Top Best Italian Restaurants in River Ridge

"Despite the traditionally American method of saving time with premade ingredients such as dried pasta or jarred sauces, they prefer to do things on the more traditionally Italian side of cooking by making everything that they possibly can from scratch. In fact, they make all of their pastas in house, which means that you’ll be receiving some of the freshest pasta in the city when you dine here. And if we’re being honest, fresh pasta is exponentially better than dried pasta."

"Offering both breakfast and lunch, Paladar 511 is located in the Marigny and known for being a foodie hotspot. In the kitchen, local and imported talent come together to serve one-of-a-kind pizzas and pastas that you will spend the following weeks dreaming about. The interior is a cross between rustic-industrial and luxurious, with furnishings that create an unreplicable lofty ambiance."

"This airy Marigny mainstay is California cool meets classic Italian trattoria. Come for the house-made pasta and pizzas: you can't wrong with the classic tomato, mozzarella, and basil combo or the lamb sausage with garlic confit, roasted pepper, pine nut, and tzatziki. The seasonal salads and vegetable plates are excellent as well."

"White tablecloths, votive candles and a mishmash decor—the elegant main dining room is illuminated by a stained-glass fleur-de-lis skylight, while the more casual bar is accented with wooden casks and framed photos of celebrity visitors—encapsulate the unpretentious charm of this Italian-focused restaurant. Irene’s has a sense of playfulness, but the deliciousness of its food is no game, beginning with the expertly mixed cocktails (you can’t leave here without downing a Sazerac) and extending through the decadent desserts (the Creole cheesecake, topped with Grand Marnier–soaked berries is a house favorite). The name of the game here is to please with big, bold flavors."

"Located at 529 Bienville St. in the French Quarter, the spot is the highest rated Italian restaurant in New Orleans, boasting 4.5 stars out of 689 reviews on Yelp. Irene's, which recently relocated to this location, specializes in traditional dishes like lasagna bolognese, shrimp and crab pappardelle, and San Francisco-style cioppino, with shrimp, scallops, fish, crabmeat, clams, mussels, and a saffron-scented tomato and fennel broth."

"Irene’s may be in newish digs on Bienville Street but this family-owned Creole Italian restaurant remains the gold standard for homey, cheesy Italian goodness. Open since 1992, Irene’s is much loved for its lasagne Bolognese and crispy duck St. Philip. Although it now accepts reservations, cutting down on the wait for a table, it’s still fun to have a martini in the piano bar before tucking into a feast."

"Situated in a corner of the Ace Hotel – which is so beyond hip that each room comes stocked with a record player and full vinyl collection, as well as an epic minibar that will cause cocktail enthusiasts to high five themselves with excitement – its lunch and dinner menu from chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman favors Italian standards with an emphasis on housemade pastas. In the morning, there are the usual suspects that kids  love: a short stack of buttermilk ricotta pancakes dusted with confectioners sugar, housemade yogurt sporting granola and honey, and a towering fried chicken biscuit. Best bites for tykes: Cacio e pepe, gemelli with “maw maw’s gravy,” and meatballs sitting on a field of melted parmesan."

"You know an Ace Hotel isn’t going to mess around when it comes to dining, and that’s surely the case with Josephine Estelle’s entry into the NOLA dining scene. The pasta list alone is something of a marvel, with entries ranging from a killer bucatini amatriciana and short rib fusilli with mushroom and taleggio cheese, to gemelli with duck confit. The simple canestri cacio e pepe will make you weep for your gluten-free friends."

"Ace Hotel stands in the Warehouse District, where you can check out Alto, the hotel’s rooftop garden. Get a mix of seasonal cocktails, wines, craft beers, frozen drinks and rotating on-tap specials at Alto’s bar. Poolside dining includes a selection of Italian-inspired small plates for any growing appetites."

"Located in the swanky Roosevelt Hotel on Canal Street, on the edge of the French Quarter and the CBD, Domenica dazzles with chef, co-owner Alon Shaya's regional Italian cuisine and what may be the best thin crust pizza in town. Shaya gets ingredients from partner John Besh's farm, so the emphasis is on seasonal freshness. Pastry chef Lisa White, a CIA grad, gives Italian desserts a New Orleans sensibility - as in her zuppa inglese made with rum-soaked banana cake, fresh bananas butterscotch mousse and peanut brittle and a light and slightly fizzy Zabaione made with Lambrusco (instead of traditional Marsala) and fresh Louisiana strawberries."

"The Neapolitan-inspired rounds at this restaurant in the Central Business District will be just as popular with adults, who will appreciate the winning topping combos, like salami, bacon, and fennel sausage with an egg, and prosciutto accompanied by mozzarella and a forest of fresh arugula. Not in the mood for ‘za?. There are molto bene housemade pastas and small plates to focus on instead."

"A traditional Neopolitan-style Italian eatery located in the heart of New Orlean’s Central Business District (CBD), Domenica has become a favorite among both locals and critics sin..."

"This local favorite was once a corner store in 1913 than later designed as a restaurant. Manale’s was a family business, ran by Frank Manale and his son’s and nephews. This restaurant didn’t make it over a hundred years for no reason though."

