Tyler's Italian scene thrives beyond the typical chain restaurants, with family-owned spots serving authentic comfort food that locals have been defending for decades. From wood-fired pizza ovens to scratch-made pasta, East Texas does Italian with serious heart.
Our picks represent the spots where Tyler families celebrate birthdays and couples escape for quiet dinners. These aren't tourist traps—they're the places where servers know your order and portions always satisfy.
📍 All 10 Locations
⚡ Quick List
- Mario's Italian Restaurant & Club — Family Italian Institution
- New York Pizza & Pasta — Budget Pizza Champions
- Piada Italian Street Food — Fast-Casual Italian Done Right
- Italian Garden — Hidden Lindale Treasure
- Oliveto Italian Bistro — Reliable Neighborhood Favorite
- Little Italy — Generous Portion Paradise
- LaCascio’s Scratch Italian — Scratch-Made Lindale Excellence
- Bruno's Pizza & Pasta — Unpretentious Italian Comfort
- Roma Italian Kitchen & Bar — Sunday Dinner Tradition
- Milano's Pizza — Van's Pizza Destination
1. Mario's Italian Restaurant & Club
✨ Best for: Family Italian Institution
📍 Tyler · ⭐ 4.4 · 154 reviews · $$
Mario's has anchored Tyler's Italian scene for years with the kind of chicken parmesan that converts skeptics—golden, crispy cutlets blanketed in tangy marinara and melted mozzarella. The supreme pizza arrives loaded with pepperoni, sausage, and vegetables on a perfectly chewy crust, while their homemade lasagna layers pasta, meat sauce, and three cheeses into comfort food perfection. Weekend evenings bring multigenerational families celebrating everything from Little League victories to anniversary dinners, creating the warm chaos that defines great neighborhood Italian joints.
Must-Order:
Chicken ParmesanSupreme PizzaHomemade Lasagna
Insider Tip: Call ahead on weekend evenings as this local favorite can get busy, especially during peak dinner hours.
View Mario's Italian Restaurant & Club →
2. New York Pizza & Pasta
✨ Best for: Budget Pizza Champions
Tripadvisor📍 Tyler · ⭐ 4.2 · 191 reviews · $
New York Pizza & Pasta proves that excellent Italian food doesn't require white tablecloths or inflated prices. Their meat lovers pizza comes loaded with pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon on a thin crust that holds up to the weight, while the fettuccine alfredo coats house-made noodles in rich, creamy sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs feature golf ball-sized meatballs that are tender inside with a perfect sear outside. Families pack the booths here because the portions are enormous and leftovers guarantee tomorrow's lunch is already planned.
Must-Order:
Meat Lovers PizzaFettuccine AlfredoSpaghetti and Meatballs
Insider Tip: Order the large pizza instead of individual entrees when dining with friends – the portions are generous enough to share and offer better value.
3. Piada Italian Street Food
✨ Best for: Fast-Casual Italian Done Right
📍 Tyler · ⭐ 4.2 · 114 reviews · $$
Piada brings the Italian street food concept to Tyler with build-your-own piadas, pasta bowls, and salads that let everyone customize their meal. The diavolo chicken piada wraps spicy grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and fiery diavolo sauce in warm flatbread, while the basil pesto pasta bowl combines al dente pasta with bright, herby pesto and your choice of proteins. The Italian chopped salad mixes crisp greens, salami, mozzarella, and pepperoncini with tangy Italian dressing. It's fast-casual done right, perfect for lunch meetings or quick family dinners when everyone wants something different.
Must-Order:
Diavolo Chicken PiadaBasil Pesto Pasta BowlItalian Chopped Salad
Insider Tip: Visit during off-peak hours between 2-4 PM for the shortest wait times and freshest ingredients.
View Piada Italian Street Food →
4. Italian Garden
✨ Best for: Hidden Lindale Treasure
📍 Lindale · ⭐ 4.4 · 78 reviews
Italian Garden in nearby Lindale serves the kind of chicken parmigiana that makes the short drive worthwhile—tender cutlets topped with house-made marinara and melted cheese that stretches with every bite. Their margherita pizza showcases San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil on a perfectly charred crust, while the Caesar salad comes with crisp romaine and house-made croutons. The dining room fills with families who've discovered this Lindale treasure, where portions are generous and the staff treats regulars like extended family members coming home for Sunday dinner.
Must-Order:
Chicken ParmigianaMargherita PizzaCaesar Salad
Insider Tip: Visit during weekday lunch hours for quicker service and the same great food at slightly smaller portions and prices.
5. Oliveto Italian Bistro
✨ Best for: Reliable Neighborhood Favorite
📍 Tyler · ⭐ 3.7 · 176 reviews · $$
Oliveto Italian Bistro delivers consistent Italian-American favorites in a comfortable setting that works equally well for family dinners and date nights. Their chicken parmigiana features a golden-crusted cutlet smothered in rich marinara and melted mozzarella, while the fettuccine alfredo coats house-made pasta in creamy, garlic-infused sauce. The margherita pizza balances fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce on a crispy crust. Ask about the daily pasta specials—the kitchen often features seasonal ingredients and creative sauce combinations that showcase the chef's Italian training.
