Italian Restaurants in Kansas City (2025)

James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Smith anchors this Crossroads standout with handmade pastas, a raw bar, and refined service. Lauded by Feast Magazine and Missouri Life and regularly highlighted by The Kansas City Star, it remains a local benchmark.

Lidia Bastianich’s longtime Freighthouse dining room still draws fans for its bottomless pasta trio and Northern Italian classics. Recognized for hospitality by Feast Magazine and spotlighted by Visit KC, its special events show it’s thriving in 2025.

Laura Norris’s neighborhood trattoria pours house limoncello and serves family recipes—meatballs, amatriciana, eggplant parm—in a lively room. KCUR profiled its community roots, and local critics consistently praise its Sunday brunch and smart wine program.

Family‑run since 1954, Jasper’s blends Italian‑American tradition with tableside mozzarella theatre. Celebrated by The Pitch and The Kansas City Star and honored by industry press, it’s a touchstone for gracious, old‑school hospitality done right.

Part market, part trattoria, Bella Napoli channels a true Italian neighborhood spot. KCUR regularly recommends its handmade gnocchi and amatriciana, while The Kansas City Star has praised its Neapolitan‑style pies and easygoing Brookside vibe.

A South Plaza stalwart with a deep cellar and intimate energy, OIC repeatedly earns Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence. Visit KC and Zagat nods underscore its status as a long‑running, locally owned date‑night standby.

Employee‑owned at Briarcliff, Trezo leans Italian with fresh seafood and house breads, plus one of KC’s most talked‑about patios. KCUR and local magazines tout it for stylish outdoor dining, weekend brunch, and a lively happy hour.

Run by the founding family since 1954, Cascone’s serves Sicilian‑rooted red‑sauce classics in the Northland. KC Restaurant Week features it annually, and KCUR continues to recommend it for hearty, nostalgic Italian‑American cooking.

A Westport counter‑service favorite where pastas and sauces are made daily. Featured on Food Network and often recommended by KCUR, it’s the place for fresh ravioli, lasagna, cannoli, and take‑home pasta to cook later.

Crestwood’s modern Italian from the team behind Earl’s Premier balances spritzes, salumi, Roman‑ish pizzas, and rich pastas. Kansas City Magazine and The Infatuation praise its confident cooking and polished, neighborhood‑first atmosphere.