8 National Italian Restaurants That Are Way Better Than Olive Garden

Olive Garden is often discussed when you ask people about their favorite restaurants. There’s a lot to love, including the various pasta dishes and the never-ending breadsticks. However, if you never look past Olive Garden, you’ll miss some of the other incredible Italian restaurants in the nation. Once I started to expand my horizons, I found that there were many national Italian restaurants that were way better than Olive Garden.

From the delicious simplicity of Amato’s to the vast menu at Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, there’s a lot out there to love. Here are eight of our favorites. Try them, and they may become your favorite. 

Maggiano’s Little Italy

The first Italian restaurant that we think is way better than Olive Garden is Maggiano’s Little Italy. You’ll find this eatery all over the place and it’s worth stopping by. Many of the meals here are family-style, meaning you’ll have more than enough for yourself and your friends. You don’t need endless breadsticks when you get large portions. This place is famous for many dishes, from the lasagna to the spaghetti and meatballs. There’s also steak, seafood, and more.

The Dish to Try

As a first-time visitor to Maggiano’s Little Italy, you should try the Fettuccine Alfredo. Yes, you can get this dish at many Italian restaurants, but it’s life-changing here. It’s loaded with juicy chicken, and the noodles are cooked perfectly. It’s topped with top-notch asiago cream sauce and it’s perfectly seasoned. Even if you’ve tried the fettuccine at Olive Garden, you’ll want to try it here as well.

The Old Spaghetti Factory

You won’t find this chain everywhere, but The Old Spaghetti Factory, which began in 1969, can be found in 13 states across the country. This is an old-school restaurant. Inside you’ll see vintage decor, including stained glass and old carousel horses. The food is amazing. It’s prepared by chefs who know how to pack in the flavor. The restaurant is also known for its tasty ice cream and desserts.

The Dish to Try

Next time you see this tasty eatery, stop by and order the Spaghetti with Mizithra Cheese. If you love cheese, then you’re going to be in heaven. This restaurant is famous for its mizithra cheese, so much so that you can order it separately and bring it home. Once you’re done, top off your perfect meal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Buca di Beppo

Another Italian chain restaurant that is way better than Olive Garden is Buca di Beppo. This is where you go when you want huge, shareable portions. They serve pasta, pizza, desserts, and more in heaping portions. This is one of the most notable Italian restaurants, and it’s remarkable considering that it began in a Minneapolis apartment building. The chain also has some international locations. Pass by Olive Garden, and try Buca di Beppo.

The Dish to Try

There are many amazing dishes at Buca di Beppo, from the Caesar salads to the lasagna. However, if you can only choose one, go for the crispy chicken parmesan. The chicken is bursting with flavor. It’s made better by the rich and unique tomato sauce and lots of cheese. If you want to try two dishes, also try the lasagna in meat sauce for a perfect bite.

Il Fornaio

With 17 locations across the country as of the time of this writing, Il Fornaio is an Italian restaurant that you need to add to your bucket list. You’ll typically find this eatery in the nicer, more affluent neighborhoods, so it can be a bit expensive. However, if you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the place to go. The chefs here use traditional Italian cooking methods, so you get food that truly rivals Olive Garden.

The Dish to Try

If you want to try some of the best Italian food of all time, try the Pappardelle di Castagne. That is chestnut pasta that is topped with tomatoes, porcini mushrooms, Italian sausage, Trebbiano wine, and crushed red pepper. It’s the perfect package, and every bite is amazing. It’s like eating at an authentic eatery in Italy. The dish is homemade and prepared with love.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is a very famous restaurant with over 200 locations across the nation. The chain first opened in 1986 after Texas chefs created a menu based on their family roots. The result is amazing. This is a casual restaurant like Olive Garden, but the food is on another level. The wait staff is also very knowledgeable. They have many tasty dishes, from the pasta to the pork chops.

The Dish to Try

Don’t fill up on appetizers, or you won’t have room for the Chicken Bryan. It’s a dish you may not have tried before, but it’s worth it. The meal is loaded with wood-grilled chicken that’s covered with a nice helping of basil, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and lemon butter sauce. It’s savory and delicious. Once you’ve tried it, try everything else on the menu.

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

Another amazing Italian eatery that’s way better than Olive Garden is Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano. Currently, there are 16 restaurants across the nation, and the place is making a big splash. It’s like the Cheesecake Factory with a vast menu with tasty soups, bruschettas, and other tasty appetizers, seafood and steak options, great desserts, and more. There’s something for everyone here. One day, this place could be as big as Olive Garden.

The Dish to Try

When you go to Biaggi’s, try the Capellini di Mare. This isn’t a meal you’ll get just anywhere else. This is cooked with perfection. It has a thin pasta that’s prepared al dente, and it’s topped with a perfect herb-tomato sauce. The sauce is just a bit spicy but not overwhelming. There’s a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity that you just have to try.

Brio Italian Grille

Brio Italian Grille is a chain restaurant that’s a love letter to northern Italian cuisine, aka, the Tuscan region. They do this with tasty dishes and fine wine. The term “brio” means joyful, and that’s exactly how you’ll feel while you’re here. In addition to pasta, you can order meaty stakes, crispy flatbreads, seafood, and more. The decor of the restaurants will also make you feel like you’re back in old Italy.

The Dish to Try

There are numerous dishes that you should try at Brio Italian Grille. However, for the most authentic Tuscan flare, opt for the Shrimp & Scallop Risotto. In fact, you should try the risotto at any Italian place you find, it’s always great. This particular dish is perfectly cooked with a mix of black pepper cream sauce, roasted mushrooms, rice, and Reggiano cheese. Then, shrimp and scallops are added to create the perfect bite.

Amato’s

Amato’s is our final Italian restaurant, which is way better than Olive Garden. This is a great eatery that is more about sandwiches than pasta, but it’s still delicious. This isn’t like Subway. These are gourmet sandwiches with tasty menu items like the Classic Italian Cold Cut and the Original Real Italian. There are other tasty Italian treats there as well. There are currently 44 locations in the country, and they’re all top-notch.

The Dish to Try

We recommend that you go into Amato’s restaurant and try the Classic Italian Cold Cut. Get it with the works: pickles, tomatoes, green peppers, homemade oil, greek olives, and their trademark Italian dressing. You won’t regret it. If you go back a second time, try one of their calzones for another flavor punch.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©"Business card - Il Fornaio" by avlxyz is licensed under BY-SA 2.0..