Who doesn’t love good Italian food?  Italian cuisine has become a universal favorite, and that includes Nicole and me.  This article lists what we consider the Best Italian Restaurants in Frederick, MD.

Frederick Italian Restaurants I believe have benefited from our close proximity to Baltimore. 

Baltimore has one of the best Little Italy Neighborhoods in the US.  I believe this has been a major influence on the quality of the Italian food in Frederick. 

Two plates of Italian pasta are set on a dark table, each with a glass of red wine—perfect for fans of restaurants in Frederick MD. The lasagna is garnished with basil and bay leaf, while spaghetti in tomato sauce sits behind. RICCI is etched on the glasses. A close-up of a restaurant menu on a dark table at one of the top Frederick Italian Restaurants. A bread basket and a small dish with olive oil, vinegar, and garlic sit nearby. The menu highlights appetizers, soups, salads, and pasta in red text. A white plate with burrata cheese on mixed greens, sliced red and yellow tomatoes, and balsamic glaze topped with chopped nuts. A bottle of Montepulciano red wine hints at the elegance of Frederick Italian Restaurants.

The Best Italian Restaurants in Frederick, Maryland

Frederick Italian Restaurants - Map

What Makes a Great Italian Restaurant?

Part of the greatness of Italian food is its simplicity.  However, several elements have come together to make a great Italian restaurant.

For me, here are the factors used to rank the Italian Restaurants in Frederick below:

  1. Pasta Dishes (house-made pasta!)
  2. Quality of the Red Sauce
  3. Non-Pasta Entrees
  4. Anti-Pasta Appetizers 
  5. Italian-Focused Wine List
  6. Italian Desserts
  7. Authentic Ambience
a Slice of Tiramisu Topped with Cocoa Powder Sits on a Colorful Plate a Fork Beside It in the Background Wine Glasses and Table Settings Hint at the Inviting Atmosphere Typical of Frederick Italian Restaurants

Like most cuisines, Italian restaurants that shine are those that focus on fresh ingredients, authentic recipes (traditional, family, or generational), and the classics.

When going out for Italian food, most people already have their favorites or their ‘go-to’ dishes. 

For me, it’s eggplant parmesan.  I rarely go to an Italian Restaurant wanting to ‘try something new or innovative’.

a Plate of Fresh Mozzarella Cherry Tomatoes Basil and Balsamic Glaze Sits on a White Tableclothan Inviting Scene Often Found in the Best Restaurants in Frederick Md Behind It a Glass of Red Wine and a Barolo Bottle Complete the Softly Lit Setting

I’m usually looking for a fresh salad, a pasta dish with amazing tomato sauce, and an Italian red wine (Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, Barolo, or similar). 

Dessert is usually a must.

a Black Chalkboard Menu on a Brick Wall Lists Todays Specials in White Handwritten Text Showcasing Favorites Found at Frederick Italian Restaurants Like Cioppino Lobster Ravioli Osso Buco Burrata and Spumoni

Ready to see our list?  If you are a Frederick resident or visitor, here are the Best Italian Restaurants near you.

Did we miss your favorite Italian restaurant in Frederick? Did we rank something too high or low?  Let us know in the comments.

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book or purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)

1. Il Porto

Il Porto Frederick Street View

Why We Love It: Il Porto is the Italian restaurant in Frederick that most reminds me of the ones in Baltimore’s Little Italy. 

This cozy restaurant on Market Street on the north side of downtown is loved by Frederick locals who pack it every weekend.

Il Porto checks all the boxes for great Italian:  fresh appetizers, incredible pasta dishes, great meat and seafood entrees, and an impressive Italian wine list. 

They have regular specials and check out their Martini List, which is also somewhat of a specialty at Il Porto.

The restaurant has been run by the Cruz family in Frederick since 2007.  They only take reservations by phone. 

But it’s highly recommended that you call to secure one on weekends, as it gets busy!  

2. Pistarro's

Pistarros-in-Frederick-MD

Why We Love It:  Pistarro’s is another Italian restaurant in our regular rotation.  It’s a place where we love to sit at the bar on weekends and enjoy simple Italian and red wine.

Pistarro’s has a more family-restaurant feel, partly because they serve great pizza to attract lots of families.  But don’t sleep in the Pistarro’s Italian entrees, especially anything with red sauce.

Also, I highly recommend the salads and the Napoletana Bread – simple wood-fired bread with olive oil and herbs.  A great starter.

Pistarro’s is located on East Street, a few blocks east of downtown.

