The 25 Best Places To Get Lasagna In America Gallery

From old-school red-sauce joints in Chicago that have been operating the same way for decades to new and hip restaurants in New York City that roll their lasagna rather layering it, there is no shortage of incredible lasagna to be found. When wide pasta noodle sheets are combined with different cheeses and meats and covered with a rich sauce, you can easily be transported to a simpler, happier time. So to honor the lasagna, we sought out the best restarants in America for this iconic dish. 

So what exactly are our classifications for the best lasagna? Well, great lasagna has many of the same characteristics that make it so comforting and satisfying: properly cooked pasta (not overcooked, but not too al dente), a mouthwatering sauce or ragù, and a melty-creamy aspect that marries the whole dish together. This classic food is difficult to properly execute, and many restaurants do a poor job treating it with the respect it deserves.

To assemble this ranking, we looked at restaurants that made it to our list of the best Italian restaurant in every state, which we released early this year, as well as other rankings like "America's 50 Best Italian Restaurants" and "The Best Pasta Dish in Every State." From there we took a deep dive into rankings and reviews from local publications, consulted rating sites, scanned menus, and searched for trending places on social media. We made sure to find restaurants where you can enjoy legit lasagna that will not disappoint, including a good mix of authentic red-sauce establishments that will make you feel like you stepped onto the set of Goodfellas and new-school spots serving up this classic dish in a more contemporary manner.

#25 Mama Mia Trattoria, Portland, Ore.

Located in the historic Waldo Building, Mama Mia Trattoria cooks dishes from scratch using the freshest and best ingredients they can find. They take pride in their homemade sauces, which simmer all day to develop the perfect flavor. Their Classic Beef Lasagna is a work of art and worth seeking out. It's prepared with fresh pasta made with six layers of ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and Reggiano cheese, spinach, cremini mushrooms, and onion and topped with their signature tomato basil sauce.

#24 Rossitto’s Ristorante, Branford, Conn.

Owned by the Rossitto family, Rossitto's Ristorante is an intimate restaurant that showcases a collection of signature Italian classics coupled with modern American specials. They are most known for slow-roasted meats, fresh seafood, and handmade pastas. However, the lasagne, which is layered with ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce, is a match made in heaven and completely addictive.

#23 Caruso’s Restaurant, Tucson, Ariz.

Starting in the 1930s, Caruso's has remained a family-run business located in the historic Fourth Avenue district of sunny Tucson. Although improvements have been made to the physical restaurant, their famous lasagna recipe has been kept untouched. They offer both a vegetarian and meat lasagna, which are equally delicious, making sure all types of eaters can be happy.

#22 Kenny’s Italian Kitchen, Dallas, Texas

Complete with the old-school red gingham tablecloths, this wonderful home-style Italian spot makes you feel right at home when you dine there. Despite a large menu with all the Italian-American classics, there is one dish that stands out. Their lasagna, layered with delicious ground beef, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and red sauce is out of this world and worth a trip to check out.

#21 Amicci’s, Baltimore, Md.

Family-owned and -operated since 1991, Amicci's is a casual eatery and bar located in Baltimore's Little Italy. This spot is great if you're looking for a nice meal near the National Aquarium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Fells Point, Harbor East, and many other downtown attractions. The lasagna is made with lots of ground beef, ricotta cheese, pasta, homemade marinara sauce, and topped with mozzarella before being baked to perfection.

#20 Pasta Sisters, Los Angeles, Calif.

Pasta Sisters is truly a family affair. The story began in Padova, a small town in Northern Italy, where chef Paola Da Re and her siblings used to spend their afternoons helping their mother in the kitchen. With locations in both Mid City and Culver City, you can enjoy their popular oven-baked lasagna, prepared with homemade pasta sheets, Bolognese sauce, silky besciamella, and Parmigiano cheese.

#19 Marcella's, Columbus, Ohio

Owned and operated under Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, this Columbus staple offers high-quality Italian favorites to many Buckeye fans. Marcella's Lasagna alla Bolognese features a slow-cooked sausage ragù and marina, which delivers a rich and robust-tasting dish that's incredibly addicting. Besides the two locations in Columbus, they also have an outpost in Denver, Colorado.

