Best Italian Restaurants in Pensacola, Florida

Whether you’re a local or you’re planning an upcoming visit, Pensacola, Florida, is home to a variety of delicious and authentic Italian restaurants. If you’re in the mood for a light salad and thin-crust pizza, a taste of seafood, or a hearty meal with a glass of red wine, Italian food is a great choice for an evening out with a friend or loved one. With many options to choose from, it’s important to know the must-visit spots. Here’s a list of suggestions for the best places to visit for Italian food in and around this city.

Bonelli’s Cafe Italia

“Spaghetti alle vongole con pancetta, linguine with clams and bacon, italian recipes” by Wine Dharma is licensed with CC BY 2.0

If you’re looking for a restaurant with fresh ingredients, a warm atmosphere, and attentive servers, make sure to check out Bonelli’s Cafe Italia. They pride themselves on serving homemade Italian food, and this family-owned restaurant serves a variety of classic dishes, including customer favorites like chicken parmesan and baked ravioli. To begin your meal, choose from their list of unique appetizers, like Sali’s saucy shrimp, made with artichoke hearts, spicy tomatoes, and Sal’s red sauce, or Dad’s mushrooms, featuring shiitake and oyster mushrooms sauteed in butter, olive oil, and Italian seasonings.

For your main course, you can select a baked dish like lasagna and eggplant parmesan, or one of their pasta dishes, including Dom’s fresh made pesto, pasta with Alfredo sauce, and shrimp scampi. Make sure to stick around for dessert and sample one of their tasty treats, including mini cannoli, tiramisu, and spumoni ice cream. If you or your companions follow a gluten-free diet, you can enjoy a slice of gluten-free chocolate cake topped with fresh whipped cream or vanilla bean gelato.

Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano

The newest addition to the Merrill family’s Great Southern Restaurant Group, Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano offers a rustic and elegant atmosphere with a curated selection of authentic Italian dinner items and desserts. Led by nationally renowned chef James Briscione, you’ll find a variety of dishes crafted with the finest seasonal ingredients to create a menu with a coastal-Italian atmosphere. You can choose from their several antipasti and salad options, including beef tartare, burrata, roasted cauliflower, and crispy Brussels sprouts.

There are several menu items that feature their house-made pasta, including the mussels bucatini and lasagna Bolognese. Heartier main dishes include their Chianti-braised short ribs, seared scallop risotto, and chicken parmesan. If you’re in the mood for pizza, you’ll also find a variety of options, including their simple pizza bianca, featuring mozzarella and parmesan, and their diavola, topped with Calabrian chili, salami, and 196 Black Garlic Honey. Here, you’ll also find several classic and contemporary Italian cocktails, plus an extensive wine list curated by their wine director, Brooke Parkhurst.

Bella Luna Italian Bistro

Stop by Bella Luna Italian Bistro a little outside of Pensacola to sample chef Guglielmo Ianni’s tantalizing menu of Southern Italian cuisine. Here you’ll find popular appetizers including fried ravioli and bruschetta Toscana, as well as lighter starters like Caprese or Caesar salad. Their menu also offers classic pasta dishes, such as penne carbonara, linguine and meatballs, and ravioli Pomodoro. You can also choose an item from Guglielmo’s favorite pasta dishes, featuring ravioli al aragosta, which is lobster ravioli topped with vodka cream sauce and Gorgonzola cheese, and Cappellini Toscana topped with artichokes, shrimps, roasted peppers, and mushrooms.

They also offer various entrees featuring meat and seafood, like veal piccata, a rack of lamb, and blackened salmon. Feel free to bring the whole family, as Bella Luna has a children’s menu featuring smaller portions of simple dishes, like penne with butter and cheese ravioli. For a small additional charge, you can substitute gluten-free pasta in the dish of your choice, making this a great spot if you or your loved ones have dietary restrictions. You’ll also find an extensive wine list, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect beverage pairing for your meal.

V. Paul’

Make sure to visit V. Paul’s to try their large variety of fresh, handcrafted Italian dishes. Here, they offer “Vino Magnifico” a monthly wine-tasting event you can attend and sample a variety of wines from across the Italian peninsula. Stop by for dinner and start your evening by choosing appetizers from their wide selection of antipasti items, including the calamari fritti, crispy artichoke hearts, some grilled octopus, and a platter of cheese and salami varieties. If you’re looking for something light, try one of their soups or salads, like lobster bisque or a classic Caesar salad.

In the mood for seafood? Order an entree from the “Frutti di Mare” section of their menu, featuring dishes like their seared salmon, which includes gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, and pesto sauce, or their linguini alle vongole, a pasta dish topped with little-neck-clams or mussels. You can also choose from their pasta options, featuring classics like spaghetti and meatballs, primavera, and lasagne Bolognese.

Petrella’s Italian Cafe

For over 20 years, Petrella’s Italian Cafe has been a Pensacola staple, providing locals and tourists with handcrafted Italian dishes and a casual, friendly atmosphere. Here you can sample a variety of their signature sauces or try their daily special, always served with garlic bread and a soup or salad. Their appetizers include calamari, fried mozzarella sticks, bruschetta, and spinach and artichoke dip. If you visit for lunch, you can order one of their subs or sandwiches, served daily until 3 p.m. with french fries, a pasta salad, or tossed salad.

Other lunch entrees include fettuccine Alfredo, shrimp scampi, and baked rigatoni. You’ll find similar dishes on their dinner menu, as well as other Italian classics like pasta rustica, pasta primavera, veal marsala, and steak gorgonzola. You’ll also find a selection of seafood dishes, including fried flounder Italiano, stuffed grouper, and grilled mahi-mahi.

Well, there you have it, our recommendations for the best Italian restaurants in Pensacola, Florida. Did we include your favorite eateries? Are there other local treasures missing from our suggestions? Contact us and we’ll make sure to add your favorite restaurant to our list, so others can enjoy them when they’re in the area.