The 5 Best Spots for Italian in Lafayette, LA

Italian is one of the most popular Mediterranean cuisines in the world, and for good reason. Whether you want a casual, well-made pizza, a novel dining experience, or dessert with coffee, Italian food has something for nearly every taste. To get the best Italian in Lafayette, take a look at these five highly rated restaurants, pizzerias, and other eateries.

1. Marcello’s Wine Market Cafe

One of the higher-end restaurants in Lafayette, Marcello’s serves authentic Sicilian dishes in an ornate yet cozy atmosphere. Old family pictures line the walls, well lit by crystal chandeliers. Marcello’s cooking style is simple recipes done well and with the best ingredients. Regular visitors rave about the osso buco off-menu special, the veal or lamb ragu, and perfected classics like spaghetti and meatballs.

2. Bread and Circus Provisions

With such a Roman name, it’s no surprise that Bread and Circus is known for happy hour pizzas and refined Italian dishes. There are some deep Southern items as well, like fried chicken or deviled eggs with chicken-fried boiled peanuts. Others draw from French cuisine, like frog’s legs and sugarcane shrimp. The decor and atmosphere are open and casual, but well maintained. Each dish looks lovely and the bare wood tables are welcoming.

3. Antonio’s Italian Cafe

Antonio’s is a middle-priced Italian comfort food restaurant perfect for a night out. The dining area is between casual and fine dining, with a verdant mural along one of the walls. Lunch favorites include focaccia for an appetizer, followed by the house lasagna topped with baked cheese or the pasta fresca. Antonio’s also excels at crispy brick-oven pizzas with smart topping combinations like the cheese stallone with mozzarella, provolone and pecorino Romano, or the Venetian veggie with Roma tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, red peppers, and onions.

4. Ruffino’s on the River

This reservation-only restaurant has a mix of seafood, steakhouse, and Italian dishes, and the dining area and dish presentation are both gorgeous. Favorites include the wood-oven roasted oyster appetizer, New Orleans barbecue shrimp, redfish with generous lump crab meat, and of course fine cuts of beef. The menu also offers some charmingly kitsch creations, like shrimp corndogs or cotton candy. If you’d like to explore the menu to find a favorite, try one of the samplers, featuring three smaller portions of an entree and a dessert.

5. Deano’s Pizza

Deano’s is a pleasant, family-friendly eatery with affordable prices and a mix of lovingly made Italian food, Cajun food, and of course, pizzas. The decor is casual and pleasant, with a lit and shaded patio for dining outside. Some of the pizzas have wild names and concepts, like the Cajun Executioner with thin smoked sausage, shrimp, extra jalapenos, onions, and bell peppers. There are also a few niche Southern treats like fried pickles, along with casual but inventive desserts like the fried Oreo.

Whether you’re a college student looking for a good pizza or a love-struck spouse seeking a beautiful anniversary dinner, there’s an Italian spot in Lafayette just for you. Be warned; it might be hard to find a favorite if you try all five!