#18 Volare Ristorante Italiano, Chicago, Ill.

The word volare means "to fly," and flight is the concept behind this popular restaurant in the Windy City. Owner Benny Siddu and executive chef Massimilliano Campagnini both hail from Italy, where they began their careers in the hospitality industry. Their Lasagna al Forno, which is done in traditional Bolognese style, is a favorite among regulars and a staple on the menu that will hopefully never disappear.

#17 Trattoria Marcella, St. Louis, Mo.

In 1995, brothers Jamie and Steve Komorek opened Trattoria Marcella (named after their mother) in St. Louis, they have been offering imaginative Italian cuisine since. Gaining praise from notable publications like the Zagat Guide and The New York Times, this restaurant has earned a reputation for having some of the best Italian food along the Mississippi River. Their lasagna is a major crowd-pleaser that showcases Italian sausage, lean ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, béchamel, and fresh tomato.

#16 Sapori Trattoria, Chicago, Ill.

Chef Anthony Barbanente, a Chicago native who lived a good part of his life in Southern Italy on his grandfather's farm, founded Sapori Trattoria in 2001. Building a reputation for its homemade pastas, the restaurant caters to upscale dinning in a neighborhood setting. Their house specialty worth checking out is the Lasagna di Antonio, an individual meat lasagna made with a beef Bolognese sauce, fresh mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan, and ricotta.

#15 Filomena Ristorante, Washington, D.C.

After recognizing the need for a good quality Italian restaurant in the Washington metro area, JoAnna Filomena opened Filomena Ristorante, paying homage to her family roots. Born from memories of the time she had spent helping her mother preparing for special meals, this lovely restaurant was born. Their Lasagna alla Bolognese is no joke, with layers of fresh pasta with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses and their thick Bolognese meat sauce made from beef, Italian pork sausage, and veal.

#14 Queen Italian Restaurant, Brooklyn, N.Y.

This Brooklyn establishment opened its doors in 1958 with a respect for excellence and an enthusiasm for tradition. Queen pays close attention to the details — fresh specialty breads are made daily in their in-house bakery, which is always good sign. The lasagna is the real star here, though, and it's loaded with meats and cheeses. Make sure to get there early though, as this popular dish sometimes runs out.

#13 Mama Ricotta’s, Charlotte, N.C.

The regional Italian menu at Mama Ricotta's reflects owner Frank Scibelli's diverse family heritage. Finding the freshest ingredients available and holding high standards with their own homemade mozzarella, sausages, and breads is a major focus here. They offer Southern Italian-style lasagna that is no joke; made with layers of ground beef, veal, homemade sausage and a blend of three cheeses

#12 Baroncini, Iowa City, Iowa

Chef Baroncini's namesake restaurant's philosophy of using fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients is represented in his contemporary Italian cuisine. His Lasagne alla Bolognese is a wonderful representation of the classic layered dish. The house-made meat sauce, which is full of bold flavors, is what sets this version apart from others and hits the spot when this craving pays a visit.

#11 Osteria Costa, Las Vegas, N.V.

Located in the Mirage Hotel, Osteria Costa offers a taste of the Amalfi Coast right in the heart of Las Vegas. With an incredible selection of wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas, this casual reprieve celebrates the southern coast of Italy with bright dishes and wines from the region. Their representation of lasagna combines sausage, mozzarella, and a house-made pomodoro in a way that will leave you speechless.

#10 Piazza Italia, Portland, Ore.

Located in the Pearl District in Portland, Piazza Italia is a tiny restaurant that always seems to be packed. Roman native Gino Schettini wanted to open a place where people could enjoy quality Italian food, music, and friends, and in 2000 his dream came true. The lasagna (which has a gluten-free option available) is baked with a beef and veal meat sauce and béchamel filling. It's outrageously good and favorite among the regulars.

#9 Macchialina, Miami Beach, Fla.

