Italian Restaurants in Memphis

June 14, 2026

Memphis has one of Tennessee’s deepest Italian-American restaurant traditions, anchored by family-owned dining rooms that have operated for generations. Memphis is the state’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its Italian restaurants reflect a long history of Italian immigrant families settling in the city and opening neighborhood eateries. Several of the city’s best-known Italian spots trace their roots back decades, and they sit alongside newer concepts and regional pizza operations across Midtown, East Memphis, and the University area.

The cooking ranges from old-school red-sauce classics to handmade pizzas and pasta. Long-running family restaurants tend to build their menus around dishes like lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, and chicken or veal preparations, often with house specialties developed over many years. Pizza is a strong category in Memphis, with several locally owned operations serving thin-crust and handmade pies, and a number of restaurants combine Italian standards with American grill items and Memphis touches. Family ownership and long tenure in a single neighborhood are common threads among the city’s established Italian restaurants.

Restaurants in Memphis operate under Tennessee’s food-service rules. A restaurant must hold a food-service permit and pass routine inspections; in Shelby County these are handled by the Shelby County Health Department under standards set by the Tennessee Department of Health. Prepared restaurant food is taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate rather than the lower state grocery food rate, and in Shelby County that combined rate reaches roughly 9.75%. Restaurants that serve wine, beer, or liquor must hold the appropriate permits; on-premises liquor-by-the-drink service is licensed through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), while beer permits are issued through local government.

For diners, a few practical points apply across the category. Menu prices generally exclude tax, so the combined rate is added at checkout, and many full-service Italian restaurants add an automatic gratuity for larger parties, which is disclosed on the menu or check. Some long-running Memphis dining rooms keep dinner-only hours, so confirming service times before visiting is worthwhile. Consumer complaints about billing or service practices can be directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). The restaurants below were selected for their established presence in Memphis and the detail available about their cuisine, ownership, and history.

Top Italian Restaurant Providers in Memphis

1. Pete & Sam’s Restaurant

Address: 3886 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 458-0694
Website: https://peteandsams.com
Services: dine-in Italian and American, thin-crust pizza, pasta, steaks, seafood, private party room, catering
Description: Pete & Sam’s is a family-owned Italian restaurant on Park Avenue in East Memphis that has operated since 1948, making it one of the oldest Italian dining rooms in the city. It was founded by Sam after his discharge from the Army Air Corps, originally in partnership with his cousin Pete Romeo; Pete left after about six months, but the restaurant kept the original name. The menu pairs traditional Italian fare such as lasagna, spaghetti, thin-crust pizzas, and the restaurant’s Italian spinach with American selections including chicken, steaks, and seafood, and a barbecue pizza that has drawn national attention. The restaurant offers a large private party room and full catering, and keeps dinner-focused hours.

2. Dino’s Grill

Address: 645 N. McLean Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: (901) 278-9127
Website: https://www.dinosgrill.com
Services: dine-in Italian and American, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, plate lunches, dinner service
Description: Dino’s Grill is a family-owned Italian restaurant in Midtown Memphis, located on the corner of Tutwiler and McLean. The business has occupied this Midtown storefront since 1973, and its history reaches back further to the founding family’s earlier downtown operation, the State Cafe at Beale and Main, which served plate lunches for about three decades before its building was slated for demolition. The restaurant grew out of an Italian immigrant family tradition and is known for classic Italian dishes including spaghetti with meatballs and its ravioli, served in a small, longtime neighborhood dining room. Its corner location and multi-generational history make it a Midtown fixture.

3. Garibaldi’s Pizza

Address: 3530 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 327-6111
Website: https://garibaldispizza.com
Services: handmade pizza, pasta with house sauces, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, dine-in, carry-out, delivery, catering
Description: Garibaldi’s Pizza is a locally owned Memphis operation that has served Italian food since 1975, beginning with its original location on Walker Avenue near the University of Memphis. The kitchen emphasizes scratch preparation, noting that its breads, doughs, and sauces are made in house daily, and the menu centers on customizable handmade pizzas alongside pasta with a range of sauces, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and desserts. The business has grown to three area locations, including the East Memphis store at 764 Mount Moriah Road and a Germantown location at 7521 Queens Court, with all stores offering dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and catering. The restaurant describes maintaining a family atmosphere as central to its long run in the market.

Frequently Asked Questions About Italian Restaurants in Memphis

Q: Do Italian restaurants in Memphis need a permit to operate?

Yes. Every restaurant in Memphis must hold a food-service permit and pass routine inspections. In Shelby County these are administered by the Shelby County Health Department under standards set by the Tennessee Department of Health. Inspection results are public, and restaurants are required to display their current permit.

Q: How much is sales tax on a restaurant meal in Memphis?

Prepared restaurant food is taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate, not the lower state grocery food rate. In Shelby County that combined rate reaches roughly 9.75%, which is added to the menu price at checkout. Diners should expect the listed prices to increase by that amount on the final check.

Q: Which Memphis Italian restaurants have the longest history?

Memphis has several long-running Italian dining rooms. Pete & Sam’s on Park Avenue has operated since 1948, Garibaldi’s Pizza has served the city since 1975, and Dino’s Grill has occupied its Midtown corner since 1973, with roots in the family’s earlier downtown State Cafe. These long tenures are part of what defines the city’s Italian dining scene.

Q: Can Italian restaurants in Memphis serve wine and cocktails?

Restaurants that serve wine, beer, or liquor must hold the appropriate permits. On-premises liquor-by-the-drink service is licensed through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, while beer permits are issued through local government. Some restaurants serve beer and wine only, and others offer a full bar, so it is worth confirming a restaurant’s offerings before visiting.

Q: What kinds of Italian food can I find in Memphis?

Memphis Italian restaurants range from longtime family dining rooms serving red-sauce classics like lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and ravioli to locally owned pizza operations making handmade pies and pasta with house sauces. Several restaurants pair Italian standards with American grill items, and a few add distinctly Memphis touches such as barbecue pizza.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a Memphis restaurant?

Concerns about food safety or sanitation can be reported to the Shelby County Health Department, which conducts restaurant inspections. Complaints about billing, advertising, or other business practices can be directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping the itemized receipt helps support any complaint.