There’s not much in the world that Italian food can’t fix – even the worst of days seem better when you are munching on a gooey slice of pizza or cozying up over pasta in an Italian restaurant, rubbing your hands in anticipation of the gelato at the end of your meal. 

Think rich pasta dishes, smothered in cream or tomato sauces, and the pièce de resistance is the cheese that is a common theme, gooey, melted cheese slathering pizza, lasagne, and more. 

As a farm-to-fork region specializing in high quality food and drink experiences, Ontario’s Highlands does not skimp on prime spots for authentic Italian fare either. Find handmade Italian pastas, meats, cheeses, and more at one of these local Italian hotspots.

Buon appetito!

Ristoranti Italiani

Bistro 54

If your idea of an Italian restaurant is small, intimate, and cozy, plan a visit to Bistro 54 in downtown Perth. This small restaurant is housed in a 165-year-old stone building to maximize the ambiance, and dishes up authentical Italian dishes inspired by ‘Mamas Cucina’ style cooking, with handmade pasta and sauces

Insider's Tip:

Bring your Italian-English dictionary with you because their menu items are listed in Italian, for extra authenticity and fun. 

Cafe Postino

Located in the old Post Office in downtown Almonte, the ambiance here is off the charts. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients to craft Italian dishes from family recipes, the flavours of the dishes here are rich and decadent. 

Insider's Tip:

Some must tries here are their lasagna casalinga or their veal piccata. Pair your dish with a wine from their reserved wine collection, stored in the old post office vault. 

OG Cucina

There may be no physical restaurant for this Italian shop, but you can order online for pick-up to enjoy authentic Italian dishes in the privacy of your own home. Try their rich, homemade sauces served over fresh pasta like ravioli, paglia e fieno, rigatoni, or agnolotti.  Top off your meal with a full loaf of focaccia topped with homemade tapenade. 

Insider's Tip:

If you’ve ever dreamed of making your own Italian food at home, reserve your spot for one of their pasta workshops to make your own at home. 

The Sterling

If you love your pasta fresh, plan a visit to the Sterling in downtown Almonte. The Sterling is a quasi cocktail bar-meets-Italian eatery and they excel at both. Try their fusilli or shrimp linguini, and save room for their raw seafood (oysters or scallops). 

Insider's Tip:

The Sterling is cozy, so if they are full up consider popping across the street to Joe’s Italian Kitchen, another good spot for Italian fare.

Farmstead Cheesehouse & Gelateria

While not technically a restaurant, this will be a must stop if you are craving the popular Italian dessert, gelato. Made on site by their own gelatiera, Fiona Petermann, this gelato is as close to Italian gelato you can get without a plane ride. Fiona travelled to Italy in 2018 to do specialized training in the art of gelato-making, so she knows her stuff!

Insider's Tip:

Vegans will love the sorbettos served here that are dairy free. 

The Barn Chefs

Italian food (including pizza!) at The Barn Chefs is serious business. The husband and wife duo met in Luca’s home country of Italy when Sarah moved there to study Italian cuisine. The pair trained in Italy and then country-hopped all over the world before setting up shop in Coe Hill. Take home some of their small-batch water buffalo milk cheeses, authentic Italian pasta, or their charcuterie, handcrafted using traditional Italian techniques. 

Insider's Tip:

Their pizza is so special, it’s only served during on Saturdays from May until Thanksgiving. Sarah and Luca make all the toppings, including the charcuterie. Fun fact: Luca and Sarah have cooked for a number of celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Edward Norton, and Katie Holmes. 

The 'Za

Petawawa Pizzeria

The Petawawa Pizzeria has been serving hot pizza, lasagna and more for more than 40 years, with a focus on Mediterranean flavours (so not solely Italian!). Enjoy one of their hand-tossed pizzas that must be experienced to truly appreciate. 

Insider's Tip:

Try their Jimmy’s Deluxe pizza, made with pepperoni, Italian sausage, meatballs, bacon, and all the veggies. This one is named for the owner, and won’t disappoint!

Pizza on Earth

Wouldn’t the world be better if there was Pizza on Earth? You’ll be feeling pretty zen when you enjoy a slice or eight of one of the region’s most coveted pizzas. Pizza on Earth serves up gourmet wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas in Dorset from May to September, straight from their traditional brick oven which they have dubbed “Etna.” 

Insider's Tip:

You can build your own pizza or pick from their selection of meat- or veg-topped beauties, like the favourite Lake of Baysil, which layers chicken, goat cheese, onion, and roasted red peppers on top of a pesto base.

Neat Coffee Shop

What do you get when you combine stellar pizza with live music? The oven’s hot and the tunes even hotter at Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown. This tiny little café housed in an 1880s schoolhouse is known as being the place to go for live music in the Ottawa Valley, served up with a side of amazing wood-fired pizza. 

Insider's Tip:

With gluten free options no one will be left behind with one of these pizzas! Their delectable pies are named after famous musicians, like the Weird Al (pesto, brie, pear, and arugula), or the Jack White (sausage, roasted garlic, red onions, and mozzarella).

Into the Blue Bakery

This mobile pizza shop serves wood-fired pizza in Haliburton County and beyond. Depending on the day of the week you’ll find them at Haliburton farmers’ market, at their permanent location at Abbey Gardens, or at festivals and events throughout the region. These folks fire up pizzas featuring fresh, local ingredients like the Queen Margherita or the cleverly named Spanakopizza. 

Insider's Tip:

Ask them about making your pizza vegan, gluten free, or lactose free and they’d be happy to oblige. Their food truck at Abbey Gardens is open until Thanksgiving or you can find their frozen pizzas there year-round. 

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