Opened in late June 2012, Macchialina is located in the heart of South Beach's residential west side community. Known for practicing time-honored traditions of making all of their pastas by hand using only the highest quality ingredients, this casual spot has quickly become a favorite among locals and in-the-know tourists. The lasagna here is a real treat, filled with layers of braised short rib and taleggio cheese, which creates a savory combination that will have you coming back for more.

#8 Bruno’s Little Italy, Little Rock, Ark.

This family-owned red-sauce joint has been serving Little Rock since 1949. Bruno's Little Italy prepares authentic Neapolitan dishes as well as delicious pizza, but the real reason for visiting is to try the Lasagna Imbotito, which is layered with ricotta, mozzarella and Romano cheeses, Italian sausage, meatballs, and cured meats.

#7 Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi, Washington, D.C.

Fabio and Maria Trabocchi are the dynamic duo behind the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant that specializes in fine dinning. Fiola's menus can change daily, but if you're lucky enough to end up there on a day when they're offering the lasagna, don't think twice... just order it. This contemporary approach highlights a deconstructed take on lasagna that eats light but explodes with rich flavors.

#6 Trattoria la Sorrentina, North Bergen, N.J.

On the outside, Trattoria la Sorrentina may appear to be your neighborhood pizza place, but poke your head inside and you'll see that this restaurant is so much more. Although this is not the most aesthetically pleasing spot, the food here is to die for. Their Lasagna Napoletana, layered with ricotta, mozzarella, meat, and a rich tomato sauce, melds together into something truly magical and worth seeking out.

#5 La Lanterna di Vittorio, New York, N.Y.

Located in the picturesque West Village in Manhattan, La Lanterna di Vittorio is a romantic neighborhood spot with lots of charm. With a garden that looks like it's straight out of a movie set and in which you can eat at all year round, this Italian restaurant is perfect when you're craving some classic pasta. Alongside the other lasagna offerings, the famed Lasagna al Pesto is a favorite among regulars, made with homemade pasta and layered with pesto sauce, béchamel, and Parmigiano cheese.

#4 Beretta, San Francisco, Calif.

Located in the hip Mission District neighborhood in San Francisco, Beretta opened its doors in 2008 and has been an industry favorite ever since. The restaurant focuses on contemporary Italian comfort food that is always fresh, seasonal, and sourced from local farmers. Although many go for the thin-crust pizzas and inventive cocktails, the true attraction of this spot is the Friday night special, Lasagne alla Bolognes, which holds an excellent balance of both flavor and texture.

#3 The Pink Door, Seattle, Wash.

Since 1981, this beloved Seattle restaurant has lived among the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market, serving incredible Italian-American fare. With a produce-driven menu that's simple and seasonal and a comfortable atmosphere, this friendly spot is a perfect place to enjoy dinner with incredible views that overlook Elliot Bay. The Lasagna Pink Door, however, is the true star, showcasing fresh spinach pasta layered with besciamella and pesto and topped with marinara sauce.

#2 Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats, named after its owner, Brooklyn native Giovanni Tafuri, is located in the pretty neighborhood of Park Slope, and serves dishes made from real Italian family recipes. Tafuri's family roots hail from both Naples and Calabria, both of which play a heavy influence on the restaurant's menu. Luca's Lasagna presents a traditional approach made with ricotta and Parmesan cheese that will be sure to not disappoint. And because Giovanni's has such big portions, be sure to go there hungry.

#1 Don Angie, New York, N.Y

Husband-and-wife team Scott Tacinelli and Angie Rito always dreamed of opening a small, special place where they could showcase their unique style of modern Italian American cuisine. In 2017 their vision came to life and Don Angie was born in Greenwich Village. Their Lasagna for Two is an updated take on the classic dish, and it's rolled rather than layered. Although this version bears more visual resemblance to a cinnamon roll, the flavors are unquestionably familiar and deliver a highly comforting dish. Don't live in New York? No problem – find more incredible lasagna options near you by checking out America's best cities for Italian food.

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