The Best Italian Restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona | Eater Phoenix

"It’s impossible to talk about Italian food in Phoenix without mentioning Cibo. The charm is built in — exposed brick, creaky hardwood floors — but it’s the food that makes it a staple. The menu sticks to comforting classics: crisp, cheese-filled arancini, slow-simmered meatballs in rich tomato sauce, and a standout burrata draped in black-label prosciutto. Salads bring some balance, whether it’s the farro salad packed with seasonal vegetables or the pear salad tossed with pecorino and toasted almonds. Pasta service starts at 5 p.m., and it’s worth the wait. Pappardelle bolognese is slow-cooked and deeply flavorful, gnocchi lands in a creamy fontina sauce, and baked gemelli with sausage and ricotta comes bubbling from the wood-fired oven. While Cibo is best known for its Neapolitan pizzas, the pastas, antipasti, and homey Italian staples make it just as much a destination for a proper sit-down meal." - McConnell Quinn