"Signature New Orleans barbecue shrimp features head-on Gulf shrimp in tangy butter sauce served with French bread. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat."

"1915 Pratt St., Gretna, (504) 362-2010; www.tonymandinas.com. Veal Classico is Italian-seasoned breaded veal topped with crabmeat and Alfredo sauce served with angel hair pasta. Reservations accepted."

"Just over the mighty Mississippi River from New Orleans lies the quiet town of Gretna, home to the old-school Sicilian-style Tony Mandina’s Restaurant. Folks line up here for the m..."

"530 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 833-7121; www.faustosbistro.com. Italian sausage is sauteed with bell peppers, onions, garlic, Italian herbs and marinara sauce and served over angel hair pasta. Reservations recommended."

"This magnificent Mid City Creole-Italian has survived it all, and while a post-Katrina renovation changed the layout of the restaurant, the food remains untouched by time; come for crispy paneed veal and luscious fettuccine alfredo, one of those old-school New Orleans combinations long-timers can’t get enough of, order the delicious red gravy that derives much of its sweetness from copious amounts of bell pepper, try the meatballs and the sausage, and the remarkably tasty pizzas, leading off with cold, crispy antipasto salads. You’re in good hands here. Dessert is next door at Angelo Brocato’s, one of America’s oldest (and best) Italian bakeries."

"Some Italian restaurants prefer to stick to one specific type of Italian dish when they put together their menus - think of an all pasta menu, and all seafood menu, or an all veal menu. Here at Venezia Restaurant, however, they prefer to let you keep your options open by offering up a little taste of everything for you to try. Whether they’re showcasing some fresh local seafood, some chicken parmesan, or even a whole pizza pie they’ve cooked up in their traditional stone oven, they’ve got a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy here at Venezia."

"People hang around the doors of this modest Metairie institution, night after night, the way barbecue lovers flock to the newest and hottest joints in Texas, except that R&O has been around since the ’80’s, that’s how much people love it here, and why shouldn’t they—the roast beef po boys are some of the most distinctive in town, but there’s so much else to eat here, too—shrimp salads, eggplant parmesan lunch specials, thin crust pizza, the works. Fancy it’s not, unforgettable all the same."

"For good reason: They’re reasonably priced, filling and about as egalitarian as a local food can be. Fried seafood po’ boys get much of the love, but consider the unsung hero of po’ boy land: the roast beef po’ boy. Here in the first suburb west of New Orleans proper is R&Os, home of the finest roast beef po’ boy with gravy that can be."

"Located on the corner of North Rampart Street, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the oldest house of worship in New Orleans. Originally named the Mortuary Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, the place of worship was built in 1826 to serve as a burial church for the victims of yellow fever. The current name of the church was received in 1918."

"If you’re down in the CBD or headed toward the French Quarter, one small church lies hidden on Rampart Street. Peering through the doors, you see a rather simple sanctuary and some of the homeless asleep on the pews. The real beauty is to either side of the altar: the shrines to St. Jude and Our Lady of Guadalupe."

"Lakeview's diner institution, unlike a lot of greasy spoons on this list, seems mainly more catered to families and sober people. But don't let that fool you, the breakfast options are astounding from fried chicken and waffles to a slew of egg specialties. Try the Egg Saints #33 with a grilled biscuit, alligator sausage, grilled tomatoes, poached eggs, and homemade country gravy, and save room for the housemade pies."

"A post shared by ~Sara's Photography~ (@saraphotography_05) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:00am PST. Russell’s Marina Grill opened its doors in 1985 and has been a favourite of locals ever since. Kids will love that this eatery is on the waterfront."

"8555 Pontchartrain Blvd., (504) 282-9980; www.russellsmarinagrill.net. Lemon Dijon-glazed grilled salmon is served atop red quinoa with brown rice, edamame and mixed vegetables."

"Since New Orleans is constantly buzzing with action, Clover Grill thought best to stay open in order to ensure the people of New Orleans are being fed at all times. This is a popular place; the laid-back atmosphere and the hot breakfast specials keep guests coming back for more. The diner is defined by its white washed plaster exterior, brightly painted, and the glass-paneled doors."

"Clover Grill — Bourbon Street This 24-hour diner on Bourbon Street is tiny, adorable in that old-fashioned Americana sort of way, and utterly unpretentious. Their goal is obvious: feed the drunk people."

"What you're getting: The Creole Slammer If you haven’t had the Creole Slammer at Slim’s, you have yet to fully live. What could be better than a plate of hash browns and eggs than a plate of hash browns and eggs generously topped with crawfish étouffée and a buttermilk biscuit?. Fair warning: there’s a sizable wait on weekends if you don’t get there early enough."

"Slim Goodies Diner is a dive-y diner located in the Garden District/Irish Channel portion of Magazine Street in New Orleans. The venue has a retro feel with the old Coke signs, red leather booths and counter stools. Breakfast/brunch is the specialty here, and waits can be long if you come at peak times, say around 10 am."