Follow EpicFrederick for Local Info You Won't Find in Guides:

3. Cucina Massi

Cucina Massi Back Bar Frederick

Why We Love It:  The back terrace!  Cucina Massi is right up there with the best Italian food in Frederick.  But I’ll fully admit my favorite part about this restaurant is the somewhat secret back terrace.

The Cucina Massi menu of Italian food is tremendous.  You can’t go wrong with their pastas, pizza, appetizers, salads, or entrees.  It has a Maryland influence, with lots of Italian seafood dishes. Excellent wine list as well.

If you visit on a nice day, try dining on the back terrace.  It has a totally different vibe and is a unique place to have a meal in downtown Frederick.

4. Ricci

Ricci-Italian-Restaurant-Frederick-MD

Why We Love It:  Ricci is an Italian Restaurant in the center of The Village at Worman’s Mill, a community on the north side of Frederick. 

It took a while after we moved to Frederick for Nicole and me to finally try Ricci.  But we were definitely impressed when we did!

It has an upscale feel, with many windows and a bright open concept.  One end has a modern bar, but the dining room is a sleek restaurant, not a casual pizzeria.

The menu is also slightly elevated, full of Italian favorites – pasta classics, wood-fired pizza, salads, and a good wine list.

One bonus from many of the other Frederick Italian restaurants on this list:  you can make a reservation at Ricci.

5. Manalu

Manalu-italian-restaurant-frederick-md

Why We Love It:  If you go by online reviews, Manalu might be the most popular Italian restaurant in Frederick.  People love this place.

Unlike most of the other restaurants above, Manalu is not downtown but just south of town near Ballenger Creek. 

Manalu’s chef focuses on dishes from his native Naples and does them well.  The pasta and red sauce are tremendous, and the pizza might be the best thing on the menu.

There are lots of great fish, meat, and chicken dishes to try as well.  Make a reservation on OpenTable, especially on weekends.

6. Fratelli's

Photo Credit: Fratelli's on Facebook
Photo Credit: Fratelli's on Facebook

Why We Love It:  Despite being technically in Middletown, MD, 15 minutes up Route 40 from Frederick, Fratelli’s is another Italian restaurant near Frederick that gets rave reviews.  

Have dinner there, and you’ll know why.  The pasta and pizza are great at Fratelli’s, but I’d highly recommend their crab cakes, which are among the best in the area.  It’s also a great place to get a steak.

It also has a tidy wine list, including the house Pinot Grigio, sourced locally from our friend Garry at Mazzaroth Vineyards. 

Note that have a sister location in Hampstead, MD.

7. Mangia e Bevi

Photo Credit: MangiaEBevi.us
Photo Credit: MangiaEBevi.us

Why We Love It:  Nicole and I live in the Urbana, MD, direction of Frederick.  We frequently discuss how Urbana has hardly any good restaurants despite being a growing suburb of both D.C. and Frederick.

Mangia E Bevi is an exception.  This corner Italian restaurant has been in Urbana since 2007, giving those in this growing neighborhood a solid place for an Italian meal.

It has everything you want in an Italian restaurant – great pasta, salads, anti-pasta, and above-average pizza.  I’m also impressed with their wine list.  

Good place for carry out if you are in Urbana as well.

Want More of the Best of Frederick, Maryland?

The Best Frederick Restaurants
The Best Frederick Breweries
Where to Stay in Frederick
a Woman Wearing Sunglasses Sits on the Ground at Gaver Farm Leaning Against a Large Wooden American Flag Display She is Surrounded by Several Pumpkins on Dry Grass in a Pumpkin Patch with Trees and a Cloudy Sky in the Background
The Best Things to Do in Frederick
The Best Hikes Around Frederick
a Man in a White Shirt Gray Shorts White Shoes and a Cap Stands on a Sunny Golf Course Near Frederick Md Holding a Golf Club He Faces the Camera and Smiles Surrounded by Green Grass Trees and Distant Hills Under a Clear Blue Sky
The Best Frederick Golf Courses
The Best Wineries Around Frederick
The Best Bars in Frederick
author avatar
Glenn VanLandingham Travel Writer
Glenn is a travel enthusiast and adventure seeker who lives in Frederick, Maryland, and Bend, Oregon. He and his wife Nicole use EpicBend and EpicFrederick to chronicle their adventures in these amazing places so others can live their best lives in Frederick and Bend.
See Full Bio
Frederick, Maryland Bend, Oregon
social network icon social network icon social network icon social network icon social network icon