Must-Order:
Chicken ParmigianaFettuccine AlfredoMargherita Pizza
Insider Tip: Visit on weeknight evenings for the most relaxed dining experience and ask your server about daily pasta specials.
6. Little Italy
✨ Best for: Generous Portion Paradise
📍 Tyler · ⭐ 3.5 · 117 reviews · $$
Little Italy keeps things simple with generous portions of Italian-American classics that satisfy without breaking the bank. Their chicken parmigiana arrives with a perfectly crispy coating and tangy marinara, while the homemade lasagna layers pasta, meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella into pure comfort food. The margherita pizza features fresh mozzarella and basil on a hand-tossed crust that's chewy in all the right places. Families with kids love this spot because the staff is patient, the atmosphere is relaxed, and even picky eaters find something they'll devour.
Must-Order:
Chicken ParmigianaHomemade LasagnaMargherita Pizza
Insider Tip: Visit during weekday lunch hours for smaller crowds and the same great dinner portions at lower prices.
7. LaCascio’s Scratch Italian
✨ Best for: Scratch-Made Lindale Excellence
📍 Lindale · ⭐ 4.4 · 43 reviews
LaCascio's in Lindale takes Italian food seriously, making everything from scratch including their incredible house-made ravioli stuffed with ricotta and herbs. The chicken parmigiana features a tender cutlet with perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs, while their wood-fired margherita pizza emerges from the oven with a beautifully charred crust and bubbling fresh mozzarella. This is special occasion Italian—the kind of place where anniversary dinners and birthday celebrations unfold over multiple courses of authentic, carefully prepared dishes that remind diners why Italian cuisine conquered the world.
Must-Order:
House-made RavioliChicken ParmigianaWood-fired Margherita Pizza
Insider Tip: Visit on weeknight evenings for the most relaxed dining experience, as weekends can get busy with families celebrating special occasions.
View LaCascio’s Scratch Italian →
8. Bruno's Pizza & Pasta
✨ Best for: Unpretentious Italian Comfort
Tripadvisor📍 Tyler · ⭐ 3.4 · 120 reviews · $$
Bruno's Pizza & Pasta serves hearty Italian-American comfort food that families can afford to enjoy regularly. Their supreme pizza comes loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and peppers on a classic New York-style crust, while the fettuccine alfredo features house-made pasta swimming in rich, creamy sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs showcase tender, well-seasoned meatballs in a robust tomato sauce. It's straightforward Italian food executed well, with portions that ensure everyone leaves satisfied and prices that make it a weekly option rather than a special occasion splurge.
Must-Order:
Supreme PizzaFettuccine AlfredoSpaghetti and Meatballs
Insider Tip: Visit during weeknight hours for faster service and a quieter dining experience.
9. Roma Italian Kitchen & Bar
✨ Best for: Sunday Dinner Tradition
Tripadvisor📍 Tyler · ⭐ 4.0 · 55 reviews
Roma Italian Kitchen & Bar has become Tyler's go-to for Sunday family dinners, serving generous portions of Italian-American favorites in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Their chicken parmigiana features a golden-crusted cutlet topped with house-made marinara and melted cheese, while the fettuccine alfredo coats fresh pasta in silky, garlic-rich cream sauce. The margherita pizza balances fresh mozzarella, basil, and San Marzano tomatoes on a perfectly chewy crust. The owner circulates through the dining room, ensuring every table feels like honored guests rather than just another ticket.
Must-Order:
Chicken ParmigianaFettuccine AlfredoMargherita Pizza
Insider Tip: Call ahead on weekend evenings as the dining room fills up quickly, especially during peak dinner hours.
View Roma Italian Kitchen & Bar →
10. Milano's Pizza
✨ Best for: Van's Pizza Destination
📍 Van · ⭐ 3.9 · 26 reviews
Milano's in Van proves that great Italian food exists beyond Tyler city limits, serving families and groups who make the drive for consistently excellent pizza and pasta. Their meat lovers pizza arrives loaded with pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon on a crispy-chewy crust, while the chicken parmigiana features a tender cutlet with perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs. The homemade lasagna layers pasta, meat sauce, and three cheeses into comfort food perfection. It's the kind of neighborhood spot where servers remember your usual order and portions guarantee leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
Must-Order:
Meat Lovers PizzaChicken ParmigianaHomemade Lasagna
Insider Tip: Call ahead during peak dinner hours on weekends, as this popular spot can get busy with families and groups.
Tips for Finding Great Italian Food in Tyler
Check the Pasta: The best Italian spots in Tyler make their pasta fresh daily or at least use high-quality dried pasta that holds sauce properly.
Watch the Portions: Tyler's Italian restaurants are known for generous servings—order conservatively on your first visit to avoid waste.
Explore Lindale: Don't overlook Italian restaurants in nearby Lindale, where lower rent often means better value and more authentic preparations.
Call Ahead Weekends: Family-owned Italian spots in Tyler fill up quickly on Friday and Saturday evenings, especially during football season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Picked These Spots
We selected these Italian restaurants based on consistent quality, local reputation, and authentic flavors that keep Tyler families coming back. Our rankings consider food quality, value, atmosphere, and genuine community feedback from longtime residents.
Every restaurant on this list has a full profile on our site with photos, hours, reviews, and insider tips.
Last updated: February 2026
