If you think you can’t find great Italian food in Mississippi, you’d definitely be mistaken. The state is known for its mouthwatering cuisine, and that includes pretty much every type of fare you can think of, from smoky barbecue and fried seafood to mouthwatering ethnic cuisine. So the next time you’re craving a heaping helping of pasta (along with other classic Italian dishes) you’ll definitely want to visit one of these amazing restaurants.
1. Pearl Street Pasta, Natchez
Nestled in a historic building, Pearl Street Pasta serves a mouthwatering Italian American fare, which probably has something to do with it being voted the "Best Place to Ruin Your Diet" by Mississippi Magazine. Scan the menu and you’ll find all sorts of delicious options, such as flatbread pizzas, steaks, seafood, salads, and a variety of pastas. Visit Pearl Street Pasta at 105 S. Pearl St. in Natchez.
2. Salvetti’s Italian Grill, Ocean Springs
Please note, Salvetti’s Italian Grill is no longer in business.
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian meal, it doesn’t get much better than Salvetti’s in Ocean Springs. The extensive menu is filled with classics – all of which are prepared using recipes that have been passed down for generations. Aside from the plethora of pasta dishes, you’ll find specialty pizzas and sub sandwiches. Visit Salvetti’s at 708 Washington Ave. in Ocean Springs.
3. Billy’s Italian Restaurant, Vicksburg
At Billy’s, you can fill up on a variety of homemade pastas and sauces, New York-style pizza, and salads in a casual, deli-like atmosphere. Visit Billy’s at 4000 S. Frontage Rd., Ste. 112B in Vicksburg.
4. The Sicilian II, Biloxi
Combining generational recipes from Sicily and Greece, this Biloxi eatery offers a fare like no other. The menu is overflowing with mouthwatering classics, including pizzas, salads, gryos, and, of course, plenty of pastas. Visit The Sicilian II at 1670 Pass Rd. Unit 1 in Biloxi.
5. Lillo’s, Leland
A long time favorite, Lillo’s first opened in 1948, introducing the area to authentic Italian cuisine. Since then, the menu has grown tremendously and now features steaks, seafood, and a variety of mouthwatering Italian dishes, including lots of pastas and salads topped with homemade sauces and dressings. Visit Lillo’s at 1001 Highway 82 in Leland.
6. Saint Leo, Oxford
Among the impressive restaurants that fill the food-centric city of Oxford, you’ll find Saint Leo. The entire restaurant is based around a wood-burning oven imported straight from Italy, so you know the pizza’s good, but that’s not all the eatery has to offer. Aside from the out of this world pizza, the menu includes several other Italian dishes - all of which are made from locally-sourced, quality ingredients. Visit Saint Leo at 1101 Jackson Ave. East in Oxford.
7. The Italian Grill and Pizzeria, Picayune
With roots tracing back to Naples, it’s no surprise The Italian Grill and Pizzeria has become known as one of the state’s best kept secrets. The restaurant offers a traditional Neapolitan fare, with everything made from scratch and made to order, including the spectacular pasta dishes. Visit The Italian Grill at 1702 Highway 11 N. in Picayune.
8. Cerami’s Italian Restaurant, Flowood
When looking to fill up on authentic Italian cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Cerami’s, especially since all of the food is prepared using family recipes that have been passed down for generations. Scan the menu, and you’ll find a seemingly endless selection of classic pastas, from lasagna and raviolis to chicken Carbonara and Cajun red fish pasta (pictured).
9. Lil Dago’s Café, Natchez
A restaurant the entire family will love, Lil Dago’s offers diners a true Italian experience, from the atmosphere to the food. Enjoy the sound of music and lively chatter while you peruse the menu filled with mouthwatering options, like muffalettas, heaping salads, and classic dishes, like lasagna and tortellini. If you really want to get your fill, head to the restaurant during lunch for the "All You Can Eat Spaghetti" special. Visit Lil Dago’s Café at 29 Sgt. Prentiss Dr. in Natchez.
10. Tabella, Hattiesburg
Head to this Hattiesburg eatery, and you can get your fill of just about every Italian dish out there, including plenty of pastas, from spaghetti and meatballs to shrimp scampi. There’s also an impressive wine list, adding the perfect touch to a perfect meal. Visit Tabella at 3720 Hardy St. #23A.
On or off the list, which restaurant in Mississippi do you head to when you get a hankering for some mouthwatering pasta?
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