google Review
2. The Italian Kitchen
Address: 2923 Pershing Dr, El Paso, TX 79903
Contact Details: +1 915 565 4041, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
A date night at an Italian restaurant is romantic on its own, but could you imagine bringing a taste of that to your wedding? If so, then we’d definitely put The Italian Kitchen up as a recommendation!
To begin with, visiting the restaurant was no headache. This spot was easy to locate even without needing to ask for directions. We even found ample parking spaces at the back of the restaurant.
Dropping in to check their menu, we were pleased to see how extensive it was. They had a wide selection of pastas, pizzas and salads available for lunch and catering. We found this handy for customers looking for a taster before booking them as a caterer!
After a quick wait, we were seated quickly and served with the same timeliness, which we appreciated since we ordered a lot! We found their Italian sandwiches delightfully fresh and light, and their large pizza comfortably fed our whole group.
That being said, we do have to note that the restaurant had limited seating space. We’d keep this in mind if you’re planning to visit with a group on a busy day.
This is an old school favorite
“This is an old school favorite, intimate place. Open since before I was born. Way back in 1948 I believe. And still serving the best! I had the special lasagna, spaghetti with meatball and penne pasta with their meatsauce. I shared it. And it was huge. Salad and garlic bread too. You may want to skip the bread but I urge you to eat it. Order the bread! The clams with fettuccine, the chicken parm all great. Seriously order the bread. The building is an older home converted to a comfortable cozy rooms for dinning. The handicapped entry is through the kitchen at the back where there is additional parking.”
– Ms. Elizabeth Adams, Google Review
The atmosphere feels like family
“Looking for an amazing Italian place in El Paso? Look no further! Everything was on point! We had chicken Parmesan, the chese sticks, the lasagna and pizza! Everything was cooked perfectly, the flavors were amazing, and the atmosphere feels like family. The saver was so kind and welcoming. Definitely give it a try!”
– Ms. Aimi Dumas, Google Review
3. Mi Piaci Restaurant
Address: 810 E Redd Rd, El Paso, TX 79912
Contact Details: +1 915 875 0034, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Closed on Sunday
Italian dining doesn’t have to be all savory stuff, not when the cuisine’s home to classics like espresso and tiramisu! When our sweet tooth came kicking, our steps took us right to the door of the Mi Piaci Restaurant’s new location.
We took one step in and were immediately awed by the dining space. Though a little small, we found their ambiance relaxing and comfortable. We managed to get seated at a cozy booth and had no trouble hearing each other over the restaurant’s din.
While ordering, we were pleased with how flexible and customizable the dishes were. That night, we had some friends with dietary sensitivities, and the chef happily altered our Veal Scaloppini and Penne Pasta accordingly.
The real standout for us was their dessert and after-dinner drinks. Their menu offered a lot of Italian coffee drinks, including cappuccinos and macchiatos, so we had some of those and the tiramisu for double the coffee.
One factor we do have to note is the waiting time. We were lucky to come in without being too hungry, but we did notice a bit of a long wait for food to come out.
Food was awesome and the service was impeccable
“Just excellent! Food was awesome and the service was impeccable. While the dining room was full (Sat evening) it was still quiet enough that you could have conversation with your dining companions. Second time here in two weeks. Will definitely come again!”
– Ms. Lisa Brendtke, Google Review
You can taste the cook’s years of experience
“Symphony in my mouth!! You can taste the cook’s years of experience in his food, best Valentine’s Day ever. They had a special menu. Food was fantastic as well as the service. Planning to return many more times. Highly recommended. Thank you to Jane our server, you were awesome. :)”
– Ms. Rebecca Meza, Google Review
4. Ristorante Casanova
Address: 600 S El Paso St, El Paso, TX 79901
Contact Details: +1 915 532 8733
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Looking for your very own taste of Little Italy here in El Paso? Then Ristorante Casanova should be on your list. The spot rose to prominence for their fresh, handmade pasta, so we arrived hungry for some bolognese!
Upon our visit, we found the staff very welcoming and friendly. We were shown to our table as soon as we walked in, and we were lucky enough to come in on a slow day. We got to chat plenty with our server about the menu!
Their menu featured Italian-American dishes, so we sprang for their Casanova Meatballs, the Godfather Pizza and some Short Rib Pappardelle. To our surprise, we were able to customize the portion sizes for those who weren’t as hungry!
Another dish we ordered was the Chef’s Choice Pasta, which changed weekly according to the team! If you’re in the area, we’d definitely recommend dropping by regularly to see all the different variations.
With that in mind, we did note that the costs for their food were on the pricier side, making repeated visits tricky. We’d save a visit here for a date you’re definitely trying to impress.
Great service, great food, highly recommend
“If you want great quality Italian food in El Paso this place is a must. Joel was our server and gave us excellent recommendations. We tried the mussels, meatballs and fritto misto to start, followed by three pastas and the pollo parmigiana. Everything was delicious. For dessert we ordered all four options, the gelato was amazing and the Nutella calzone was so hugeeee we had to take it to-go. Great service, great food, highly recommend.”
– Ms. Mireya Sotelo, Google Review
Professional and knowledgeable, and very pleasant
“The restaurant has a good ambience and surprisingly good food for a restaurant located in a hotel. The mushroom risotto with truffle oil was delicious, the Caesar salad had the right amount of tartness, and the salted caramel gelato was to die for. But The real star of the evening was our server Ivan. He was professional and knowledgeable, and very pleasant. We would come back solely to have Ivan take care of us again.”
– Mr. John McPhee, Google Review
5. Cafe Italia
Address: 6705 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79912
Contact Details: +1 915 832 0587
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
When it comes to Italian restaurants, we’d be absolutely remiss not to find a spot that offers al fresco dining. A quick trip down to Mesa yielded us the Cafe Italia, and as soon as we saw their porch? We were smitten.
Needless to say, we beelined right for the outdoor seating as soon as it was our turn in line. That said, we found ample seating space both inside and outside, with good views of the skyline.
Upon getting the menu, we were stoked by the options available. In particular, we found plenty of vegetarian options that weren’t just limited to salads! We were happy to grab their Veggie Pasta with white sauce along with their Margherita Pizza.
We were lucky not to order a lot, since the portions were generous! Even a single pizza and a plate of pasta were enough to get our group full, leaving us stuffed once our Nutella Calzone dessert came around.
However, one factor we did note was that the restaurant tended to get busy. This resulted in some groups having to finish their meals quickly to make way for other customers, so we’d advise coming in on a slower day.
Great to come here right before the sunset
“Delicious Italian food. First time here but I liked it so much. The restaurant is right at a valley on Mesa St. So, it is great to come here right before the sunset and enjoy your food on the porch. Also, BYOB. $10 for a bottle of wining opening service charge.”
– Mr. Naser MR., Google Review
Wonderful environment
“Wonderful environment. On date night we ordered the spaghetti and meatballs with an all meat pizza. It’s was so delicious. Perfect portions. We shared the pasta and pizza so it was a good portion. I highly recommend them. We are inside, next time we will be trying the patio;)”
– Ms. Amanda Carlos, Google Review
