The Top 5 Italian Restaurants Near Rochester MN

It’s hard not to love Italian food, with all its mouthwatering flavors and delicious herbs. The good thing about living or visiting southern Minnesota is there’s no shortage of amazing Italian restaurants near Rochester, MN. Whether it’s for a quick lunch or a long-overdue date night dinner, Italian cuisine is super satisfying with flavorful food. Let’s take a closer look at the best places to eat Italian food for a truly memorable meal with family and friends in Rochester.

The Top 5 Italian Restaurants Near Rochester MN

1. Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria

Established in 2016, Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria is a downtown hotspot on 5th Street and an award-winning restaurant, making the cut on Rochester Magazine’s Favorite Restaurants for three years in a row. The menu includes fabulous family pizzas, calzones, stromboli, and even a special selection of Nonna’s Appetizers. You can come in for a hearty meal or get it delivered, and there are also take-home kitchen options with frozen, ready-to-eat Italian food.

2. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is one of the most popular Italian-American eateries in the country, and the chain is famous for its fresh breadsticks and crunchy salads. The Rochester location is just northwest of downtown on 17th Avenue, so it’s easily accessible and a great place to gather for lunch or dinner. You can look forward to chicken alfredo, spaghetti, gnocchi, or create your own pasta, all made with love and savory Italian herbs.

3. Terza Ristorante

Terza Ristorante is a beautiful Italian restaurant on 3rd Street SE offering terrific Tuscan fare that earned it the Diners Choice Award in 2020. If you want hand-crafted Italian classics like bruschetta, meatballs, garlic shrimp, spaghetti, and chicken parmesan, then this fine dining restaurant is an excellent choice. It’s also a popular wine bar with an impressive list of Italian wines, plus fancy cocktails and espresso for beverages just as good as the food.

4. Broadway Bar and Pizza

Pizza lovers can’t go past Broadway Bar and Pizza, situated on Highway 52 about five miles north of Rochester’s city center. The Italian-American restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, and late-night eats with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. From classic spaghetti and meatballs to loaded potato pizza and Italian cheese bread, you can fill up on the most delicious carbs with plenty of hoagies and handhelds and a refreshing drink menu too.

5. Fazoli’s

Fazoli’s is another convenient Italian eatery on Highway 52 offering fast Italian fare you can enjoy for takeout or delivery too. The signature garlic breadsticks and hearty family meals are tough to beat, especially with fun new dishes like fried mozzarella skewers and lobster mac and cheese. There are meal deals for a quick lunch pit stop, plus a slice of Cheesecake Factory goodness for dessert. The chicken parm snacks and shareable are worth a try too!
To get to all the fabulous restaurants Rochester has to offer when you get a craving for Italian food, check out the top new and used vehicles from Rochester Ford today.

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